五月廿四日
神是应当称颂的，他并没有推却我的祷告……（诗66：20）
若我们诚实地回想我们过去的祷告，就必惊奇神为什么要应允那样的祷告。有很多人想他们的祷告是值得蒙悦纳的——像法利赛人一样；但是一位真基督徒，若仔细回顾一下，必然为他的祷告痛哭失声，如果他能再回到原路上去的话，他必定要更加恳切地祷告。基督徒呀！记住，你的祷告是多么冷淡。当你在内室中的时候，你应当和雅各一样拚命摔跤，但你却不是这样，你的祈求既小而又少一一实在跟不上谦卑、坚信并确信的雅各。他曾说：“你不给我祝福，我就不容你去。”可是，奇妙得很，神仍然听了你那些冷淡的祷告，不但是听见，而且也应允了那些祷告。你再回忆一下，你的祷告是多么稀少呀！除非你有难处的时候，你才常到施恩座前，可是当你被救拔之后，你为什么又不常祈求了呢?虽然你像以前一样停止了祷告，可是神却仍不停地赐福。当你忽略了施恩座时，神却没有离弃它，神的荣光（Shekinah）却仍照耀着二基路伯的双翼。神仍关心我们危急之时所作的间歇的恳求，按我们的需要一一赐给我们，真是一件希奇的事。当人急需之时才祷告他，但在得了恩怜之后却忽略了他；在人没法时才不得不就近他，但当恩典多、愁苦少的时候就不与他交谈。虽然如此，神仍听人的呼求，你想他是一位什么样的神呢?愿他这种听祷告的大恩慈感动我们的心，使我们今后能“靠着圣灵，随时多方祷告祈求”。
May 24
“Blessed be God, which hath nor turned away my prayer.” — Psalm 66:20
In looking back upon the character of our prayers, if we do it honestly, we shall be filled with wonder that God has ever answered them. There may be some who think their prayers worthy of acceptance–as the Pharisee did; but the true Christian, in a more enlightened retrospect, weeps over his prayers, and if he could retrace his steps he would desire to pray more earnestly. Remember, Christian, how cold thy prayers have been. When in thy closet thou shouldst have wrestled as Jacob did; but instead thereof, thy petitions have been faint and few–far removed from that humble, believing, persevering faith, which cries, “I will not let Thee go except Thou bless me.” Yet, wonderful to say, God has heard these cold prayers of thine, and not only heard, but answered them. Reflect also, how infrequent have been thy prayers, unless thou hast been in trouble, and then thou hast gone often to the mercy-seat: but when deliverance has come, where has been thy constant supplication? Yet, notwithstanding thou hast ceased to pray as once thou didst, God has not ceased to bless. When thou hast neglected the mercy-seat, God has not deserted it, but the bright light of the Shekinah has always been visible between the wings of the cherubim. Oh! it is marvellous that the Lord should regard those intermittent spasms of importunity which come and go with our necessities. What a God is He thus to hear the prayers of those who come to Him when they have pressing wants, but neglect Him when they have received a mercy; who approach Him when they are forced to come, but who almost forget to address Him when mercies are plentiful and sorrows are few. Let His gracious kindness in hearing such prayers touch our hearts, so that we may henceforth be found “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.”
