It was a Monday afternoon when I had to meet up with somebody in Elizabeth Mall. She told me she would come a little bit late, which was no problem since I liked time for myself.
So I went around the mall, looking for something cool and nice, when I decided to go to Booksale, a shop which sells books for really low prices. I had purchased quite a number of books from this shop, actually, back when I was devoted to actually buying books. I didn’t really have a specific section to go to in mind, but when I saw the section that deals with religion and spirituality, I dove right in.
For the past few weeks, my desire to fill myself with “soul food” has been increasing. I prayed that God may sustain this desire, since my heart wanders elsewhere so quickly. So, as I was looking at the shelf filled with books about Christianity, I prayed to God, asking Him to give me a book that would fit my heart’s need, yet remain to be cheap. #allowancelife #budgetlife
I searched for a book, looking at authors, reading their descriptions, closing my eyes and pointing my finger at a random spot, etc. You name it. Although a lot of books were really good (written by John Piper, David Platt, Swindoll), their prices were not quite student-friendly. I thought maybe the book for me wasn’t in that bookshelf. With a heavy heart, I left Booksale.
To reach home, I have to go to another mall. From there, I ride a jeepney to reach the island where I live. When I arrived in Parkmall, I was about to ride another jeepney right away, but something inside me pulled me to enter the mall. I thought I could probably spend a few minutes inside the mall just to cool down, since it was one hot afternoon.
Upon entering the mall, I saw a Booksale branch. I hurriedly went inside, straight towards the religious section. I uttered the same prayer, emphasizing the cheapness of the book. “Lord, less than a hundred lang please.” I searched yet again, shifting the arrangement of books. After around twenty minutes, I wanted to give up.
And I sort of did.
I motioned towards the exit, and took one last glance at the bookshelf. “Maybe not this time”. But my eyes caught something. My eyes caught a word. Fear. I immediately grabbed the book, saw the whole title and I just felt so convicted. I checked the price, with a heart that was ready to see a three-digit number. Surprisingly, the price was only two digits. Imagine my joy!
What struck me
When we pray, we have to remind ourselves that we are talking to a God who hears. We are not whispering to the wind or some idea. We are praying–talking–to the living God. As Francis Chan puts it, “When you pray, your prayers are heard by the same God who answered Moses’ prayer for water in the desert, the God who gave Abraham and his barren wife a son, and the God who made the slave Joseph second in power only to Pharaoh.”
This should be our inspiration to pray. Our prayers are never unheard. The answer may not be what we wish it is, but it is never unheard. The fact that God answered my prayer in less than three hours is just a reminder for me to pray more, not because I can use Him as an ATM machine, but because He listens.
So I encourage you to pray. Devote time in prayer, isolate yourself from this world, and just commune with God. Pray earnestly, seek God, lift all your problems and burdens to Him because He listens and He cares.
"When you pray,
your prayers are heard
by the same God who
answered Moses’ prayer
for water in the desert,
the God who gave Abraham
and his barren wife a son,
and the God who made
the slave Joseph second
in power only to Pharaoh."
