START WITH GOD

An Indonesian children popular song has this lyric, “Bangun tidur ku terus mandi, tidak lupa menggosok gigi. Habis mandi kutolong ibu, membersihkan tempat tidurku.” (Wake up in the morning, don’t forget teeth brushing. Find Mom for daily helping, and do the bed making.) The question here is, what about the morning prayer? What if the song is changed into, “Bangun tidur kubuka mata, tidak lupa untuk berdoa. Cari Tuhan, serahkan semua, lalu kerja tugas-tugasnya.” (Wake up in the morning, don’t forget to pray. Find God, surrender all things, then do work of the day.)

Seeking God is supposed to be the first thing to do by all christian, not only when we start our day, but also in everything we do. Surrendering everything as if we weren’t able to do it by ourselves. Asking question in everything as if we weren’t able to count on our own wisdom. Deciding everything according to God’s decision.

But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “First seek the counsel of the LORD.” 1 Kings 22:5

One thing we can learn from Jehosaphat is how he learned to seek God first before he finally made a decision. He didn’t let himself do things rashly only because he was a king with a power to be obeyed by his people. He chose to ask God, and because of that, he succeeded in his actions.

If a king thinks that seeking God first is necessary to do, why don’t we even try it?

When we put God in the first place, we will find our identity and purpose through our relationship with Him. We will find that each day our life covers greater purposes than what we can imagine. Greater hope than what we can hope for. Greater dream than what we can dream of. Greater plan than what we can plan of. It’s all can be found when we start with God.

My God, I’m sorry if I have forgotten to put You in the first place in my life. I thank you for today. I give you this day. I surrender all my job and responsibility, my plans... bless them, God. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “First seek the counsel of the LORD.”

1 Kings 22:5