Month: September 2015

Key Verse:

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7)

Today’s passage reminds me of my conversation with my officemates over lunch this afternoon. I was sort of complaining to them how disappointed I am with people who have doctorate degrees yet seemingly look ignorant because the answers they offer to simple questions are often technical and complicated. I was actually referring to people who always tend to follow the scientific method and use sophisticated mathematical equations in order to come up with concrete solutions to this country’s problem when all we need is just really take the first step to make an action.

Going back to my main point, I realized that human knowledge can be very frustrating most of the time especially if it’s not translated into action and become wisdom.

This truth also applies to our life.

When life seems to fall apart, we tend to fix it by offering several complicated solutions. Proverbs 1 reminds me of the truth that the answer to life’s problems is simple:
Fear God, the author of all knowledge and wisdom. Everything starts from there.
Once we make that first simple step, He will give us the knowledge we need to enable us to navigate life with ease as promised in verse 33:

But whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.

Something interesting happened to me this week.

Last Monday, I was walking on my way to our office when I suddenly thought about asking God whether I should start praying for a new work again. Surprisingly, the answer immediately came to me in the afternoon when a former officemate of mine sent me an email about the job opening in their office. I didn’t pay attention to her email at first but when I finally managed to browse through it, I thought that applying for the position is really worth a try. So I asked my friend my basic considerations in looking for a new job: Is it conducive for my personal ministry (i.e. 8-5pm working hours) and is the compensation higher than my present salary?

Since the answer to both questions is yes, I started to feel excited and thought that maybe God really wants me to get that job. Anyway, if it’s not really His will for me to leave my current job, He will surely block it off.

But because I learned earlier in my Christian life that making big decisions such as choosing a career really need careful consideration and consultation with God through prayer and seeking for godly counsel, I decided to consult with my bible study leader first. I told God that if my leader says yes, I will definitely go for it. However, my BS Leader’s response was far from what I expected. Actually, what she said was the counsel that I don’t really want to hear. She told me to ask for God’s Word. God knows how I don’t really want to ask His word because I’m afraid He will not give me the answer I need just in time. I’m running on a tight deadline here so I don’t think I have the luxury of time to wait for His answer.
But since God knows my heart, I know deep inside that waiting for His word is not my real issue. He knows that I really want to get that job so getting a NO from Him is not an option.

So during my quiet time the following day, I prayed and asked God for His guidance. I said, ‘Lord, you know my heart. You know that I really want to get this job, and I will not even pretend that it’s ok for me if I will not get it. And I don’t want to ask for your word because I don’t know if I will be able to handle your no. But since I want to know and do your will, tell me where you want me to go.”

I praise the Lord because I got my answer right there and then. I was meditating on Ezekiel 44 that day and the Word that has really spoken to me is this:

The Lord said to me, “This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; no one may enter through it. It is to remain shut because the Lord , the God of Israel, has entered through it.” (Ezekiel 44:2)

So God’s answer was a big NO. But contrary to what I originally thought, His no didn’t really hurt that much. Actually, I was really fine with it and my excitement had died down just like that. So when I told my leader about God’s answer to me yesterday during our Bible study, we were both blessed at how God amazingly worked for both of us. And I’m sure I got God’s answer correctly because He confirmed it through the message during the worship service this morning.

Praise the Lord for His guidance!

Last week, I felt a little uneasy when reality finally hit me that we are now again in the last quarter of the year. I started recalling all the goals I’ve set during the earlier part of the year and I realized that I still haven’t accomplished anything this year. I’m about to feel frustrated and disappointed again when God reminded me this:

“my child, have you not already  received what you have been asking for this year?! Did I not answer your prayer for the salvation of your parents and your desire to bear fruit this year?” 

So I’ve changed the course of my thinking again and focused on the blessing, instead. I realized that the reason why I feel frustrated and disappointed all the time is because I always measure my success based on what I have done and not on how God has been gracious and faithful to me. I always forget that it’s not about ME. It’s all about God and how He displays His  glory through me. It’s all about Christ forming in me so God will do whatever it takes for me to learn and embrace this truth. And because He loves me so much, He will do everything to spare me from the further consequences of pride by humbling me and teaching me to put my trust completely in Him.

So looking back to what happened for the past 9 months, I realized that God has really been good to me indeed. I can’t imagine what might have actually happened if I don’t have Him in my life. My heart would have become so hardened and full of bitterness if God has not been with me through the journey. Now that I think the storm has passed (I just really hope so :D), I am amazed at what the Lord has done to me. I know that something has changed within me. I am surprised that I’m more consistent now in obeying Him as compared before. And I know that this is not of my own doing. God’s promise in 1 Peter 5:10  is true after all: The God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory in Christ, after we have suffered a little while, He Himself will restore to make us strong, firm and steadfast. 

So now I can say that greater things are yet to come in the remaining months of the year, for sure. Praise the Lord, indeed!