《今日靈修默想》:「那時,希律王下手苦害教會中幾個人於是彼得被囚在監裡;教會卻為他切切地禱告神。」(徒12:1-5)

默想一:你曾在教會經歷同心禱告所帶出來的能力嗎?初代教會受逼迫,使徒被捕下監,但教會迫切禱告。結果是監門開了,使徒平安走出牢房,神的道日見興旺,越發廣傳。不禱告的教會就像沒有靈魂的行屍走肉一樣,毫無生命可言。但禱告的教會,神的靈必然會運行在其中,使教會在地上成為神最有力的見證。

默想二:當你走到盡頭無路可走時,祢能做什麼?往上求告神!禱告,是承認自己的無能,確定神是全能。詩人說:『我要向山舉目,我的幫助從何而來?我的幫助從造天地的耶和華而來。』(詩121:1-2)只要我們舉目仰望神,恆切地禱告,祂必成為我們的平安。今天神在教會尋找的,並不是有獨特恩賜的人,乃是禱告的人。你為自己的教會和普世眾教會代禱嗎?

禱告:主耶穌,謝謝祢所賜的禱告特權及權柄。我深知禱告出來的能力和得勝,但不是因我的禱告很行,而是祢給的應許。主!幫助我善用禱告的權柄,也讓我成為隨時禱告的人。禱告奉耶穌基督的名,阿們!

代禱:繼續為全世界的疫情禱告。求神憐憫世人,透過這次的疫情認識到生命的有限和渺小,及時地轉向宇宙萬物的主宰。求神憐憫美國,藉著這次病毒,徹底地悔改認罪,回歸聖經。求神賜醫療專家智慧,及時地研發疫苗、特效藥及治療方法。也幫助執政領袖有能力提出有效的紓困方案和復工計劃,讓人在危機中找出活路。

 《Today’s spiritual meditation》:  “It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them . . . So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.” (Act 12:1-5)

Meditation one: Have you ever experienced the power of prayer of a same mind in a church? The early churches were persecuted and the apostles were arrested and sent to prison, but the church prayed urgently. As a result, the prison doors opened, and the apostle walked out of the dungeon house in peace. The Word of God grew and multiplied. A church without praying, like a walking dead without a soul, has no life at all. But in a church that prays, the Spirit of God surely will move among them, making the church the most powerful witness of God on earth.

Meditation two: What can you do when you have nowhere to go? Lift up and pray to God! Prayer is to acknowledge your incompetence and trust that God is omnipotent. The poet said, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psa 121:1-2). As long as we lift up our eyes and look on God and pray steadfastly, He will be our peace. What God is looking for in the church today is not a person with unique gifts but a person of prayer. Do you intercede for your church and the churches around the world?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for giving the privilege and power of prayer. I perceive the power and victory of praying, but not because my prayers are good, but because of Your promises. Lord! Help me make good use of the power of prayer, and make me a person who prays often. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

Intercession: Continue to pray for the outbreaks of the epidemic all around the world. Ask God to have mercy on this world. Let people realize the limit and insignificance of lives through this epidemic and turn to the ruler of all things in this universe in time. Ask God to have mercy on the United States to confess, repent thoroughly and go back to the Bible through this virus epidemic. Pray for giving wisdom to the medical experts to develop vaccines, effective medicines and treatments in a timely manner. Please also help ruling leaders having the ability to come up with effective relief strategy and recovery plan to let people find a way out of this crisis.

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