Each season comes with its own rhythm, its own pace, and its own appointed time. The trees do not rush to bloom nor do they resist the shedding of their leaves. The rains know when to fall. The sun knows when to retreat behind the clouds. Rather, it is the cloud which moves and blocks the unmovable sun. Everything in nature follows a divine order. A sacred timing. And no matter how long or harsh the season feels, it always changes. When the time is right, your life too moves through seasons. There are times when everything feels bright, when joy is abundant, and your heart feels like it is overflowing. You wake up with purpose and the nearness of God is undeniable. You see him in every little thing. In the laughter of a child. In the soft tug on your heart during worship. You hear his voice in the silence. And you feel his presence like the warmth of the sun. But then without warning comes a colder season. One where everything feels off. You pray but the silence feels heavy. You read scripture but it doesn't seem to speak the way it used to. You go through the motions but your soul feels disconnected. It is as if the heavens are locked shut. And you are left whispering into the void "God, where are you?" These seasons are hard. They feel confusing, discouraging and at times even crushing. You may begin to wonder if you've done something wrong. You may question your worth, your faith, or even God's nearness. And if you're not careful, shame can come in, making you believe that struggling in your faith somehow disqualifies you from God's love. But you are not alone in this. You are not broken because you're in a dry season. You're not less spiritual because you have questions. You're not less loved because you feel lost. Every believer no matter how mature, how faithful, how devoted, has walked through times like these. Faith does not make you immune to hardship. It helps you stand in the middle of it. And here is the beauty. God does not withdraw in your silence. He draws closer. He does not abandon you when you feel weak. In fact, scripture tells us that he is near to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. He does not just light your path. He becomes your light when you have no path at all. That is who Emmanuel is, God with us. Not just in the good days or the easy answers. But in the tears, in the delays, in the doubts, and even in the dead ends. Faith is not a band-aid for pain. It's not a phrase you throw around when you do not know what else to say. Faith is what holds you together when your world falls apart. It is the quiet strength in your chest when your heart is breaking. It is the anchor that steadies your soul when life feels like it's drifting into chaos. Faith is the whisper that says "God is still here. God is still good. God is still working." Hebrews 11:1 tells us, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." And verse 6 reminds us that without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would draw near to him, must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Faith is what gives your soul eyes to see when nothing around you is visible. It is what gives your spirit the courage to keep walking when the road is foggy. It is what helps you breathe when the air feels tight and heavy. Let us think about David. Just a young shepherd boy with no armour, no army, no experience, yet when he heard Goliath mocking the name of God, he didn't shrink back. Why? Because he remembered. He remembered how God gave him strength against the lion and the bear. He remembered that God had been faithful before and he trusted God would be faithful again. It was not the stone that brought Goliath down. It was the faith behind the stone. You see when you walk closely with God you're never really walking alone. Deep into the love of God, deep into the faith that says even if everything else fails, my God will never fail. That is what true faith does. It steadies you. It humbles you. It teaches you to wait. It trains your heart to trust God. It helps you worship even when you don't feel like it. Faith reminds you that God is not limited by what you can see. Friend, I do not know what season you are in today. But I do know this, it won't last forever. The same God who controls the seasons of nature is in control of the seasons of your life. And just as spring always follows winter, your season will shift when the time is right. Until then hold on. Keep trusting God. Keep showing up even when it's hard. Keep praying even when it feels silent. Keep reading God's word even when it feels dry. Because faith is not about what you feel, it's about who you believe in.
Now let us take a moment to pray together.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for walking with me through every season of my life. Thank you for never changing even when everything around me does change through the ups and downs, the highs and lows, the calm and the chaos. You have remained steady. You have remained good. l am so grateful that you do not leave me when I feel lost or weak. You do not abandon me in the middle of my confusion even when I feel unsure of where you are. You are still near me. You are the same God in my joy as you are in my sorrow. You're the God who kneels beside me in the valley. Sometimes life feels heavy. l am so grateful that you do not leave me when I feel lost or weak you don't abandon me in the middle of my confusion even when I feel unsure of where you are you are still near you're the same God in my joy as you are in my sorrow you're the God who kneels beside me in the valley sometimes life feels heavy the weight of it all presses on my chest like a burden I can't quite name there are moments when the silence is almost deafening when I pray and wait but all I hear is stillness and in those moments it's tempting to think you've forgotten me but even then Lord I will choose to believe even when l don't understand the weight of it all presses on my chest like a burden I can't quite name there are moments when the silence is almost deafening when I pray and wait but all I hear is stillness and in those moments it's tempting to think you've forgotten me but even then Lord I will choose to believe even when l don't understand what you're doing I will choose to trust that you're still working because you always are you are my hiding place my shelter when the winds blow too strong you're the rock I run to when everything else feels unsteady thank you for being that refuge for me again and again even when l'm too tired to find the words you hear the cries of my heart you understand my size you've carried me through deep waters places I never thought l'd survive you've stood with me in the fire moments of pain I thought would consume me and even when l couldn't see it clearly at the time l look back now and see your hand over everything you've healed wounds I didn't know I had you've brought peace to places I thought would always feel broken and for every unseen miracle l want to say thank you Lord I don't just want a faith that works when life is easy I want a faith that stands firm when the storm is raging around me I want to be the kind of person who can lift their eyes and say "God is still good." Even when nothing looks good at all in human eyes, grow my faith, Lord. Strengthen it. Deepen it. Stretch it until it is rooted so firmly in you that no storm can shake it loose. Help me to believe in your promises even when I have not seen them come to pass yet. Teach me to wait well with expectation, not despair. Help me to trust you that even when life feels out of control, you are still on the throne. I remember Luke 17:5 where your disciples asked you, "Lord increase our faith." That is the cry of my heart today too. Increase my faith. Stretch it wide. Make it strong enough to carry me through what I cannot carry on my own. Remind me that nothing is too difficult for you. Not the mountain in front of me. Not the burden on my shoulders. Not the healing I have been waiting for. Not the breakthrough I can't see yet. Nothing is beyond your reach. You still move mountains. And sometimes, Lord, the greatest mountain you move is the one inside me. The fear. The pride. The unbelief. You move it all. Your word in Mark 11, tells me that if I believe and do not doubt, l can ask in prayer and it will be done. So, here l am, Lord Jesus, asking with faith. Teach me to live by faith, not by fear. Not by what I see. Not by what I feel. But by the truth of who you are. Search my heart, Lord. Cleanse it. Uproot anything that makes it hard to trust you. Remove the lies l've believed about you. Tear down the walls I've built around my heart. Wash me clean of doubt. Sift through my soul and take away anything that is not rooted in faith. I want a pure heart that believes you. Not just with words but with action. With surrender. With confidence. Keep my eyes fixed on you, Lord Jesus. Not on the storm. Not on the clock. Not on what others are doing. Only you, when my faith feels shaky, steady me with your love. When I feel unsure, remind me of your promises. When I feel like giving up, you whisper to me that you are not done yet. That you are still working. James 1:6, says that when we ask, we must believe and not doubt. Because the one who doubts is like a wave tossed by the wind. Lord, I do not want to live like that. I do not want my heart to be thrown around by every feeling, every fear, every delay. So, today I, make the choice. I let go of doubt. I surrender fear. I release control. I choose faith of God. Faith in God. Holy Spirit, come fill me. I open up every part of me to you. Flood my heart with peace. Fill my mind with truth. Chase out every shadow, every lie, every worry, that clings to me. Pour confidence into my soul. Thank you God for never giving up on me. Thank you for loving me in every season. Thank you for calling me your child even when I feel undeserving. You are my rock when the ground gives way. You are my strength when I run out of energy. You are my savior, my redeemer, my hope in the waiting. And thank you Lord for the crown of joy that waits for me in your kingdom. I give you all the praise, Lord. I give you all my heart. I choose to live by faith one step at a time. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Reader, please say "amen" as a sign of faith. I pray that every blessing in this prayer is now upon you, in the name of Jesus Christ.
And the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.
每个季节都有自己的节奏、自己的步调和自己的指定时间。树木不会急于开花，也不会抗拒落叶。雨水知道何时落下。太阳知道何时退到云层后面。相反，是云移动并遮挡了不可移动的太阳。自然界中的一切都遵循神圣的秩序。神圣的时间。无论季节感觉多么漫长或严酷，它总是在变化。当时机成熟时，你的生活也会随着季节变化。有时一切都感觉明亮，有时快乐充沛，你的心感觉像是要溢出来了。你带着目标醒来，上帝就在你身边，这是不可否认的。你在每一件小事上看到他。在孩子的笑声中。在礼拜时轻轻地拉扯你心灵的声音中。你在寂静中听到他的声音。你感觉到他的存在就像阳光的温暖。但随后，一个寒冷的季节毫无预兆地到来了。一切都感觉不对劲。你祈祷，但寂静却让人感到沉重。 你阅读经文，但它似乎不再像以前那样诉说。你敷衍了事，但你的灵魂却感到失联。就好像天堂被锁上了。你只能对着虚空低语“上帝，你在哪里？”这些时期很艰难。它们让人感到困惑、沮丧，有时甚至让人崩溃。你可能会开始怀疑自己是否做错了什么。你可能会质疑自己的价值、你的信仰，甚至质疑上帝的亲近。如果你不小心，羞耻感就会涌上心头，让你相信在信仰中挣扎会让你失去上帝的爱。但你并不孤单。你不会因为处于枯燥的时期而崩溃。你不会因为有疑问而失去灵性。你不会因为感到迷失而失去被爱。每个信徒，无论多么成熟、多么忠诚、多么虔诚，都经历过这样的时期。信仰并不能让你免受苦难。它会帮助你屹立于困境之中。 这就是美丽。上帝不会在你的沉默中退缩。他会靠近你。当你感到软弱时，他不会抛弃你。事实上，圣经告诉我们，他靠近伤心的人，拯救那些灵性伤痛的人。他不只是照亮你的道路。当你走投无路时，他会成为你的光。这就是以马内利，上帝与我们同在。不仅在好日子或简单的答案中。而且在泪水里，在拖延中，在怀疑中，甚至在死胡同里。信仰不是止痛的创可贴。它不是你在不知道该说什么时随口说出的一句话。当你的世界崩溃时，信仰会让你们团结在一起。当你心碎时，它是你胸中安静的力量。当生活感觉陷入混乱时，它是稳定你灵魂的锚。信仰是低语：“上帝仍然在这里。上帝仍然善良。上帝仍然在工作。” 希伯来书 11:1 告诉我们：“信就是所盼望之事的实底，是未见之事的确据。”第 6 节提醒我们，人非有信，就不能得神的喜悦；因为到神面前来的人必须信有神，且信他赏赐那寻求他的人。信心是当你周围什么都看不见的时候，给你灵魂的眼睛去看的东西。信心是当你的道路雾蒙蒙的时候，给你心灵勇气继续前行的东西。信心是当你感到空气紧绷沉重的时候，帮助你呼吸的东西。让我们想想大卫。他只是一个年轻的牧羊男孩，没有盔甲，没有军队，没有经验，然而当他听到歌利亚嘲笑神的名字时，他没有退缩。为什么？因为他记得。他记得神是如何赐给他力量对抗狮子和熊的。他记得神以前是信实的，他相信神会再次信实。击倒歌利亚的不是石头，而是石头背后的信心。 你会发现，当你与上帝紧密同行时，你永远不会孤单。深深地爱着上帝，深深地相信，即使一切都失败了，我的上帝也永远不会失败。这才是真正的信仰。它使你稳定。它使你谦卑。它教你等待。它训练你的心去信靠上帝。它帮助你即使在不想敬拜的时候也敬拜上帝。信仰提醒你，上帝不受你所能看到的东西的限制。朋友，我不知道你今天处于什么季节。但我知道，这不会永远持续下去。掌控自然季节的上帝也掌控着你生命的季节。正如春天总是在冬天之后，你的季节也会在适当的时候转换。在那之前坚持住。继续信靠上帝。即使在困难的时候也要继续出现。即使在沉默的时候也要继续祈祷。即使在枯燥的时候也要继续阅读上帝的话语。因为信仰不在于你的感受，而在于你相信谁。
现在让我们花点时间一起祷告。
亲爱的天父，谢谢你陪我走过人生的每个阶段。谢谢你，即使我周围的一切都发生了变化，有起有落，有高峰有低谷，有平静有混乱，你也从未改变。你始终如一。你一直很好。我很感激，当我感到迷失或软弱时，你没有离开我。即使我不知道你在哪里，你也没有在我困惑的时候抛弃我。你仍然在我身边。无论我快乐还是悲伤，你都是同一位神。你是那位在低谷中跪在我身边的神。有时生活感觉很沉重。 我很感激你，在我失落或软弱的时候没有离开我，在我困惑的时候没有抛弃我，即使我不知道你在哪里，你仍然在我身边，在我快乐的时候和在我悲伤的时候，你都是同一个上帝，你是在山谷中跪在我身边的上帝，有时生活感觉很沉重，所有的重量都压在我的胸口，就像一个我无法确切命名的负担，有些时候，当我祈祷和等待时，沉默几乎震耳欲聋，但我听到的只有寂静，在那些时刻，我很想认为你已经忘记了我，但即使那样，主啊，我也会选择相信，即使我不理解，所有的重量都压在我的胸口，就像一个我无法确切命名的负担，有些时候，当我祈祷和等待时，沉默几乎震耳欲聋，但我听到的只有寂静，在那些时刻，我很想认为你忘记了我，但即使在那时，主啊，我也会选择相信，即使我不理解，所有的重量都压在我的胸口，就像一个我无法确切命名的负担，有些时候，当我祈祷和等待时，沉默几乎震耳欲聋，但我听到的只有寂静，在那些时刻，我很想认为 你已经忘记了我，但即使如此，主啊，我还是会选择相信，即使我不明白你在做什么，我也会选择相信你仍在工作，因为你一直都在，你是我的藏身之处，当风吹得太猛时，我的庇护所，当一切都变得不稳定时，你是我奔向的岩石，谢谢你一次又一次成为我的避难所，即使我累得无法用言语表达，你也能听到我内心的呐喊，你了解我的大小，你带我穿过深水区，我从未想过我会活下来，你和我站在一起，在痛苦的火焰中，我以为这会吞噬我，即使我当时看不清楚，我现在回头看，看到你的手抚摸着一切，你治愈了我不知道的伤口，你把平静带到了我认为会一直感到破碎的地方，对于每一个看不见的奇迹，我想说谢谢主啊，我想要的不仅仅是一种在生活轻松时起作用的信仰，我想要一个 在我周围暴风雨肆虐时坚定不移的信念 我希望成为那种可以抬起眼睛说“上帝仍然是好的”的人。即使在人类眼中没有什么看起来很好的时候，主啊，也请增强我的信念。加强它。加深它。拉伸它，直到它牢牢扎根于你心中，任何风暴都无法动摇它。帮助我相信你的承诺，即使我还没有看到它们实现。教我带着期待而不是绝望等待。帮助我相信你，即使生活感觉失控，你仍然在宝座上。我记得路加福音 17:5，你的门徒问你说：“主啊，增加我们的信心。”这也是我今天内心的呼喊。增加我的信念。扩展它。使它足够强大，以支持我度过我自己无法承受的一切。提醒我，对你来说没有什么是太难的。不是我面前的大山。不是我肩上的重担。 不是我一直在等待的治愈。不是我尚无法看到的突破。没有什么是你无法企及的。你仍在移山。主啊，有时你移走的最大的高山就是我内心的高山。恐惧。骄傲。不信。你移动了这一切。你在马可福音 11 章中的话告诉我，如果我相信并且不怀疑，我可以在祈祷中祈求，它就会实现。所以，主耶稣，我在这里，用信仰祈求。教我凭信心生活，而不是凭恐惧。不是凭我所看到的。不是凭我所感觉到的。而是凭你是谁的真相。主啊，搜索我的心。净化它。根除任何让我难以信任你的东西。除去我对你的谎言。拆掉我心中筑起的墙。洗净我的疑虑。筛选我的灵魂，带走任何不根植于信仰的东西。我想要一颗纯洁的心，相信你。不只是用言语，而是用行动。用臣服。用信心。主耶稣，让我的眼睛注视着你。不是在风暴中。不是在时间里。不是在别人的所作所为中。只有你，当我的信仰感到动摇时，用你的爱让我坚定。当我感到不确定时，提醒我你的承诺。当我想放弃时，你低声告诉我你还没有完成。你仍在工作。雅各书 1:6 说，当我们祈求时，必须相信，一点不疑惑。因为疑惑的人，就像被风吹动的波浪。主啊，我不想那样生活。我不想让我的心被每一种感觉、每一个恐惧、每一个拖延所左右。所以，今天我做出了选择。 我放下疑虑。我降服恐惧。我放开控制。我选择信靠上帝。信靠上帝。圣灵，来充满我。我向你敞开我的每一部分。用平安充满我的心。用真理充满我的思想。赶走每一个阴影，每一个谎言，每一个担忧，它们紧紧地缠着我。将信心灌注到我的灵魂里。感谢上帝从未放弃我。感谢你在每个季节都爱我。感谢你称我为你的孩子，即使在我感到不配的时候。当地面塌陷时，你是我的磐石。当我精疲力竭时，你是我的力量。你是我的救主，我的救赎主，我等待中的希望。感谢主，在你的国度里，有喜乐的冠冕等待着我。主啊，我将一切赞美都归给你。我将我的全心都归给你。我选择一步一步凭信心生活。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。
读者，请说“阿们”，以表信心。我祈求，奉耶稣基督的名，愿这祷文中所有的祝福都临到你。
愿主耶稣基督的恩惠、平安常与你同在。
No comments:
Post a Comment