On Rounds with Jesus

Tag: devotional

  • Changes

    Changes

    Scripture reading: Luke 15:11-32

    If there’s one constant about being human, it’s that we change. Change is what makes us alive. We are wired with an insatiable need to grow, to move, to become.

    Change begins when you recognise that where you are is not where you should remain. That realisation is your signal—it’s time to move.

    Take the prodigal son. He squandered the opportunities his father gave him. He wasted away his fortune until he had nothing left. It seemed over. That was the time to give up, to settle with the pigs. But he didn’t settle. He realised his present situation was not meant to be his permanent situation. He knew where he ought to be. And so, he made the journey back to his father. And oh, how his father embraced him for that turnaround!

    It’s your turn. What changes do you need to make in your life? What steps do you need to take? And when will you take them?

    We’ve all made a mess or two in our lifetimes—because humans are messy. But God is ever merciful. His grace is enough for you today. Tomorrow? It’s not promised. The only time you truly have is now. Make that change today.

    Reflections

    • Change starts with awareness – Like the prodigal son, I must first recognise that my current situation is not where I am meant to remain.
    • Change begins with honesty – I must be willing to face the truth about where I am falling short, whether spiritually, emotionally, or in my daily habits
    • Small steps matter – Real growth often comes not from giant leaps but from consistent, intentional steps toward improvement
    • My present is not my permanent – Just because I’m in a mess now doesn’t mean God intends for me to stay there (Jeremiah 29:11).
    • Grace makes change possible – No matter how far I’ve gone, God’s mercy welcomes me back when I turn to Him (Lamentations 3:22-23).
    • Delay is dangerous – Tomorrow isn’t promised, so I must act on what God is prompting me to do today (James 4:14).
    • Change requires steps – It’s not just about realisation; it’s about movement. Like the prodigal son, I must rise and go (Luke 15:20).

    Prayer

    Father, thank You for Your endless mercy and patience with me. I know there are many areas of my life where I need change—my thoughts, my words, my habits, my relationships, my priorities. Lord, shine Your light on the places in me that must be surrendered to You. Give me wisdom to see clearly, courage to act faithfully, and strength to walk in obedience. Help me not to postpone what You are calling me to improve today. May every change I make draw me closer to You and reflect Your goodness in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

  • Stuck

    Stuck

    Scripture reading: John 5:1-15, NKJV

    Sometimes in difficult deliveries, a baby’s head is born, but the shoulders become lodged behind the mother’s pubic bone. It’s an obstetric emergency called shoulder dystocia. In that moment, every second matters. The longer the baby stays stuck, the worse the outcome. It can feel like hell – frantic, helpless, and desperate.

    Being stuck is never easy.

    In John 5, we read about a man who had been “stuck” for thirty-eight years — lying beside a pool said to have healing powers, but he could never make it in. Every time the water stirred, someone else got there first. He had no one to help him.

    Then one day, Jesus shows up and asks him, “Do you want to be healed?” Instead of a clear yes, the man gives excuses.

    Maybe you know what that’s like. Perhaps you’ve been stuck in sin, in sickness, in cycles of frustration and mediocrity. Maybe, like the man, your mind has grown weary, your hope paralysed. But today, grace stands before you and asks, “Do you want to be made whole?”

    Then comes the call: “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately, the man was healed.

    Friend, it’s your turn. Grace is here – for your healing, your salvation, your breakthrough. All it takes is surrender. Lay down your excuses. Hand over your helplessness. He is sufficient – He is all the help you need.

    And just like in that delivery room, the first thing to do when a baby is stuck… is to call for help. Oh, what a friend we have in Jesus — a very present help in time of need.

    Let’s pray

    Lord Jesus, I come to You just as I am — tired, stuck, and hopeless.
    Like the man by the pool, I’ve waited, I’ve watched, and I’ve withered. Too long I have depended on others or on my own strength. Too long I’ve believed that healing was for someone else, that breakthrough had passed me by.

    But today, You stand before me. You ask, “Do you want to be made whole?” Yes, Lord. I do.

    I surrender my excuses. Lift me from this place of paralysis — in my heart, in my mind, in my spirit.

    Speak Your word again: “Rise up and walk.” I receive Your grace — grace to walk, grace to believe, grace to become all You created me to be.

    Thank you for Your salvation, Your healing and Your deliverance, in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

    Reflections

    1. Stuck. Not anymore.

    Just like the man by the pool who had been immobilized for 38 years, we too can feel trapped in sin, sickness, or stagnation. But Jesus meets us in our helplessness, offering healing and hope. When He speaks, even long-standing situations can shift in an instant.

    2. Excuses versus obedience

    The man had reasons for remaining where he was, but none of them could save him. It wasn’t until he responded to Jesus’ command to “Rise and walk” that he experienced healing. Likewise, we must choose faith over excuses and respond when grace calls.