A Call to Prayer 来祷告吧！
Dexu Xia
I sat down and wept. . . . I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
Abraham Lincoln confided to a friend, “I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.” In the horrific years of the American Civil War, President Lincoln not only spent time in fervent prayer but also called the country to join him. In 1861, he proclaimed a “day of humiliation, prayer and fasting.” And he did so again in 1863, stating, “It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God: to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon.”
After the Israelites had been captives in Babylon for seventy years, King Cyrus decreed that any Israelite who wanted to return to Jerusalem could return. When Nehemiah, an Israelite (Nehemiah 1:6) and cupbearer to the king of Babylon (v. 11), learned that those who had returned were “in great trouble and disgrace” (v. 3), he “sat down and wept” and spent days mourning, fasting and praying (v. 4). He wrestled in prayer for his nation (vv. 5–11). And later, he too called his people to fast and pray (9:1–37).
Centuries later, in the days of the Roman Empire, the apostle Paul similarly urged his readers to pray for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1–2). Our God still hears our prayers about matters that affect the lives of others.
By: Alyson Kieda
Why do you think God calls His people to pray for everyone? Who beyond your own circle can you pray for?
Dear Father, we’re in trouble. Please help and heal us.
[我]就坐下哭泣，……在天上的上帝面前禁食祈祷。—尼希米记1章4节
美国总统林肯曾私下向朋友透露：“有好几次，我都觉得自己已走投无路了，四面楚歌，只能跪下祷告。”在艰苦的南北战争期间，林肯总统不仅自己花时间热切祷告，他还呼吁全国人民一同祷告。在1861年，他制定“全国谦卑禁食祷告日”。到了1863年，他再度发表禁食祷告日的宣言：“国家和人民都有责任倚靠上帝至高无上的力量：谦卑痛悔地承认自己的罪恶和过犯，同时确信真正的悔改能得到怜悯与赦免。”
以色列人被掳到巴比伦70年后，波斯塞鲁士国王下诏，所有想要返回耶路撒冷的以色列人都可以回归故土。当以色列人尼希米担任亚达薛西王的酒政时（尼希米记1章6、11节），得知那些返回耶路撒冷的人“遭大难，受凌辱”（3节），“就坐下哭泣”，悲伤了好几天，禁食祷告（4节）。他为自己的同胞热切祷告（5-11节）。后来，他也要以色列百姓一同禁食祷告（9章1-37节）。
在几世纪后的罗马帝国时代，使徒保罗也同样劝勉信徒，要为执政掌权者祷告（提摩太前书2章1-2节）。直到如今，上帝仍然垂听我们为万国万民的恳求！
作者： 柯爱莉
你认为上帝为何要祂的百姓为每一个人祷告？
除了为亲朋好友代祷之外，你还可以为谁祈求？
亲爱的天父，我们陷入困境了。
求祢帮助我们，医治我们。