經文: 「我們也信，所以也說話。」— [聖經·哥林多後書 4章13b節]

        你知道為什麼要大家背誦聖靈的果子嗎？因為這樣可以提醒我們，常常反省自己有否擁有這幾樣聖德，我們對聖靈的恩賜，要有一顆切慕渴求的心，厚賜予眾人的上帝，才會大大賞賜。現在讓我們思想最後兩個聖靈的果子：信實與節制。 

        門徒問耶穌：「為何有些邪靈趕不走？」耶穌回答：「有些鬼，若不禁食禱告就不出來。」他們的信心不夠堅定，他們禱告的時候，也不夠火熱，自我犧牲的誠意不夠，禱告若人聽了都不能感動，又如何能上達天庭？這兒我們看到信心與節制的結合。 

        信心是聖靈的果子，引導人單單地仰賴耶穌；信心相信上帝的話，緊緊地抓住上帝的應許，安靜等候上帝要照著祂所答應的，用大能大力成就一切祂所答應的，基督徒每天的生活，都是一個信心的生活。 

        再來思想「節制」這個果子，這原是指在飲食上，或吃或喝都極有節制所引申出來的涵意；就是在言語上很謹慎，有分寸，在行為上與人互動時，也不以自我為中心，處處為人著想。「除去私慾，一心過聖潔公義有節制的生活」，應是基督徒生活的座右銘，如此才能在與世人交往時，知道如何拒絕誘惑，節制有度；並且與上帝有親密的交通，行公義的事，以合乎上帝的心意。 

        信心與節制都是聖靈的果子，當我們求聖靈教導我們怎樣禱告時，我們心門就被打開，上帝就將這兩樣聖靈的果子植入我們心田，使我們行事為人，滿有上帝的形象。 

將這經文藏記在心，讓聖靈的感動常在你心中引導你，每天帶領你更親近天父，使你內在的人結出信心與節制的果子，讓別人看出你的行事為人，是屬上帝的子民。

—《 神 的 心 意 》
[每日靈修 10月10日]
作者：慕安德烈
編輯：榮華興

[圖片版權屬「自由教會」所有，在此僅供分享福音用途。]

『 The Spirit of Faith 』

Scripture: “Having the same spirit of faith, we also believe.” — [2 Corinthians 4:13b]

        Do you begin to realize why it is so important to commit to memory the text, Gal. v. 22 ? It will strengthen the desire in our hearts to have and to hold the fruits of the Spirit within us. Our expectation of the blessing God will give will be enlarged. Let us pause a while on the two last fruits of the Spirit-Faith and Temperance.

        When the disciples asked the Lord: “Why could we not cast out the evil spirit?” – His reply was: “This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” Their faith was not powerful enough, and even if they had prayed, they had not the zeal and self-sacrifice needed for prevailing prayer. Here we see the union of faith and temperance.

        Faith is a fruit of the Spirit and leads the seeking soul to depend on God alone. Faith believes God’s Word, and clings to Him, and waits in perfect trust that His power will work within us all that He has promised. The whole life of the Christian each day is a faith life.

        Let us now think of Temperance. This refers in the first place to eating and drinking, and leads us to restraint, carefulness, and unselfishness in our conversation, our desires, in all our intercourse with one another. Our motto should be: “Forsaking all worldly desires, to live righteously and godly and temperately in all things.” Temperate in all our dealings with the world and its temptations. Righteous in the doing of God’s will. Devout in the close communion with God Himself.

        Faith and temperance are both fruits of the Spirit. When we ask the Spirit to teach us to pray, we open our hearts towards Him that He may grant us the fruits of the Spirit, faith and temperance, to influence our daily lives in our intercourse with God and man.

Learn this text by heart, and let the promptings of the Spirit in your heart each day lead you to the Father, that He may grant the fruits of the Spirit in your inner life, which will be seen in all your actions.

— God’s Best Secrets by Andrew Murray
「 10 October 」

經文: 「因為凡被上帝的靈引導的，都是上帝的兒子。」— [聖經·羅馬書 8章14節]

        讓我們再來思想聖靈另外四個果子：「忍耐、恩慈、良善，溫柔。」這四種德行都屬於上帝的情感，藉著我們不斷的禱告，以及聖靈的工作，可以內化成形在我們的氣質。 

        讓我們仔細尋思其深層的意涵： 

「忍耐」:  在舊約摩西時代，由聖經得證，上帝以無比的忍耐寬容罪人，直到新約時代，就如彼得後書三章9節：「主所應許的尚未成就，有人以為祂是耽延，其實不是耽延，乃是寬容你們，不願有一人沈淪，乃願人人都悔改。」上帝慈悲為懷的心腸，寬容忍耐的本質，是我們務要培養的品格，好在我們傳福音的時候，能夠引人歸主。 

        「恩慈」: 這是詩篇何等棒的詞，上帝的慈愛恩典，是從亙古到永遠。「天離地何等的高，祂的慈愛向敬畏祂的人，也是何等的大。」(詩篇 一○三11) 上帝愛世上的罪人，祂要以祂的恩慈憐憫待我們，動工在我們心裡，使我們明白救恩。 

        「良善」:「除上帝以外，毫無良善。」所有的良善來自於上帝，祂根據祂兒女心中所求所想的，豐盛地賞賜給他們，對世上有需要的人，也是毫不吝惜地賜予祂的慈愛。 

        「溫柔」: 詩篇十八篇35節：「祢的溫和使我為大。」但這樣的溫和，只有在耶穌的身上才看得到。耶穌說：「你們要學我的樣式，因我心裏柔和謙卑。」保羅也是以這樣的柔和謙卑待眾人，聖靈更是樂意幫助我們結出溫柔的果子。 

上帝這四種性情，可以藉著聖靈的幫助動工，內化成形於我們心中，並外顯散發出這樣的氣質，使我們在日常的言行舉止中，處處顯揚因認識耶穌基督而有的香氣，這樣的生命，豈不是我們所羨慕的？感謝上帝，靠著聖靈的幫助，我們都可以擁有。

—《 神 的 心 意 》
[每日靈修 10月9日]
作者：慕安德烈
編輯：榮華興

『 Led by the Spirit 』

Scripture: “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” — [Romans 8:14]

        Let us now consider four other fruits of the Spirit: Long-suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Meekness. These four words all denote attributes of the Godhead. They will reach maturity in us through much prayer for the working of the Holy Spirit. Think of what they mean.

        Long-suffering. — In the Old Testament, in the time of Moses, God’s long-suffering was praised. All Scripture bears witness to the wonderful patience with which God dealt with sinful man, until we come to the word in 2 Pet. iii. 9: “The Lord is long-suffering, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” This attribute of God, the Spirit will make a characteristic of our lives, so that we too may exercise a divine patience with all sin and wrong, so that souls may be saved.

        Gentleness. — What wonderful things we read in the Psalms about God’s goodness and gentleness, which are from everlasting to everlasting. “As the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy towards them that fear Him.” God works in our hearts this same goodness and mercy towards all the sin and wretchedness around us.

        Goodness. — “There is none good but God.” All goodness comes from Him, and He gives to His children according as each heart asks and desires. And this goodness is manifested in sympathy and love to all who are in need.

        Meekness. — We read in Ps. xviii. 35: “Thy gentleness hath made me great.” But it was chiefly in God’s Son that the divine meekness was shown. Jesus says: “Learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly of heart.” Paul entreats his readers “by the gentleness and meekness of Christ.” The Holy Spirit, too, the gentle Dove, longs to impart the ripe fruit of meekness to our hearts.

Is it not a wonderful thought that these four attributes of God, which are the characteristics of God’s work amongst sinners, may be brought to ripeness in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, so that we in all our ways and conversation may be like the Meek and Lowly One?

— God’s Best Secrets by Andrew Murray
「 9 October 」

經文: 「聖靈所結的果子，就是仁愛、喜樂、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信實、溫柔、節制。」— [聖經·加拉太書 5章22-23a節]

        在禱告的題目上，我們已經學到兩樣功課，就是每天早上我們必須來到天父施恩寶座前，求祂賜下更新的靈，並求聖靈教導我們、幫助我們。第三個功課是，將今日的經文牢記在心。 

        基督徒以為只要向上帝求如何禱告，他們就懂得如何禱告，然而事實並非如此；聖靈會強化我們屬靈的生命，使我們禱告得更好。當我們求上帝教導我們能禱告得更好，有一點很重要的，就是必須打開我們的心，願意接受上帝恩典的影響，讓我們禱告的渴望被激發，我們自己也願意降服在聖靈的運行之下。這樣的降服包括在上帝面前，用禱告的心，迫切地求上帝讓我們擁有這些聖靈的果子，也就是說，我們要常常這樣禱告：「上帝啊，我的心等候祢，求祢用聖靈充滿我的心，幫助我能結出聖靈的果子。」 

        讓我們來思想前三個果子：「仁愛、喜樂、和平」，這是強壯屬靈生命的三個特色。這裡的愛是指對上帝的愛，對耶穌的愛，對弟兄姐妺及眾人的愛。這裡的喜樂是指各樣的需要得滿足，並對我們份內工作擁有的勇氣與信心。平安則是指上帝接納我們的本相而賜下的平安，保守我們的心思意念，處於一個不被震動干擾的狀態。 

在最後晚餐席上，耶穌對門徒就提到這三個果子：「你們要住在我的愛裡。」；「我的喜樂要在你們裡面。」；「我留下平安給你們。」難道我們不渴望聖靈在我們心中結出完美成熟的果子？畢竟我們所求是對的，就該大膽坦然無懼地來向天父求，大大地張口要。

—《 神 的 心 意 》
[每日靈修 10月8日]
作者：慕安德烈
編輯：榮華興

『 The Fruit of the Spirit 』

Scripture: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” — [Galatians 22:23]

        We have seen what the two first lessons are on prayer. We must pray the Father every morning to give us the Spirit anew, and then pray the Spirit to teach us and help us. Here is a third lesson-commit to memory the text at the head of this chapter.

        Christians often think that they have only to ask God to teach them to pray, and He will do it at once. This is not always the case. What the Spirit does is so to strengthen our spiritual lives that we are able to pray better. When we ask Him to teach us, it is important that we open our hearts to His gracious influence, so that our desires are stirred, and we first of all surrender ourselves to the working of the Spirit. This surrender consists in naming before Him the fruits of the Spirit, with the earnest prayer to be filled with these fruits. So that the benefit of learning the text by heart will be, that as we pray for the teaching of the Spirit, we may say: “Here is my heart, fill it with the fruits of the Spirit.”

        Think of the first three fruits, Love, Joy, Peace, the three chief characteristics of a strong faith life. Love to God and to Christ, to the brethren and to all men. Joy, the proof of the perfect fulfilment of every need, of courage and faith for all the work we have to do. Peace, the blessed state of undisturbed rest and security in which the peace of God that passes all understanding can keep our hearts and minds.

In the last discourse with His disciples, Christ used these three words, with the word “my” before them. “Abide in my love.” “That my joy might remain in you.” “My peace I give unto you.” Shall we not lay before the Spirit as the great desire of our hearts that He may make these fruits reach perfection within us? Then at last we shall be able to pray aright, and always ask more and more of our Heavenly Father.

— God’s Best Secrets by Andrew Murray
「 8 October 」

經文: 「天父豈不更將聖靈給求祂的人麼？」— [聖經·路加福音 11章13b節]

        有一本關於禱告的小書，作者以他過來人的經驗，分享自己如何經歷更深禱告生活的祕訣，試圖將他的心得傳承給我們。當我們思想禱告這題目，不禁想到我們正活在聖靈澆灌的世代，他說：「我深深覺得我們處在聖靈作工的世代，凡我們所做的服事，若非出於聖靈的感動或催逼，就沒有什麼價值。」這也令我想起一處寶貴的經文：「你們雖然不好，尚且知道拿好東西給兒女。何況天父，豈不更將聖靈給求祂的人麼？」(路加福音 十一13)

        我覺得欣慰興奮的是，每天都能來到天父面前，領受聖靈供應我們一天的需要，這是基督徒每天最重要的事。若不如此，我們就無法討上帝的歡喜，也沒有辦法對周圍的人，有實際的幫助。這令我更進一步想到，若我們的禱告能提昇我們在生活中行出上帝的旨意，必然是源自於上帝，這位一切能力的供應者。河水不可能不出於源頭，同理，若聖靈藉著我們禱告，禱告者的祈求也必蒙應允，恩澤自己或代禱的對象。「我越來越相信」這本書的作者所提到：「基督徒的生命在於他禱告的質，勝過他禱告的量。」 

        這是多麼值得深思的題目，也是值得迫切禱告的內容！你今天禱告的時候，就熱切地求上帝賞賜給你聖靈的恩膏，上帝會樂意施恩給你的。 

「天父啊，求祢讓聖靈現在就動工在我心中，教導我學習如何禱告！奉主耶穌的聖名，阿們。」

—《 神 的 心 意 》
[每日靈修 10月7日]
作者：慕安德烈
編輯：榮華興

[圖片版權屬「國度復興報」所有，在此僅供分享福音用途。]

『 The Dispensation of the Spirit 』

Scripture: “How much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?” — [Luke 11:13]

        The writer of a little book on Prayer tells us that he has learned through his own experience the secret of a better prayer life, and would gladly pass on that which has helped him. As he was meditating on prayer, the great thought came with power, that we are now living in the dispensation of the Spirit. He says: “I felt deeply that in this time of the working of the Holy Spirit, all we may do in God’s service is of little value unless it is inspired by the power of the Holy Spirit. This brought me to the well-known, precious, and inexhaustible text, ‘How much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?'”

        I felt anew that the main thing for each of us is to receive, afresh from the Father, the Holy Spirit for our daily needs and daily life. Without this we cannot please God, nor can we be of any real help to our fellow-men. This brought the further thought that our prayers, if they are to raise our loves to fulfil God’s purpose, must have their origin in God Himself, the highest source of power. Water cannot rise higher than its source. And so it happens that if the Holy Spirit prays through us, as human channels or conduits, our prayers will rise again to God, who is their source, and the prayers will be answered by the Divine working in ourselves and in others. “I believe more and more,” says the writer, “that the Christian life of each one of us depends chiefly on the quality of our prayers and not on the quantity.”

        What material for thought is here, for deep meditation, for earnest prayer! When you pray today, ask the Heavenly Father to give you the Holy Spirit afresh for this day. He yearns to do it.

Father, grant me now the working of Thy Holy Spirit, that I may learn to pray.

— God’s Best Secrets by Andrew Murray
「 7 October 」

經文: 「原來在基督耶穌裡，受割禮不受割禮全無功效，惟獨使人生發仁愛的信心，才有功效。」— [聖經·加拉太書 5章6節]

        信心是根，愛是果，對上帝的愛有信心，對弟兄姐妹的愛，也就會自然而然萌生出來，兩者是相輔相成的；因為心中若充滿上帝的大愛，自然而然就會滿溢出來，流到周圍的人身上；所以真實的信心會產生一種熱情，想擁抱世人並付出愛。但是教會中多麼缺乏這種關懷的熱情，牧師也很少傳講這類的信息，讓弟兄姐妹們明白信心生活，可以帶來喜樂和仁愛的果子。 

        我們的生活，無論夫婦、父子、兄弟，或朋友之間，這些人倫之常情，都必須建立在主愛的基礎上。不要說「這不可能」，因為在上帝沒有難成的事，上帝可以藉著聖靈的大能，將祂的大愛澆灌下來，讓我們活出奔放、熱情的生命！

        我們要緊緊抓住上帝的話，並深信祂要親自帶領我們每天的驚奇之旅，祂會賜下意想不到的驚喜，充實我們的人生。並要讓這樣的思想，成為我們信心跳躍的驅力，因著對上帝長闊高深的愛，有著不斷增長的信心，那愛的活泉就不斷湧流，甚至流到仇敵的身上；也像和煦的陽光，照耀到最偏僻角落的弟兄身上。 

喔！弟兄姐妹們，整個救恩的關鍵，可以濃縮成兩個字：即「信」和「愛」。願我們將信心深深地根植在上帝大愛的沃土上，每天和上帝有密切的溝通、吸取養分，使我們有更多廣大包容的愛心，與周遭的世人交往。願上帝將這經訓銘刻在我們心版上，使我們生活有愛、行路有光，藉著對耶穌的信心，活出有愛的一生，來見證上帝的榮美！

—《 神 的 心 意 》
[每日靈修 10月6日]
作者：慕安德烈
編輯：榮華興

『 Faith Working Through LOVE 』

Scripture: “In Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love.” — [Galatians 5:6]

        “Faith is the root: Love is the fruit. Faith becomes strong in the love of God and of Christ. Faith in God and love to the brethren must always go hand in hand. Faith in God’s wonderful love, shed abroad in our hearts, enables us to live always in love towards our fellow-men. This true faith gives us power for a life of fervent, all-embracing love.

        Yet how little the Church realize? of all this! How seldom does the preacher lay stress on a Christlike love to the brethren, as the fruit and joy of the life of faith!

        All of our life-in the home, between father and mother, parents and children, brothers and sisters, friends and servants-should be a life in the love of Christ. Do not say: “It is impossible.” All things are possible to God, who through His Holy Spirit will shed His love in our hearts to be lived out in our daily lives. Let our faith cling to God’s Word, and to the unseen and wonderful things He will do for us each day. Let these thoughts about love impel us to accept with new and greater faith the Love of God, and then dedicate our lives to letting it radiate from us to all men, yes, even to our enemies, and to the heathen at the uttermost parts of the earth.

O Christian, the whole of salvation lies in these two words-Faith and Love. Let our faith each day take deeper root in God’s eternal love. And then each day the fruit of the Spirit will be love in all our intercourse with those around us. May God imprint these words deeply in our hearts, and make them a joy and strength to us in Jesus Christ nothing avails, but “love working through faith,”

— God’s Best Secrets by Andrew Murray
「 6 October 」

經文: 「人應當以我們為基督的執事，為上帝奧祕事的管家。所求於管家的，是要他有忠心。」— [聖經·哥林多前書 4章1-2節]

        管家是國王或主人所挑選最信任的人，將財產託負給他管理，將來由他來分配財產給繼承人。在地上基督徒就是上帝大愛-最珍貴資產-的管家，我們的責任就是要把主的愛，分給那些需要愛的人。福音執事是上帝奧祕事的管家，而最大的奧秘就是一切的福份，都是由上帝永恆的大愛發出。 

        所要求於管家的就是忠心，他需全心全意地投入，把所託負的事，視為終生的志業；在工作崗位上，無論是辦公室或家庭，都要盡心職守。所以上帝的管家，必須每天活在愛中，每天與上帝有美好的交通，不僅對上帝忠心，對周圍的人也要關心其全人的需要，適時又隨時地分享上帝的愛。上帝屬天的愛是個奧祕，它只住在那些專心為主，並以主愛為滿足的人心中，同時也要從他心中涌出活水的泉源，滋潤賜福給周圍的人。 

喔！上帝的兒女們，追求更深一層地認識「上帝的僕人」意謂著什麼？上帝愛的管家又是指什麼意思？要常常為上帝的僕人切切禱告，讓他們隱藏在全能者的蔭下，就能更多知道上帝愛的奧祕，並盡忠於上帝的家。 而你，我所親愛的弟兄們，別忘了為你釘十字架的耶穌所交付你的事，要常常為你認識的牧師、弟兄姐妹們禱告；因為教會的興旺與否，與你忠心的代禱有密切的關係。保持與上帝美好的關係，你就會有一顆喜樂的心，擁有聖靈的大能，將上帝的愛傳送給有需要的人。

—《 神 的 心 意 》
[每日靈修 10月5日]
作者：慕安德烈
編輯：榮華興

『 Stewards of the Love of God 』

Scripture: “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” — [1 Corinthians 4:1-2]

        A Steward is the man to whom the king or master entrusts his treasures and goods, to apportion to those who have a right to them. God in heaven needs men on earth to make known the treasures of His love, and to give them to those who have need. The minister of the Gospel is a steward of the mystery of God, and above all of the deep mystery of His everlasting love, and all the blessings that flow from it.

        It is required in stewards that a man be found faithful; he must devote himself wholly to his life task. He must be faithful at his work, and always at his post in the palace or house where the treasures are stored up. So the minister of the Gospel must himself be faithful, living each day in the love and fellowship of God. He must be faithful not only to God, but to his fellow-men, caring for the needs of the souls entrusted to him, and ready to recommend God’s love, and to share it with others. This divine love is a mystery, and can only dwell in a heart set apart for God and satisfied with His love, which flows from Him as a stream of living water.

        O child of God, seek to have a deeper insight into what the office of a servant of God means, as a steward of the wonderful love of God to sinners. Pray much and often for your ministers that God may hide them in the secret of His tabernacle, so that they may be faithful stewards of the mystery of God, and chiefly of the mystery of Divine Love.

And you, my beloved brethren, to whom the love of God in heaven, and of Christ on the cross, is entrusted, remember that your congregation, your Church, and your people are dependent on your faithfulness in living a heavenly life in fellowship with God. Then you will be able with joy, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, to pass on the love of God to souls that so greatly need it.

— God’s Best Secrets by Andrew Murray
「 5 October 」

經文: 「親愛的弟兄啊，你們卻要在至聖的真道上造就自己，在聖靈裡禱告。」— [聖經·猶大書 1章20節]

        救主耶穌全然智慧，但祂精簡扼要地傳揚真理，並沒有給我們太重的負擔，因為知道我們不過是塵土、凡人，我們的心思意念都在肉體上、都在世界上，若沒有一顆尋求仰望的心，人是無法從世界中轉回歸向上帝的。因此祂呼召我們棄絕老我、背向世界，用信心仰賴祂在我們心中作奇妙善工，以祂的慈悲勸勉我們，渴慕真理追求成聖，讓這樣的事成為一生中最大的願望與喜樂。 

        能找到天堂上帝與否，端視我們內心的態度，真實的信仰不在於外在的宗教儀文，乃取決於內心誠實執著的態度。我們清楚看到亞當錯誤的選擇，使他走向滅亡的死胡同，惟有渴慕天堂樂園的心，才能引導我們進入榮耀的永生，脫離卑賤短暫的俗世。現今的世代邪惡，不法的事增多，都在在提醒了我們要迫切禱告，讓我們全人被上帝的靈挑旺，獻上禱告的馨香之祭。若能做到這地步，禱告就不再是例行公事，而是如呼吸般成為生命的一部份，藉此與上帝的生命緊緊相連，心靈中尊主為大，行事為人都在聖靈的掌管之下。 

        除非在某種情境下，一個誠實人才有機會藉行為顯出他的誠實，但他無論在何時，內心所持守的原則應該是一樣的。同理，我們心中禱告的靈應該是不間斷的，當然我們有時候會有特定的禱告時間；但我們內在的生命，與上帝連接的靈命，是超越外在時空的限制，也不受形式的拘束。 

弟兄們，花些時間斟酌推敲「持續」這個詞意，並仔細尋思(根據聖經)這個字在我們生命中所佔的位置。上帝是愛的源頭，從那兒有一股汩汩清泉不斷向人類湧流，所以我們可以每時每刻依靠上帝的恩典，來支取祂的能力，治死敗壞蠢動的肉體，讓聖靈保守上帝的生命在我們心裡面，藉著禱告緊緊地將心繫在耶穌身上，並且全心全意的回應上帝的愛。

—《 神 的 心 意 》
[每日靈修 8月28日]
作者：慕安德烈
編輯：榮華興

［圖片版權屬「安穩港口」所有，在此僅供分享福音用途。]

『 Prayer a State of the Heart 』

Scripture: “But you, my loved ones, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, and making prayers in the Holy Spirit,” — [Jude 1:20]

        “Our Saviour, though He had all wisdom, yet gives but a small number of moral teachings to mankind. It is because He knew that our whole malady lies in this, that the will of our mind, the lust of our life, is turned into this world; and that nothing can set us right but the turning the will of our mind, and the desire of our hearts to God and that heaven which we had lost. And hence it is that He calls us to nothing but a total denial of ourselves and the life of this world, and to a faith in Him as the worker of a new birth and a new life in us. He teaches us every reason for renouncing ourselves and loving the whole nature of our redemption as the greatest joy and desire of our heart.

        “We see thus that our will and our heart is all; that nothing either finds or loses God; and that all our religion is only the religion of the heart. We see with open eyes that as a spirit of longing after the life of this world made Adam and us to be the poor pilgrims on earth that we are, so the Spirit of prayer, or the longing desire of the heart after Christ and God and heaven, breaks all our bonds asunder and raises us out of the miseries of time into the riches of eternity. Thus seeing and knowing our first and our present state, everything calls us to prayer; and the desire of our heart becomes the spirit of prayer. When the spirit of prayer is born in us, then prayer is no longer considered as only the business of this or that hour, but is the continual breathing of the heart after God. The spirit of prayer, — a state of the heart becomes the governing principle of the soul’s life.

        “An honest man may prove his honesty by acts. At other times there is no special call to show his honesty. But it is all the same the inward living principle of his heart. Just so the Spirit of prayer may possess the heart without interruption, and yet at other times may have its hours of prayer. But its own life and spirit is vastly superior to, independent of, and stays for no particular hours or forms of work.

It would be worth while making a study of the place that, according to Law, the word “continual” ought to have in our life. First there is the continual streaming forth of the infinite love of God toward, men. Then the continual unalterable dependence upon God every hour of our life. Then the continual receiving of goodness and happiness from God alone. Then comes the continual mortification of our evil nature; then again the continual and immediate inspiration of the Holy Spirit maintaining the life of Christ in us. Then the continual breathing of the heart after God in prayer. And then the continual loving of Him with our whole heart.

— God’s Best Secrets by Andrew Murray
「 28 August 」