A Life Where the Path Becomes Clear

My Beloved Friends and Family,

Neuroscientists tell us that repetitive human experiences are encoded and stored in specific regions of the brain, creating a mechanism that triggers automatic responses when identical situations arise.

This reveals the immense power of ingrained habits—a principle that applies just as equally to spiritual disciplines. Those who regularly engage in reading the Scriptures and maintaining a life of prayer find that, when they encounter a situation requiring guidance, they instinctively and reflexively turn to the Word of God and to prayer.

As Nehemiah did in this story related in the Old Testament Book of Nehemiah. While serving as the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes in the Persian royal court, Nehemiah received news that the walls of Jerusalem had been broken down. Amidst a period of fasting in response to this news, he received a divine mandate to undertake the mission of rebuilding those walls. However, this was a daunting task; King Artaxerxes had previously expressed his unequivocal opposition to such an undertaking, and since Nehemiah required the King’s personal sanction to travel to Jerusalem, it was not a matter he could broach lightly or impulsively. Consequently, Nehemiah continued to fast and earnestly sought God’s assistance. Eventually, observing the deep distress etched upon Nehemiah’s face, King Artaxerxes asked him, "What is it you want?" At that pivotal moment, Nehemiah’s response was recorded thus: "Then I prayed to the God of heaven..." (Nehemiah 2:4). In other words, he engaged in silent, contemplative prayer. Maintaining an intimate relationship with God through prayer was the very fabric of life for Nehemiah, who was living as an exile in a foreign land; thus, when the decisive moment arrived, rather than speaking rashly, he turned inward to commune with God. But how, exactly, did Nehemiah offer this silent prayer to God? When the King asked, "What is it you want?" did Nehemiah request a brief pause, close his eyes, and pray aloud? Given that the king was standing right in front of him, the likelihood that he prayed in such a manner is extremely slim. King Artaxerxes was a non-believer; had Nehemiah acted presumptuously, he would surely have incurred the king's displeasure. Instead, with his head bowed, he conversed with the king while inwardly appealing to God: "O God, You heard that, didn't You? The king is asking such a question—what should I say in response?" After this prayer, Nehemiah felt his heart grow bold and sensed God upholding his spirit; he then presented his request, saying: "If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, let me be sent to the land of Judah, to the city where the tombs of my ancestors lie, so that I may rebuild it" (Nehemiah 2:5).

The affairs of the world can never be considered in isolation from human relationships; consequently, fields such as psychology and business administration devote significant attention to mastering the wisdom and skills involved in interpersonal dynamics. The Bible, however, teaches the principles of managing human interactions from a spiritual perspective. When confronted with life's challenges, if we anchor our hearts in the Word and turn to prayer, a path will be revealed to us through the Lord.

What, then, is faith? Faith can be defined as "Total Acceptance" and "Total Commitment." For a believer, this means fully embracing God's will—discerned through the Word of God and prayer—and unreservedly entrusting everything into God's hands. To entrust something to God means to place one's absolute trust in Him; psychologically, however, this concept carries the implicit meaning of shifting the responsibility onto God.

I encourage you to arm yourselves with the Word of God and prayer in every situation of your life. Whether you are conducting business, conversing with others, walking along a path, or facing any of the myriad challenges that arise in human relationships—prepare yourselves through the Word of God and prayer. Please try to cultivate the habit of—even if only for a brief moment—turning to the Word of God and prayer before making decisions regarding the tasks before you. While it is certainly important to set aside time to withdraw from the world and focus deeply on the Word and prayer, it is equally vital—and leads to even greater intimacy with God—to pause and focus on the Word of God and prayer during those specific moments in daily life when a decision must be made. In doing so, you will come to discern the Lord's will, and amidst those circumstances, a clear path will emerge.

God Bless You.

Your pastor, Oon Don