在困境中仍然感谢
祷告首要的，就是敬畏，是我们明白到那位创造和保守这个世界的神，垂听我们渺小的祷告。真的，至高的神竟然垂听我们的祷告，并深切关心我们的生命。
祷告校正我们的眼光。当我们把我们的心思意念、赞美、祈求、悲伤，和感谢带到神面前时，我们其实是把眼光对着现实校正过来。换句话说，我们承认及宣称一个真理：神是创造主，我们是祂所造的。神掌管万有，我们完全倚赖祂；我们是软弱的，祂是刚强的；神是赐与者，我们是受惠者。
一个在午夜收到的电话，令我深深体会到这个真理。当时丈夫和我身在东非的莫桑比克。我在北美的姐姐刚刚生下早产的双胞胎，情况危殆。一种前所未有的无助感把我压倒了，此刻我看到我们是多么的需要神。我虽然不能在场帮助他们，但我可以向这位垂听祷告的全能的神呼喊。
海德堡要理问答告诉我们，我们需要祷告，因为这是我们对神感谢最重要的一部份。即使在困难的日子中，深知神顾念我们，并愿意背负我们忧伤痛苦的重担——我们便有理由感谢了。
因此，今天就祷告献上感谢吧，神正垂听，祂是多么的顾念我们。
听祷告的神啊，祢在爱中垂听了我们，我们感谢祢。求祢激励我们继续向祢祷告。奉耶稣的名祈求，阿们。
腓立比书 4:4-7
4你们要靠主常常喜乐。我再说，你们要喜乐。
5当叫众人知道你们谦让的心。主已经近了。
6应当一无挂虑，只要凡事藉着祷告、祈求，和感谢，将你们所要的告诉神。
7神所赐、出人意外的平安必在基督耶稣里保守你们的心怀意念。
Prayerful Thanks
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." — Philippians 4:6
Prayer is first about awe, realizing that the God who created and sustains the world also listens to us as we pray. Truly, the sovereign God hears our prayers and cares deeply about our lives.
Prayer orients us. When we bring God our thoughts, praise, petitions, laments, and gratitude—we are orienting ourselves to reality. In other words, we are acknowledging and naming the truth that God is Creator and we are his creatures. God reigns over all, and we are fully dependent on him. We are weak, but he is strong. God is the giver, and we are receivers.
A phone call in the middle of the night impressed this truth on me. My husband and I were in Mozambique. Back home, my sister had given birth to premature twins. The situation was critical. Overwhelmed with feelings of helplessness that I had not known before, I saw how dependent we are on God. Though I could not physically help in this situation, I could pour out my heart to the listening, all-powerful God.
The Heidelberg Catechism tells us that prayer is necessary because it is the most important part of our thankfulness to God. Even in times of trouble, knowing that God cares and wants to carry our burdens of sorrow and pain gives us a reason to give thanks.
So give thanks today in prayer. God is listening, and he cares.
Listening God, thank you for listening to us in love. Inspire us to pray. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
编辑进度:
发布时间:
繁體版:
Line:
栏目:
机构:
作者: