You're Skills

 April 26

by Yvette van Niekerk

April 26

You're Skills

John 3: 27 (NIV)

27 "To this, John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven."

  As we have received our skills or gifts from God in heaven, we can use them. When doing something, God has called you or me to do, and we have God's help. Now not all of us are called to be Pastors, and we should realize that and do what God called us to do where we are. Now you ask what I should be doing.

I believe God is waiting for you to ask Him yourself. Waiting for answers to your prayers can sometimes be trying, and other times they are answered quickly. Don't lose heart when you are waiting; also, as an individual, remember you are unique, there is no one like you. So keep on asking till you get that answer.

Prayer

Lord, I pray that I too may display the mature ability to trust in You and wait for my skills to develop. I pray that if someone is better than I that I will not compare myself to them. They have a different calling in life. Remind me each day in Jesus's Name, Amen!

#double-minded?

by Yvette van Niekerk

 

April 25

Double-minded?

James 4: 8 (NIV)

8 "Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."

  Have you ever heard someone telling you they are going to do something specific and, in the same sentence, decide not to do it? Honestly, I have, and it seems these people are speaking out of both sides of their mouths. What happened? I think they are uncertain, and when circumstances change, they change too.

To the double-minded person, be careful of what you are saying. When it comes to God's Word, we must come in agreement with what the Word of God is saying. I want to encourage you today to keep on speaking words of faith and keep in accord with the Bible. Keep on watering your faith with the Word of God, and see how it grows. In the New King James Version Psalm 34 verse 15 and 17 it says: "The eyes of the Lord are on me, and His ears are open to my cry ... When I cry out, the Lord hears, and delivers me out of all my troubles."

Prayer

Father God, today I pray let the Words that You speak into my life be watered by my studying Your Bible. Guide me and teach me going forward. Please place a guard over my mouth, preventing me from speaking out of both sides of it. Amen.

In #weakness

by Yvette van Niekerk

 

April 24

In Weakness

Isaiah 40: 28 – 29 (NIV)

28 "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."

  Sometimes we are so tired of doing the usual humdrum in our daily lives. We become weak and weary. Then Satan sees an opportunity in making us feel miserable and unloved that is just the time we should turn to the Lord for His strength in our own lives. Take a deep breath, turn and look up, God is still God, and He lives forever.

As you face today, look to the heavens and call out to the Lord He will give you the strength to meet today. Psalms 31 verse 18 in The Message "If my heart is broken, I'll find God right there; if I'm kicked in the gut, He'll help me catch my breath. Lord strengthens our heart, mind, and soul; let Your word grow within us. Guide us and teach us as we focus on You today.

Prayer

Lord in my hour of need I pray give me the strength for today, I feel weak and unimportant, lift me, and strengthen me. I know my weeping may endure for a night, but I believe my joy comes in the morning. Praise You, Lord, In Jesus Name, Amen!

#hope

by Yvette van Niekerk

 April 22

Hope

Romans 8: 24 – 25

24 "For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."

  Hope is the expectation that something great is going to happen. This reminded me of something when I was going through a really difficult time, and there was no way I could do something. I would believe and hope for a specific thing.

There was this beautiful blouse that I kept my eye on for several months; each time I would walk by, I was hoping to buy it. One day I stood in the shop and purchased this specific blouse; I had managed to save enough cash for the blouse, and to top it off, it was on Sale.

Ephesians One verses, 18 says: "By having the eyes of my heart flooded with light, I can know and understand the hope of which He has called me, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones)."

Prayer

Lord this hope we have in You may we live our lives to the fulfilment of Your will, as saved Children of God. Thank You, Lord, for lifting us. Bless each one of us today. In Jesus Name, amen!

#love

by Yvette van Niekerk

 

April 21

Love

Lamentations 3: 22 – 23 (NIV)

22 "Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

  I think we view our own lives through rose-coloured glasses. But, have you thought of how much God must love you? In Lamentations, we read this declaration of God's great love, of His compassion, which he shows towards us every day. I am reminded that love never fails, according to God's Word. Jesus founded His Empire upon love, and today millions of people still die for Him. We must love each other, encourage each other, pray for each other, be of service to each other. In showing love, we need to accept each other and honour each other, bearing others burdens, forgiving each other, all this is under the word love.

Remember expressing love isn't a sign of weakness. To love your husband, children, or other people, you have to give yourself completely, making you very vulnerable. You may be rejected and hurt, but with this kind of love, You are in Godly places.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I want to pray that You will fill me with the Holy Spirit and help me to love unconditionally, the same way You loved me. Please, Lord, keep me from falling into the trap of selfishness and teach me how to love. In the Holy Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Plans for prosperity

by Yvette van Niekerk

 

April 20

Plans for prosperity.

Jeremiah 29: 11 (NIV)

11 “for I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

I wonder how seriously we look at the Word of God? Do you ever think that God will let you down? I doubt that God will let you or me down. I do, however, believe that I am capable and most probably will let God down. When I read this passage of scripture, it reminds me that God is true to His Word.

When God speaks something over my life, I am sure it will take place. I do believe that God has plans for my future even though I think I am too old these days. I do believe God is opening doors for the plans He has put in place for me. I also believe there is hope and a future for me even though I cannot see it right now.

Prayer

Lord God, in the name of Jesus Christ, I accept Your Word today and declare it over my life. I believe and accept that You know the plans You have for me, I also pray and ask that You Lord will prosper me and let no harm come to me, I also pray for the plans to give me hope and a future. All of this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ, my Lord, and Savior. Amen.

Banner

by Yvette van Niekerk

 April 19

A banner.

Isaiah 8: 10 (NIV)

10 "Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us."

  So a banner is something like a flag; it shows your nation or nationality. The Jews have banners which they use in battle. Today I want to lift my Banner of the Lord my God and ask Him to help me stand against the fiery darts of the devil. Trials and tribulations come to each one of us.

I believe this is to strengthen our faith and help us turn to God. When we believe and trust in the Lord, we lift our banners and show people we are standing on God's Word. The Lord wants to be there for us when we call and believe that He is faithful to His Word.

I am sure He will work things out. I remember something happened and suddenly I had a result which was in my favour. We all need God's supernatural favour in our lives, and by trusting in Him, we can lift His banner over our lives today.

Prayer

Lord God, the devise and strategies that come against me, I want to thwart them with the power of the Holy Spirit today. I believe God You have a proposal and plan for my life. I think if You are all I have, then Lord, I have everything. Today I pray, please help me control my thinking, I place a guard over my mouth and mind in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Full Armor of God

 April 18

18 April 2021

Full Armor of God.

Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

12 "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

  Today let's arm ourselves with the Full Armor of God. I take up the Helmet of Salvation, for You Lord Jesus is my salvation. Lord Jesus is receiving You as a new and fresh way of life for me. Nothing can separate me from Your love. I place the Breastplate of Righteousness and declare that no condemnation or assaults against me can stand.

Girding my loins with the Belt of Trust, I choose to live in honesty and integrity. Taking the Shoes of the Gospel of Peace, I declare that my life is open to spread the gospel to all people. Help me not to lose heart. Jesus, You are my Shield of faith.

No assaults of the enemy can stand against me. As I take up the Sword of the Spirit, please Lord show me truths of the Word of God that I need to stand against the Devil. Remind me of them in my hour of need. Lord, I pray that I can stay connected to You throughout the day, let the Holy Spirit guide me, and show me the way forward in Jesus Christ's name. 

Amen.

by Yvette van Niekerk

 April 16

He is alive!

Mark 16:6 (NIV)

6 "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus, the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him."

  Do you realize what this means when they say, "He's risen!" Many times we think about it, but can you imagine the impact it should have on your own life? The Lord Jesus was in a tomb dead, and on the 3rd day, He rose from the dead. The amazing grace of God was bestowed upon us that very day. He is alive!

The Lord Jesus is alive! We are called His children upon acceptance of the Lord Jesus. You can now have a new beginning, a renewed mind, and the ability to take any task and become successful in doing it. The Lord can help you do your best as we are doing it for the Lord Jesus and not for men. We received His mercy and grace, praise the Lord.

Prayer

Abba Father, in the name of Your only begotten Son – Jesus Christ, we thank You, Lord, for this day and embrace the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, and we believe You will start a new thing within us to the end. 

Amen.

Jesus on the cross

by Yvette van Niekerk

 

April 14

On the cross.

Mark 15: 25-26 (NIV)

25 "It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26The written notice of the charge against him read The King of the Jews."

  Simon from Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was on his way in from the country. He probably walked nearby and saw the commotion and wanted to take a look. Before he could get out of the way, the Soldiers dragged him in and forced him to carry the cross of our Lord Jesus. From what I understand, the cross weighs a bit in the region of plus-minus 135 kg. Imagine the weight on your shoulders with the excruciating pain that riddles your broken skin and body. Buckling underweight, the Lord needed someone to help carry the burden.

We buckle under the weight of the burden of this heavy world. We know that the Lord rises from the grave and is our saviour, but before He could die for us, He had to be broken open for us. Blood had to flow to save a dying world.

Prayer

Abba Father, helps us to understand the weight of this world and turn back to You. Lord, we cannot carry the burdens anymore. Lord Jesus, today we know You are the King of Kings, Lord of Lord, and the alpha and omega. Come into our lives anew today.

Amen.

Jesus before Pilate

by Yvette van Niekerk

 

April 12

Jesus before Pilate.

Mark 15: 2 – 4 (NIV)

2 "Are you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate. "You have said so," Jesus replied. 3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 So again, Pilate asked him, "Aren't you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of."

  Nothing has changed, looking at the selfish interests of the Chief Priests, which ultimately meant the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. We see Pilate speaking to Jesus and asking Him whether Jesus was the King of the Jews. Jesus answered: "You have said so." His reaction wasn't dying or acceptance of the statement. Pilate knew the Chief Priests were going out of their way to conjure false accusations against the Lord Jesus. Pilate feared the crowd and wanted them to make the decision. Once they cried out to crucify Jesus, he washed his hands to prove his innocence to this crime.

Jesus goes to the barracks and is flogged by the soldier as was the custom, and then they would crucify him. When standing accused of something you didn't do, your first reaction would be to defend yourself. We sometimes need to trust the Lord in times of difficulty and see how He rescues us.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You, for this day, without Jesus, we all will be lost. We humble ourselves before You, please forgive us, in Jesus Holy Name. 

Amen.