Day #11: Becoming Best Friends With God

Before I start anything, I wanted to share what happened on church today. I was really sleepy since in the morning - I woke up late and missed the morning sermon, and by the time we all went to Brigades, I was exhausted. Ko Daniel shared with us today and started a discussion about knowing God deeper, about maintaining the relationship we have with God. The more we shared, the sleepier I got, and not long after we did another worship session, and it was powerful for most of people there. Ayu was crying, Merrysa too. Others seemed to be in a deep conversation with God. But I couldn't feel Him. I was shocked, actually. It was very different from my experience the other day. I forced myself to pray and asked God to give me strength and made me focus, but it only lasted for a short period of time.

After that, I just... I feel guilty for what happened. I could not feel His presence. What was going on? I didn't know. But I kept on praying and just praying, hoping my sleepiness would disappear. It wasn't.

This got me wondering: what happened to me? Well, when I read this chapter, I realize this was what we're discussing earlier on Brigades. How to communicate with God? How to get closer to Him? How to maintain a relationship with Him?

If I was asked those questions, the most common thing is to talk to Him - and that is done by praying. Rick Warren mentioned the same thing, saying that prayer is a way of us talking to Him, and meditating His words is a way of Him talking to us. It's an open (two way) communication. It is true.

So what is praying? How do you pray? What kind of prayer is the right prayer? Rick further explained that praying it's not a one time thing to do (Ko Daniel mentioned the same thing), it is continuously going. You can't separate your worldly life with your spiritual life. Your prayer must go along with your life. You have to breathe your prayer, making it a habit. You don't have to pray with eyes closed, thinking about hard words to use to please God, and kneel on the floor for two hours straight. You can say short prayers now and then through-out your day. Treat Him as a Father, as a Creator, as a Master, and as a Friend.

Because God wants to be our friend, indeed.

Another thing is we also need to have a humbleness to listen to His words. We have to meditate His words night and day, do His will and involve Him in everything we do. Prayer without meditation is an empty prayer. You can't have a close relationship with someone if it's only you who's talking or the other way around. Therefore we need to open our heart to Him, and learn to understand His will, reading His words and thinking about it too.

God wants to be our friend. But before being friends with Him, we have to know Him first. By knowing Him, we love Him, we get close to Him and then become friends with Him. Don't lose hope. I won't lose hope just because of a one sleepy day. I will try and try and try. I hope you're not too. Serve God with happiness and joy and peace and hope. Amen.

:)