Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly. And he said: “I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, And He answered me. “Out of the belly of Sheol, I cried, And You heard my voice. Jonah 2:1-2
You may have missed or mismanaged some great opportunities God brought your way. Maybe you had something nice going on but suddenly lost them! A wonderful spouse who left the marriage, a good relationship that came to an end, a dreamed career that came to an end, a wonderful friendship that came to an end or God's favour that was not well managed!
These opportunities may have been lost because of compromise, refusing to listen to godly counsel or happened unknowingly! It is easy to live in regret and think your life is limited because of your past choices... God has a new opportunity for you! Put away the luggage and take hold of the opportunity.
Sometimes you may feel that your past mistakes have closed your chances for a new opportunity. Even going ahead to live in regret; telling yourself that things would have been far better if you were more disciplined, uncompromising or lived right!
The goal of the enemy is to make you feel frustrated and cause you to build your life around regret. It is good to feel sorry about your past mistakes by asking God for forgiveness and deciding to make things right but don't live a life of regret, guilt and condemnation. The enemy's goal of making you feel depressed can only worsen things and silence the seed of greatness in you!
The enemy may even whisper to your ears that you are not qualified for a new opportunity by reminding you how you squandered your past opportunities. One thing you must understand about God is that if you don't disqualify yourself, God will never disqualify you. He will keep calling back! The main text for this message says that Jonah cried to God from the belly of the fish, God answered him and presented him with a new opportunity to make things right.
You can also call on God today for a new opportunity, He is more willing to present you with a new opportunity than you are willing to receive... In the case of Moses, he was so angry that he threw down and destroyed the precious gift God gave him at Mount Sinai. However, he prayed to God for forgiveness, and God forgave him and gave him a new opportunity to get the Ten Commandments back. (Exodus 32:19-20)
You may have thrown down, destroyed, mismanaged or blown up a precious gift from God just like Moses; having a wonderful relationship but threw it down, a wonderful marriage but threw it down, a great career but threw it down, a profitable business but threw it down, nice friendship but threw it down or a favour from God but threw it down, it's never too late to ask God for forgiveness and decide to make things right. (1John1:9 & Psalm 25:11)
God will never prevent you from a new opportunity or another chance to get things back on track. The lost opportunity might have even resulted in a very terrible loss and the devil tells you, no chance for a new one... The Bible says "But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
When the scripture says with God all things are possible, it means nothing is impossible with God! He has a way of giving fulfilment, peace and new opportunities that will bring your life back on track. He is the God that gives beauty for ashes! Dust yourself off the guilt and condemnation, decide to make things right and live a life that pleases God.
God has a new opportunity of joy and happiness for you; a new opportunity to have a joyful marriage, a new opportunity to have a great relationship, a new opportunity for a great career, a new opportunity for amazing favour and a new opportunity to build a wonderful friendship with someone. Don't give up!
Prayer
Father Lord in Heaven, thank you for giving me a new opportunity to get my life back on track with the lavishness of your joy, peace, happiness, good health, joy in my marriage, my career and everything that concerns me; I receive it in Jesus' name (Amen)
Blessing!