祷告的确据
有些研究尝试找出祷告对人有什么益处，研究结果往往显示，一般来说，祷告的人比不祷告的较为快乐和健康，这个事实或许会帮助人多点祷告吧。祷告的人都知道，祷告的益处远远超过他们得到的健康和快乐的感受。
在这个月，我们曾经指出，归根究底，祷告关乎我们与神的关系。我记得多年之前，我在一本古旧的书中找到一个祷告的定义：“祷告是与神的友情累积而成的生命。”
就如友谊牵涉和影响两个互相交往的人，我们与神的关系也是一样，今天的经文清楚说明这点；从一方面来看，圣经吩咐我们要寻求神，这似乎在说，我们是主动去祷告的；然而，我们能够寻求神，完全是因为神首先说：“你们一切干渴的都当就近水来。”神呼召，我们便回应，祷告是我们享用神早已为我们摆设了的筵席。我们祷告，不是因为我们一定要去做，乃是因为我们可以这样做。
当我们转向主时，我们便寻见那位早已经以怜悯转向我们，并无条件地赦免我们的主。这就是祷告带给我们的确据，也是它最丰厚的祝福。
主啊，因祢首先寻找我，我便寻找祢；因祢已呼唤我，我便呼唤祢。我为我能够藉着耶稣与祢有如此奇妙的关系感谢祢。阿们。
以赛亚书 55:1-7
1 “你们一切干渴的，都当就近水来！没有银钱的，也可以来！你们都来，买了吃。不用银钱，不用价值，也来买酒和奶。
2 你们为何花钱买那不足为食物的，用劳碌得来的买那不使人饱足的呢？你们要留意听我的话，就能吃那美物，得享肥甘，心中喜乐。
3 你们当就近我来，侧耳而听，就必得活。我必与你们立永约，就是应许大卫那可靠的恩典。
4 我已立他做万民的见证，为万民的君王和司令。
5 你素不认识的国民，你也必召来，素不认识你的国民，也必向你奔跑，都因耶和华你的神以色列的圣者，因为他已经荣耀你。”
6 当趁耶和华可寻找的时候寻找他，相近的时候求告他。
7 恶人当离弃自己的道路，不义的人当除掉自己的意念。归向耶和华，耶和华就必怜恤他；当归向我们的神，因为神必广行赦免。
The Assurance Of Prayer
"Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near." — Isaiah 55:6
A number of studies have tried to search out the benefits of prayer. Results often indicate that people who pray are generally happier and healthier than people who don't. This may help people to consider praying more. And people who do pray know that the benefits of prayer extend far beyond their health and their sense of happiness.
As we have noted this month, prayer is ultimately about a relationship we have with God. I am reminded of a definition of prayer that I found in an old book some years ago: "Prayer is a cumulative life of friendship with God."
Just as a friendship involves and affects two people as they interact, so does our relationship with God. Today's Bible reading makes this clear. On the one hand, we are instructed to seek God, which seems to imply that prayer happens by our initiative. But our seeking of God is only possible because God first says, "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters." God calls, and we answer. Prayer is our enjoyment of a banquet already prepared by God. We pray not because we must, but because we may.
As we turn to the Lord, we find the One who has already turned to us in mercy and who freely pardons. This is the assurance of prayer—and also its greatest blessing.
Because you have first sought me, I seek you, O Lord. Because you have called to me, I call to you. Thank you for the amazing relationship I can have with you, through Jesus. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
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