Tag: #obedience

The Prayer that Unlocked Job’s Restoration

Last week, I wrote about healing and restoration. One of the interesting things that struck me when Terri talked about restoration was that Job’s restoration came after he prayed for his friends. We know about Job’s immense suffering and loss – of his family, wealth and even health. Yet, the climax of his story is not just his endurance, but how God restored him after he prayed for his friends.

“After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.” — Job 42:10 (NIV)

This has made me intentional about praying for more people – even making a list of all the people I am praying for – praising and thanking God for all my prayers – spoken and unspoken, answered and yet to be answered. I have also been prompted to pray especailly for people who have disappointed or hurt me.

Job’s Prayer was not about himself

With his terrible loss, Job still interceded and prayed for his friends – the same friends who had misjudged him. His obedience to God’s command to pray for them demonstrated his humility and trust in God’s justice.

Restoration came after obedience

It was tempting to resent his friends, who instead of consoling Job, were making things worse for Job. Yet God asked Job to pray for them. It was after Job prayed for his friends, that God restored him. Sometimes, the breakthrough we long for is waiting on the steps of obedience – especially in forgiving and blessing others.

The Double Portion Principle

When God restored Job, He didn’t just give him back what was lost – He doubled it. This is God’s heart – to not only heal but to abundantly restore what was lost, and more! And sometimes, the key to that abundance is forgiveness and releasing others through prayer.

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today: If you’re holding onto bitterness or hurt, consider what God might do if you release it to Him and pray for those who have wronged you. Your breakthrough may be on the other side of obedience.

Stuck for 38 Years? Get Up and Walk

Have you been stuck so long and you can’t remember what it was like before being stuck? Or are you waiting for the perfect time or circumstances to get unstuck?

The Guy at the Pool of Bethesda

This is the Bible story of a guy who was sick for 38 years, who tried without success to enter the Pool of Bethesda to get healed. I couldn’t help but wonder, how on earth could he be stuck for so long?! Then I realize: it might not be 38 years, but there are some areas of my life that I have been stuck for the longest time!

Jesus’ Question

Jesus asked the man: Do you want to be well? John 5:6

It might seem obvious, but the man didn’t answer Jesus in the affirmative. He replied, “I have no one to help me… Someone else goes down ahead of me” – John 5:7

I can’t help feeling this reply is so familiar! We always find excuses or justification for being stuck. This begs the question: do we really want to be healed? Have we been so comfortable being stuck, and our identity has become ingrained in it, that we unconsciously sabotage our efforts towards healing? Has the mat we are lying on become our so-called “security blanket”, like how a child clings to his/her security blanket for comfort and security?

Jesus’ Command

Then Jesus said to him, “Get Up! Pick up your mat and walk” – John 5:8

The man didn’t need the Pool of Bethesda, because he has Jesus to heal him. All that is required is his obedience – to get up, pick up his mat and walk.

All of us have our little “mats” that we are lying on and keeping us stuck – limiting beliefs, fear of change or fear of failure, past hurts and unforgiveness, waiting for perfect conditions, relying on others to help us, etc. And we have our metaphorical “Pool of Bethesda” – external circumstances, traditions or rituals that we rely on.

What Jesus is commanding us to do is to get up from lying on the fake “security blanket” mat and walk in obedience and faithfulness to God. Then true healing comes, and with it, freedom.

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today: Get Up! Pick up your mat and walk.

The Power of Micro-Clarity: Small Choices, Big Impact

Do you feel overwhelmed in achieving your dream? Or feel stuck figuring out how to start, or how to proceed?

It is exciting to pursue a dream, but sometimes, it can get overwhelming. We sometimes can’t see the big picture yet, or visualize all the steps leading to our dream. So this idea of micro-clarity means that we can make small daily choices that is in alignment with our purpose in the pursuit of our dream. In other words, micro-clarity means: small choices, big impact.

  1. Micro-clarity brings Focus to Daily Life
    Start each day with clarity, intention and focus on what God wants us to do. It starts with daily choices and actions, big and small – that are in alignment with God’s purpose. The best way to start the day is prayer and devotion.

    “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

  2. Micro-clarity creates Consistency in Obedience
    Most of the time, we don’t see the big picture from God. He usually shows one or two steps ahead, expecting us to obey Him as He reveals more steps along the way. He will be faithful to lead and guide us to bigger things.

    “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:6, NKJV)

  3. Micro-clarity builds momentum towards Bold Dreams
    It is in our consistent daily choices that builds our momentum towards the bold divine dream. Our obedience and faithfulness can leads us to something far greater than we can ever imagine, so be open and be prepared to God’s abundant blessings.

    “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20, NIV)

Just imagine playing a game: you start with small tasks, which leads to the next level with more challenging tasks. You need to practice regularly to improve your game, and move up the next levels until you reach your game’s ultimate quest.

This is my invitation to you today: start each day focusing on God and what He wants you to do, obey Him faithfully every day and trust that He will bless you beyond your imagination.