團契問答集：禱告

2024/10/14

青年團契禱告筆記

Youth Fellowship Meeting Notes

1.     禱告是什麼呢？

腓立比書4:6應當一無掛慮，只要凡事藉着禱告、祈求，和感謝，將你們所要的告訴神。 7神所賜、出人意外的平安必在基督耶穌裏保守你們的心懷意念。

關於禱告，沒有什麼事情是太大上帝無法處理，也沒有太小小到上帝不耐煩聽。祂是愛我們的天父，連我們的頭髮祂都數過了， 所以無論何時何地，與上帝的電話是隨時都通的。當我們將一切事情交在上帝手中，我們承認自己的不能，信靠祂的大能，隨之而來的是平安，是我們知道祂掌權，知道祂是愛我們，必定有超乎我們所求的美好旨意的穩定和平安。

2.     我們可以禱告什麼？

馬太福音 21:22你們禱告，無論求甚麼，只要信，就必得着。

耶穌應許，當我們禱告，我們所求的事情，必會得著。但在這邊這一句話可不能夠單獨使用，因為我們禱告上帝都聽得見，但是是否應許卻不一定。因為禱告也有原則的。

打個簡單的比方，我的小女兒很活潑，她很喜歡每天跟我講話，講不停。而只要我不是太睏，太忙或是需要專心的時候，我都樂意聽她跟我滴滴咕咕講各種各樣的事情。我們一起去逛超市的時候，她會像一個不斷電的能量兔子一樣，到處跑來跑去，然後把所有巧克力，餅乾和洋芋片拿到車子裡，問我可不可以買。

作為一個負責任的爸爸，這時候我必須要拒絕她99% 的請求。要是我答應她每一個請求，順從她的意思的話，那麼後果就是她的健康必定會被她想要吃的垃圾食物給破壞，所以雖然我很愛她，但我必須要拒絕這些不好的要求。

天父上帝也是一樣。我們要求的東西不一定是我們應該求的。可能出於無知，或是出於自私。我們的禱告上帝都會聽，但不一定都應許。這並不代表我們不可以向上帝禱告需要的東西，只是我們當謹慎審查自己的動機。

3.     那禱告的原則是什麼？

約翰一書 5:14-15 我們若照他的旨意求甚麼，他就聽我們，這是我們向他所存坦然無懼的心。既然知道他聽我們一切所求的，就知道我們所求於他的，無不得著。

馬太福音6:31-33 31所以，不要憂慮說，吃甚麼？喝甚麼？穿甚麼？ 32這都是外邦人所求的。你們需用的這一切東西，你們的天父是知道的。 33你們要先求他的國和他的義，這些東西都要加給你們了。 

有人問，上帝不是什麼都知道嗎？那還要禱告些什麼？

禱告的意義並不是上帝需要我們告訴祂我們的所求所想，而是透過禱告改變我們自己的內心，使我們的心和上帝的心意相近。透過禱告去了解上帝的心意，透過禱告修改我們的意見，讓我們能夠越來越像耶穌。

所以在禱告的時候，真正獲得最多益處的是我們，而上帝是愛我們的父，當我們與祂禱告時，祂總是歡喜樂意聽我們跟他說話。

詩篇 145:18凡求告耶和華的，就是誠心求告他的，耶和華便與他們相近。

4.     我可能為一些美好的事情禱告，像是讓人得醫治，世界上有和平，這些難道不符合上帝的心意嗎？但為什麼禱告後還是死掉了呢？戰爭還是繼續發生呢？

路加福音: 22: 39耶穌出來，照常往橄欖山去，門徒也跟隨他。 40到了那地方，就對他們說：「你們要禱告，免得入了迷惑。」 41於是離開他們約有扔一塊石頭那麼遠，跪下禱告， 42說：「父啊！你若願意，就把這杯撤去；然而，不要成就我的意思，只要成就你的意思。」 43有一位天使從天上顯現，加添他的力量。 44耶穌極其傷痛，禱告更加懇切，汗珠如大血點滴在地上。 45禱告完了，就起來，到門徒那裏，見他們因為憂愁都睡着了， 46就對他們說：「你們為甚麼睡覺呢？起來禱告，免得入了迷惑！」

耶穌在這裡給我們做了一個禱告的最完美呈現。在他在肉身的時候，面對十字架的苦難，這時候他也顯現出了人性中的害怕和軟弱，他清楚明瞭這是一個極端痛苦的過程，他也向父神懇求如果可以，把這杯撤去。面對這樣的困境時候他透過禱告再次堅定，也有天使來到他身邊為他加添力量。

最重要的一句話就是：願你的旨意成就。

禱告的最重大的意義，就是讓我們在禱告中越來越清楚上帝的旨意，越來越放下自己的意思，願來越靠近上帝的意思。哪怕這旨意我們可能並不清楚，並不喜歡，甚至害怕，想要逃避。信心的功課就是這時候，雖然肉體上的百般不願意，但在信心中我們相信上帝的旨意必定是最好，最美好的。

而耶穌的故事也讓我們看見，上帝會透過奇妙的方式完成祂的旨意。祂連自己的兒子，無辜無罪的聖子都差派來到世界為眾人的罪而死，我們本來應當被懲罰的罪人在世上經歷一些的苦難，難道不是理所當然的嗎？

關於禱告，有太多經文可以繼續討論。但這是一個很好的討論過程。願我們都能夠更多禱告，透過禱告更親近上帝，讓我們的心意更靠近上帝的心意。

1. What is prayer?

Philippians 4:6-7: 

"Do not be anxious about anything, but 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."

When it comes to prayer, no issue is too big for God to handle, and none too small for Him to be bothered by. He is our loving Father, who knows even the number of hairs on our heads. So, no matter where or when, the line to God is always open. When we lay everything before Him, we admit our limitations and trust in His power. What follows is peace—peace that comes from knowing that He is in control, He loves us, and He surely has a purpose that is far greater than we can ask or imagine.

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2. What can we pray for?

Matthew 21:22: 

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Jesus promises that when we pray, what we ask for will be given to us. But this verse cannot be taken in isolation, because while God hears all our prayers, He does not always answer in the way we expect. Prayer follows certain principles.

Here’s a simple analogy: My youngest daughter is very lively and loves to talk to me all the time. As long as I’m not too tired, too busy, or needing to focus, I’m always happy to listen to her endless chatter. When we go to the supermarket, she becomes like a non-stop energy bunny, grabbing all sorts of chocolates, cookies, and chips and asking me if she can have them.

As a responsible father, I must decline 99% of her requests. If I agreed to everything she wanted, it would ruin her health. So, although I love her, I have to deny these unhealthy demands.

In the same way, our Heavenly Father knows best. The things we ask for may not always be what’s right for us. It may be out of ignorance or selfishness. God listens to all our prayers, but He may not grant them. This doesn’t mean we can’t ask Him for what we need, but we should carefully examine our motives.

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3. What are the principles of prayer?

1 John 5:14-15: 

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him."

Matthew 6:31-33: 

"So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Some might ask, “Doesn’t God already know everything? So why should we pray?” 

The purpose of prayer is not for God to learn what we need, but for prayer to transform our hearts. Through prayer, we align our will with God’s. It helps us understand His heart, adjust our perspective, and become more like Jesus.

Therefore, the true benefit of prayer is for us. And our loving Father is always pleased to hear us speak with Him.

Psalm 145:18: 

"The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth."

4. I may be praying for good things, like healing or peace in the world. Don’t these align with God’s will? Why aren’t my prayers answered?

Luke 22:39-46: 

"Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you will not fall into temptation.’ He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. ‘Why are you sleeping?’ he asked them. ‘Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.’"

In this passage, Jesus provides us with the perfect model of prayer. When He faced the suffering of the cross, His human side felt fear and weakness. He knew the pain that was coming and pleaded with the Father to take this cup from Him. But in His prayer, He also surrendered to the Father’s will, saying, “Not my will, but yours be done.”

The most significant aspect of prayer is that it helps us become clearer about God’s will, enabling us to let go of our own and draw closer to His. Even when we may not understand, like, or want His will, faith compels us to trust that God’s will is always the best and most beautiful.

Jesus’ story shows that God fulfills His will in miraculous ways. If He was willing to send His innocent Son to die for our sins, isn’t it natural for us sinners to face suffering in this world? 

There are many more verses that could be shared on prayer, but this is a good starting point for discussion. May we all grow in prayer, draw closer to God through it, and let our hearts align more and more with His will.