snowboy’s

It is usual for people to get things down when it comes to pleasure and joy. They will take any chance when it comes to benefits. A certain thing or event or occupation will be given much attention when it grows lots of profit. Tragically, some peole treat God that way: for their own benefit and interest.

There this very good Indonesian song, teaching me how and when to pray to God. The song goes like this:

Jalan serta Yesus / Walk with Jesus

Jalan serta-Nya setiap hari / Walk with Him everyday

Jalan serta Yesus / Walk with Jesus

Serta Yesus selamanya / With Jesus forever

Jalan dalam suka / Walk in joy

Jalan dalam duka / Walk in tears

Jalan serta-Nya setiap hari / Walk with Him everyday

Jalan serta Yesus / Walk with Jesus

Serta Yesus selamanya / With Jesus Forever

It is only a children song, yet it has deep meaning. As Christ’s followers, we often come and pray to Him. Sometimes, we pray like we know the best for us. We pray to God to fulfill what we want. We might pray, “God, today I will have my interview at three companies. I want to have a job at the first company. You have to give me that job. Amen.” This kind of prayer is like going to the doctor for being not well and say to the doctor, “Doc, I have a headache, and I want to be cured by having (let’s say) Panadol.” Then, what’s the point in going to the doctor?

Now let us learn from the song. When you walk with Jesus, you do not lead Jesus by praying such way; you walk side by side with Him. Is it not a great pleasure? When you walk with Jesus, it also means you converse with Him. Let us just imagine you walk with someone you know, yet you say nothing along the road. It will be awkward, will it not? So, when we walk with Jesus everyday, we need to converse with Him everyday.

This is where things need more attention. When we pray, we do not merely say what we want to God, we need to converse with Him. Do not just say you want this or that, but take Him into conversation by asking Him what to do. Now, this might seem weird, but we need to realize God’s voices around us. God may speak through our parents, our brothers and sisters at our church or community, more experienced people, and even straight to you!

In the Bible, there is the story of Samuel, who was ministered to God before Eli. During his sleep, he heard he was called and rushed to Eli. Eli, not knowing what happened, said that he did not call for him and asked him to go to bed again. After the second time, Eli later understood that it was God calling Samuel and advised him: Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth (I Samuel 3:9, KJV).

When you think Samuel was someone holy and great so God would speak to him Himself, the Bible states: Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him (I Samuel 3:7, KJV). Samuel did not know the Lord, yet he can open his heart for the Lord’s voices. How come we, who have known and believed in Him and been baptized, not able to do that? We can hear His voice, as long as we give a silent moment during our prayer, instead of rushing and asking this and that to Him.

Another point we can learn from the song would be to be with God in both tars and joy. In the doctor’s case, we come to a doctor only when we are sick. Should we get better, we will not budge him with thanks. Money is our thanks to a doctor. It is wrong to treat God in such manner.

We always come to God whenever we face problems, which are inevitable in our daily lives. We pray asking for assistance and guidance so the problems could be finished. After we have done with the problems, would we treat Him like the doctor? Remember to grateful to God. King David wrote: O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever (Psalms 118:29, KJV). In the whole Psalms, he thanked God for His goodness, at least, 7 times.

Now, have we come to God and said thanks for what He has done in our lives? Or are we satisfied with the money we give to church? Be grateful in everything, good or bad, it is the best for us, as what is told to Jeremiah: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end (Jeremiah 29:11, KJV). The God has promised His thought of peace, and not of evil. He will not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil (Matthew 6:13a, KJV). What else do we worry about?

As a human, such worry is unavoidable. However, each time we have worries, problems, laughter, and joy, we should always remember God, for He is the one designing the path of our lives with His thought – His thought of peace, not evil. May God’s plan be declared in our lives.

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word (Luke 1:38a, KJV)