Would you be excited to receive a free gift? As God’s child, Jesus gave us a free gift; he promises to give us an advocate to help us and He will not leave us comfortless. His very free gift that is unseen by the world – the Holy Spirit. 

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever. The Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” – John 14: 16-17.

Holy Spirit is a free gift that everyone has access to, it is a gift that is redeemable by everyone. To receive the Holy Spirit is to access the supernatural power of God in your life, it is a gift of the Spirit and it has the ability to bring God’s reality into your life. God wants to do much good to you and through you.

​If it has been in your heart to invite the Holy Spirit into your life, all you have to do is ask for them to come and believe that Jesus is your Saviour.  It is a gift that will change your life for the better and you will always have an advocate who understands you like no other. 

The person who speaks in tongues is strengthen personally… (1 Corinthians 14: 4). Would you invite and allow the Holy Spirit into your heart today? He will be your Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counsellor and Strengthener.

Acts 19: 5 – 6
On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 

- Irene Soon

Luke 22:32
But I have prayed for you, Simon that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers
 
How encouraging is the thought of the Redeemer's never- ceasing intercession for us. When we pray, he pleads for us; and when we are not praying, he is advocating our cause, and by his supplications shielding us from unseen dangers.

Notice the word of comfort addressed to Peter -"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.”  Jesus didn’t conclude by saying "But go and pray for yourself." That would be good advice, but it is not so written. Neither does he say, "But I will keep you watchful, and so you shall be preserved." That were a great blessing but no, Jesus said "But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not."

We little know what we owe to our Saviour's prayers. When we reach the hill-tops of heaven, and look back upon all the way whereby the Lord our God have led us, how we shall praise Him who, before the eternal throne, undid the mischief which Satan was doing upon earth? How shall we thank Him because he never held His peace, but day and night pointed to the wounds upon his hands, and carried our names upon his breastplate! Even before Satan had begun to tempt, Jesus had forestalled him and entered a plea in heaven. Mercy outruns malice.

O Jesus, what a comfort it is that You have pleaded our cause against our unseen enemies; countermined their mines, and unmasked their ambushes. 

- Writing of Charles Spurgeon (@Heartlight)

Ephesians 5: 16
making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Two little words are found in the Greek Bible version here - ton kairon. The two words ton kairon mean, literally, the opportunity.

They do not refer to time in general, but to a special point in time, a juncture, a crisis. They refer to a moment full of possibilities quickly passing by, which we must seize and make the best of before it has passed away.
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It is closely mentioned that there are not many such moments of opportunity, because the days are evil. These moments are like flowers which appear here and there in the barren desert: pluck them while you can. Or they are like a business opportunity which comes once in a lifetime; buy it up while you have the chance. Be spiritually alert; be not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is (v. 16).

Walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise (v. 15), buying up for yourselves the opportunity. Sometimes it is a moment of time to be saved; sometimes it is a soul to be led to Christ; sometimes it is an occasion to love; sometimes for patience; sometimes for victory over temptation and sin. Let us redeem it. Redeeming the time and opportunities given.

- A Simpson

January; widely recognised as the National Thank You month by most US calendars. To most of us, it is a widely encouraged practice; starting the New Year with gratitude is the best way to reflect on the gift of life and the goodness of the Lord.
 
Psalm 136 begins and ends its passage with “Oh, give thanks.” The Psalmist penned each line to reflect on the goodness and deliverance of God for His people. What a way to start the new year, let us spare a few minutes and reflect on this passage. Let us continue to proclaim that the Lord’s love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord.                          

Dear blessed friends and families, 

We gratefully wish you a Happy New Year, we are thankful for the gift of another year. Thank you for being part of our journeys. May you always remember that our Lord Jesus Christ is always just a prayer away and we boldly proclaim that this is a going to be good and blessed year.

Amen

-Hopeful Heart Team

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