Month: February 2025

The Goal of Repairing Relationships – No Regrets

How to repair broken relationships?

How do we avoid the temptation to get back at someone who has hurt us?

How often do we blame others for the breakdown of our relationship?

I was listening to Andy Stanley’s podcast entitled, How to Start Repairing Broken Relationships? The goal is: No Regrets. In his words, do everything within your power to reconcile so that, no matter the outcome, you won’t look back in regret.

What was counterintuitive was that the goal of repairing our relationships is not reconciliation – The reason is that this creates an agenda for us. This revelation was an eye opener for me.

Take Responsibility for Our Part

This is the hard part – taking responsibility for our part in our relationships with our spouse, family or friends. We tend to feel offended or wronged, and seek to avenge for the hurt, pain, and betrayal we suffered. More often than not, we do not see how we can be responsible for the pain inflicted upon us.

”Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?.” (Matthew 7:3)

Making the First Move

When we humble ourselves, God will reveal to us the truth about ourselves and our part in the breakdown of the relationship. It is usually our pride that convinces us we are the innocent victim. It takes courage to make the first move, regardless of who is in the wrong.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart” (Psalm 139:23)

Trust God in the Path of Healing

One of the fear of making the first move is that we might not get the outcome we expect. That’s the part where Andy mentioned that we not should approach it with the agenda of reconciliation. Our part is do whatever we can so that we don’t regret when it’s too late. Then leave the outcome to God.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not in your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

This is my invitation to you today: humble yourself before God to seek His wisdom in repairing your broken relationships and trust in God.

Unlocking God’s Favour in Your Life

I recently watched Terri Saville Foy’s videos on God’s favour – she spoke enthusiastically how all of us could receive God’s favour. I was hooked!

What is God’s favour?

God’s favour is His supernatural grace that position us for opportunities beyond our ability. It’s when things happen for you, instead of by you.

In the Bible, we see these examples:

  • Esther found favour with the king and saved her people (Esther 2:17)
  • Joseph was promoted from the prison to the palace (Genesis 39:21)
  • Mary was chosen to carry Jesus because she was “highly favoured” (Luke 1:28)

However, God’s favour is for everyone – we just need to believe it’s ours to receive.

“For you, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favour You will surround him as with a shield” (Psalm 5:12).

Recognising God’s Favour in Your life

Sometimes, we experience favour without even realising it—divine protection, unexpected blessings, or meeting the right person at the right time. It is not a coincidence, but a God-incidence! And when we acknowledge even the smallest favour, we attract even more of it in our lives.

These are signs of God’s favour in our life:

  • Unexpected wins or opportunities beyond our expectations
  • Connection with people or resources that we need
  • Doing impossible things that only God can do, like how I published my book in 52 days

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favour and honour; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless” (Psalm 84:11, NIV)

How to Activate God’s Favour in Your Life

Terri shared how to activate God’s favour in the following ways:

  • Speak Favour over Yourself – declare God’s promises daily
  • Expect Favour– live with expectation that God is orchestrating His divine plan for you
  • Sow Seeds of Favour – bless others, show kindness and give generously, knowing that God multiples what you give
  • Stay obedient to God’s Direction – align your actions and purpose in obedience to God

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8, NIV)

This is my invitation to you today: recognise, declare and expect God’s favour, and align ourselves with His principles, so that we can walk in His blessings.

Redeem Time: Wisdom from Your Future Self

Time is our most valuable resource, yet it’s often the easiest to waste. We are constantly distracted by hundred and one “shiny” things. We keep ourselves busy with countless things that seem “important” but have no lasting purpose. We rush for “urgent” things only to procrastinate on what truly matters, like our health. We are fooled into believing “The Myth of Tomorrow” – that we always have tomorrow.

Let’s invite our Future Self to grant us the wisdom of redeeming our time:

  1. Redeem Time by Focusing on What Truly Matters
    How do you envision yourself in 1, 5 or 10 years’ time? How are you going to achieve that vision? How do you pursue the abundant life that God has prepared for you? Start planning for the fulfilment of that vision and work towards it intentionally.
    “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)
  2. Redeem Time through Bold Faith in God
    We waste so much time fretting and fearing the worst when pursuing our dreams. However, when God gives us His divine dream, He makes the impossible possible. He invites us to take the leap of faith in Him and dare to have impossible dreams, strengthening our faith through boldness and audacity.
    “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)
  3. Redeem Time by Learning from Setbacks
    Our Future Self can remind us that our setbacks are not wasted time if we learn from our setbacks and grow in maturity and wisdom. Setbacks can also direct us to new opportunities and let go of what did not serve us any longer. God always turn our greatest setbacks into precious lessons that help us grow extraordinarily. God redeems us and restores us from our lowest depths to our greatest heights.
    “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

This is my invitation to you today: redeem your precious time through the wisdom of your Future Self – Focus on what truly matters, be bold in your faith and embrace setbacks as lessons for growth.

The Courage to Pause: Find Strength in Stillness

Courage is usually associated with doing big bold things. Today, I want to talk about the Courage to PAUSE – to stop where we are or what we are doing – and to reflect.

Why is it good to sometimes pause?

  1. Pause to Reflect on God’s Purpose
    In our bid to pursue our dream, we sometimes lose our way. It is always good to pause along the way, to realign with God’s purpose and to review our progress to see if we are still on the right path. It is easy to detour or get distracted or get sidetracked from God’s purpose. Hitting pause gives us a chance to review and realign our plans with God’s purpose. It is in the stillness that you can hear the soft whisper of God’s voice.
    “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
  2. The Strength to Wait in Faith
    Sometimes we become impatient with our progress and feel we can’t afford to wait, especially when we are waiting on God’s timing. Waiting on God is His way of strengthening our faith – as we trust Him in the waiting. Rest assured, He is working behind the scene to prepare us. Just like brewing soup takes time to extract its flavours, growing in maturity takes time and patience.
    “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14)
  3. Rest as a Source of Courage
    God sometimes call us to rest, but we are reluctant to do so. We feel guilty when we rest, so we continue to push ourselves. However, rest is necessary to restore our strength and creativity. Rest gives us a way to step back so that we can see that we are moving in the right direction. Rest gives us a moment to review our journey and see the progress we have made. Rest gives us the courage to reflect and make bold decisions intentionally.
    “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

This is my invitation to you today: have the courage to pause and find the strength in your stillness.