經文: 「我們的軟弱有聖靈幫助，我們本不曉得當怎樣禱告，只是聖靈親自用說不出來的歎息替我們禱告。」— (聖經·羅馬書 8章26節)
無論有聲的祈禱，或無聲的默念主名，只要以信心、愛心轉向上帝，尋求祂的面，就是世上最美的祈禱形式了。因為若不是以誠實和心靈來向上帝禱告，則我們所說的話，不過像無弦的琴、無水的井。
當一個人真誠渴慕上帝，積極要上帝時，他的心就會被上帝的靈激動，他的心也整個向上帝敝開，他的禱告也充滿著活力；這樣面對面與上帝親近的感覺，彷若天堂降臨人間，是何等甜美的經歷，同時這也是聖靈在做工的時候。
若你有一顆心，願意堅定、持續等候在上帝面前，這就是上帝所看重的禱告；因著你專心尋求仰望上帝的面，你就踏出正確的第一步。接下來的第二步，就是繼續你當初的決心，以及奉獻的心志-而這方法仍然是靠禱告維持下去，就是繼續不斷的禱告，以繼續禱告使禱告繼續下去。
總之，真心誠意地禱告，這是接近上帝的不二法門。有人為了追求屬世的利益，肯摒棄一切與這目標無關的牽絆，全力以赴以達目標。我們豈不是也當捨棄一切世俗的纏累，為追求認識這位至高的上帝！
我們禱告的時間，就是為建立我們禱告的生活，使我們能常仰望上帝的榮臉，常活在祂的面前；讓我們相信這位厚賜眾人的上帝，樂意將祂豐盛的恩典，藉著聖靈大大地賞賜給我們，好叫我們天天行在祂的光中，而靈裡的生命日日靠祂茁壯強盛，又保守我們常在祂的愛中。
—《 神 的 心 意 》
(每日靈修 9月4日)
作者：慕安德烈
編輯：榮華興
(圖片版權屬「基督日報」所有，在此僅供分享福音用途。)
『 The Prayer of the Heart 』
Scripture: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” — (Romans 8:26)
“Turning to God according to the inward feeling, want and motion of your own heart, in love, in trust, in faith of having from Him all that you want and wish to have—this turning unto God, whether it be with or without words, is the best form of prayer in the world. For prayers not formed according to the real state of your heart, are but like a prayer to be pulled out of a deep well when you are not in it.
“When the heart really pants and longs after God, its prayer is a praying moved and animated by the Spirit of God; it is the breath or inspiration of God, stirring, moving and opening itself in the heart. It is a certain truth that nothing ever did, or can have, the least desire or tendency to ascend to heaven but that which came down from heaven. And therefore every time a good desire stirs in the heart, a good prayer goes out of it that reaches God as being the fruit and work of His Holy Spirit.
“It is when the heart stands continually in this state of wishing to have that which may be expressed in but few words—it is the Reality, the Steadiness and the Continuity of the desire that is the goodness and perfection of the prayer.
“You have already rightly taken the first step in the spiritual life; you have devoted yourself absolutely to God, to live wholly to His will, under the light and guidance of His Holy Spirit. Your next step is this, a looking to the continuance of this first resolution and donation of yourself to God. Now this second step cannot be taken but purely by prayer; nothing else has the least power here but prayer, prayer of the heart, a prayer of your own, proceeding from the state of your heart and its tendency towards God. Of all things, look to this prayer of the heart; consider it an infallible guide to heaven. As a man who has some great worldly matter at heart stands turned from everything that has not some relation to it, so our heart will carry on its own state of prayer as soon as God is its great object, or it is wholly given up to Him as its one great Good.”
Our times of prayer are meant to lead us on to a life of prayer, in which, just as the eye can all the day rejoice in the sunshine which gives it light, the heart will continually live and rejoice in God’s presence. Let us believe that God, Who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, is indeed able and willing by the power of His Holy Spirit, to strengthen us for this life of unceasing prayer as we walk in the light of His countenance.
— God’s Best Secrets by Andrew Murray
「 4 September 」
