One night, during our family's devotions, one of my sons said something that articulated the importance of my total dependence on the Holy Spirit. My oldest son told my wife, Grace, "Mother, I'm not going to spend as much time praying as Father does. Why should I ask God to help me with everything? I can do a lot of things myself."
As I was hearing his words, my heart was struck with compassion for my teenage son. So I was very honest with him. In the presence of his brothers, I spoke to Hee- jeh.
"Hee-jeh," I said, "you and your brothers look at your father and listen well." I continued, "Everyone in Korea knows your father. Is that correct?"
"Yes," my sons responded.
"Your father is now the pastor of the largest church in the world. Is that correct?"
"Yes, that is correct, Father," they agreed in unison.
"Now, look at your father! Once I was dying of tuberculosis. No doctor could help or cure me. Also, your father was so poverty-stricken he could not afford to go to the hospital to receive treatment. Your father's formal education stopped after his first year of high school. He has no high social position; no famous genealogy; and as a common person he has nothing to brag about. You have no natural thing to brag about your father. He has no money, position, or education. Yet, as I have depended on the Lord, look what He has done for me. But do you know the secret to my success? I poured my heart out to the Lord. I depended upon Him. By the help of God, I educated myself. I read every book that came into my possession. I studied diligently, praying all the way. Now, by the grace of God, I am what I am.
"Sons, if you just depend on your own strength, education, and natural wisdom, you will sink into the mire of this world. Do not be arrogant! Learn to depend on the Lord as I do!"
After speaking to my sons in this manner, I had assurance that they not only heard me, but they understood the implications of what I was saying. Their attitude changed as much as their countenance after realizing the importance of total and complete dependence on the Lord.
As I pray, my sensitivity is exercised not only in Scripture, but also in discerning the Lord's presence. At times, God's presence is so near during my times of prayer and fellowship that I feel Him close enough to touch. How refreshed I feel after spending time with my precious Lord. The Christian life, particularly if you are in the pastoral ministry, can become dull and routine if you don't have this type of fellowship in prayer.
If you are not accustomed to this type of fellowship, the time to begin is now. Right now, put this book down and begin to ask the Holy Spirit to make the presence of Christ real to you! Ask Him to give you a new understanding of His Word. Ask Him to bring you into a new walk of fellowship in the Holy Spirit!
- Dr. David Yongi Cho ( PRAYER THAT BRINGS REVIVAL )
- JESUS SAVES TV
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