God healed this man. God can heal us, but we must want to be healed. And when we are healed, we must not fall back into the place that got us there.

Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."
—John 5:14

8. Jesus expects us to use our lives to reach others.
God doesn't do anything in our lives just because. There is always a purpose. In this man's life he expected him to tell others what he did. Not only tell others but to do it with confidence. For some it's hard to tell others what Christ has done for you. Christ doesn't give you an option; he expects us to share with others. But you know what is great about this passage? When the man first got healed, he didn't know it was Jesus. This gave him time to share without fear about Jesus. Then after he had been sharing for some time, Jesus revealed himself to the man. By this time, the man was ready to tell others. Sometimes when God heals us, changes us, restores us, it takes a little time to tell everyone. Just keep praying for the confidence. God never meant for you to hide who he is in your life.

The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
—John 5:15

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.
—Proverbs 19:21

Recently God has spoken to me about certain areas of my life. He told me I needed to plan for success and not failure. Putting things in my life that give me success whether it’s green veggies cut up in the fridge to bringing my own lunch to save on money, to friends who grab me and whisper “chill” as they see my blood pressure raise due to stress, or having pictures of my nieces and nephews around me to make me smile when I don't always want to smile to spending time in the Word every day so that it is sown in my heart to reveal itself during the most critical times in my life.

Plan for success and not failure. What do you need to change in your life? Can you see the pool, the healing water? You don't have to just look at it anymore. Give it to God, and you will be there.

Kris Swiatocho is the President and Director of TheSinglesNetwork.org Ministries and FromHisHands.com Ministries.  Kris has served in ministry in various capacities for the last 20 years. An accomplished trainer and mentor, Kris has a heart to reach and grow leaders so they will in turn reach and grow others. She is currently working on her third Bible study, From the Manger to the Cross:  The Men in Jesus' Life.  Her second Bible study, From the Manger to the Cross:  The Women in Jesus' Life, was published last fall and is available on her websites.  Her first book, Singles and Relationships: A 31-Day Experiment, was co-authored with Dick Purnell of Single Life Resources.

TheSinglesNetwork.org Ministries  helps churches, pastors and single adult leaders evaluate, develop and support their single adult ministries through high-energy speaking engagements, results-oriented consulting and training and leadership development conferences and seminars. Click here to request a FREE "How to Start a Single Adult Ministry" guide.  

FromHisHands.com Ministries is Kris's speaking ministry.  If you've ever heard her speak, you know that Kris is the kind of speaker who keeps the crowd captivated, shares great information and motivates people to make a difference in the lives of those around them!  She speaks to all church audiences on everything from "first impression" ministry to women's topics to singles and young adults.  She can speak on a Sunday morning, at a woman's retreat or for a single adults conference.  Bring Kris to your church today!

Singles and Relationships by Kris Swiatocho and Dick Purnell
Many singles are Christians who wonder if God will ever bring a mate their way or if they should just stop focusing on a future with a marriage partner and live the single life to the fullest.  Kris Swiatocho and Dick Purnell offer solid biblical answers for singles in this newest title in Dick's popular 31-Day Experiment Bible study.