We . . . plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain —2 Corinthians 6:1
The grace you had yesterday will not be sufficient for today. Grace is the overflowing favor of God, and you can always count on it being available to draw upon as needed. “. . . in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses”— that is where our patience is tested (2 Corinthians 6:4). Are you failing to rely on the grace of God there? Are you saying to yourself, “Oh well, I won’t count this time”? It is not a question of praying and asking God to help you— it is taking the grace of God now. We tend to make prayer the preparation for our service, yet it is never that in the Bible. Prayer is the practice of drawing on the grace of God. Don’t say, “I will endure this until I can get away and pray.” Pray now — draw on the grace of God in your moment of need. Prayer is the most normal and useful thing; it is not simply a reflex action of your devotion to God. We are very slow to learn to draw on God’s grace through prayer.
“. . . in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors . . .” (2 Corinthians 6:5)— in all these things, display in your life a drawing on the grace of God, which will show evidence to yourself and to others that you are a miracle of His. Draw on His grace now, not later. The primary word in the spiritual vocabulary is now. Let circumstances take you where they will, but keep drawing on the grace of God in whatever condition you may find yourself. One of the greatest proofs that you are drawing on the grace of God is that you can be totally humiliated before others without displaying even the slightest trace of anything but His grace.
“. . . having nothing . . . .” Never hold anything in reserve. Pour yourself out, giving the best that you have, and always be poor. Never be diplomatic and careful with the treasure God gives you. “. . . and yet possessing all things”— this is poverty triumphant (2 Corinthians 6:10).
總趁現在
我們……勸你們，不可徒受他的恩典。 （林後六1）
你昨天所得的恩典，今天已不合用了。恩典是神豐盛的恩寵；你隨時隨地都可以取用。 [在許多的忍耐、患難、窮乏、困苦]－－這些都是忍耐的考驗。你在這些事上有沒有失去神的恩典？你有沒有說：[算啦，這次不計其內。 ]問題不在於禱告求神幫助；乃是現在就取用神的恩典。我們往往把祈禱當作工作的準備，但在聖經裡根本不是如此。祈禱是支取神恩典的一種操練。
不要說：[我只管忍受一下，等到苦難過去就好好的禱告禱告。 ]現在就祈禱吧！在正有需要時，支取神的恩典吧。祈禱是最實際的事，而不是虔誠的一種反射行動。禱告是支取神恩典最後學習的功課。
[鞭打、監禁、擾亂、勞動]－－在這一切事上不斷支取神的恩典，會使你成為別人眼中的奇蹟。現在就支取，不是等一會才做。屬靈的字彙中有一個詞語，就是現在。不管環境怎樣，只管不斷支取神的恩典。你支取神的恩典一個最大的明證，就是在你受人羞辱時，所表彰的除了神的恩典之外，再無別的。
[一無所有……]不再有任何保留。要把你最好的傾盡，常常貧窮無有。對神所賜的禮物，絕不精打細算地收藏。這就是貧窮中的勝利。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你今天賜下你的恩典
Showing posts with label Attributes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Attributes. Show all posts
June 26, 2014
June 04, 2014
The Never-forsaking God
He Himself has said, ’I will never leave you nor forsake you’ —Hebrews 13:5
What line of thinking do my thoughts take? Do I turn to what God says or to my own fears? Am I simply repeating what God says, or am I learning to truly hear Him and then to respond after I have heard what He says? “For He Himself has said, ’I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ’The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’ ” (Hebrews 13:5-6).
“I will never leave you . . .”— not for any reason; not my sin, selfishness, stubbornness, nor waywardness. Have I really let God say to me that He will never leave me? If I have not truly heard this assurance of God, then let me listen again.
“I will never . . . forsake you.” Sometimes it is not the difficulty of life but the drudgery of it that makes me think God will forsake me. When there is no major difficulty to overcome, no vision from God, nothing wonderful or beautiful— just the everyday activities of life— do I hear God’s assurance even in these?
We have the idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing— that He is preparing and equipping us for some extraordinary work in the future. But as we grow in His grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, at this very moment. If we have God’s assurance behind us, the most amazing strength becomes ours, and we learn to sing, glorifying Him even in the ordinary days and ways of life.
永不失信的神
因為主曾說：[我總不撇下你，也不丟棄你。 ]（來十三5）
我思想的路向如何？是轉向神的話，還是轉向自己的恐懼？我有沒有學習不去講述神說什麼，而是先聽他說些什麼，然後才開口？ [主曾說：『我總不撇下你，也不丟棄你。 』所以我們可以放膽說：『主是幫助我的，我必不懼怕，人能把我怎麼樣呢？ 』]
[我總不失信。 ]（中文聖經作[我總不撇下你]）——不管我是罪污、自私、固執、背逆，神總不撇下我。我真有讓神對我說：[我總不失信]？若我曾聽過神如此說，讓我如今聽他再說吧。
[我總不丟棄你。 ]有時並非是困難叫我覺得丟棄我，而是枯燥乏味的生活。滅有困難的高山可以攀登，也沒有異象賜下，更沒有甚麼興奮美麗的東西，只是日復一日的平凡生活——在這景況下，我有聽見神如此說呢？
在我們的意念中，總以為神會行奇事，裝備我們將來要成就偉大的工作。可是，我們若在神的恩中生活，便會發現神就在此時此地榮耀他自己。我們若有[神如此說]作後盾，就有最奇異莫名的能力臨到，使我們在平凡的生活中歡呼歌唱。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你榮耀的復活，進入我們的生命、路程和行動中。求你今天的醫治、盼望、恩典和美善，強而有力地臨到。
What line of thinking do my thoughts take? Do I turn to what God says or to my own fears? Am I simply repeating what God says, or am I learning to truly hear Him and then to respond after I have heard what He says? “For He Himself has said, ’I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ’The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’ ” (Hebrews 13:5-6).
“I will never leave you . . .”— not for any reason; not my sin, selfishness, stubbornness, nor waywardness. Have I really let God say to me that He will never leave me? If I have not truly heard this assurance of God, then let me listen again.
“I will never . . . forsake you.” Sometimes it is not the difficulty of life but the drudgery of it that makes me think God will forsake me. When there is no major difficulty to overcome, no vision from God, nothing wonderful or beautiful— just the everyday activities of life— do I hear God’s assurance even in these?
We have the idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing— that He is preparing and equipping us for some extraordinary work in the future. But as we grow in His grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, at this very moment. If we have God’s assurance behind us, the most amazing strength becomes ours, and we learn to sing, glorifying Him even in the ordinary days and ways of life.
永不失信的神
因為主曾說：[我總不撇下你，也不丟棄你。 ]（來十三5）
我思想的路向如何？是轉向神的話，還是轉向自己的恐懼？我有沒有學習不去講述神說什麼，而是先聽他說些什麼，然後才開口？ [主曾說：『我總不撇下你，也不丟棄你。 』所以我們可以放膽說：『主是幫助我的，我必不懼怕，人能把我怎麼樣呢？ 』]
[我總不失信。 ]（中文聖經作[我總不撇下你]）——不管我是罪污、自私、固執、背逆，神總不撇下我。我真有讓神對我說：[我總不失信]？若我曾聽過神如此說，讓我如今聽他再說吧。
[我總不丟棄你。 ]有時並非是困難叫我覺得丟棄我，而是枯燥乏味的生活。滅有困難的高山可以攀登，也沒有異象賜下，更沒有甚麼興奮美麗的東西，只是日復一日的平凡生活——在這景況下，我有聽見神如此說呢？
在我們的意念中，總以為神會行奇事，裝備我們將來要成就偉大的工作。可是，我們若在神的恩中生活，便會發現神就在此時此地榮耀他自己。我們若有[神如此說]作後盾，就有最奇異莫名的能力臨到，使我們在平凡的生活中歡呼歌唱。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你榮耀的復活，進入我們的生命、路程和行動中。求你今天的醫治、盼望、恩典和美善，強而有力地臨到。
February 10, 2014
Is Your Ability to See God Blinded?
Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things . . . —Isaiah 40:26
The people of God in Isaiah’s time had blinded their minds’ ability to see God by looking on the face of idols. But Isaiah made them look up at the heavens; that is, he made them begin to use their power to think and to visualize correctly. If we are children of God, we have a tremendous treasure in nature and will realize that it is holy and sacred. We will see God reaching out to us in every wind that blows, every sunrise and sunset, every cloud in the sky, every flower that blooms, and every leaf that fades, if we will only begin to use our blinded thinking to visualize it.
The real test of spiritual focus is being able to bring your mind and thoughts under control. Is your mind focused on the face of an idol? Is the idol yourself? Is it your work? Is it your idea of what a servant should be, or maybe your experience of salvation and sanctification? If so, then your ability to see God is blinded. You will be powerless when faced with difficulties and will be forced to endure in darkness. If your power to see has been blinded, don’t look back on your own experiences, but look to God. It is God you need. Go beyond yourself and away from the faces of your idols and away from everything else that has been blinding your thinking. Wake up and accept the ridicule that Isaiah gave to his people, and deliberately turn your thoughts and your eyes to God.
One of the reasons for our sense of futility in prayer is that we have lost our power to visualize. We can no longer even imagine putting ourselves deliberately before God. It is actually more important to be broken bread and poured-out wine in the area of intercession than in our personal contact with others. The power of visualization is what God gives a saint so that he can go beyond himself and be firmly placed into relationships he never before experienced.
你對神的想像力衰退了嗎？
你們向上舉目，看誰創造這萬象。 （賽四十26）
以 賽亞時代神的百姓，只看偶像的面孔，以致缺乏想像力。以賽亞吩咐他們舉目望天，就是叫他們再用想像力。大自然對聖徒而言，是神聖的。我們若是神的兒女
，在大自然中就必發掘無限的寶藏。一陣微風，一個晝夜，天空的變化，大地的興衰，都實實在在是神向我們說話。只要我們運用那呆滯已久的想像力，便可以領略。
屬靈上的專一是一個考驗，要看我們能否利用想像力專一向神。你的[思想]是否向著偶像？這偶像是你自己？你的作為？你事奉的觀念？你得救與成聖的經歷？那末，你對神的想像力是呆滯了。當你面對困難，你就無能為力，只好在黑暗中忍受吧。你的想像力若是貧乏，切勿回頭看自己的經歷，因你需要的是神。你要擺脫偶像的羈絆，離開任何阻攔你思想神的事物。醒來吧，接受以賽亞對百姓的吩咐，把[心思意念]轉向神。
禱告含混模糊的原因之一是沒有想像力，沒有決志把自己擺在神面前。我們要先學習怎樣做劈開的餅，倒出來的酒，做代禱的工夫，多於做與人接觸的工作。想像力是神給聖徒的一種能力，叫他從[己]出來，進入從未經歷過的關係裡去。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我完完全全地需要你！我來到你面前，求你藉著你的生命，慈愛地使我更新，以致我的理解力、想像力和說話，完全屬於你。今天，我尋求你的感動和使人振興的恩典。
The people of God in Isaiah’s time had blinded their minds’ ability to see God by looking on the face of idols. But Isaiah made them look up at the heavens; that is, he made them begin to use their power to think and to visualize correctly. If we are children of God, we have a tremendous treasure in nature and will realize that it is holy and sacred. We will see God reaching out to us in every wind that blows, every sunrise and sunset, every cloud in the sky, every flower that blooms, and every leaf that fades, if we will only begin to use our blinded thinking to visualize it.
The real test of spiritual focus is being able to bring your mind and thoughts under control. Is your mind focused on the face of an idol? Is the idol yourself? Is it your work? Is it your idea of what a servant should be, or maybe your experience of salvation and sanctification? If so, then your ability to see God is blinded. You will be powerless when faced with difficulties and will be forced to endure in darkness. If your power to see has been blinded, don’t look back on your own experiences, but look to God. It is God you need. Go beyond yourself and away from the faces of your idols and away from everything else that has been blinding your thinking. Wake up and accept the ridicule that Isaiah gave to his people, and deliberately turn your thoughts and your eyes to God.
One of the reasons for our sense of futility in prayer is that we have lost our power to visualize. We can no longer even imagine putting ourselves deliberately before God. It is actually more important to be broken bread and poured-out wine in the area of intercession than in our personal contact with others. The power of visualization is what God gives a saint so that he can go beyond himself and be firmly placed into relationships he never before experienced.
你對神的想像力衰退了嗎？
你們向上舉目，看誰創造這萬象。 （賽四十26）
以 賽亞時代神的百姓，只看偶像的面孔，以致缺乏想像力。以賽亞吩咐他們舉目望天，就是叫他們再用想像力。大自然對聖徒而言，是神聖的。我們若是神的兒女
，在大自然中就必發掘無限的寶藏。一陣微風，一個晝夜，天空的變化，大地的興衰，都實實在在是神向我們說話。只要我們運用那呆滯已久的想像力，便可以領略。
屬靈上的專一是一個考驗，要看我們能否利用想像力專一向神。你的[思想]是否向著偶像？這偶像是你自己？你的作為？你事奉的觀念？你得救與成聖的經歷？那末，你對神的想像力是呆滯了。當你面對困難，你就無能為力，只好在黑暗中忍受吧。你的想像力若是貧乏，切勿回頭看自己的經歷，因你需要的是神。你要擺脫偶像的羈絆，離開任何阻攔你思想神的事物。醒來吧，接受以賽亞對百姓的吩咐，把[心思意念]轉向神。
禱告含混模糊的原因之一是沒有想像力，沒有決志把自己擺在神面前。我們要先學習怎樣做劈開的餅，倒出來的酒，做代禱的工夫，多於做與人接觸的工作。想像力是神給聖徒的一種能力，叫他從[己]出來，進入從未經歷過的關係裡去。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我完完全全地需要你！我來到你面前，求你藉著你的生命，慈愛地使我更新，以致我的理解力、想像力和說話，完全屬於你。今天，我尋求你的感動和使人振興的恩典。
June 26, 2013
Drawing on the Grace of God— Now
We . . . plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain —2 Corinthians 6:1
The grace you had yesterday will not be sufficient for today. Grace is the overflowing favor of God, and you can always count on it being available to draw upon as needed. “. . . in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses”— that is where our patience is tested (2 Corinthians 6:4). Are you failing to rely on the grace of God there? Are you saying to yourself, “Oh well, I won’t count this time”? It is not a question of praying and asking God to help you— it is taking the grace of God now. We tend to make prayer the preparation for our service, yet it is never that in the Bible. Prayer is the practice of drawing on the grace of God. Don’t say, “I will endure this until I can get away and pray.” Pray now — draw on the grace of God in your moment of need. Prayer is the most normal and useful thing; it is not simply a reflex action of your devotion to God. We are very slow to learn to draw on God’s grace through prayer.
“. . . in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors . . .” (2 Corinthians 6:5)— in all these things, display in your life a drawing on the grace of God, which will show evidence to yourself and to others that you are a miracle of His. Draw on His grace now, not later. The primary word in the spiritual vocabulary is now. Let circumstances take you where they will, but keep drawing on the grace of God in whatever condition you may find yourself. One of the greatest proofs that you are drawing on the grace of God is that you can be totally humiliated before others without displaying even the slightest trace of anything but His grace.
“. . . having nothing . . . .” Never hold anything in reserve. Pour yourself out, giving the best that you have, and always be poor. Never be diplomatic and careful with the treasure God gives you. “. . . and yet possessing all things”— this is poverty triumphant (2 Corinthians 6:10).
總趁現在
我們……勸你們，不可徒受他的恩典。 （林後六1）
你昨天所得的恩典，今天已不合用了。恩典是神豐盛的恩寵；你隨時隨地都可以取用。 [在許多的忍耐、患難、窮乏、困苦]－－這些都是忍耐的考驗。你在這些事上有沒有失去神的恩典？你有沒有說：[算啦，這次不計其內。 ]問題不在於禱告求神幫助；乃是現在就取用神的恩典。我們往往把祈禱當作工作的準備，但在聖經裡根本不是如此。祈禱是支取神恩典的一種操練。
不要說：[我只管忍受一下，等到苦難過去就好好的禱告禱告。 ]現在就祈禱吧！在正有需要時，支取神的恩典吧。祈禱是最實際的事，而不是虔誠的一種反射行動。禱告是支取神恩典最後學習的功課。
[鞭打、監禁、擾亂、勞動]－－在這一切事上不斷支取神的恩典，會使你成為別人眼中的奇蹟。現在就支取，不是等一會才做。屬靈的字彙中有一個詞語，就是現在。不管環境怎樣，只管不斷支取神的恩典。你支取神的恩典一個最大的明證，就是在你受人羞辱時，所表彰的除了神的恩典之外，再無別的。
[一無所有……]不再有任何保留。要把你最好的傾盡，常常貧窮無有。對神所賜的禮物，絕不精打細算地收藏。這就是貧窮中的勝利。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你今天賜下你的恩典
The grace you had yesterday will not be sufficient for today. Grace is the overflowing favor of God, and you can always count on it being available to draw upon as needed. “. . . in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses”— that is where our patience is tested (2 Corinthians 6:4). Are you failing to rely on the grace of God there? Are you saying to yourself, “Oh well, I won’t count this time”? It is not a question of praying and asking God to help you— it is taking the grace of God now. We tend to make prayer the preparation for our service, yet it is never that in the Bible. Prayer is the practice of drawing on the grace of God. Don’t say, “I will endure this until I can get away and pray.” Pray now — draw on the grace of God in your moment of need. Prayer is the most normal and useful thing; it is not simply a reflex action of your devotion to God. We are very slow to learn to draw on God’s grace through prayer.
“. . . in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors . . .” (2 Corinthians 6:5)— in all these things, display in your life a drawing on the grace of God, which will show evidence to yourself and to others that you are a miracle of His. Draw on His grace now, not later. The primary word in the spiritual vocabulary is now. Let circumstances take you where they will, but keep drawing on the grace of God in whatever condition you may find yourself. One of the greatest proofs that you are drawing on the grace of God is that you can be totally humiliated before others without displaying even the slightest trace of anything but His grace.
“. . . having nothing . . . .” Never hold anything in reserve. Pour yourself out, giving the best that you have, and always be poor. Never be diplomatic and careful with the treasure God gives you. “. . . and yet possessing all things”— this is poverty triumphant (2 Corinthians 6:10).
總趁現在
我們……勸你們，不可徒受他的恩典。 （林後六1）
你昨天所得的恩典，今天已不合用了。恩典是神豐盛的恩寵；你隨時隨地都可以取用。 [在許多的忍耐、患難、窮乏、困苦]－－這些都是忍耐的考驗。你在這些事上有沒有失去神的恩典？你有沒有說：[算啦，這次不計其內。 ]問題不在於禱告求神幫助；乃是現在就取用神的恩典。我們往往把祈禱當作工作的準備，但在聖經裡根本不是如此。祈禱是支取神恩典的一種操練。
不要說：[我只管忍受一下，等到苦難過去就好好的禱告禱告。 ]現在就祈禱吧！在正有需要時，支取神的恩典吧。祈禱是最實際的事，而不是虔誠的一種反射行動。禱告是支取神恩典最後學習的功課。
[鞭打、監禁、擾亂、勞動]－－在這一切事上不斷支取神的恩典，會使你成為別人眼中的奇蹟。現在就支取，不是等一會才做。屬靈的字彙中有一個詞語，就是現在。不管環境怎樣，只管不斷支取神的恩典。你支取神的恩典一個最大的明證，就是在你受人羞辱時，所表彰的除了神的恩典之外，再無別的。
[一無所有……]不再有任何保留。要把你最好的傾盡，常常貧窮無有。對神所賜的禮物，絕不精打細算地收藏。這就是貧窮中的勝利。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你今天賜下你的恩典
June 04, 2013
The Never-forsaking God
He Himself has said, ’I will never leave you nor forsake you’ —Hebrews 13:5
What line of thinking do my thoughts take? Do I turn to what God says or to my own fears? Am I simply repeating what God says, or am I learning to truly hear Him and then to respond after I have heard what He says? “For He Himself has said, ’I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ’The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’ ” (Hebrews 13:5-6).
“I will never leave you . . .”— not for any reason; not my sin, selfishness, stubbornness, nor waywardness. Have I really let God say to me that He will never leave me? If I have not truly heard this assurance of God, then let me listen again.
“I will never . . . forsake you.” Sometimes it is not the difficulty of life but the drudgery of it that makes me think God will forsake me. When there is no major difficulty to overcome, no vision from God, nothing wonderful or beautiful— just the everyday activities of life— do I hear God’s assurance even in these?
We have the idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing— that He is preparing and equipping us for some extraordinary work in the future. But as we grow in His grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, at this very moment. If we have God’s assurance behind us, the most amazing strength becomes ours, and we learn to sing, glorifying Him even in the ordinary days and ways of life.
永不失信的神
因為主曾說：[我總不撇下你，也不丟棄你。 ]（來十三5）
我思想的路向如何？是轉向神的話，還是轉向自己的恐懼？我有沒有學習不去講述神說什麼，而是先聽他說些什麼，然後才開口？ [主曾說：『我總不撇下你，也不丟棄你。 』所以我們可以放膽說：『主是幫助我的，我必不懼怕，人能把我怎麼樣呢？ 』]
[我總不失信。 ]（中文聖經作[我總不撇下你]）——不管我是罪污、自私、固執、背逆，神總不撇下我。我真有讓神對我說：[我總不失信]？若我曾聽過神如此說，讓我如今聽他再說吧。
[我總不丟棄你。 ]有時並非是困難叫我覺得丟棄我，而是枯燥乏味的生活。滅有困難的高山可以攀登，也沒有異象賜下，更沒有甚麼興奮美麗的東西，只是日復一日的平凡生活——在這景況下，我有聽見神如此說呢？
在我們的意念中，總以為神會行奇事，裝備我們將來要成就偉大的工作。可是，我們若在神的恩中生活，便會發現神就在此時此地榮耀他自己。我們若有[神如此說]作後盾，就有最奇異莫名的能力臨到，使我們在平凡的生活中歡呼歌唱。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你榮耀的復活，進入我們的生命、路程和行動中。求你今天的醫治、盼望、恩典和美善，強而有力地臨到。
What line of thinking do my thoughts take? Do I turn to what God says or to my own fears? Am I simply repeating what God says, or am I learning to truly hear Him and then to respond after I have heard what He says? “For He Himself has said, ’I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ’The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’ ” (Hebrews 13:5-6).
“I will never leave you . . .”— not for any reason; not my sin, selfishness, stubbornness, nor waywardness. Have I really let God say to me that He will never leave me? If I have not truly heard this assurance of God, then let me listen again.
“I will never . . . forsake you.” Sometimes it is not the difficulty of life but the drudgery of it that makes me think God will forsake me. When there is no major difficulty to overcome, no vision from God, nothing wonderful or beautiful— just the everyday activities of life— do I hear God’s assurance even in these?
We have the idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing— that He is preparing and equipping us for some extraordinary work in the future. But as we grow in His grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, at this very moment. If we have God’s assurance behind us, the most amazing strength becomes ours, and we learn to sing, glorifying Him even in the ordinary days and ways of life.
永不失信的神
因為主曾說：[我總不撇下你，也不丟棄你。 ]（來十三5）
我思想的路向如何？是轉向神的話，還是轉向自己的恐懼？我有沒有學習不去講述神說什麼，而是先聽他說些什麼，然後才開口？ [主曾說：『我總不撇下你，也不丟棄你。 』所以我們可以放膽說：『主是幫助我的，我必不懼怕，人能把我怎麼樣呢？ 』]
[我總不失信。 ]（中文聖經作[我總不撇下你]）——不管我是罪污、自私、固執、背逆，神總不撇下我。我真有讓神對我說：[我總不失信]？若我曾聽過神如此說，讓我如今聽他再說吧。
[我總不丟棄你。 ]有時並非是困難叫我覺得丟棄我，而是枯燥乏味的生活。滅有困難的高山可以攀登，也沒有異象賜下，更沒有甚麼興奮美麗的東西，只是日復一日的平凡生活——在這景況下，我有聽見神如此說呢？
在我們的意念中，總以為神會行奇事，裝備我們將來要成就偉大的工作。可是，我們若在神的恩中生活，便會發現神就在此時此地榮耀他自己。我們若有[神如此說]作後盾，就有最奇異莫名的能力臨到，使我們在平凡的生活中歡呼歌唱。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你榮耀的復活，進入我們的生命、路程和行動中。求你今天的醫治、盼望、恩典和美善，強而有力地臨到。
February 10, 2013
Is Your Ability to See God Blinded?
Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things . . . —Isaiah 40:26
The people of God in Isaiah’s time had blinded their minds’ ability to see God by looking on the face of idols. But Isaiah made them look up at the heavens; that is, he made them begin to use their power to think and to visualize correctly. If we are children of God, we have a tremendous treasure in nature and will realize that it is holy and sacred. We will see God reaching out to us in every wind that blows, every sunrise and sunset, every cloud in the sky, every flower that blooms, and every leaf that fades, if we will only begin to use our blinded thinking to visualize it.
The real test of spiritual focus is being able to bring your mind and thoughts under control. Is your mind focused on the face of an idol? Is the idol yourself? Is it your work? Is it your idea of what a servant should be, or maybe your experience of salvation and sanctification? If so, then your ability to see God is blinded. You will be powerless when faced with difficulties and will be forced to endure in darkness. If your power to see has been blinded, don’t look back on your own experiences, but look to God. It is God you need. Go beyond yourself and away from the faces of your idols and away from everything else that has been blinding your thinking. Wake up and accept the ridicule that Isaiah gave to his people, and deliberately turn your thoughts and your eyes to God.
One of the reasons for our sense of futility in prayer is that we have lost our power to visualize. We can no longer even imagine putting ourselves deliberately before God. It is actually more important to be broken bread and poured-out wine in the area of intercession than in our personal contact with others. The power of visualization is what God gives a saint so that he can go beyond himself and be firmly placed into relationships he never before experienced.
你對神的想像力衰退了嗎？
你們向上舉目，看誰創造這萬象。 （賽四十26）
以賽亞時代神的百姓，只看偶像的面孔，以致缺乏想像力。以賽亞吩咐他們舉目望天，就是叫他們再用想像力。大自然對聖徒而言，是神聖的。我們若是神的兒女，在大自然中就必發掘無限的寶藏。一陣微風，一個晝夜，天空的變化，大地的興衰，都實實在在是神向我們說話。只要我們運用那呆滯已久的想像力，便可以領略。
屬靈上的專一是一個考驗，要看我們能否利用想像力專一向神。你的[思想]是否向著偶像？這偶像是你自己？你的作為？你事奉的觀念？你得救與成聖的經歷？那末，你對神的想像力是呆滯了。當你面對困難，你就無能為力，只好在黑暗中忍受吧。你的想像力若是貧乏，切勿回頭看自己的經歷，因你需要的是神。你要擺脫偶像的羈絆，離開任何阻攔你思想神的事物。醒來吧，接受以賽亞對百姓的吩咐，把[心思意念]轉向神。
禱告含混模糊的原因之一是沒有想像力，沒有決志把自己擺在神面前。我們要先學習怎樣做劈開的餅，倒出來的酒，做代禱的工夫，多於做與人接觸的工作。想像力是神給聖徒的一種能力，叫他從[己]出來，進入從未經歷過的關係裡去。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我完完全全地需要你！我來到你面前，求你藉著你的生命，慈愛地使我更新，以致我的理解力、想像力和說話，完全屬於你。今天，我尋求你的感動和使人振興的恩典。
The people of God in Isaiah’s time had blinded their minds’ ability to see God by looking on the face of idols. But Isaiah made them look up at the heavens; that is, he made them begin to use their power to think and to visualize correctly. If we are children of God, we have a tremendous treasure in nature and will realize that it is holy and sacred. We will see God reaching out to us in every wind that blows, every sunrise and sunset, every cloud in the sky, every flower that blooms, and every leaf that fades, if we will only begin to use our blinded thinking to visualize it.
The real test of spiritual focus is being able to bring your mind and thoughts under control. Is your mind focused on the face of an idol? Is the idol yourself? Is it your work? Is it your idea of what a servant should be, or maybe your experience of salvation and sanctification? If so, then your ability to see God is blinded. You will be powerless when faced with difficulties and will be forced to endure in darkness. If your power to see has been blinded, don’t look back on your own experiences, but look to God. It is God you need. Go beyond yourself and away from the faces of your idols and away from everything else that has been blinding your thinking. Wake up and accept the ridicule that Isaiah gave to his people, and deliberately turn your thoughts and your eyes to God.
One of the reasons for our sense of futility in prayer is that we have lost our power to visualize. We can no longer even imagine putting ourselves deliberately before God. It is actually more important to be broken bread and poured-out wine in the area of intercession than in our personal contact with others. The power of visualization is what God gives a saint so that he can go beyond himself and be firmly placed into relationships he never before experienced.
你對神的想像力衰退了嗎？
你們向上舉目，看誰創造這萬象。 （賽四十26）
以賽亞時代神的百姓，只看偶像的面孔，以致缺乏想像力。以賽亞吩咐他們舉目望天，就是叫他們再用想像力。大自然對聖徒而言，是神聖的。我們若是神的兒女，在大自然中就必發掘無限的寶藏。一陣微風，一個晝夜，天空的變化，大地的興衰，都實實在在是神向我們說話。只要我們運用那呆滯已久的想像力，便可以領略。
屬靈上的專一是一個考驗，要看我們能否利用想像力專一向神。你的[思想]是否向著偶像？這偶像是你自己？你的作為？你事奉的觀念？你得救與成聖的經歷？那末，你對神的想像力是呆滯了。當你面對困難，你就無能為力，只好在黑暗中忍受吧。你的想像力若是貧乏，切勿回頭看自己的經歷，因你需要的是神。你要擺脫偶像的羈絆，離開任何阻攔你思想神的事物。醒來吧，接受以賽亞對百姓的吩咐，把[心思意念]轉向神。
禱告含混模糊的原因之一是沒有想像力，沒有決志把自己擺在神面前。我們要先學習怎樣做劈開的餅，倒出來的酒，做代禱的工夫，多於做與人接觸的工作。想像力是神給聖徒的一種能力，叫他從[己]出來，進入從未經歷過的關係裡去。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我完完全全地需要你！我來到你面前，求你藉著你的生命，慈愛地使我更新，以致我的理解力、想像力和說話，完全屬於你。今天，我尋求你的感動和使人振興的恩典。
June 26, 2012
Drawing on the Grace of God— Now
We . . . plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain —2 Corinthians 6:1
The grace you had yesterday will not be sufficient for today. Grace is the overflowing favor of God, and you can always count on it being available to draw upon as needed. “. . . in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses”— that is where our patience is tested (2 Corinthians 6:4). Are you failing to rely on the grace of God there? Are you saying to yourself, “Oh well, I won’t count this time”? It is not a question of praying and asking God to help you— it is taking the grace of God now. We tend to make prayer the preparation for our service, yet it is never that in the Bible. Prayer is the practice of drawing on the grace of God. Don’t say, “I will endure this until I can get away and pray.” Pray now — draw on the grace of God in your moment of need. Prayer is the most normal and useful thing; it is not simply a reflex action of your devotion to God. We are very slow to learn to draw on God’s grace through prayer.
“. . . in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors . . .” (2 Corinthians 6:5)— in all these things, display in your life a drawing on the grace of God, which will show evidence to yourself and to others that you are a miracle of His. Draw on His grace now, not later. The primary word in the spiritual vocabulary is now. Let circumstances take you where they will, but keep drawing on the grace of God in whatever condition you may find yourself. One of the greatest proofs that you are drawing on the grace of God is that you can be totally humiliated before others without displaying even the slightest trace of anything but His grace.
“. . . having nothing . . . .” Never hold anything in reserve. Pour yourself out, giving the best that you have, and always be poor. Never be diplomatic and careful with the treasure God gives you. “. . . and yet possessing all things”— this is poverty triumphant (2 Corinthians 6:10).
總趁現在
我們……勸你們，不可徒受他的恩典。 （林後六1）
你昨天所得的恩典，今天已不合用了。恩典是神豐盛的恩寵；你隨時隨地都可以取用。 [在許多的忍耐、患難、窮乏、困苦]－－這些都是忍耐的考驗。你在這些事上有沒有失去神的恩典？你有沒有說：[算啦，這次不計其內。 ]問題不在於禱告求神幫助；乃是現在就取用神的恩典。我們往往把祈禱當作工作的準備，但在聖經裡根本不是如此。祈禱是支取神恩典的一種操練。
不要說：[我只管忍受一下，等到苦難過去就好好的禱告禱告。 ]現在就祈禱吧！在正有需要時，支取神的恩典吧。祈禱是最實際的事，而不是虔誠的一種反射行動。禱告是支取神恩典最後學習的功課。
[鞭打、監禁、擾亂、勞動]－－在這一切事上不斷支取神的恩典，會使你成為別人眼中的奇蹟。現在就支取，不是等一會才做。屬靈的字彙中有一個詞語，就是現在。不管環境怎樣，只管不斷支取神的恩典。你支取神的恩典一個最大的明證，就是在你受人羞辱時，所表彰的除了神的恩典之外，再無別的。
[一無所有……]不再有任何保留。要把你最好的傾盡，常常貧窮無有。對神所賜的禮物，絕不精打細算地收藏。這就是貧窮中的勝利。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你今天賜下你的恩典
The grace you had yesterday will not be sufficient for today. Grace is the overflowing favor of God, and you can always count on it being available to draw upon as needed. “. . . in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses”— that is where our patience is tested (2 Corinthians 6:4). Are you failing to rely on the grace of God there? Are you saying to yourself, “Oh well, I won’t count this time”? It is not a question of praying and asking God to help you— it is taking the grace of God now. We tend to make prayer the preparation for our service, yet it is never that in the Bible. Prayer is the practice of drawing on the grace of God. Don’t say, “I will endure this until I can get away and pray.” Pray now — draw on the grace of God in your moment of need. Prayer is the most normal and useful thing; it is not simply a reflex action of your devotion to God. We are very slow to learn to draw on God’s grace through prayer.
“. . . in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors . . .” (2 Corinthians 6:5)— in all these things, display in your life a drawing on the grace of God, which will show evidence to yourself and to others that you are a miracle of His. Draw on His grace now, not later. The primary word in the spiritual vocabulary is now. Let circumstances take you where they will, but keep drawing on the grace of God in whatever condition you may find yourself. One of the greatest proofs that you are drawing on the grace of God is that you can be totally humiliated before others without displaying even the slightest trace of anything but His grace.
“. . . having nothing . . . .” Never hold anything in reserve. Pour yourself out, giving the best that you have, and always be poor. Never be diplomatic and careful with the treasure God gives you. “. . . and yet possessing all things”— this is poverty triumphant (2 Corinthians 6:10).
總趁現在
我們……勸你們，不可徒受他的恩典。 （林後六1）
你昨天所得的恩典，今天已不合用了。恩典是神豐盛的恩寵；你隨時隨地都可以取用。 [在許多的忍耐、患難、窮乏、困苦]－－這些都是忍耐的考驗。你在這些事上有沒有失去神的恩典？你有沒有說：[算啦，這次不計其內。 ]問題不在於禱告求神幫助；乃是現在就取用神的恩典。我們往往把祈禱當作工作的準備，但在聖經裡根本不是如此。祈禱是支取神恩典的一種操練。
不要說：[我只管忍受一下，等到苦難過去就好好的禱告禱告。 ]現在就祈禱吧！在正有需要時，支取神的恩典吧。祈禱是最實際的事，而不是虔誠的一種反射行動。禱告是支取神恩典最後學習的功課。
[鞭打、監禁、擾亂、勞動]－－在這一切事上不斷支取神的恩典，會使你成為別人眼中的奇蹟。現在就支取，不是等一會才做。屬靈的字彙中有一個詞語，就是現在。不管環境怎樣，只管不斷支取神的恩典。你支取神的恩典一個最大的明證，就是在你受人羞辱時，所表彰的除了神的恩典之外，再無別的。
[一無所有……]不再有任何保留。要把你最好的傾盡，常常貧窮無有。對神所賜的禮物，絕不精打細算地收藏。這就是貧窮中的勝利。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你今天賜下你的恩典
June 04, 2012
The Never-forsaking God
He Himself has said, ’I will never leave you nor forsake you’ —Hebrews 13:5
What line of thinking do my thoughts take? Do I turn to what God says or to my own fears? Am I simply repeating what God says, or am I learning to truly hear Him and then to respond after I have heard what He says? “For He Himself has said, ’I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ’The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’ ” (Hebrews 13:5-6).
“I will never leave you . . .”— not for any reason; not my sin, selfishness, stubbornness, nor waywardness. Have I really let God say to me that He will never leave me? If I have not truly heard this assurance of God, then let me listen again.
“I will never . . . forsake you.” Sometimes it is not the difficulty of life but the drudgery of it that makes me think God will forsake me. When there is no major difficulty to overcome, no vision from God, nothing wonderful or beautiful— just the everyday activities of life— do I hear God’s assurance even in these?
We have the idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing— that He is preparing and equipping us for some extraordinary work in the future. But as we grow in His grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, at this very moment. If we have God’s assurance behind us, the most amazing strength becomes ours, and we learn to sing, glorifying Him even in the ordinary days and ways of life.
永不失信的神
因為主曾說：[我總不撇下你，也不丟棄你。 ]（來十三5）
我思想的路向如何？是轉向神的話，還是轉向自己的恐懼？我有沒有學習不去講述神說什麼，而是先聽他說些什麼，然後才開口？ [主曾說：『我總不撇下你，也不丟棄你。 』所以我們可以放膽說：『主是幫助我的，我必不懼怕，人能把我怎麼樣呢？ 』]
[我總不失信。 ]（中文聖經作[我總不撇下你]）——不管我是罪污、自私、固執、背逆，神總不撇下我。我真有讓神對我說：[我總不失信]？若我曾聽過神如此說，讓我如今聽他再說吧。
[我總不丟棄你。 ]有時並非是困難叫我覺得丟棄我，而是枯燥乏味的生活。滅有困難的高山可以攀登，也沒有異象賜下，更沒有甚麼興奮美麗的東西，只是日復一日的平凡生活——在這景況下，我有聽見神如此說呢？
在我們的意念中，總以為神會行奇事，裝備我們將來要成就偉大的工作。可是，我們若在神的恩中生活，便會發現神就在此時此地榮耀他自己。我們若有[神如此說]作後盾，就有最奇異莫名的能力臨到，使我們在平凡的生活中歡呼歌唱。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你榮耀的復活，進入我們的生命、路程和行動中。求你今天的醫治、盼望、恩典和美善，強而有力地臨到。
What line of thinking do my thoughts take? Do I turn to what God says or to my own fears? Am I simply repeating what God says, or am I learning to truly hear Him and then to respond after I have heard what He says? “For He Himself has said, ’I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ’The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’ ” (Hebrews 13:5-6).
“I will never leave you . . .”— not for any reason; not my sin, selfishness, stubbornness, nor waywardness. Have I really let God say to me that He will never leave me? If I have not truly heard this assurance of God, then let me listen again.
“I will never . . . forsake you.” Sometimes it is not the difficulty of life but the drudgery of it that makes me think God will forsake me. When there is no major difficulty to overcome, no vision from God, nothing wonderful or beautiful— just the everyday activities of life— do I hear God’s assurance even in these?
We have the idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing— that He is preparing and equipping us for some extraordinary work in the future. But as we grow in His grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, at this very moment. If we have God’s assurance behind us, the most amazing strength becomes ours, and we learn to sing, glorifying Him even in the ordinary days and ways of life.
永不失信的神
因為主曾說：[我總不撇下你，也不丟棄你。 ]（來十三5）
我思想的路向如何？是轉向神的話，還是轉向自己的恐懼？我有沒有學習不去講述神說什麼，而是先聽他說些什麼，然後才開口？ [主曾說：『我總不撇下你，也不丟棄你。 』所以我們可以放膽說：『主是幫助我的，我必不懼怕，人能把我怎麼樣呢？ 』]
[我總不失信。 ]（中文聖經作[我總不撇下你]）——不管我是罪污、自私、固執、背逆，神總不撇下我。我真有讓神對我說：[我總不失信]？若我曾聽過神如此說，讓我如今聽他再說吧。
[我總不丟棄你。 ]有時並非是困難叫我覺得丟棄我，而是枯燥乏味的生活。滅有困難的高山可以攀登，也沒有異象賜下，更沒有甚麼興奮美麗的東西，只是日復一日的平凡生活——在這景況下，我有聽見神如此說呢？
在我們的意念中，總以為神會行奇事，裝備我們將來要成就偉大的工作。可是，我們若在神的恩中生活，便會發現神就在此時此地榮耀他自己。我們若有[神如此說]作後盾，就有最奇異莫名的能力臨到，使我們在平凡的生活中歡呼歌唱。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你榮耀的復活，進入我們的生命、路程和行動中。求你今天的醫治、盼望、恩典和美善，強而有力地臨到。
February 10, 2012
Is Your Ability to See God Blinded?
Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things . . . —Isaiah 40:26
The people of God in Isaiah’s time had blinded their minds’ ability to see God by looking on the face of idols. But Isaiah made them look up at the heavens; that is, he made them begin to use their power to think and to visualize correctly. If we are children of God, we have a tremendous treasure in nature and will realize that it is holy and sacred. We will see God reaching out to us in every wind that blows, every sunrise and sunset, every cloud in the sky, every flower that blooms, and every leaf that fades, if we will only begin to use our blinded thinking to visualize it.
The real test of spiritual focus is being able to bring your mind and thoughts under control. Is your mind focused on the face of an idol? Is the idol yourself? Is it your work? Is it your idea of what a servant should be, or maybe your experience of salvation and sanctification? If so, then your ability to see God is blinded. You will be powerless when faced with difficulties and will be forced to endure in darkness. If your power to see has been blinded, don’t look back on your own experiences, but look to God. It is God you need. Go beyond yourself and away from the faces of your idols and away from everything else that has been blinding your thinking. Wake up and accept the ridicule that Isaiah gave to his people, and deliberately turn your thoughts and your eyes to God.
One of the reasons for our sense of futility in prayer is that we have lost our power to visualize. We can no longer even imagine putting ourselves deliberately before God. It is actually more important to be broken bread and poured-out wine in the area of intercession than in our personal contact with others. The power of visualization is what God gives a saint so that he can go beyond himself and be firmly placed into relationships he never before experienced.
你對神的想像力衰退了嗎？
你們向上舉目，看誰創造這萬象。 （賽四十26）
以賽亞時代神的百姓，只看偶像的面孔，以致缺乏想像力。以賽亞吩咐他們舉目望天，就是叫他們再用想像力。大自然對聖徒而言，是神聖的。我們若是神的兒女，在大自然中就必發掘無限的寶藏。一陣微風，一個晝夜，天空的變化，大地的興衰，都實實在在是神向我們說話。只要我們運用那呆滯已久的想像力，便可以領略。
屬靈上的專一是一個考驗，要看我們能否利用想像力專一向神。你的[思想]是否向著偶像？這偶像是你自己？你的作為？你事奉的觀念？你得救與成聖的經歷？那末，你對神的想像力是呆滯了。當你面對困難，你就無能為力，只好在黑暗中忍受吧。你的想像力若是貧乏，切勿回頭看自己的經歷，因你需要的是神。你要擺脫偶像的羈絆，離開任何阻攔你思想神的事物。醒來吧，接受以賽亞對百姓的吩咐，把[心思意念]轉向神。
禱告含混模糊的原因之一是沒有想像力，沒有決志把自己擺在神面前。我們要先學習怎樣做劈開的餅，倒出來的酒，做代禱的工夫，多於做與人接觸的工作。想像力是神給聖徒的一種能力，叫他從[己]出來，進入從未經歷過的關係裡去。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我完完全全地需要你！我來到你面前，求你藉著你的生命，慈愛地使我更新，以致我的理解力、想像力和說話，完全屬於你。今天，我尋求你的感動和使人振興的恩典。
The people of God in Isaiah’s time had blinded their minds’ ability to see God by looking on the face of idols. But Isaiah made them look up at the heavens; that is, he made them begin to use their power to think and to visualize correctly. If we are children of God, we have a tremendous treasure in nature and will realize that it is holy and sacred. We will see God reaching out to us in every wind that blows, every sunrise and sunset, every cloud in the sky, every flower that blooms, and every leaf that fades, if we will only begin to use our blinded thinking to visualize it.
The real test of spiritual focus is being able to bring your mind and thoughts under control. Is your mind focused on the face of an idol? Is the idol yourself? Is it your work? Is it your idea of what a servant should be, or maybe your experience of salvation and sanctification? If so, then your ability to see God is blinded. You will be powerless when faced with difficulties and will be forced to endure in darkness. If your power to see has been blinded, don’t look back on your own experiences, but look to God. It is God you need. Go beyond yourself and away from the faces of your idols and away from everything else that has been blinding your thinking. Wake up and accept the ridicule that Isaiah gave to his people, and deliberately turn your thoughts and your eyes to God.
One of the reasons for our sense of futility in prayer is that we have lost our power to visualize. We can no longer even imagine putting ourselves deliberately before God. It is actually more important to be broken bread and poured-out wine in the area of intercession than in our personal contact with others. The power of visualization is what God gives a saint so that he can go beyond himself and be firmly placed into relationships he never before experienced.
你對神的想像力衰退了嗎？
你們向上舉目，看誰創造這萬象。 （賽四十26）
以賽亞時代神的百姓，只看偶像的面孔，以致缺乏想像力。以賽亞吩咐他們舉目望天，就是叫他們再用想像力。大自然對聖徒而言，是神聖的。我們若是神的兒女，在大自然中就必發掘無限的寶藏。一陣微風，一個晝夜，天空的變化，大地的興衰，都實實在在是神向我們說話。只要我們運用那呆滯已久的想像力，便可以領略。
屬靈上的專一是一個考驗，要看我們能否利用想像力專一向神。你的[思想]是否向著偶像？這偶像是你自己？你的作為？你事奉的觀念？你得救與成聖的經歷？那末，你對神的想像力是呆滯了。當你面對困難，你就無能為力，只好在黑暗中忍受吧。你的想像力若是貧乏，切勿回頭看自己的經歷，因你需要的是神。你要擺脫偶像的羈絆，離開任何阻攔你思想神的事物。醒來吧，接受以賽亞對百姓的吩咐，把[心思意念]轉向神。
禱告含混模糊的原因之一是沒有想像力，沒有決志把自己擺在神面前。我們要先學習怎樣做劈開的餅，倒出來的酒，做代禱的工夫，多於做與人接觸的工作。想像力是神給聖徒的一種能力，叫他從[己]出來，進入從未經歷過的關係裡去。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我完完全全地需要你！我來到你面前，求你藉著你的生命，慈愛地使我更新，以致我的理解力、想像力和說話，完全屬於你。今天，我尋求你的感動和使人振興的恩典。
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