"Be Happy"

“God orders our tomorrow by our prayer.” – Richard Sigmund

            When God impress us something in our prayer time, we are to take heed because we do not know what will take place and why He told us to pray it ahead of time.  We are to obey eventhough we don’t understand it.  God sees the end from the beginning.  We should not doubt Him.

            October 26, 2013, the Ladies Prayer Group had their monthly equipping.  In their corporate prayer, the subject prayer was the visitation of Patriarch Craig Bates on November 10, 2013.  There were many concerns the intercessors have prayed but there was favorite word to speak of – HAPPY.   It really caught my attention because I can’t  count how many times they included it in their prayer.   I was kind of bothered inside because something wrong is going on.  Why is it that they always say “everybody should be happy… happy… happy.”  You can sense the urgency of that word.

            To be honest, I was kind of offended because why they redundantly spoke that word?  I mean, the coming of the Patriarch will be a joyful one because it is a privilege to be visited of the anointed man of God.  Why is it that they are expecting something else?  At the back of my mind, is there anything that will going to happen why they prayed it that way?  I don’t know.  I can’t understand it.  I asked God why but He gave no answer.

            November 8, 2013, a holiday for Western Visayas, typhoon Yolanda hit Visayas.  A typhoon stronger than Frank that caused major damages: devastated and ruined properties, killed people, livestock and livelihood.    

            At one point in time, my question last October 26 has been given an answer.  This is it.  Now I understand Lord, why the “be happy” prayer prayed for.  I’m grateful that the intercessors did pray it because if not, I don’t know how the people will react.  I mean, if I think about it, after all the collateral damages, who has the capacity to be happy?  People lost their homes and I’m not excluded to that.  Our roof flew away, one of my cattle died and the plantation of corn which supposed to be harvested this December were damaged.  How can you serve God on Sunday, December 10 if you lost everything?  How can you perform the assigned task for the dinner party and presentation if you don’t have the joy to do it because of what happened?  How can you start a new life after the desolation?

            When typhoon Yolanda slow down, a text brigade circulated calling all the members of St. Michael’s to go to church, to do the work and give God praise.  Sounds logic?  When the people of St. Michael’s gathered stories, the most common thing they did during typhoon was to pray and praise and worship God.  You can see them smiling while telling their stories, few were kind of teary eyes but it seems like, they really choose to be in the church on Sunday.  They choose to be in the presence of God because no matter how desolate their houses, still they are grateful to God that they are still alive.

            The visitation of Patriarch Craig Bates is a blessing.  Eventhough the enemy tried to stop him, still, God’s plan prevailed.  He even called us “crazy people” because after the typhoon hit us badly, we still held a party and enjoy the night together with him.  It seems like, nothing happened.  The night was kind of bliss.  Despite of total blackout, the show must go on.  No postponement, no turning back.

            I’m grateful God answered the prayer of His people.  If the intercessors did not heed God’s direction in prayer, maybe the response of the people were not as happy as they should be.