Encouraging Words for the day | Christian devotionals - Hopeful Heart

It is good to give thanks to the Lord

3/3/2025

The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 92 that it is good to give thanks to the Lord. He is imploring us to see how giving thanks to the Lord is good for our soul, mind and body. When we fill our thoughts with prayerful praise, it will bring tidings of gladness and shift our focus from negative thoughts, gloom and sadness. It is, therefore, good to greet each day & morning with thanksgiving at the works of His hands.

What work you may ask? The Lord is doing a good work in our lives so that we may have life and have it to the full, the devil however, works overtime daily to burden us with anxious thoughts, worries that steal aways our joy and peace and enough to push us to make hurried or impulsive mistakes. In knowing this, we also need to be reminded that God is bigger than every mountain against us and He will continue his good works in us; interceding for us in the supernatural realms and we could continue steadfastly in prayer being watchful in it with thanksgiving (Colossians 4: 2).

It is good to give thanks to the Lord for He who begin a good work in you will bring it to full completions (Philippians 1:6).

John 10: 10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.

- Irene Soon

We have enough

3/2/2025

When would you say you have enough? When you finally land that higher paying job? Owning the latest car? Bigger house?

Luke 12: 15 writes, "Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own." Heed the wisdom of the Bible for the Lord has walked the earth and experienced the same seasons of our lives.

Writer GK Chesterton also notably wrote that there are 2 ways to get enough. One is to continue to accumulate more and more, the other is desire less and less. We could stop and ask ourselves if we feel sincerely blessed and that we have enough? God is the One who oversees us, we have enough.

Our societies are constantly possessed by more possessions and constantly looking, wishing and buying stuff with more bells and whistles, we could stop and ponder on the truth God has given us. The Lord is not against us to get more but He is mindful that things could become an idol in your life.
Heed His truth for where your treasure, there yor heart will be also (Matthew 6: 21)

- John W.

Happy New Year 2025

1/1/2025

We pray for a bountiful and joyful start for you and your families. May you have the rest that you need and continue to place your faith and hope in the Lord for this year.

The Lord promises in Philippians 4: 7 that we will experience His peace which will exceeds anything that we could comprehend or understand and this peace will keep our hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.

God loves you and blesses you. Amen.

- Hopeful Heart Team

The Lord also promises to never leave and forsake us

30/12/2024

When we look back in our walk with Christ, it is easier to see and understand why He has placed us in the places He did, why He has brought certain people and situations, why he permitted trials and challenges and also why He uprooted us to new places, jobs, friendships and/or relationships.

There is always a lesson in every season and though we may not always get the clarity we want at the time we want; I count it as a blessing and protection from the Lord as His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55: 8).When we encounter challenges and trials, our solutions are always grounded in men’s wisdom which is foolishness to the Lord (1 Corinthians 3: 19 – 20).

As we reflect at this end of year, I could testify and see how God has assisted and directed good outcomes of my trials faithfully and pruning what is not required. If the thought of the upcoming new year still bears uncertainty for you, let Psalm 111 be your faithful reminder of the Lord’s heart for us.
The Lord also promises to never leave and forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8).

With the promise of God’s presence and help, we can move to 2025 with confidence and faith for the Lord goes before us. Let us rejoice for the Lord is faithful and good.

Isaiah 55: 8
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, said the Lord”

1 Corinthians 3: 19 - 20
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”[ and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”

Psalm 111: 3 - 5
Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate. He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.

- Irene Soon

Engraved on the palm on the Lord

4/11/2024

Charles Spurgeon wrote beautifully referencing the promise that the Lord has made in Isaiah.

"See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me." (Isaiah 49: 16)

In Spurgeon's active preaching years , it is said that He loved to preach on Isaiah 49: 16. It is a wonderful - wonderful promise and Spurgeon painted a visual reference for us whereby Jesus' wounds were engraved by nails, fastened to the Cross by thuds of hammers that His people will be truly engraved on the palm of His hands.

If and when we are plagued by doubts and thoughts that Jesus has forgotten us, we can look to our palms and remember Jesus' wounded engraved palm for us. Our names have been engraved on the palm of the Lord. He has put a permanent lasting mark on His palm for us, our walls are ever before Him; it is Jesus' way to say He loves you and me and He will always go before us; making a way and He will not in any way forsake us. Amen.

Deuteronomy 31: 6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

- Irene Soon

Take heart, wait for the Lord!

28/6/2024

Receiving blessings and be blessings for others are. what we as Christian are called to. What we have received and seen from God, that is what we can share to the world so that the world will know Him.

In saying so, I still struggle with family issues and uncertainties about how to continue serving the Lord even after many encouraging moments in my life. It is so easy to be discouraged when you have not received the breakthrough you pray for your trials or salvations of loved ones.

In a moment of discouragement, I would like to remind us Roman 8: 24 – 25 NIV For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? When the darkest day comes, it is His timing to show His glory among the people (Psalm 102: 12 - 13) and everything is in His timing, not mine. Trusting God even when it is difficult, is when I seek His strength to continue on. I believe My God is a Saviour who never fails to fulfil His promises.

Though I do not know when Salvation will come to my household nor when He will answer my prayers and opens doors in my own mission fields, I remind my soul that He has been working all things for my good and His timing is perfect. Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double (Zechariah 9:12 ASV). Return to your place of hope, the Lord is your loving Saviour. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! - Psalm 27:14 ESV

Psalm 102: 13
You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come.

- Jenni Wang

The peace of this season

22/12/2023

Perfect peace cannot be found outside of the Wonderful Counsellor, the Prince of Peace. Try as we may to get peace from many of our world’s sources but when trouble times come, do we have the peace that surpasses all understanding?

If not, we are not alone. Jesus gives us direction on how to get there. Pray about everything. Tell Him what you need and thank Him for all He has done and the peace that surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds thought Christ Jesus. Keep our mind stayed on Him and trust Him. He will keep us in perfect peace. He is our wonderful Counsellor. If we stayed on Him and continually connected to Him, perfect peace is ours as He promised.

In this Christmas season, seek Jesus for your guarantee of perfect peace. When the busyness of this season will try to overwhelm you, put down everything else and seek the Lord with your prayers for strength and his perfect everlasting peace. Let Jesus allow you to experience the peace of this season is all about – the Birth of the Prince of Peace unto the world.

Philippians 4:6 -7 NIV
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 26:3 AMP
You will keep in [a]perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both [b]inclination and character],
Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].

- Annie Pisca

Enduring grace to rise

26/6/2023

In everyday life, the Lord lovingly leaves His fingerprints on His creations. I believe, these are reminders for us to believe in His provision and plans.

Take a look at a palm tree – 1) This tree will bend but it will not break. Despite how strong the storm or wind may come its way, the palm tree will bend its branches even to the ground and when the storm eases, it will straighten its branches and be its strongest in the place where it bent. 2) You can’t kill a palm tree; you may be able to cut it but it will grow again. The nutrients it need to survive are stored through the tree’s rough outer rings and it also remains close to its roots. 3) Palm tree’s roots can grow as deep as hundreds of meters in search of water hence why it could thrive even in a dry place as it stays close to its water source.

If the Lord could equip a palm tree to be enduring and robust, how much more would He equips you? He readily equips us, His beloved children with His enduring grace. You may be overwhelmed and bend but you will not be broken, lay your root deep to the source of the Living Water. Let no wind nor storm be able to uproot and break your faith.

Yes, you are more than able to endure and rise stronger. The Lord is your source and you have His enduring grace to rise stronger.

Isaiah 40:31
"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

- Irene Soon

When God, when?

1/5/2023

I sometimes wonder what if Jesus lives in this era we live in, what would he do? Would he spend it teaching and healing more; not distracted by all the noise we have in this digital world? Would he feel the need to hurry in this instantaneous gratifying world? The answers to these questions however, will not change my faith in Jesus. What I need to focus on is the fact that Christ has died on the cross for us and because of that, we are made righteous through Him (2 Cor.5:21).

Timing is also another question that many of us have asked at least once. Though we have heard testimonies that God is never late, sometimes we find ourselves asking, “When God, when?” Sometimes, His timing may even seem unfair but I rest my assurance on the Lord’s invitation to walk daily with Him, to cast my cares unto Him, to grow in knowledge and love Him (2 Peters 3:18).

The Lord is working in and through all things. He only lived on earth for 33 years yet He has accomplished His mission and defeated death. Let me encourage everyone to live by faith and love and not allow questions to plague our faith in Christ’s Sovereignty and love for us.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT
For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

2 Peters 3:18 NIV
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

- Jenni Wang

The butterfly effect

14/4/2023

In physics, the butterfly effect is a theory that describes on how a tiny momentum or changes i.e such as the flap of a butterfly’s wings could affect the weather thousands of miles away. There will be times when you feel insignificant, metaphorically like a small butterfly and you find yourself saying whatever you do will not matter much when you are facing trials.

As a child of God, there is much you could do. Like the butterfly effect, your words, your faith, your perseverance, your prayers, deeds and kindness could activate the heavenly forces no matter how small they may be. In the Bible, we have seen how the Lord uses things that we consider insignificant to bring miracles, things such David’s slingshot to bring down Goliath, a boy’s lunch box to feed multitudes, Samson’s donkey’s jawbone that slew thousand Philistines. What you do, could bring changes or influences to people around you and your own circumstances.

It is not about the size of seeds or actions you could do but it is about our God who could facilitate that mustard seed faith to grow. It is not about the number of prayers you pray but it is about the Lord who answers prayers of His children, He leaves no one behind and that is the beauty of His grace. He rejoices in your beginnings no matter how small, begin your butterfly effect.

Zechariah 4:10 NLT
Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…

- John W.