2023.03.18/19
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Raphael Chow
Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,
When Christians pray to God, we sometimes ask according to our own desires. Perhaps we have been a Christian for a long time, but there are times when we ask for our own longings, which may not necessarily be God’s will. Often, God does not grant us what we ask for, but prepares something far better for us. As it is written in the Scriptures: “’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” (Isaiah 55:8-9) And as Paul said: “However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’— the things God has prepared for those who love him—” (1 Corinthians 2:9; see also Isaiah 64:4)
To God I ask for strength to achieve success, He gives me weakness to trust in Him no less.
To God I pray for health to accomplish grandeurs, He gives me frailty to attain goodness.
To God I seek for wealth to bring me happiness, He gives me poverty to grant me wisdom’s finesse.
To God I plead for all to enjoy life’s pleasures, He gives me life itself to savor every treasure.
To God I crave for power to receive people’s praise, He gives me humbleness to be showered in His grace.
To God I desire smooth paths to reach my goals, He gives me hardships to mold my character’s roles. [1]
To God I wish for fame to attract many a face, He gives me obscurity to glorify Him in my space.
To God I implore for talents to expand His Kingdom, He gives me obstacles to follow Him with wisdom.
To God I pray for wisdom to solve life’s trials, He gives me insight to obey Him in all my styles.
To God I seek for eloquence to sway the crowd, He gives me pain to show compassion and love aloud.
To God I ask for judgment to point out mistakes, He gives me introspection to know my own breaks.
To God I beg to remove challenges for happiness, He gives me a heavier cross to taste joy’s fullness.
Although believers may pray for temporary blessings in this world, the Lord often gives eternal blessings to those who belong to Him. Eternal blessings may not bring physical comfort, and sometimes even lead believers into difficulty and challenges. However, if believers can persevere by the grace of the Lord, what they ultimately receive will be priceless, eternal blessings. May you be filled with abundant blessings.
[1] Gordon Lee, Open Mine Eyes
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Raphael Chow