He Comes! Let Us Worship Him!

By Juliana Costa

“Fall on your knees, o hear the voices of the angels”

Throughout the sacred scriptures, it is possible to extract precious lessons about how great men connected with God through prayer.

The prophet Jeremiah expressed his laments with sincerity and, upon hearing them, God responded, I believe, sweetly and firmly, “do not be afraid” (Lam. 3:57). God appreciates this humble way of approaching his throne.

Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, teaches us how we should pray. Prayer must be a spiritual discipline characterized by the constancy and sobriety of those who are convinced of being in a spiritual war and, therefore, vigilance, gratitude and perseverance with thanksgiving are needed (Col 4:2).

Jesus, in his conversation with God in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:39-44), expresses all the characteristics mentioned in the previous verses. In his moment of greatest challenge, Jesus leads us to deep reflections. Here, I stop to share with you my prayer story and how I learned from our dear Lord Jesus to develop these characteristics that are so appreciated by the Father. He took me to the desert and, there, I still continue to learn.

I am recognized for being communicative, enjoying being around lots of people and even talking to myself. However, when God took me to the desert, I realized that His greatest desire was not to punish or chastise me, but rather for me to recognize solely and exclusively the tone of His voice, without distractions and, ultimately, to worship Him in spirit and in truth.

By following Him, learning, like the sheep, to only follow His voice. His voice is the only one that can satisfy my hunger and thirst. The voice is sweet and, at the same time, so powerful. It is impossible not to stir the spirit, to walk where He leads, even if it is towards deep waters or dense darkness. My heart ignites and I am sure that He is my light, the strength that makes me walk on the waters. I fall on my knees and worship Him. I learn, listen and follow.

The desert in my life started when I lost my brother on my 15th birthday. I got married at age 25 and my husband left the faith community very early in the marriage. (I have been married for 19 years.) The desert continued when my best “sister friend” in the church died of cancer at age 33, leaving a 7-year-old daughter and a “brother friend” a widower. I moved out of state and my relatives stayed. My father is fighting prostate cancer. The inability to have children once haunted me and, today, I experience professional instability, unemployment, illness and my husband's early retirement due to disability.

It took me more than two decades to begin to learn how to identify His voice and worship Him. It was in solitude that He taught me and continues to teach me. In our conversations, He told me that this discipline was the key that linked all things in heaven and on earth and, if I trained, I would hear Him more and more clearly. He gave me many tips on how to grow in this spiritual discipline. And I want to share them with you.

• Prayer diaries. I have more than 20 journals, one for each year of faith.
• Cell phone alarms. I have prayer alarms. My cell phone is programmed with more than 10 alarms, one for each situation (children, sick people, relatives).
• Pray for everyone. Whenever I see a plane in the sky, I say a quick prayer for everyone inside. When someone asks to pray for something specific, I start praying at that exact moment, even if it's just a few seconds. That time and the day of the prayer will become an alarm on my cell phone.
• Alert state. I visit the websites of churches throughout Brazil and pray for baptisms, leaders, new missions, projects. I attend services to know what to pray for.
• Pray continuously. When I travel to visit my relatives and friends in Minas, I go by bus and pray during the 10-hour ride. When doing household chores, I pray out loud. Before I sleep, I religiously pray with my 7-year-old daughter and make an effort to pray out loud with my husband before falling asleep.

And the answers? You may be wondering how much God answers my prayers. I can tell you that He hears for SURE, but I'm still learning to interpret the answers. Every time I ask for answers, He warns me to look at His kindness and gently tells me “don't be afraid.” I move forward with the certainty of His company and His love. I talk to him all the time, and he smiles at me.

Prayer is not about answers; it is about intimacy and worship.

• Lamentations 3:57 – You drew near when I called to you, and said, "Do not be afraid."
• Colossians 4:2 – Dedicate yourselves to prayer, be alert and be thankful.
• Matthew 26:39 – Going a little further, he fell facedown on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, remove this cup from me; however, not as I will, but as you will.”

Juliana Costa was baptized on January 16, 2000. Here she is with her husband Héber Brenner, (45 years old) and her daughter Lisa Brenner (8 years old). She has been married for 21 years. Juliana is a Coordination Consultant for the Care of the Elderly - COPID / Ministry of Health Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). She is also a researcher at the University of Brasília - Faculty of Physical Education and a businesswoman. Currently, she serves on the Coordination Team and in the Next Generation ministry as a teacher.