#self-centered me

by Yvette van Niekerk

Matthew 23: 11 - 12 MSG "Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you'll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you're content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty."

As a mother, wife and grandmother I think that I have no choice in the matter of serving my family. To tell you the truth serving others does not come naturally to me. Why? I feel that I am a self-centered kind of person. I like things to go my way. I do feel ashamed about my self-centered ways and I am really working hard not to be so self-centered at time.

I wonder whether you struggle with being #self-centered? If you ask me, I believe we are selfish by nature. Looking at the two little kids I am looking after, I can tell you, the oldest is very #self-centered.

When reading my Bible, it is clear according to the Lord Jesus, life isnt all about me, and still everyting in this world revolves around "me" telling the "me" I need this and that.

The minute I get consumed by my own desires, my own needs and everything all about me, I forget about the Lord.

The Lord Jesus said: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." Matthew 16 verse 24. Think about this the Lord wants it to be His way. When I think of food I should be focusing on what the Lord Jesus said: "My food ... is to be the will of him who sent me and to finish his work." John 4 verse 34. I wish I was that kind of person who would think that "my food is to be a servant of God. I want to please Him. My food is to complete the work the Lord God sent me to do. I want to do the will of my Father and to finish His work." I am praying for this kind of divine direction in my own life, letting the self-centered person behind.

What's the message here? I believe we are to serve others, not try and get everything out of everyone. Fill others with what we have and turn to God to help us fulfil His purpose in our lives.

Prayer

O Lord, Father God, today help me to become the servant You need me to be. I am so self-centered and not concerned about others needs. I need divine direction in my own life, show me the way forward. Teach me to be a godly person, help me to listen and understand. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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We all have something about ourselves we don't like.

1 Thessalonians 5: 23 -24 MSG

"May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together - spirit, soul, and body - and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he'll do it!"

I certainly have a tendency to focus on my flaws and points of weakness than I do on my strengths. I hope it's natural otherwise I'm very peculiar. There are some things in life that cannot be changed. Like I cannot change the Family, I was born into, I also cannot change my race or my physical stature. Although I am constantly trying to lose weight.

I don't think I can change any physical appearances or disabilities I might have.

Because I realise I am unique, and wonderfully made by God, I am accepting all I am today, this is exactly how God created me.

I realise there is something in my life that are unchangeable because of the world in which I am living. My parents are aged and my children live a long way from me. The only thing I can do is pray for my children and mom. Bringing healing, stability and protection.

What do you suppose can change about me? Perhaps elements such as my personality, my emotions which changes constantly. Believe me, I struggle with jealousy and I realise it is an acquired trait, I never really worried about people and now I seem to struggle with jealousy.

I can only pray God will heal me from my jealous outbreaks.

my \first step to change is to look at my weaknesses and pray to ask God for forgiveness. and ask God for healing, giving God permission to do whatever need be to heal me. I believe in faith God is buys dealing with me in His time and His methods.

 Pray

Heavenly Father in Your mercy please forgive me, please heal me and please enter any area of my life that I need healing, please accept my the invitation today come into my life, completely in Jesus name amen

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Only God's plans work out for us.

by Yvette van Niekerk

A long time ago, Augustine wrote: "You made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until it rests in You."

I believe we all are longing to know God intimately, our deepest desire, is to learn more about our God. Many times, I don't understand, the longing inside of me, my simple feeling of dissatisfaction with my life, the unfulfilled expectations, feelings of dejection, and many time I feel isolated. Directing me, to my main focus, I am hungry for God's Word. When we develop our relationship with God; and realize more about His holy character, which illuminates my mind, heart and soul.

Ezekiel 25: 6-7 MSG "God, the Master, says, Because you clapped and cheered, venting all your malicious contempt against the land Israel, I'll step in and, hand you out as loot - first come, first served. I'll cross you off the roster of nations. There'll be nothing left of you. And you'll realize that I am God."

It's clear, whatever I attained by my own will, and desires turned into to ashes, nothing to show for. Then God takes my hand, and things turn around. I realise, anew that while acquiring, anything outside of God's will, ultimately disappoint me, He fills me with truly satisfying "pleasures forever."

Prayer

Lord God, now you've got my feet on the life path, all radiant from the shining of your face.  Ever since you took my hand, I'm on the right way. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Is your heart on fire for God? #heartonfire

by Yvette van Niekerk

2 Timothy 1: 5-7 MSG

"That precious memory triggers another: your honest faith - and what a rich faith it is, handed down from your grandmother Lois to your mother Eunice, and now to you! And the special gift of ministry you received when I laid hands on you and prayed - keep that ablaze! God doesn't want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible."

When I see fire, I am automatically interested and stare at it, the flames licking and flickering up and down. When we have a braai (barbeque) most of us like to gather around the fire and chat, it nice and warm and very inviting. Fire keeps us warm and illuminates our interactions, it is the focal point, that brings us together.

Thinking of fire as a metaphor, it reminds of passion, burning and consuming desire, which is unquenchable. And fire can also be associated with our faith, burning and consuming desire to learn more of Gods word. I pray my heart and yours catches fire. The Holy Spirit coming in blazing and cleansing our hearts, souls and minds. I am asking God for purpose, passion and a promise in my life, the Holy Spirit to move and shake me.

Looking to God to His Kingdom and His coming. I want to have a deep conviction, almost simple assumption. The only way, I can experience the power, in my life through the Holy Spirit, and my ministry will go deeper in practising prayer in my life.

Prayer

Father, I want to come into Your presence with a joyful song of praise. I am asking You to ignite a passion in my spreading the gospel that is underscored by a sense of prophetic immediacy and urgency. I am praying for a powerful but natural merging of evangelism and compassion, of help and of hope and sharing the Word, Your Gospel with the kind assistance of a good friend. In Jesus Christs Name, Amen.

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I believe GOD will show me, HIS Will.

by Yvette van Niekerk

2 Chronicles 20 : 10-12 MSG

"And now it's Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir have shown up. You didn't let Israel touch them when we got here at first - we detoured around them and didn't lay a hand on them. And now they've come to kick us out of the country you gave us. O, dear. God, won't you take care of them? We're helpless before this vandal horde ready to attack us. We don't know what to do; we're looking to you."

I believe God, will move heaven and earth to show me His will. I believe God always wants the best for me, He has a specific plan for my life. I am were God, wants me to be right now. The minute I feel frustrated and confused I realize that I am wandering off my chosen path. God will take all kinds of protective actions to keep me from harm's way.

I often suffer from a restless spirit, I just cannot seem to put my finger on it, but I'm uneasy with life at times. I feel I just can't quite identify what's wrong. I've prayed "please Lord help me, I'm not sure what You are trying to say to me."

This weekend was awesome, I have been in a bit of a dip lately, I don't want to go into details but I didn't feel great. I received a blessing word from my Stepdaughter, she made me feel so good and then Sunday, Pastor Kiewiet spoke the same blessing over our congregation, what an experience. The spoken Word of God works miracles in our lives. Awesome.

I know this seems too much, I even have been receiving undeserved blessings, my daughter and my stepdaughter have been blessing me in abundance. I am so grateful to both of them!!!

Isaiah 30: 19-22 MSG "Oh yes, people of Zion, citizens of Jerusalem, your time of tears is over. Cry for help and you'll find it's grace and more grace. The moment he hears, he'll answer. Just as the Master kept you alive during the hard times, he'll keep your teacher alive and present among you. Your teacher will be right there, local and on the job urging you on whenever you wander left or right: "This is the right road. Walk down this road." You'll scrap your expensive and fashionable god-images. You'll throw them in the trash as so much garbage saying, "Good riddance!"

Prayer

Lord, my God, thank You, I appreciate everything You do for me. Bless my family and all my children

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Condemnation - why do we allow it?

by Yvette van Niekerk

Romans 8: 1 - 2 MSG "With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death."

I struggled to comprehend God does not remember my sins. It seemed impossible for my finite mind to see and understand.

It blows my mind to think, God who is an omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, being doesn't remember my sins. He is the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present God, who can rightly know, every single detail of every sin, that I committed. God's declaration, "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." Hebrew 8 verse 12. I want to encourage you, if you feel you cannot approach God, because of your sin, you are able because He is waiting for you.  By simply believing, God's Word that through the provision of Jesus' sacrifice; God has indeed remembered my sins no more.

The impact of Jesus' sacrifice means I can start living without a cloud of shame, guilt, condemnation and any judgement over my life. I will stand bold and righteous in Christ today, I expect to receive Jesus Christ' best!

Prayer

Abba, Father, forgive me for holding onto past sins, I am standing firmly, boldly and righteously, in Jesus Christ today. Lord, I expect to receive, Jesus Christ's best in my life right now. I expect Your Supernatural favour in my life, I am Your child, You have called me by my name. Amen

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Anger Management

by Yvette van Niekerk

I think anger affects our lives, regardless of origin. When I’m angry I feel upset and under a lot of pressure. I’m not one to keep my anger locked up and pretend nothing is wrong, I explode there and then. My husband, on the other hand, suppresses his anger, I fear he might even have a stroke or heart tack.

Ecclesiastes 7: 9 MSG “Don’t be quick to fly off the handle. Anger boomerangs. You can spot a fool by the lumps on his head.”

I know it is important to look for a positive way in dealing with my anger and I really try but sometime I just can’t manage it. I submit my feeling to God and try and not take it back because it’s not under control right away. Taking responsibility for my anger is a way I feel I am managing my anger. I cry in the shower when very angry to relieve myself of the pain I feel at that time. I try to process my feeling and get closure but not always successful. 

Angry people are destructive and can hurt themselves and others in the process.

Prayer Father please help me to be more positive and stop my angry outburst, I know You know my heart and see my frustration. I pray to ask to take this fear away from me and heal me in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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#Never

by Yvette van Niekerk

Isaiah 64: 4

A Prayer for God’s Power

“When You did awesome works that we did not expect, You came down, and the mountains trembled at Your presence. From ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God buy you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. You welcome those who gladly do right, who remember Your ways. Surely You were angry, for we sinned. How can we be saved if we remain in our sin.”

When I say words like “I’ll never get through this situation or find that perfect job.” I have given into my fears and do not trust in God. I am the most negative person on this earth, so words spoken and said like “never” I try and avoid at all costs. I want to dream a dream and live my life fulfilled. It seems I’ll be taking action before I say never.

Today I want to encourage you and me too, lets keep watching and waiting for God to come into our movie. I want His blessings in my life and I am trusting in Him. God gave me a wonderful husband and great and wonderful kids and grandkids. My life is full of possibilities.

Today do not allow the nevers to infiltrate your life and destroy your hope, God is still in control He knows more that you or i.

Lord I know I am failing everytime I focus all my time and engery on nevers. Please help me see the tree before the forest, help me focus on You Lord Jesus not allowing my fear of failure to cloud my judgement.

Prayer

Lord Jesus according to Your Word, God will never let me down. Deut. 31 verses 6 and 8. No matter what is happening in my life today I believe that You God are in control and I do not have to fear. You are my light, my way, my hope and I trust in You in Jesus name. amen.

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Waiting – what's next?

by Yvette van Niekerk

Psalm 37 verse 7 "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him."

When last have you visited your dr? I was there on Tuesday, many people sitting and waiting for their turn to see the dr. I wonder when looking at them what problems they have. Are they very sick, or are they just not feeling well. Then are there any people that go to the dr on a whim?

Jesus said, "while we are waiting, God is working." My life has been hectic, and I am trying to accommodate everybody these days. There seems to be a lot going on, and tempers are flying off the handle left and right and centre. It frustrates me when people continuously bicker and carry on, not letting the thing go. It's like I all of a sudden have four small children in my home, two adult kids and two babies. The adult kids should be at work, but because of lockdown, they stay home. They are driving me nuts.

My husband is at his wit's end, and I have had it.

Psalm 27 verse 14 "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart."

I read that God gave the Israelites a new command: "Three times a year all your men are to appear before the Sovereign Lord, the God of Israel. I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your territory, and no one will covet your land when you go up three times each year to appear before the Lord." Exodus 34: 23 – 24. 

God is going to enlarge our territory, not make it smaller. God will drive out nations before me, and you. While I worship God, He will fight for me and have my back. I don't have to worry about competitive people because God is before me. 

Prayer

Abba Father, my heart is broken today, I am crying out to You from the depths of my soul. I am desperate for You today, I need Your guidance, and I need Your help. I am struggling with all kinds of emotion. Abandonment feelings, isolations and much more. I know that Your word teaches "When I wait on You in Worship, You will work on my behalf. Your word also says that "If I wait on You Lord that You shall renew my strength; I will mount up with wings like an eagle, I will run and not be weary, I will walk and not faith." I pray to be patient today with me, and I am calling out to You, in Jesus Name, I pray. Amen

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