分析未蒙應允的禱告Analyzing Unanswered Prayer
[每日靈修] 1/11/2018, 駱鴻銘編譯
我們的禱告有時候沒有得到應允，因為禱告內容太模糊籠統。當我們所有的禱告在其範圍內都是模糊的或籠統的時候，就很難體會到禱告得到明確而明顯回應的那種興奮之情。要是我們要求上帝「祝福世上的每一個人」或「原諒城裏的每一個人」，就很難看到禱告以任何具體的方式得到回應。這並不是說禱告關心的範圍很大是錯誤的，但如果所有的禱告都是如此籠統，那麼任何禱告都不會具有特定和具體的應用。
倘若我們與上帝為敵，我們的禱告也會受到阻攔。如果我們與上帝不和或處於反叛祂的狀態，我們就很難指望祂仁慈地垂聽我們的禱告。祂的耳朵會偏向那些愛祂並努力順服祂的人。祂把祂的耳朵轉離惡人。因此，我們對上帝的態度和敬畏，對我們禱告的效率至關重要。
我們也有耐心不足的傾向。當我為耐性祈求的時候，我傾向於「現在」就得到它！我們等候數年，甚至數十年，好叫我們最誠摯的祈求得到實現，這種情況並不少見。上帝很少匆忙行事。另一方面，我們對上帝的忠誠往往取決於上帝「迅速且周到」的行動。要是上帝遲延了，我們的缺乏耐心就會變成沮喪。
我們的記憶力也很短暫，很容易忘記從上帝手中得到的好處和禮物。這是背道的標誌——忘記了上帝的好處。聖徒記得上帝的恩賜，並不需要每個小時得到一個新鮮的禮物來保持他的信心不受損傷。
雖然上帝確實會恩上加恩，但如果我們從來沒有從祂那裏得到另一個好處，我們也應該能夠為上帝曾經賜下的好處而歡喜。當你行在主面前時要記念祂。當你向祂求餅時，祂不會給你石頭。
活在神的面光中（在神面前禱告）：
反思這些禱告未蒙應允的原因，以確定它們是否影響了你的禱告生活：禱告過於籠統，與上帝為敵，缺乏耐心，忘記你從上帝那裏得到的好處。
進一步研讀：
箴三6 在你一切所行的事上都要認定祂，祂必指引你的路。
太七9 你們中間誰有兒子求餅，反給他石頭呢？
賽四十29～31 疲乏的，祂賜能力；軟弱的，祂加力量。 就是少年人也要疲乏困倦；強壯的也必全然跌倒。 但那等候耶和華的必從新得力。他們必如鷹展翅上騰；他們奔跑卻不困倦，行走卻不疲乏。
Analyzing Unanswered Prayer
Our
prayers are sometimes not answered because we pray in vague generalities. When
all our prayers are either vague or universal in their scope, it is difficult
to experience the exhilaration that goes with clear and obvious answers to
prayer. If we ask God to “bless everyone in the world” or “forgive everyone in
town,” it would be difficult to see the prayer answered in any concrete way.
Not that it is wrong to have a large scope of interest in prayer, but if all
prayer is given to such generality, then no prayer will have specific and
concrete application.
Our
prayers are also hindered if we are at war with God. If we are out of harmony
with God or in a state of rebellion toward Him, we can hardly expect Him to
turn a benevolent ear toward our prayers. His ear is inclined to those who love
Him and seek to obey Him. He turns His ear away from the wicked. Thus our
attitude and reverence toward God is vital to the efficiency of our prayers.
We
also tend to be impatient. When I pray for patience I tend to ask for it “right
now!” It is not uncommon for us to wait years, indeed decades, for our most
earnest petitions to be realized. God rarely is in a hurry. On the other hand,
our fidelity to God tends to depend on “prompt and courteous” action by God. If
God tarries, our impatience yields to frustration.
We
also have short memories and easily forget the benefits and gifts we’ve
received from the hand of God. This is the mark of the apostate—he forgets the
benefits of God. The saint remembers the gifts of God and doesn’t require a
fresh one each hour to keep his faith intact.
Though
God does heap grace upon grace, we should be able to rejoice in God’s benefits
if we never receive another benefit from Him. Remember the Lord when you go
before Him. He will not give you a stone when you ask Him for bread.
Coram
Deo
Reflect
on these reasons for unanswered prayer to determine if they are affecting your
prayer life: praying in generalities, being at war with God, being impatient,
and forgetting the benefits you have received from God.
Passages
for Further Study
Isaiah
40:29-31