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“I think it was the best away game in the Champions League – not only this year, last year included.

“I told the boys I’m proud of how we played. Against a side like this, playing this kind of football, I was completely happy.

“In the end, nobody is really interested – probably only football nerds will think about it – because it was about the result, and we lost 3-0.

“I can work really well with this game. I will use this game to show the boys what is possible. It was a brave performance that was very passionate, very lively and, in a lot of moments, creative and direct.”

Jurgen Klopp made the statements above in an interview with the BBC, after they lost 3-0 to Barcelona in the first leg of the  2018-2019 Champions League Semi final on May 1, 2019.

In the second leg, played on May 7, 2019, Liverpool absolutely routed Barcelona with a resounding 4-0 victory, and kicked them out of the Champions league! It was only then I understood the annoying smile Jurgen Klopp had on his face when Barcelona scored the third goal at the Camp Nou Stadium six days earlier! He was saying, “I will be back!” with that smile.

He accepted his situation, and did something about it; hence the resounding victory at Anfield Stadium six days later. Liverpool went on to with the 2018-2019 champions league!

It was one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the UEFA Champions League!

The first step to recovery is acceptance of the situation you are in; the second is, doing something about it!

Bible also records a great comeback in the book of Nehemiah.

READ Nehemiah 1:1-4

“The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah.

It came to pass in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushanthe citadel,  that Hanani one of my brethren came with men from Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”

So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.“ (Nehemiah 1:1- 4)

When Nehemiah, the cupbearer of Artaxerxes, king Persia, got the terrible news about the ruins of Jerusalem, he immediately accepted the reality of the situation, and decided to do something about it.

Nehemiah to took the first crucial step, by praying to God; asking for forgiveness for Israel, reminding God of his covenant with Israel, and asking Him for mercy and restoration. He also asked for favor before the king(Nehemiah 1:5-11)! God granted his requests, and the wall was built(Nehemiah 6:1).

Can you imagine if Nehemiah did nothing about the situation? Can you imagine if he did not pray, and act in faith?  

A lot of the victories we crave are only a prayer, and a step of faith away! But the first step is to look ourselves in the mirror, and say,

“We got a problem!”

Unfortunately, most of us live in a state of denial; and create several facades to hide the true situation, till it all comes crashing down!

What situations are you in denial of today? Is it the sin you are hiding? Is it your child that is going wayward? Is it debt into which you sink deeper and deeper? Is it that  cover up in the office, or that relationship you know isn’t just right?

The first step is to say, “We got a problem here!”; and the next is to pray before the God of heaven, like Nehemiah did.

Comeback is possible.

MEMORY VERSE

“He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)

QUESTIONS

1. What are the problems you keep denying in your life?

2. Why not accept the situation, pray to the God of heaven, and take a step of faith?

PRAYER TIP

God help us to be sincere with our situation; and guide us to our restoration.

Written by:

BENNY MALM

For:

TESTIMONY DEVOTIONAL