Debrief with Jesus

28 July 2023 Reflection

Blessed are they who have kept the Word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance. - Luke 8:15

I have been part of a ministry for men who facilitates weekend parish-based retreats. At the end of each event, we would gather together to initiate a ‘debrief,’ a post-weekend conversation wherein the feedbacks on each of the facilitators’ performances as well as suggestions for improvements are discussed.

The first time I attended a debrief, I was quite surprised on what I witnessed. At first I thought debriefing is more of a critique session, targeting on the weaknesses of each of the person’s performance in the event. The result of it was some of the people felt demotivated and discouraged at how they delivered their talks. I was also so concerned and shocked with the criticisms that I felt uncomfortable to be part of the group.

Fortunately after several proposals and suggestions we were able to make changes on how we do the debrief. We are now focusing on the positive aspects of the event and the facilitators, ensuring that only the necessary points are to be discussed.

Having an experience on a debrief made me wonder, if Jesus invites me on a debrief of my life, how will it go? How will I be able to assess myself on the performance I am doing with my life? Will what I say become favourable for me, or will it expose the things that I have been doing wrongly? Will Jesus be satisfied with what I am about to say? Will I be even ready to face Jesus and hear what He has to say?

I know I have fallen short several times, and my thoughts and actions sometimes do not align with God’s plans and purpose. Journeying in my faith is not as straight and smooth as what I would have expected. At one point I was thinking I was on good soil already, that I have been thinking, doing, and saying what is according to God’s heart, only to realize that I am still stuck on the rocky and thorny path, even on the road path sometimes, especially when struggles and challenges confront me.

But just like a good debrief, Jesus gives me His feedback, not to drag me down and drown me in discouragement, but to call me to repentance and be reassured again of His love and mercy.

Jesus convicts me to look at my heart and see its current state. And when I do see it in a not-so-good state, He offers a remedy for restoration.

In Jesus there is always a room to improve and transform, there is always an opportunity to become fruitful.

The end goal of our journey is to become a good soil — listening to Jesus’ words, understanding them, then putting His words into action.

The desire to be fruitful in Christ is innate in each of us that we also have the desire to continue to strive to become one. By our own strength we cannot do this; but if we admit in humility that we need God’s mercy and His strength we can be cultivated according to His purpose.

So let us take on the debrief with Jesus. Listen to what He has to say, and learn from His words. Sit with Him in confession. Accept His convictions with humility, and try to improve for the better. Then allow Him to work in our lives to cultivate us into productive soils. Before we even know it, we are already producing the abundance of His fruits.

Dear Papa,

Today is a very special day for me and my family, I praise and thank You for Your constant providence and grace. Your blessings are abundant and unchanging as we continually receive them every day.

I would love to sit with You, Papa: to work out on things that I need to change; to reveal to me the areas that I need to improve; to allow my current soil to be cultivated. The seeds of Your words are always sown in me, yet the soil of my heart is not ready for Your seed to nourish and grow. Your seeds get stolen by the enemy, they wither, and they choke, yet You continue to sow and throw. You never give up on pursuing me.

Teach me to not give up on You, that even though my heart is not yet rich and fertile, it will be someday made productive by Your grace.

In Your love, I will someday be fruitful. In Your grace I will someday be ready for harvest.

Help me to focus on the potential of my growth, not on the famine of my soil.

Guard and protect me as I get nourished by Your Word, so that the seed that You planted within me will gain life.

Sow Your love in me and I will, with fervent hope and trust, reap Your love.

All these I pray in the name of Jesus, my Lord and Saviour, together with the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

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