Encouraging Words for the day | Christian devotionals - Hopeful Heart

Oxygen

31/5/2012

How long can you hold your breath? The average person can hold their breath for about 2 mins, before the body starts screaming for Oxygen! Such a vital chemical, yet most of the time we don't recognize that we need it!

Sometimes in life, we can get so caught up in the things that we can see, what people think of us, what we think of them, business, work, ministry, etc, and our attentions and energies are all taken up. We may just forget the vital chemical that we were not made to function without - the Holy Spirit!!

Like oxygen, when we believe in Jesus, we can receive the person of the Holy Spirit - who is the spirit of God - to come and live in us! The Holy Spirit shows us EVERYTHING that God is, the way He thinks, the way He sees us, the reason He made us, and we know the strength and power of His character and person! How small the things we worry, fear or stress about then become!

John 16:14 But when He, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.

James 4:5-6 He jealously longs for the Spirit he has caused to dwell in us. But he gives us more grace.

- Jo Voon -

Are you your worst enemy?

30/5/2012

The past week has been strange, weird even. I've always thought that when I have favour from God, nothing really matters. Nothing can bring me down! After all, if God is for me, who can be against me indeed!

How wrong I was!

I can be against myself. Sometimes, the worst enemy the devil may "create" is not the manipulation of people around you, of events against you, but of words that have means to incapacitate you. Words that only you yourself can let into your life.

When you start to self-doubt, to belittle yourself, to start thinking that you are not good enough, to start fearing or worrying about what may happen, you have unfortunately believed in the lies of the enemy and you become limited.

It is not what others say of you- that doesn't matter. It's always about what you think or say to yourself that is critical. Are you thinking that "I am a failure", or are you thinking that "I am MORE than a conqueror through Christ"?

I'm still journeying this path, but I believe I will emerge victorious because He who died at the cross for me and who was resurrected after 3 days is victorious.

Philippians 4:13
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"

- Jia Lin Ang

Lies and More Lies

29/5/2012

Lies and more lies; I lie and I’m insincere. Well, that’s the condemnation the enemy affirms in my mind everytime I utter those white lies that I’m sure won’t hurt anyone.

Are you sure it won’t hurt anyone? It hurts God.

Even so, HE still forgives me over this same mistake over and over again all these years. I’m ashamed and humbled by HIS forgiveness. It is hard enough to forgive someone who hurts you once, let alone accept them unconditionally.

The forgiveness God has shown reveals the depth of HIS mercy and selfless love. How much more truth do you need to feel whole? Yes you might feel you have failed God but who is condemning you?

HIS love is not earned, it is already given. He forgives and loves you without any conditions. We can get up and pursue the good race again.

Romans 8:1-2
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

- Irene Soon

Are you FREE?

27/5/2012

Fear. Such a small word but it can be such a heavy burden we bear!

We fear the unknown, we fear that we can’t meet other people’s expectations, we fear getting hurt, we fear death, we fear for our job security… the list goes on and on.

But fear paralyses us. It makes us second-guess and question everything. And it makes us tune out to God because we are so focused on the thing we are afraid of.

Romans 8:15 says, “For you have now received not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption in which we cry, Abba Father!”

The key here is “bondage”. We become bound as slaves when we fear. We actually voluntarily give ourselves over to Fear to control us. Now that is a scary thought!!

2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, of love and of a sound mind.”

True freedom comes from knowing who our Heavenly Father is and who we are as His children. As His children we have power and authority over fear, we are secure in His unconditional love, and we have the Mind of Christ!

The question is ARE YOU FREE?

- Susanna Tan

Just a little bit longer...

25/5/2012

“So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but is servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.” Exodus 33:11.

Moses pitched his tent (or tabernacle) outside of the Israelite camp. This became the ‘go to’ place to seek God’s counsel for the Israelite's. After Moses spoke with God he left the tent… but someone was still there.

He led armies into battles (Ex. 17:9) and supported Moses while God’s very own people worshiped a golden calf (Ex. 24:13). Joshua was more than just a servant. Translating "servant" from Hebrew (in this passage) describes him as a 'minister'. He was to become Moses’s successor. Talk about big shoes to fill! He would have needed all the help he could get! He knew he had to be prepared to deal with this whining and troublesome bunch. He needed the time in the tabernacle- where God’s presence was.

When life gets too much we have our own ways with dealing with stress and anxiety. Here I believe Joshua gives us a perfect solution- hanging out in God’s presence. Next time you have your alone time with God pray for his peaceful presence.

“Therefor let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” Hebrews 4:16

Approach the throne of grace, freely accessible because of Christ’s sacrifice, and dare to stay in His presence… for just a little bit longer.

-Sandra Iliev

My iCloud

24/5/2012

I recently learnt how to use the iCloud function. This incredibly handy function allows me to use my computer to download games, music or podcasts then share it with any other ipad or iphone at anywhere, anytime – all done wirelessly! No need for clumsy usb drives or data cables it’s all done through icloud!

Just like the icloud function, we have access to the mind of Christ anywhere anytime. God is a supernatural source of wisdom we need for our daily decisions, encouragement we need during down times, precious words for that friend in need, anything is possible in Christ! As we learn to remain in Him, lean, depend and obey Him each small step we take, watch and see Christ move in greater power in our lives!

1 Cor 2:16
For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.

- Jo Voon -

Jesus Wants You To Reign In Life

23/5/2012

"I am sure you know that Romans 5:17 is a verse I love to preach on. It tells us that those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through Jesus Christ!

My friend, when you reign in life, you reign over sin and destructive addictions. You reign over sickness and disease. You reign over poverty and lack. In other words, you reign over anything that holds you back from experiencing the abundant life that Jesus died to give you!

Beloved, the Lord's desire is for you to reign in life. The more you receive the revelation of the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness, the more you will experience His abundant provision for every area of your life. Now, we know that faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of Christ, so keep on hearing the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness preached. The more you hear, the more you will receive."

Romans 5:17
"For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ."

(Extracted from Provision Promises by Pastor Prince, New Creation Church)
- Jia Lin Ang

He made me do it

22/5/2012

“He made me do it! If I don’t take a slice of the cake, he said he will eat all of it!” As innocent as kids can be, they too can shift the blame the way adults do. I was that kid.

It’s just so easy to point fingers to other people and make excuses for our own mistakes or sin. “What he did was horrible but as for me, my main reason for doing such is different, “at least that’s the common explanation I could imagine we would say to other people.

Blame shifting will cause us to lose inner peace and joy, it will also cause a deep sense of guilt to manifest within; it is simply an awful feeling.

When we disobey God, let’s not shift the blame and justify our actions with excuses. Let’s take full responsibility for the mistakes, say that we are sorry and confess our sins to a merciful and forgiving God. HE will not condemn nor see you less.

Romans 14:12-13
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

- Irene Soon

What You Think is What You Are

20/5/2012

Lately I have been reflecting on why I keep finding myself going over the same struggles in life. The same disappointments and insecurities. I do everything I know to combat them – I pray, I cry out to God, I trust in Him and all that – but still, things always seem to gradually slip backwards again.

I’ve been reading Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer and she says, “we need to line up our thinking with God’s Word. If we refuse to do this or choose to think it is unimportant we will never experience victory”.

Could it be that I have been thinking thoughts that are not Godly and that my thought life has affected how I lead my life?I felt that the answer is YES!! Proverbs 23:7 says, ”For as he thinks in his heart, so is he”.

…Whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honourable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and loveable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise think on and weigh and take account of these things. Philippians 4:8

Lining up our thinking with God’s Word isn’t just a one-off thing either, we need to do it EVERYDAY! We need to constantly renew our minds. Reading our Bibles enables God to show us how He thinks so we can compare that with what isn’t His thoughts and CHOOSE RIGHT!

Let’s choose the right thoughts today!

- Susanna Tan

Ignorance is bliss...?

18/5/2012

We can be picky as to what we ‘deal with’ in our lives. I am going to be bold and confess that there are things in my heart that I intentionally ignore because, quite frankly, they hurt. For you it may be a problem that you are aware of, but like me, make the choice of not allowing God to heal it.

It can be easier at times to hold onto hurt and pain then to actually deal with it. Unfortunately this makes a nice place for the enemy to manifest bitterness, hate and unforgiveness. We intentionally don’t pray about it or share it… we pretend it doesn’t exist.

Thankfully, God always has His divine and gentle way of bringing out those areas that we keep hidden. Don’t be ignorant when this happens. The Word of God tells us repeatedly that God is a God who loves us; who gave up His Son for us and has the best interest for us. And He can heal us.

Hebrews 12:14-29 warns against refusing God. Verse 15 says:

“See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many”

Dealing with our ‘stuff’ and getting healing doesn’t change God- it changes us. Let us swallow our pride and hurt and bring it to God in boldness and humility. Jesus is waiting for you to leave it at His feet so He can say to YOU: It. Is. Finished.

Psalm 147:3-“He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.”

-Sandra Iliev