Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops —Matthew 10:27
Sometimes God puts us through the experience and discipline of darkness to teach us to hear and obey Him. Song birds are taught to sing in the dark, and God puts us into “the shadow of His hand” until we learn to hear Him (Isaiah 49:2). “Whatever I tell you in the dark. . .”— pay attention when God puts you into darkness, and keep your mouth closed while you are there. Are you in the dark right now in your circumstances, or in your life with God? If so, then remain quiet. If you open your mouth in the dark, you will speak while in the wrong mood— darkness is the time to listen. Don’t talk to other people about it; don’t read books to find out the reason for the darkness; just listen and obey. If you talk to other people, you cannot hear what God is saying. When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message for someone else once you are back in the light.
After every time of darkness, we should experience a mixture of delight and humiliation. If there is only delight, I question whether we have really heard God at all. We should experience delight for having heard God speak, but mostly humiliation for having taken so long to hear Him! Then we will exclaim, “How slow I have been to listen and understand what God has been telling me!” And yet God has been saying it for days and even weeks. But once you hear Him, He gives you the gift of humiliation, which brings a softness of heart— a gift that will always cause you to listen to God now.
聽從的操練
我在暗中告訴你們的，你們要在明處說出來。你們耳中所聽的，要在房上宣揚出來。 （太十27）
有時神放我們在黑暗中，是要教導我們聽話。鳴鳥在黑暗裡學習唱歌，我們也要在神的陰影下學習聽他。 [我在暗中告訴你們的]——留意神把你放在什麼黑暗的地方，在那裡你要閉口不言。你如今四面漆黑嗎？你的生命與神之間幽暗嗎？保持安靜吧。在暗中開口，說話會不合宜。黑暗正是靜聽的時刻。不必告訴別人，不必去尋找黑暗的原因，只要留意靜聽；你若告訴人，就听不見神在說什麼！所以，你在黑暗中要聽；神會給你極寶貴的資訊，讓你出到光明後，可以向別人分享。
每一次經過黑暗，都會有一種欣喜與謙卑交織的心情（若只有欣喜，就不是真的聽見神了）。欣喜的時候聽見了神，但主要是謙卑——[我竟花這許多時間才聽見！我多麼遲鈍！而一直以來，神就不斷地說話。 ]這時，神叫你謙卑，使你柔順，從此聽命於他。
祈禱◆主啊，我要用詩人的話來敬拜你——[正直人在黑暗中，有光向他發現。 ]噢，主啊，我在何等的黑暗中！所以，你必然是光。
February 14, 2013
February 13, 2013
The Devotion Of Hearing
Samuel answered, ’Speak, for Your servant hears’ —1 Samuel 3:10
Just because I have listened carefully and intently to one thing from God does not mean that I will listen to everything He says. I show God my lack of love and respect for Him by the insensitivity of my heart and mind toward what He says. If I love my friend, I will instinctively understand what he wants. And Jesus said, “You are My friends . . .” (John 15:14). Have I disobeyed some command of my Lord’s this week? If I had realized that it was a command of Jesus, I would not have deliberately disobeyed it. But most of us show incredible disrespect to God because we don’t even hear Him. He might as well never have spoken to us.
The goal of my spiritual life is such close identification with Jesus Christ that I will always hear God and know that God always hears me (see John 11:41). If I am united with Jesus Christ, I hear God all the time through the devotion of hearing. A flower, a tree, or a servant of God may convey God’s message to me. What hinders me from hearing is my attention to other things. It is not that I don’t want to hear God, but I am not devoted in the right areas of my life. I am devoted to things and even to service and my own convictions. God may say whatever He wants, but I just don’t hear Him. The attitude of a child of God should always be, “Speak, for Your servant hears.” If I have not developed and nurtured this devotion of hearing, I can only hear God’s voice at certain times. At other times I become deaf to Him because my attention is to other things— things which I think I must do. This is not living the life of a child of God. Have you heard God’s voice today?
專一的聽
請說，僕人敬聽。 （撒上三10）
我在某一件事上專一聽神，並不表示我凡事都聽從他。我的靈與心志對他的話反應遲鈍，正表示我不愛神，也不尊敬他。若我愛朋友，自然體察他的需要。耶穌說：[你們是我的朋友。 ]這一周裡，我有沒有違背主的命令呢？我若明白那是主的命令，就不會故意違背了。但我們多數蔑視神，根本不聽神在說什麼，似乎神從未說過話一般。
屬靈生活的極峰，就是達到與耶穌基督合而為一，常常聽神說話。神也時常聽我（約十一4），若我與耶穌基督聯合，就會隨時隨地專心聽他。一朵百合花、一棵樹、一位神的僕人，都可以帶來神的信息。叫我聽不到神的，是纏累我的其他事物。我不肯聽他，是我心有外鶩，不在適當的事上專心。我只專注在事物上、事奉上、信念上、神只管說：我卻置若罔聞。嬰孩的態度始終是：[主啊，請說，僕人敬聽。 ]要是沒有培養好這種專心聆聽的習慣，就只能在某些時刻聽到神的聲音，其他時間卻被世務纏身，無法擺脫。於是我向神就是聾了耳，沒有孩子的樣式。我今日聽見神的聲音沒有？
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我要稱頌你聲音的語調和能力，你的語調帶著溫柔和滿有恩典的愛；你的語調亦帶有自然界強大風暴的能力。主啊，讓你榮耀的聲音在這地方被聽聞，亦讓我的靈得以聽見。
Just because I have listened carefully and intently to one thing from God does not mean that I will listen to everything He says. I show God my lack of love and respect for Him by the insensitivity of my heart and mind toward what He says. If I love my friend, I will instinctively understand what he wants. And Jesus said, “You are My friends . . .” (John 15:14). Have I disobeyed some command of my Lord’s this week? If I had realized that it was a command of Jesus, I would not have deliberately disobeyed it. But most of us show incredible disrespect to God because we don’t even hear Him. He might as well never have spoken to us.
The goal of my spiritual life is such close identification with Jesus Christ that I will always hear God and know that God always hears me (see John 11:41). If I am united with Jesus Christ, I hear God all the time through the devotion of hearing. A flower, a tree, or a servant of God may convey God’s message to me. What hinders me from hearing is my attention to other things. It is not that I don’t want to hear God, but I am not devoted in the right areas of my life. I am devoted to things and even to service and my own convictions. God may say whatever He wants, but I just don’t hear Him. The attitude of a child of God should always be, “Speak, for Your servant hears.” If I have not developed and nurtured this devotion of hearing, I can only hear God’s voice at certain times. At other times I become deaf to Him because my attention is to other things— things which I think I must do. This is not living the life of a child of God. Have you heard God’s voice today?
專一的聽
請說，僕人敬聽。 （撒上三10）
我在某一件事上專一聽神，並不表示我凡事都聽從他。我的靈與心志對他的話反應遲鈍，正表示我不愛神，也不尊敬他。若我愛朋友，自然體察他的需要。耶穌說：[你們是我的朋友。 ]這一周裡，我有沒有違背主的命令呢？我若明白那是主的命令，就不會故意違背了。但我們多數蔑視神，根本不聽神在說什麼，似乎神從未說過話一般。
屬靈生活的極峰，就是達到與耶穌基督合而為一，常常聽神說話。神也時常聽我（約十一4），若我與耶穌基督聯合，就會隨時隨地專心聽他。一朵百合花、一棵樹、一位神的僕人，都可以帶來神的信息。叫我聽不到神的，是纏累我的其他事物。我不肯聽他，是我心有外鶩，不在適當的事上專心。我只專注在事物上、事奉上、信念上、神只管說：我卻置若罔聞。嬰孩的態度始終是：[主啊，請說，僕人敬聽。 ]要是沒有培養好這種專心聆聽的習慣，就只能在某些時刻聽到神的聲音，其他時間卻被世務纏身，無法擺脫。於是我向神就是聾了耳，沒有孩子的樣式。我今日聽見神的聲音沒有？
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我要稱頌你聲音的語調和能力，你的語調帶著溫柔和滿有恩典的愛；你的語調亦帶有自然界強大風暴的能力。主啊，讓你榮耀的聲音在這地方被聽聞，亦讓我的靈得以聽見。
February 12, 2013
Are You Listening to God?
They said to Moses, ’You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die’ `—Exodus 20:19
We don’t consciously and deliberately disobey God— we simply don’t listen to Him. God has given His commands to us, but we pay no attention to them— not because of willful disobedience, but because we do not truly love and respect Him. “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Once we realize we have constantly been showing disrespect to God, we will be filled with shame and humiliation for ignoring Him.
“You speak with us, . . . but let not God speak with us . . . .” We show how little love we have for God by preferring to listen to His servants rather than to Him. We like to listen to personal testimonies, but we don’t want God Himself to speak to us. Why are we so terrified for God to speak to us? It is because we know that when God speaks we must either do what He asks or tell Him we will not obey. But if it is simply one of God’s servants speaking to us, we feel obedience is optional, not imperative. We respond by saying, “Well, that’s only your own idea, even though I don’t deny that what you said is probably God’s truth.”
Am I constantly humiliating God by ignoring Him, while He lovingly continues to treat me as His child? Once I finally do hear Him, the humiliation I have heaped on Him returns to me. My response then becomes, “Lord, why was I so insensitive and obstinate?” This is always the result once we hear God. But our real delight in finally hearing Him is tempered with the shame we feel for having taken so long to do so.
我非聽不可嗎？
（百姓）對摩西說：求你和我們說話，我們必聽。不要神和我們說話，恐怕我們死亡。 （出二十19）
我們並不是有意違背神，只是我們並不重視神。神給我們命令，我們卻不理會。這不是出於故意的反叛，而是我們不愛他，也不尊敬他。 [你們若愛我，就必遵守我的命令。 ]我們如果覺察自己一直在輕慢神，就必滿面羞愧自咎，因為我們沒有把他放在眼裡。
[求你和我們說話……不要神和我們說話。 ]這表示我們愛神多麼少，寧可聽他的僕人。我們喜歡聽認得見證，卻不願神向我們說話。我們何以會害怕神對我們說話呢？因為知道神一開口，就事在必行；除非我們告訴神，我們不肯聽從。若是神僕人的說話，就覺得不是絕對的命令，我們會說：[嗯，那不過是你個人的見解，雖然我不否認這可能是真理。 ]
神一直把我如兒女般看待，而我卻老是不理睬他。我是否把神貶低而羞辱他？若我真真不聽見他，那我加在他身上的羞愧便會回到我的頭上——[主啊，為什麼我這樣愚頑？ ]每次聽見神的時候，總會有這種感覺。聽見神的聲音，我們會愧喜交集，以為聽從得如此遲緩。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我要尋求你的面，但若你不啟示你自己，我的尋求又有何用處？讓我看見你的面，噢，主啊。讓我能永遠看見你。
We don’t consciously and deliberately disobey God— we simply don’t listen to Him. God has given His commands to us, but we pay no attention to them— not because of willful disobedience, but because we do not truly love and respect Him. “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Once we realize we have constantly been showing disrespect to God, we will be filled with shame and humiliation for ignoring Him.
“You speak with us, . . . but let not God speak with us . . . .” We show how little love we have for God by preferring to listen to His servants rather than to Him. We like to listen to personal testimonies, but we don’t want God Himself to speak to us. Why are we so terrified for God to speak to us? It is because we know that when God speaks we must either do what He asks or tell Him we will not obey. But if it is simply one of God’s servants speaking to us, we feel obedience is optional, not imperative. We respond by saying, “Well, that’s only your own idea, even though I don’t deny that what you said is probably God’s truth.”
Am I constantly humiliating God by ignoring Him, while He lovingly continues to treat me as His child? Once I finally do hear Him, the humiliation I have heaped on Him returns to me. My response then becomes, “Lord, why was I so insensitive and obstinate?” This is always the result once we hear God. But our real delight in finally hearing Him is tempered with the shame we feel for having taken so long to do so.
我非聽不可嗎？
（百姓）對摩西說：求你和我們說話，我們必聽。不要神和我們說話，恐怕我們死亡。 （出二十19）
我們並不是有意違背神，只是我們並不重視神。神給我們命令，我們卻不理會。這不是出於故意的反叛，而是我們不愛他，也不尊敬他。 [你們若愛我，就必遵守我的命令。 ]我們如果覺察自己一直在輕慢神，就必滿面羞愧自咎，因為我們沒有把他放在眼裡。
[求你和我們說話……不要神和我們說話。 ]這表示我們愛神多麼少，寧可聽他的僕人。我們喜歡聽認得見證，卻不願神向我們說話。我們何以會害怕神對我們說話呢？因為知道神一開口，就事在必行；除非我們告訴神，我們不肯聽從。若是神僕人的說話，就覺得不是絕對的命令，我們會說：[嗯，那不過是你個人的見解，雖然我不否認這可能是真理。 ]
神一直把我如兒女般看待，而我卻老是不理睬他。我是否把神貶低而羞辱他？若我真真不聽見他，那我加在他身上的羞愧便會回到我的頭上——[主啊，為什麼我這樣愚頑？ ]每次聽見神的時候，總會有這種感覺。聽見神的聲音，我們會愧喜交集，以為聽從得如此遲緩。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我要尋求你的面，但若你不啟示你自己，我的尋求又有何用處？讓我看見你的面，噢，主啊。讓我能永遠看見你。
February 11, 2013
Is Your Mind Stayed on God?
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You —Isaiah 26:3
Is your mind stayed on God or is it starved? Starvation of the mind, caused by neglect, is one of the chief sources of exhaustion and weakness in a servant’s life. If you have never used your mind to place yourself before God, begin to do it now. There is no reason to wait for God to come to you. You must turn your thoughts and your eyes away from the face of idols and look to Him and be saved (see Isaiah 45:22).
Your mind is the greatest gift God has given you and it ought to be devoted entirely to Him. You should seek to be “bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ . . .” (2 Corinthians 10:5). This will be one of the greatest assets of your faith when a time of trial comes, because then your faith and the Spirit of God will work together. When you have thoughts and ideas that are worthy of credit to God, learn to compare and associate them with all that happens in nature-the rising and the setting of the sun, the shining of the moon and the stars, and the changing of the seasons. You will begin to see that your thoughts are from God as well, and your mind will no longer be at the mercy of your impulsive thinking, but will always be used in service to God.
“We have sinned with our fathers . . . [and] . . . did not remember . . .” (Psalm 106:6-7). Then prod your memory and wake up immediately. Don’t say to yourself, “But God is not talking to me right now.” He ought to be. Remember whose you are and whom you serve. Encourage yourself to remember, and your affection for God will increase tenfold. Your mind will no longer be starved, but will be quick and enthusiastic, and your hope will be inexpressibly bright.
你對神的盼望弱如垂死？
堅心倚賴你的，你必保守他十分平安。 （堅心倚賴：有把心思意念寄放在神身上的意思。）（賽二十六3）
你的想像力是停留在神身上，還是逐漸衰退消失？叫主工人生命枯槁衰竭最主要的原因，就是缺乏想像力。你若從來未運用想像力來到神面前，現在就開始吧。老等神來是無濟於事的，你必須把想像力從偶像的臉上轉移到神身上，以致得救。想像力是神給我們最大的恩賜，理當全然獻給他。你若已經將所有的心思奪回，順服基督，當試煉臨到，你的信心就有了寶貴的資產，因為你可以與神的靈同心同工。要學習把一切合神心意的思想，同自然界所發生的事連繫起來——太陽的出沒，日月星辰的運轉，四時的變換。這樣，你的想像力就不會受別的影響，而是受神的支配，為神而用。
[我們和我們的列祖犯罪……忘記了……]——這樣就要放一把匕首在你沉睡的地方（意即枕戈待旦，不眠不休的等候神）。 [神現時不和我說話]，但其實他是時常和我說話的。要記住你是屬於誰，你事奉的是誰。挑起回憶，你愛神的心勢必增添十倍。你的想像力也不再呆滯，而是變得活潑、熱切；你的盼望也必光輝燦爛不可言狀了。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，隨著自然界春天的來臨，我的靈渴望你那旺盛的生命力能流進我的生命，不住不住地湧流。然而，我是何其醜陋、何其不像基督！不過，這並非情緒低落的感受，而是我在奇異的盼望中看見這情況。
Is your mind stayed on God or is it starved? Starvation of the mind, caused by neglect, is one of the chief sources of exhaustion and weakness in a servant’s life. If you have never used your mind to place yourself before God, begin to do it now. There is no reason to wait for God to come to you. You must turn your thoughts and your eyes away from the face of idols and look to Him and be saved (see Isaiah 45:22).
Your mind is the greatest gift God has given you and it ought to be devoted entirely to Him. You should seek to be “bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ . . .” (2 Corinthians 10:5). This will be one of the greatest assets of your faith when a time of trial comes, because then your faith and the Spirit of God will work together. When you have thoughts and ideas that are worthy of credit to God, learn to compare and associate them with all that happens in nature-the rising and the setting of the sun, the shining of the moon and the stars, and the changing of the seasons. You will begin to see that your thoughts are from God as well, and your mind will no longer be at the mercy of your impulsive thinking, but will always be used in service to God.
“We have sinned with our fathers . . . [and] . . . did not remember . . .” (Psalm 106:6-7). Then prod your memory and wake up immediately. Don’t say to yourself, “But God is not talking to me right now.” He ought to be. Remember whose you are and whom you serve. Encourage yourself to remember, and your affection for God will increase tenfold. Your mind will no longer be starved, but will be quick and enthusiastic, and your hope will be inexpressibly bright.
你對神的盼望弱如垂死？
堅心倚賴你的，你必保守他十分平安。 （堅心倚賴：有把心思意念寄放在神身上的意思。）（賽二十六3）
你的想像力是停留在神身上，還是逐漸衰退消失？叫主工人生命枯槁衰竭最主要的原因，就是缺乏想像力。你若從來未運用想像力來到神面前，現在就開始吧。老等神來是無濟於事的，你必須把想像力從偶像的臉上轉移到神身上，以致得救。想像力是神給我們最大的恩賜，理當全然獻給他。你若已經將所有的心思奪回，順服基督，當試煉臨到，你的信心就有了寶貴的資產，因為你可以與神的靈同心同工。要學習把一切合神心意的思想，同自然界所發生的事連繫起來——太陽的出沒，日月星辰的運轉，四時的變換。這樣，你的想像力就不會受別的影響，而是受神的支配，為神而用。
[我們和我們的列祖犯罪……忘記了……]——這樣就要放一把匕首在你沉睡的地方（意即枕戈待旦，不眠不休的等候神）。 [神現時不和我說話]，但其實他是時常和我說話的。要記住你是屬於誰，你事奉的是誰。挑起回憶，你愛神的心勢必增添十倍。你的想像力也不再呆滯，而是變得活潑、熱切；你的盼望也必光輝燦爛不可言狀了。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，隨著自然界春天的來臨，我的靈渴望你那旺盛的生命力能流進我的生命，不住不住地湧流。然而，我是何其醜陋、何其不像基督！不過，這並非情緒低落的感受，而是我在奇異的盼望中看見這情況。
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。
February 09, 2013
Are You Exhausted Spiritually?
The everlasting God . . . neither faints nor is weary —Isaiah 40:28
Exhaustion means that our vital energies are completely worn out and spent. Spiritual exhaustion is never the result of sin, but of service. Whether or not you experience exhaustion will depend on where you get your supplies. Jesus said to Peter, “Feed My sheep,” but He gave him nothing with which to feed them (John 21:17). The process of being made broken bread and poured-out wine means that you have to be the nourishment for other people’s souls until they learn to feed on God. They must drain you completely— to the very last drop. But be careful to replenish your supply, or you will quickly be utterly exhausted. Until others learn to draw on the life of the Lord Jesus directly, they will have to draw on His life through you. You must literally be their source of supply, until they learn to take their nourishment from God. We owe it to God to be our best for His lambs and sheep, as well as for Him.
Have you delivered yourself over to exhaustion because of the way you have been serving God? If so, then renew and rekindle your desires and affections. Examine your reasons for service. Is your source based on your own understanding or is it grounded on the redemption of Jesus Christ? Continually look back to the foundation of your love and affection and remember where your Source of power lies. You have no right to complain, “O Lord, I am so exhausted.” He saved and sanctified you to exhaust you. Be exhausted for God, but remember that He is your supply. “All my springs are in you” (Psalm 87:7).
你的靈疲憊不堪麼？
永在的神耶和華……並不疲乏，也不困倦。 （賽四十28）
疲憊就是生命的活力耗盡。屬靈的疲憊並非因罪而來，而是因事奉而來。你疲憊與否，就視乎你的供應從何而得。耶穌對彼得說：[餵養我的羊。 ]卻沒有給他飼料。要成為劈開的餅，倒出來的酒，就必須要耗盡你的一點一滴，所以你要趕快得著供應，否則不需多久，你就精疲力竭了。人未懂得直接向主汲取供應之前，他們要透過你去獲得；你要像被人吮吸一般，直到他們學會了從神得養料。我們在神面前有這責任，不但要盡忠於他，也要為他得羊群盡上一切。
你事奉神的方式是否令你疲憊不堪？若然，就該重新挑旺你的熱誠。你的事奉從哪裡出發？是從你個人的同情心，還是基於耶穌基督的救贖？要追溯你熱誠的根源，並回想你能力來自何方。你沒有權這樣說：[主啊，我多麼困倦。 ]他拯救你，叫你成聖，正是要燃燒你。為神耗盡吧，但緊記你的供應從他而來。 [我的泉源都在你裡面。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我所渴求的是你！ [我的心渴想神，就是永生神，我幾時得朝見神呢？ ]噢，願你得感動、你得生命、你得美善，此刻臨到我，主啊，就在我禱告的這一刻。
Exhaustion means that our vital energies are completely worn out and spent. Spiritual exhaustion is never the result of sin, but of service. Whether or not you experience exhaustion will depend on where you get your supplies. Jesus said to Peter, “Feed My sheep,” but He gave him nothing with which to feed them (John 21:17). The process of being made broken bread and poured-out wine means that you have to be the nourishment for other people’s souls until they learn to feed on God. They must drain you completely— to the very last drop. But be careful to replenish your supply, or you will quickly be utterly exhausted. Until others learn to draw on the life of the Lord Jesus directly, they will have to draw on His life through you. You must literally be their source of supply, until they learn to take their nourishment from God. We owe it to God to be our best for His lambs and sheep, as well as for Him.
Have you delivered yourself over to exhaustion because of the way you have been serving God? If so, then renew and rekindle your desires and affections. Examine your reasons for service. Is your source based on your own understanding or is it grounded on the redemption of Jesus Christ? Continually look back to the foundation of your love and affection and remember where your Source of power lies. You have no right to complain, “O Lord, I am so exhausted.” He saved and sanctified you to exhaust you. Be exhausted for God, but remember that He is your supply. “All my springs are in you” (Psalm 87:7).
你的靈疲憊不堪麼？
永在的神耶和華……並不疲乏，也不困倦。 （賽四十28）
疲憊就是生命的活力耗盡。屬靈的疲憊並非因罪而來，而是因事奉而來。你疲憊與否，就視乎你的供應從何而得。耶穌對彼得說：[餵養我的羊。 ]卻沒有給他飼料。要成為劈開的餅，倒出來的酒，就必須要耗盡你的一點一滴，所以你要趕快得著供應，否則不需多久，你就精疲力竭了。人未懂得直接向主汲取供應之前，他們要透過你去獲得；你要像被人吮吸一般，直到他們學會了從神得養料。我們在神面前有這責任，不但要盡忠於他，也要為他得羊群盡上一切。
你事奉神的方式是否令你疲憊不堪？若然，就該重新挑旺你的熱誠。你的事奉從哪裡出發？是從你個人的同情心，還是基於耶穌基督的救贖？要追溯你熱誠的根源，並回想你能力來自何方。你沒有權這樣說：[主啊，我多麼困倦。 ]他拯救你，叫你成聖，正是要燃燒你。為神耗盡吧，但緊記你的供應從他而來。 [我的泉源都在你裡面。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我所渴求的是你！ [我的心渴想神，就是永生神，我幾時得朝見神呢？ ]噢，願你得感動、你得生命、你得美善，此刻臨到我，主啊，就在我禱告的這一刻。
February 08, 2013
The Cost of Sanctification
May the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely . . . —1 Thessalonians 5:23
When we pray, asking God to sanctify us, are we prepared to measure up to what that really means? We take the word sanctification much too lightly. Are we prepared to pay the cost of sanctification? The cost will be a deep restriction of all our earthly concerns, and an extensive cultivation of all our godly concerns. Sanctification means to be intensely focused on God’s point of view. It means to secure and to keep all the strength of our body, soul, and spirit for God’s purpose alone. Are we really prepared for God to perform in us everything for which He separated us? And after He has done His work, are we then prepared to separate ourselves to God just as Jesus did? “For their sakes I sanctify Myself . . .” (John 17:19). The reason some of us have not entered into the experience of sanctification is that we have not realized the meaning of sanctification from God’s perspective. Sanctification means being made one with Jesus so that the nature that controlled Him will control us. Are we really prepared for what that will cost? It will cost absolutely everything in us which is not of God.
Are we prepared to be caught up into the full meaning of Paul’s prayer in this verse? Are we prepared to say, “Lord, make me, a sinner saved by grace, as holy as You can”? Jesus prayed that we might be one with Him, just as He is one with the Father (see John 17:21-23). The resounding evidence of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life is the unmistakable family likeness to Jesus Christ, and the freedom from everything which is not like Him. Are we prepared to set ourselves apart for the Holy Spirit’s work in us?
隨時隨地堅守不移的成聖
願賜平安的神，親自使你們全然成聖。 （帖前五23-24）
我們成聖，有沒有打算按這經文中的標準呢？我們把成聖這句話看得太輕率了。對成聖所要求的代價，我們有沒有預備付出？代價是我們減少一切屬地的興趣，而擴大對神國度的興趣。成聖是我們全神貫注留意神的心意與觀點；也是約束身體靈魂所有的智慧，專為完成神的旨意。我們肯不肯讓神在我們身上下工夫，成就神分別為聖的目的？又他在我們身上的工作完成之後，我們肯像耶穌一樣，甘願分別自己為聖歸於神？ [我為他們的緣故分別為聖]。我們未能進入成聖的經歷裡，是我們未從神的觀點了解成聖的意義。成聖就是與耶穌合而為一，以致那支配他的，也支配我們。我們預備付出那代價麼？就是一切在我們裡面不屬於神的東西，都要放下。
我們能否與保羅的禱告起共鳴？我們能否說：[主，你能叫一個蒙恩得救的罪人有多聖潔，就求你使我有多聖潔？ ]耶穌禱告要我們與他合一，正如他與父合一一樣。聖靈在人身上唯一的特徵，就是叫人酷肖耶穌基督，宛如骨肉，同時擺脫一切與基督相反的性情。我們肯把自己分別出來，讓聖靈在我們裡頭作工麼？
祈禱◆主啊，當我的心思不是完全被你掌管，它很容易胡思亂想！願我身心靈的主權都穩操在你的手中。
When we pray, asking God to sanctify us, are we prepared to measure up to what that really means? We take the word sanctification much too lightly. Are we prepared to pay the cost of sanctification? The cost will be a deep restriction of all our earthly concerns, and an extensive cultivation of all our godly concerns. Sanctification means to be intensely focused on God’s point of view. It means to secure and to keep all the strength of our body, soul, and spirit for God’s purpose alone. Are we really prepared for God to perform in us everything for which He separated us? And after He has done His work, are we then prepared to separate ourselves to God just as Jesus did? “For their sakes I sanctify Myself . . .” (John 17:19). The reason some of us have not entered into the experience of sanctification is that we have not realized the meaning of sanctification from God’s perspective. Sanctification means being made one with Jesus so that the nature that controlled Him will control us. Are we really prepared for what that will cost? It will cost absolutely everything in us which is not of God.
Are we prepared to be caught up into the full meaning of Paul’s prayer in this verse? Are we prepared to say, “Lord, make me, a sinner saved by grace, as holy as You can”? Jesus prayed that we might be one with Him, just as He is one with the Father (see John 17:21-23). The resounding evidence of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life is the unmistakable family likeness to Jesus Christ, and the freedom from everything which is not like Him. Are we prepared to set ourselves apart for the Holy Spirit’s work in us?
隨時隨地堅守不移的成聖
願賜平安的神，親自使你們全然成聖。 （帖前五23-24）
我們成聖，有沒有打算按這經文中的標準呢？我們把成聖這句話看得太輕率了。對成聖所要求的代價，我們有沒有預備付出？代價是我們減少一切屬地的興趣，而擴大對神國度的興趣。成聖是我們全神貫注留意神的心意與觀點；也是約束身體靈魂所有的智慧，專為完成神的旨意。我們肯不肯讓神在我們身上下工夫，成就神分別為聖的目的？又他在我們身上的工作完成之後，我們肯像耶穌一樣，甘願分別自己為聖歸於神？ [我為他們的緣故分別為聖]。我們未能進入成聖的經歷裡，是我們未從神的觀點了解成聖的意義。成聖就是與耶穌合而為一，以致那支配他的，也支配我們。我們預備付出那代價麼？就是一切在我們裡面不屬於神的東西，都要放下。
我們能否與保羅的禱告起共鳴？我們能否說：[主，你能叫一個蒙恩得救的罪人有多聖潔，就求你使我有多聖潔？ ]耶穌禱告要我們與他合一，正如他與父合一一樣。聖靈在人身上唯一的特徵，就是叫人酷肖耶穌基督，宛如骨肉，同時擺脫一切與基督相反的性情。我們肯把自己分別出來，讓聖靈在我們裡頭作工麼？
祈禱◆主啊，當我的心思不是完全被你掌管，它很容易胡思亂想！願我身心靈的主權都穩操在你的手中。
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