6月19日

標　　題：禱告卻不相信

經　　節：聽得是彼得的聲音，就歡喜的顧不得開門，跑進去告訴眾人說：「彼得站在門外。」他們說：「你是瘋了！」使女極力地說：「真是他！」他們說：「必是他的天使！」（使徒行傳十二章14∼15節）

你可以用理智禱告，卻心裡懷疑。有時候在這種情況，神照樣會回答你的禱告，就像當初彼得被下監，等著被處刑一樣。耶路撒冷的信徒沒有能力去解救他，他們只能禱告。當神釋放彼得時，他們的反應顯露出他們懷疑的心態。即使彼得正站在門外敲門，他們仍極力爭辯，認為彼得決不可能被釋放的！

人是否可能作個沒有信心的「禱告者」呢？你是有一個假像，以為自己求告神就等於有信心，相信祂的能力會供應你的需要？你的信心是否非常軟弱，以至於十分訝異神對自己禱告的回應？作為神的兒女，你一定要期盼神會回答你的禱告。你是否求神成全某事，卻不願為了你所禱告的內容，來調整自己的生活？如果你禱告求靈性復興，你是如何預備自己面對復興的來臨？如果你禱告求赦免，你是否仍然生在罪惡感之中？如果你已經祈求神供應你的需要，你是否還擔心憂慮？

求神加添你的信心，然後開始讓自己的生活，反映出你對祂全然的信任。因著祂的恩典，即使你缺乏信心，神仍可能選擇要回應你的要求。但如此一來，你就錯失信心禱告的喜樂。

Praying but Not Believing

When she recognized Peter's voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. But they said to her, "You are beside yourself!" Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, "It is his angel." (Acts 12:14-15)

You can say prayers in your mind but doubt in your heart. At times God will answer such prayers as He did when Peter was in prison, scheduled for execution. The believers in Jerusalem were powerless to free him, so they prayed. When God released Peter, their reaction revealed the doubt in their hearts. They argued that Peter could not possibly be free, even as he stood outside knocking on the door!

Is it possible to be a "person of prayer" and yet not have faith? Is it possible to fool yourself into believing that because you ask God for help, you have faith in His ability to meet your needs? Is your faith so weak that you are surprised when God answers your prayer? As a child of God, you ought to expect God to answer your prayers. Do you ask God to do something without adjusting your life to what you are praying? If you are praying for revival, how are you preparing for its coming? If you are praying for forgiveness, are you still living with guilt? If you have asked God to provide for your needs, do you remain worried and anxious?

Ask God to increase your faith and then begin living a life that reflects absolute trust in Him. Out of His grace, God may choose to respond to your requests despite your lack of faith, but you will miss the joy of praying in faith.