| 恆切禱告 | |
| 經文: 「要人常常禱告，不可灰心。」（路加福音十八：1） | |
| 禱告的經驗中，最難忍受的是，禱告尚未蒙應允。我們會深感沮喪地以為我們的禱告不妥當，以致上帝不垂聽，於是就不再祈禱。其實上帝常藉此教導我們信心的功課，因為等候對於我們的靈魂有益，上帝耽延我們的祈禱，總是有祂的道理。我們要學習更深入、更細膩地全心全意禱告，這是上帝所設立的訓練學校，為要訓練我們恆切禱告，使軟弱的信心變為剛強。所以，要堅信遲延的禱告，是上帝的祝福。 更重要的，我們會更緊緊地依靠上帝；因著禱告尚未蒙應允，我們學到與上帝親蜜的關係，遠勝於我們所求的本身，因此願意繼續禱告。雅各因著禱告遲遲未蒙應允，就與上帝的使者摔跤，終於得以面對面見上帝，並且後來貴為王子，以色列支派由他繁延，這是何等蒙福的經歷。 弟兄姐妹們，請聽我的勸誡，禱告未蒙應允時，切莫不耐煩或灰心，要「不住地禱告」，「恆切地禱告」，你就會發現無可言喻的祝福。你可自問你的祈求是否合乎上帝的心意，還是妄求。並深信延遲的祈禱是上帝要給你恩典的管道，並學到恆切的禱告，是在上帝面前有能力的利器。 | |
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| PERSEVERING PRAYER | |
| Scripture: "Men ought always to pray, and not to faint."—LUKE xviii. 1. | |
| One of the greatest drawbacks to the life of prayer is the fact that the answer does not come as speedily as we expect. We are discouraged by the thought: "Perhaps I do not pray aright," and so we do not persevere in prayer. This was a lesson that our Lord taught often and urgently. If we consider the matter we can see that there may be a reason for the delay, and the waiting may bring a blessing to our souls. Our desire must grow deeper and stronger, and we must ask with our whole heart. God puts us into the practising school of persevering prayer, that our weak faith may be strengthened. Do believe that there is a great blessing in the delayed answer to prayer. Above all, God would draw us into closer fellowship with Himself. When our prayers are not answered, we learn to realize that the fellowship and nearness and love of God are more to us than the answers of our petitions, and we continue in prayer. What a blessing Jacob received through the delay in the answer to his prayer! He saw God face to face, and as a prince he had power with God and prevailed. Christians, listen to this warning. Be not impatient or discouraged if the answer does not come. "Continue in prayer." "Pray without ceasing."' You will find it an unspeakable blessing to do so. You will ask whether your prayer is really in accordance with the will of God, and the Word of God. You will inquire if it is in the right spirit and in the Name of Christ. Keep on praying, you will learn that the delay in the answer to prayer is one of the most precious means of grace that God can bestow on you. You will learn too that those who have persevered often and long before God, in pleading His promises, are those who have had the greatest power with God in prayer. | |
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