Prayer helps us see things as God sees them.

The highest heavens . . . cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 2 Chronicles 6:18

Teen Challenge, a ministry to at-risk youth that started in New York City, was born from an unusual commitment to prayer. Its founder, David Wilkerson, sold his television set and spent his TV-watching time (two hours each night) praying. In the months that followed, he not only gained clarity about his new endeavor but he also learned about the balance between praising God and asking Him for help.

 King Solomon’s temple dedication prayer shows this balance. Solomon began by highlighting God’s holiness and faithfulness. Then he gave God credit for the success of the project and emphasized God’s greatness, declaring, “The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!” (2 Chron. 6:18).

After exalting God, Solomon asked Him to pay special attention to everything that happened inside the temple. He asked God to show mercy to the Israelites and to provide for them when they confessed their sin.

Immediately after Solomon’s prayer, “fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the  filled the temple” (7:1). This incredible response reminds us that the mighty One we praise and speak to when we pray is the same One who listens to and cares about our requests.

How would you describe your conversations with God? What might help you grow closer to Him as you pray?

Read more about talking to God at discoveryseries.org/hp135.

祷告帮助我们以上帝的眼光看事物。

天上的天，尚且不足祢居住的，何况我所建的这殿呢！-历代志下6章18节

成立于纽约的“青年挑战事工”以帮助边缘青少年为目的，这个事工是在竭力的祷告中诞生的。那时，创办人大卫·韦克森（David Wilkerson）卖掉了他的电视，并将原本看电视的时间（约每晚两小时）用来祷告。他祷告了几个月之后，不仅对自己新的使命越来越清楚，也学到在赞美上帝和寻求上帝的帮助之间取得平衡。

所罗门王献殿时的祷告就展现了这样的平衡。所罗门首先强调上帝的圣洁与信实，将这殿的建成归荣耀给上帝，强调上帝的伟大，宣扬“天上的天，尚且不足祢居住的，何况我所建的这殿呢！”（历代志下6章18节）

在高举上帝之后，所罗门祈求上帝特别眷顾圣殿内的一切事。所罗门祈求上帝怜悯以色列百姓，并在他们认罪之后供应他们。

在所罗门祷告之后，“就有火从天上降下来，烧尽燔祭和别的祭，耶和华的荣光充满了殿”（7章1节）。这惊人的回应提醒我们，我们在祷告时向全能者发出赞美和祈求，祂确实会聆听并且关心我们的需求。

你会如何形容你和上帝之间的对话？
你如何在祷告中更亲近祂？

2 Chronicles 6:12-21New International Version (NIV)

12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. 13 Now he had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide and three cubits high,[a] and had placed it in the center of the outer court. He stood on the platform and then knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. 14 He said:“Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. 15 You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promisedand with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today.16 “Now, Lord, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me according to my law, as you have done.’ 17 And now, Lord, the God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David come true.18 “But will God really dwell on earth with humans? The heavens,even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 19 Yet, Lord my God, give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. 20 May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 21 Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.

整理：于姊妹