Prayer imparts the power to walk and not faint. Oswald Chambers

祷告带来力量，让我们行走却不疲乏。–章伯斯

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2

你们要恒切祷告，在此警醒感恩。-歌罗西书4章2节

“Will we see any snakes?”

Allan, a young boy in our neighborhood, asked that question as we started on a hike by the river near our home.

当我们和邻居的小孩艾伦要到附近的河边时，艾伦不安地问道：“我们会碰到蛇吗？”

Prayer imparts the power to walk and not faint. Oswald Chambers

“We never have before,” I answered, “but we might! So let’s ask God to keep us safe.” We paused, prayed together, and kept walking.

“我们从来没碰见过！”我回答说，“但也是有可能喔！那我们来祷告，求上帝保守我们平安。”于是，我们停下脚步，一起祷告之后，继续前行。

Several minutes later my wife, Cari, suddenly took a quick step backward, narrowly avoiding a poisonous copperhead partially coiled on the path ahead. We waited as the snake left the trail, giving it a wide berth. Then we paused and thanked God nothing had happened. I believe that through Allan’s question, God had prepared us for the encounter, and our prayer was part of His providential care.

几分钟后，我的妻子卡莉突然迅速往后退了一步，很惊险地避开了一条蜷曲在前路的剧毒铜斑蛇。我们跟蛇保持安全距离，直等到它离开。接着，我们感谢上帝没有发生不幸的事情。我相信上帝透过艾伦提醒我们可能会碰到蛇，我们的祷告也是祂眷顾的一部分。

Our brush with danger that evening brings to mind the importance of David’s words: “Look to the  and his strength; seek his face always” (1 Chron. 16:11). This advice was part of a psalm celebrating the return of the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. It recounts God’s faithfulness to His people in their struggles throughout history, reminding them to always praise Him and “cry out” to Him (v. 35).

那天傍晚，我们与危险擦身而过。让我想起大卫说过一句重要的话：“要寻求耶和华与祂的能力，时常寻求祂的面”（历代志上16章11节）。这个忠告是出自欢庆约柜重返耶路撒冷的一首诗歌。这首诗歌讲述上帝在祂百姓的苦难中仍然信实，提醒他们要一直赞美祂，并向祂呼求（35节）。

What does it mean to “seek [God’s] face”? It means we turn our hearts toward Him in even the most mundane moments. Sometimes our prayers are answered differently than our asking, but God is faithful come what may. Our Good Shepherd will direct our paths and keeps us in His mercy, strength, and love. May we declare our dependence on Him.

“寻求上帝的面”的意思是，即使在最平常普通的日子里，我们的心仍要转向祂。有时，上帝回应我们的祷告并非按着我们的心意，但无论如何，上帝仍然信实。我们的好牧人会引领你我的道路，并保守我们常在祂的恩慈、力量和慈爱中。愿我们定意完全倚靠。

我需祢，我需要祢，每时刻需要祢，
求主现在施恩惠，我来就祢。

INSIGHT

Recall an occasion when you sought “God’s face,” when you “look[ed] to the and his strength” (1 Chron. 16:11). What caused you to call and depend on God? How did the Lord respond to you?

Sim Kay Tee

灵粮透视

请回想一个场合，你曾寻求“耶和华与祂的能力”、寻求“祂的面”（历代志上16章11节）。你为何呼求并倚靠上帝？祂又如何回应你呢？

1 Chronicles 16:11-18New International Version (NIV)

11 Look to the Lord and his strength;
    seek his face always.

12 Remember the wonders he has done,
    his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
13 you his servants, the descendants of Israel,
    his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
14 He is the Lord our God;
    his judgments are in all the earth.

15 He remembers[a] his covenant forever,
    the promise he made, for a thousand generations,
16 the covenant he made with Abraham,
    the oath he swore to Isaac.
17 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,
    to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
18 “To you I will give the land of Canaan
    as the portion you will inherit.”

历代志上 16:11-18

11 要寻求耶和华与他的能力，时常寻求他的面！ 13 他仆人以色列的后裔，他所拣选雅各的子孙哪，你们要记念他奇妙的作为和他的奇事并他口中的判语！ 14 他是耶和华我们的神，全地都有他的判断。 15 你们要记念他的约直到永远，他所吩咐的话直到千代， 16 就是与亚伯拉罕所立的约，向以撒所起的誓。 17 他又将这约向雅各定为律例，向以色列定为永远的约， 18 说：‘我必将迦南地赐给你，做你产业的份。’

1 Chronicles 16:28-36New International Version (NIV)

28 Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    bring an offering and come before him.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his[a] holiness.
30     Tremble before him, all the earth!
    The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.

31 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
    let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
32 Let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
    let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!
33 Let the trees of the forest sing,
    let them sing for joy before the Lord,
    for he comes to judge the earth.

34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.
35 Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior;
    gather us and deliver us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name,
    and glory in your praise.”
36 Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
    from everlasting to everlasting.

历代志上 16:28-36

28 民中的万族啊，你们要将荣耀、能力归给耶和华，都归给耶和华！ 29 要将耶和华的名所当得的荣耀归给他，拿供物来奉到他面前，当以圣洁的[a]装饰敬拜耶和华！30 全地要在他面前战抖，世界也坚定不得动摇。 31 愿天欢喜，愿地快乐，愿人在列邦中说：‘耶和华做王了！’ 32 愿海和其中所充满的澎湃，愿田和其中所有的都欢乐！33 那时林中的树木都要在耶和华面前欢呼，因为他来要审判全地。 34 应当称谢耶和华，因他本为善，他的慈爱永远长存！ 35 要说：‘拯救我们的神啊，求你救我们，聚集我们，使我们脱离外邦，我们好称赞你的圣名，以赞美你为夸胜。’ 36 耶和华以色列的神，从亘古直到永远是应当称颂的！”众民都说：“阿门！”并且赞美耶和华。

整理：于姊妹