What Do You Want?

Do you seek great things for yourself? —Jeremiah 45:5

Are you seeking great things for yourself, instead of seeking to be a great person? God wants you to be in a much closer relationship with Himself than simply receiving His gifts— He wants you to get to know Him. Even some large thing we want is only incidental; it comes and it goes. But God never gives us anything incidental. There is nothing easier than getting into the right relationship with God, unless it is not God you seek, but only what He can give you.

If you have only come as far as asking God for things, you have never come to the point of understanding the least bit of what surrender really means. You have become a Christian based on your own terms. You protest, saying, “I asked God for the Holy Spirit, but He didn’t give me the rest and the peace I expected.” And instantly God puts His finger on the reason-you are not seeking the Lord at all; you are seeking something for yourself. Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you . . .” (Matthew 7:7). Ask God for what you want and do not be concerned about asking for the wrong thing, because as you draw ever closer to Him, you will cease asking for things altogether. “Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). Then why should you ask? So that you may get to know Him.

Are you seeking great things for yourself? Have you said, “Oh, Lord, completely fill me with your Holy Spirit”? If God does not, it is because you are not totally surrendered to Him; there is something you still refuse to do. Are you prepared to ask yourself what it is you want from God and why you want it? God always ignores your present level of completeness in favor of your ultimate future completeness. He is not concerned about making you blessed and happy right now, but He’s continually working out His ultimate perfection for you— “. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . .” (John 17:22).

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你要什麼？

你為自己圖謀大事麼？ （耶四十五5）

你是否正為自己圖謀大事？你不是求成為一個偉人，而是為自己向神求大事。神盼望你與他更親密的關係，過於領受他的恩賜，他要你認識他。大事是偶發的，會來也會去；神從來不會給我們一些偶然的東西。其實，與神建立正常的關係是最容易不過的，除非我們所要的不是神，而是他所賜的東西。

你若單向神求東西，那末在撇下一切歸神的路上，你還未踏上第一步，你不過是照著自己的意思去作基督徒。 [我曾經求神給我聖靈，但他並沒有給我預期的平安與安息。 ]神馬上就會指出原因－－你根本不是尋求主，只是為自己有所圖謀。耶穌說：[你們祈求，就給你們。 ]你要的可以向神求，但是你所求的若不對，就得不著。當你與神親近，就不再是求東西了。 [你們沒有祈求以先，你們所需用的，你們的父早已知道了。 ]那麼為何還要求呢？這是要你們更認識他吧。

你為自己圖謀大事麼？ [神啊，求你以聖靈給我施洗。 ]神若不應允，乃是由於你尚未完全歸順他，你還有些事不肯做的。你肯不肯捫心自問：你向神所求的到底是什麼？為什麼要這些？神總是為了最終的完美，而不顧現今暫時的好處。他不會只令你現今快樂幸福，而是為那最終的完美而作工－－[叫他們合而為一，像我們合而為一。 ]

祈禱◆主啊，當我今天向你發聲，願你的亮光和恩典臨到我們。願我們[凡事尊榮我們救主神的道]。