Thursday, December 14, 2006
Close your eyes and let go
As I continue on with my spiritual journey...I truly believe now that :" The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps"- Prov 16:9 (NASB)...Often we think of doing something but we're unsure of the future ahead, our minds filled with uncertainties. We want to do it but questions like, "How do I start?" and "Will I succeed?" plague us. Just like what they always say 'the mind/heart is willing but the body is weak'...something like that.
For a long time now, I've been wanting to push myself a step further away from my comfort zone...try to be participate in a church activity or group ...or attend bible studies, etc..basta do something like that... hehe. I know envy is not good but really I envy those people whose love for God shines through their faces...those people whose prayers could really bring joy to God, (galing nilang magpray, nkakabless)...those people who, despite of their busy schedules find the time and energy to do something for His glory...and invest in something far more lasting and important than things here on earth. I envy their passion for Christ.Unlike me who cannot even find the right bible chapter without looking at the table of contents. (nakakahiya).
Then last week when I was about to go back home, I chanced upon Pastor Gil Molina and chatted with him throughout our jeepney ride. He talked about KKB (Kristiyanong Kabataan Para sa Bayan) and our former KKB Taytay chair Kuya Ace who is now heading the KKB-MAN (i'm not sure about the spelling hehe. don't even ask me what it means) in Manila who seldom attends in our place nowadays. Well, let's just say he told me a lot of wonderful things and how God's power is working through people in different classes of society specifically the young professionals. I got encouraged and he mentioned that there are services in Manila near the apartment where I live."Ping!"(light bulb) Now, the desire to 'do something for God' is taking shape...hmm...looks like something to start on. 'I could attend services in Manila', I told myself. Pastor Gil promised me he'll ask Kuya Ace to text me about the KKB in Manila. But then here's one complication: Kuya Ace no longer attends our services back home. In short, it's pretty much as blurry as my myopic eyes that I'll be able to get the information I'll need. 'Hay...so much for my start', I thought.
I almost forgot about it when our church anniversary came last Sunday and guess who's there? Yup, the KKB guy I was talking about...Kuya Ace. We got into a small chat and I asked about the services in Manila which he confirmed. (Yes! the Lord is truly working...) He asked for my number and when I was about to ask his, guess what? I left my phone at home. I just gave him mine and told him to text me about the address and details, praying he won't forget to text me.('coz if he doesn't, I'll be facing dead end again)
Well, thank God he didn't and he gave me the address and details. It's midweek services on Wednesdays, 7pm and Sunday service 10am at Joridilla Bldg , Gastambide St. Tuesday night came and I looked at my Quiz-free Thursday schedule...'Wow', I said to myself, 'hindi na kita mahihindian Lord. This is it!'.
My heart and mind was set on going...but the last minute my friend Aileen cancelled! And so on that wednesday (last night), I was like a lonely pirate...all alone facing the unknown dangerous unchartered sea. Although the name Gastambide was familiar, I didn't have an idea where the hell that place was and how can I get there. All I knew was that it's somewhere near UE. So trying to look like I know where I'm going, I bravely set out and rode a jeep to Morayta. In my mind I was praying "Lord, kayo na bahala sa akin". I got into a trike and confidently told the driver, "Joridilla bldg, Gastambide" , but deep inside praying and hoping that he knows it 'coz I really DIDN'T KNOW.
We were finally cruising through Gastambide... I was thinking all the time that the driver knows that building and I was just waiting for him to stop. But I guess the driver was also thinking of the same thing...that I know where I'm going. I think we were getting near the end of the street and 'Surprise!' He also doesn't know the place. (Uh-oh). We stopped when he asked me "Miss, san po ba kayo?!". "Ha? hindi po ba nyo alam yun?!", I replied. I was about to panic when I looked up on the side of the driver and saw where we stopped...and miraculously ( I don't believe it was just coincidence), there...written on the wall, "Joridilla bldg". Praise God!
"He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." -Psalm 91:11--> grabe totoo 'to! I got there safe and even early. ( I alotted time allowance in case I get lost). It's like He has an invisible rope, gentle tugging my boat towards my treasure
Now, I truly believe that when you set your heart into something, just hold on to his promises, pray and get out of your comfort zone! Face your fears and go ahead...entrust yourself in His care. Right now, I still don't know how I could be of use for Him, but things DOESN'T ALWAYS NEED TO BE PLANNED.
We cannot calculate every step in detail...and just like our case discussions in medicine, we cannot always tabulate in perfect order the treatment plan, risks, advantages, disadvantages, complications, of everything we want to do with our lives. And up to this moment I still pray for guidance and direction. Sometimes, we just have to close our eyes and let go...
On that evening, a complete stranger went in there and was embraced with a lot of warmth by young people filled with passion for God. (grrr, made me again think why didn't I do this when I was younger with a lot more time in my hands?).And I went out of that place a stranger no more, with new friends in faith at hand, and a joyful heart, looking forward for things God has in store for me...what a blessed night!
Labels: The Journey of Faith
sarah =) â¥
2:16 PM
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Monday, December 11, 2006
Does God always Answer Prayer?
Many thanks to Arthur for this one. This is by A.W. Tozer from his book "Man - The Dwelling Place of God". =)
Does God always Answer Prayer?
by A.W. Tozer
CONTRARY TO POPULAR OPINION, the cultivation of a psychology of uncritical belief is not an unqualified good, and if carried too far it may be a positive evil. The whole world has been booby-trapped by the devil, and the deadliest trap of all is the religious one. Error never looks so innocent as when it is found in the sanctuary.
One field where harmless-looking but deadly traps appear in great profusion is the field of prayer. There are more sweet notions about prayer than could be contained in a large book, all of them wrong and all highly injurious to the souls of men.
I think of one such false notion that is found often in pleasant places consorting smilingly with other notions of unquestionable orthodoxy. It is that God always answers prayer.
This error appears among the saints as a kind of all-purpose philosophic therapy to prevent any disappointed Christian from suffering too great a shock when it becomes evident to him that his prayer expectations are not being fulfilled. It is explained that God always answers prayer, either by saying Yes or by saying No, or by substituting something else for the desired favor.
Now, it would be hard to invent a neater trick than this to save face for the petitioner whose requests have been rejected for non-obedience. Thus when a prayer is not answered he has but to smile brightly and explain, "God said No." It is all so very comfortable. His wobbly faith is saved from confusion and his conscience is permitted to lie undisturbed. But I wonder if it is honest.
To receive an answer to prayer as the Bible uses the term and as Christians have understood it historically, two elements must be. present: (1) A clear-cut request made to God for a specific favor. (2) A clear-cut granting of that favor by God in answer to the request. There must be no semantic twisting, no changing of labels, no altering of the map during the journey to help the embarrassed tourist to find himself.
When we go to God with a request that He modify the existing situation for us, that is, that He answer prayer, there are two conditions that we must meet: (1) We must pray in the will of God and (2) we must be on what old-fashioned Christians often call "praying ground"; that is, we must be living lives pleasing to God.
It is futile to beg God to act contrary to His revealed purposes. To pray with confidence the petitioner must be certain that his request falls within the broad will of God for His people.
The second condition is also vitally important. God has not placed Himself under obligation to honor the requests of worldly, carnal or disobedient Christians. He hears and answers the prayers only of those who walk in His way. "Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight . . . . If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (I John 3:21, 22; John 15:7).
God wants us to pray and He wants to answer our prayers, but He makes our use of prayer as a privilege to commingle with His use of prayer as a discipline. To receive answers to prayer we must meet God's terms. If we neglect His commandments our petitions will not be honored. He will alter situations only at the request of obedient and humble souls.
The God-always-answers-prayer sophistry leaves the praying man without discipline. By the exercise of this bit of smooth casuistry he ignores the necessity to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world, and actually takes God's flat refusal to answer his prayer as the very answer itself. Of course such a man will not grow in holiness; he will never learn how to wrestle and wait; he will never know correction; he will not hear the voice of God calling him forward; he will never arrive at the place where he is morally and spiritually fit to have his prayers answered. His wrong philosophy has ruined him.
That is why I turn aside to expose the bit of bad theology upon which his bad philosophy is founded. The man who accepts it never knows where he stands; he never knows whether or not he has true faith, for if his request is not granted he avoids the implication by the simple dodge of declaring that God switched the whole thing around and gave him something else. He will not allow himself to shoot at a target, so he cannot tell how good or how bad a marksman he is.
Of certain persons James says plainly: "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." From that brief sentence we may learn that God refuses some requests because they who make them are not morally worthy to receive the answer. But this means nothing to the one who has been seduced into the belief that God always answers prayer. When such a man asks and receives not he passes his hand over the hat and comes up with the answer in some other form. One thing he clings to with great tenacity: God never turns anyone away, but invariably grants every request.
The truth is that God always answers the prayer that accords with His will as revealed in the Scriptures, provided the one who prays is obedient and trustful. Further than this we dare not go.A.W. Tozer has a point on this one...I guess this just answers the question on why doesn't God always answer our prayers... Sometimes, I catch myself taking God for granted... I just have to pray and say the magic words and He'll grant me whatever I wish... That's why whenever there are unanswered prayers I ask, "Lord, why don't you grant my prayers? I prayed hard everynight and yet... why??" . In the midst of all these questioning and doubting, I miss what I should have seen right from the start...and that is myself. As always, it is easier to blame God than yourself. Labels: Living in His way
sarah =) â¥
10:08 AM
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