Persisting in Prayer 恒切祷告
Dexu Xia
Will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Luke 18:7
Today's Scripture Luke 18:1-8
Today's Insights As in Luke 18, Jesus stressed persistence and boldness in prayer in a story He told His disciples after teaching them the Lord’s Prayer (11:1-4). He said to imagine a man knocking on his friend’s door at midnight to borrow bread because an unexpected visitor had arrived. Even though the man is reluctant to get out of bed, he gets up because of the other man’s persistence. In the same way, we’re to ask God for what we need: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (v. 9). We’re to pray confidently and continually, knowing God hears: Paul said, “In every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
Today's Devotional When Royston’s daughter Hannah suffered a brain bleed that resulted in a coma, he and his family repeatedly turned to God in prayer. Over months of waiting, they clung to each other—and to God. The family’s faith awakened, as Royston reflected: “Never has God felt closer.” Throughout the ordeal, they were given “a renewal of faith to persist in prayer” like the “widow of Luke 18.” Royston referred to Jesus’ story about a widow who continually sought justice from the town’s official, which He gave to illustrate “that they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1). This woman appealed repeatedly to the judge, who in weariness finally relented. Jesus contrasted that uncaring judge with God, saying, “Will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?” (v. 7).
Although Christ’s story addresses an unjust judge, the family members felt spurred on by it to pray for Hannah, asking the truly just and loving God for relief and help. They found themselves being drawn ever closer to Him: “As we seek God . . . it’s almost as if we’re the ones really waking up from our slumber.” After many months, Hannah woke from the coma and is slowly recovering.
When we draw close to God, He hears our requests and answers according to His grace. He invites us to cry out to Him day or night.
Reflect & Pray
How can you turn your struggles into prayer? How have you seen God answer your pleas and requests?
Loving God, I thank You that You’re not like the unjust and uncaring judge but that You love and care for me.
By Amy Boucher Pye
“上帝的选民昼夜呼吁他，难道他不为他们伸冤吗？”（路加福音 18:7 ）
今日经文：路加福音18章1-8节
今日洞见: 正如路加福音 18 章中记载的，耶稣在教导门徒主祷文后，讲了一个故事，强调祷告要坚持不懈、放胆无畏（11:1-4）。祂说，想象一下，一个人半夜敲朋友的门，想借面包，因为来了一位不速之客。虽然这个人不愿起床，但因为朋友的坚持，他还是起床了。同样，我们也要向神祈求我们所需要的：“你们祈求，就给你们；寻找，就寻见；叩门，就给你们开门”（9 节）。我们要满怀信心，持续不断地祷告，因为知道上帝会垂听：保罗说：“无论何事，只要借着祷告、祈求和感谢，将你们所要的告诉上帝。上帝所赐出人意外的平安，必在基督耶稣里保守你们的心怀意念。”（腓立比书 4:6-7）
今日灵修 罗伊斯顿的女儿汉娜突发脑溢血，陷入昏迷，他和家人在祷告中不断寻求神。在几个月的等待中，他们彼此扶持，紧紧依靠上帝。罗伊斯顿反思道：“上帝从未像现在这样亲近。”在整个煎熬的过程中，他们“重拾信心，坚持祷告”，就像“路加福音18章中的寡妇”一样。 罗伊斯顿引用了耶稣关于寡妇不断向镇上官员寻求公正的故事，耶稣以此为例，“要他们常常祷告，不可灰心”（路加福音18:1）。这个女人反复向法官祈求，法官最终不想再被烦扰就妥协了。耶稣将这位冷漠的法官与上帝进行对比，说：“上帝的选民昼夜呼吁他，难道他不为他们伸冤吗？”（7节）虽然基督的故事讲述的是一位不义的法官，但汉娜的家人却深受感动，为她祷告，祈求真正公义慈爱的上帝给予她解脱和帮助。他们发现自己越来越亲近上帝：“当我们寻求上帝时……就好像我们自己从沉睡中醒来一样。”几个月后，汉娜从昏迷中醒来，并慢慢康复。
当我们亲近上帝时，祂会垂听我们的祈求，并按照祂的恩典回应我们。祂邀请我们昼夜向祂呼求。
反思与祷告 你如何将你的挣扎转化为祷告？你如何看到上帝回应你的恳求和请求？
慈爱的上帝，我感谢祢，因为祢不像那位不公不义、冷漠无情的法官，祢爱我、关心我。 作者：艾米·布歇·派