February 25/26, 2023

From the Pastor’s Desk: Alex Poon

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

Jesus surprises us, doesn’t he? He does meet our expectations. He intentionally does things that leaves us sometimes in confusion.

In John 11, the account of Lazarus, we see Martha wondering aloud to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:21)

He remained in remained for two days longer in the place where he was in (John 11:6).

All to set up a scene where Lazarus would be raised up from the dead, and he would declare “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”, and declaring all this so he would ask the question of utmost importance, “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26)

We ask, where was he when he was most needed?

The Gospel of John 12 and Luke 19 together gives us another surprising story. Jesus sends two of his disciples to fetch for him a young donkey who has never been ridden (Luke 19:30).

And upon his arrival into Jerusalem, the crowds gather to welcome him in. “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” (John 12:13)

The crowds praise his name… but were they expecting another kind of king? Perhaps a mighty warrior who would ride into their city to wage war against their Roman oppressors. A mighty King who would rescue them from their immediate problems…

Instead… this king wouldn’t take the lives of his enemies, but rather, he would give his own life for the ransom of many.

He would lay down his own life to rescue us from the bigger problem – the problem of eternal damnation, to give to us eternal life.

Whatever may be going on in your life, however you feel these days, I pray that you would be revealed to the surprising king in a way that anchors your worship.

Our Lord does not fit into our boxed definitions of who he is. May we see a clear picture of his heart.

His plans may surprise us; we cannot contain his knowledge of what we need best. We cannot contain his purposes for us, nor his purposes for the world.

Worship still.

Worship in way that trusts him.

Worship in a way that adds to your faith.

Worship, with an anchored hope that Christ does knows all, that he sees all things going on, and he’s in control of it all. He remains Lord of it all.

Worship, declaring his praises because you know truthfully, that Christ has not abandoned anything.

Worship, even when you’re surprised, all because you can rest in the hope of our Coming King.

You’re invited to worship, even when it’s hard. And in our worship, we’ll be reminded of Christ who is very much alive, still, in the most surprising kind of way.

Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Alex Poon

2023.02.25/26

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

耶穌給我們驚喜，不是嗎？ 祂確實回應我們的期望。 祂刻意做一些讓我們有時感到困惑的事情。

在約翰福音 11 章拉撒路的記述中，我們看到馬大大聲地對耶穌說：「主啊，如果你早在這裡，我的兄弟就不會死了！」（約翰福音 11:21）。耶穌聽說拉撒路病了，仍然在原來的地方住了兩天，（約翰福音 11:6）。一切都是為了營造一個拉撒路從死裡復活的場景，耶穌說：「我就是復活和生命；信我的人，雖然死了，也要活著。所有活著又信我的人，必定永遠不死，你信這話嗎？」 （約翰福音 11: 25-26）。

我們會問，最需要祂的時候祂在哪裡？

約翰福音 12 章和路加福音 19 章同樣講述了另一個令人驚訝的故事。 耶穌派祂的兩個門徒去為祂牽來一頭從沒有人騎過的小驢（路加福音 19:30）。

當祂到達耶路撒冷時，群眾聚集起來迎接祂，「和散那，奉主名來的以色列王，是應當稱頌的！」 （約翰福音 12:13）。群眾一邊讚美祂的名字，另一方面祂們是否期待著一個王， 一個威猛的戰士，騎馬進城，與當時壓迫祂們的羅馬政府抗爭，解決祂們眼前的困苦，把祂們解救出來。相反… 這個王不會除掉敵人的性命，而是會獻出自己的生命來救贖許多人的生命。祂犧牲自己的生命來拯救我們脫離罪惡，永死的刑罰，賜予我們永恆的生命。

無論你生活在任何光景，我為你祈禱願你能定晴敬拜給我們驚喜的主耶穌。我們的主不單單局限於我們對祂的認識，願我們能清楚地看到祂的內心。祂的計劃可能會讓我們驚訝， 祂完全知道甚麼是我們最需要的，祂對我們甚至對世界的旨意，我們無法猜透。

唯有專心敬拜祂，以堅定和信靠祂的心敬拜祂，祂是全知全能宇宙萬物的主宰。

敬拜祂，讚美祂，祂沒有撇下我們不顧。祂是我們再來之王，在祂裡面我們得安息。

邀請你與我們一起敬拜，即使是在艱難的時候， 在我們的敬拜中，我們會想起基督，祂仍然以最令人驚訝的方式活著。

主僕
潘啟華傳道

January 7/8, 2023

From the Pastor’s Desk : Pastor Alex Poon

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

May we pursue wisdom this new year. Grow to deepen your heart and mind knowledge of Christ our Savior. This is growing Christian maturity.

 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” – Proverbs 9:8-10

This is wisdom: to love God as God. Wisdom is the way we want to live and move towards Him.

And it takes the work of pursuing learning.

The Apostle Paul writes to his disciple Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:1-2…

 “¹ You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, ² and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”

Then he continues later in chapter 3 in 2 Timothy 3:14-17…

“¹⁴ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it ¹⁵ and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Follow the train of thought: The source of strengthening is first the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Then the second source of strengthening is learning; “continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed”. And the source of this learning is the teaching of Scripture – which is God breathed, and good in every way. It is profitable for the equipping of every good work.

So, for us, as maturing children of God: It is good work to pursue God, to know him as Lord of all, and to continually grow in maturity in him through heart and mind. As we deepen our understanding, we deepen our experience. As he provokes our thoughts, as he tunes our attention, and refines our pondering – we will learn to commune with him deeper and deeper and be satisfied more and more.

Naturally, the question is “How do we start?”

I’m sure you already know how.

First through prayer. Prayers of dependence. And prayers which ask God to create in us a renewing mind, and heart which desires and matures.

Then, through diving in the deep strengthening teachings of Scripture. When do you read God’s Word to us? When do you dive into the depth of his love explained? What sources help illuminate your reading – so you see what you did not see at first? Who are your good teachers? And who are your conversational partners who help to strengthen and encourage your pursuit of wisdom? But the ultimate question is this: do you give priority to the Scriptures, so that you are formed and shaped in your thinking?

All of this, so we may praise our God, who came – as the embodiment of wisdom – to reveal to us the wisdom of the cross. That is, the wisdom of our suffering servant who is the righteous dying for the unrighteous, to bring us to God (1 Peter 3:18).

Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Alex Poon

2023.01.07/.08

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

 願我們在新的一年追求智慧，在心靈和思想行為上對我們的救主基督有更深的認識，成為一個越來越成熟的基督徒。

箴言9:10 「敬畏耶和華是智慧的開端」。智慧就是愛主，生活和行事為人要討主喜悅，這是需要學習的功課。

使徒保羅在提摩太後書2:1-2 寫信給他的門徒提摩太…

「所以，我兒啊，你應當在基督耶穌的恩典裡剛強起來，又應當把你在許多見證人面前從我這裡聽見的，交託給那些又忠心又能夠教導別人的人。」

然後，他在3:14-17 繼續…

「你應當遵守所學和確信的；你知道是跟誰學的，並且知道自己從小就明白聖經，這聖經能夠使你有智慧，可以因信基督耶穌得著救恩。全部聖經都是神所默示的，在教訓、責備、矯正和公義的訓練各方面，都是有益的，為要使屬神的人裝備好，可以完成各樣的善工。」

按經文教導：剛強的源頭首先是在基督耶穌裡的恩典，第二個是學習，「繼續你所學到的和堅信的」。而這樣學習的源頭是聖經的教導－聖經是神所默示的，在各方面都是好的。裝備各樣善工都是有益的。

至於我們，作為成長中神的兒女，要渴慕神，認定祂是萬有之主，並且心靈和思想行為要在祂裡面不斷地成長。隨著我們對神有更深入的認識，我們也加深對祂的經歷，祂會激發我們的思想，調整我們的專注力，煉淨我們的思考，當我們學會越深入地與祂交流，我們就越得到滿足。

好自然就會問「我們如何開始？」，我相信你已經知道怎樣做了。

首先是禱告，就是倚靠神的祈禱，祈求神更新我們的心思意念，賜我們渴慕神成長的心。然後，深入研讀聖經的教導。你什麼時候閱讀聖經？你什麼時候感受到祂的愛的長闊高深？有那些資源幫助你明白，讓你看到你最初沒有看到的東西？誰是你的好老師？誰是幫助你加強和鼓勵你追求智慧的夥伴？但最終的問題是：你有否把聖經放在首位，以致你的思想行為被祂塑造？

所有的一切，讓我們讚美我們的神，耶穌基督，智慧的化身，祂向我們展示十字架的智慧，也就是“我們受苦的僕人的智慧，就是義的代替不義的，為要領你們到神面前。（彼得前書3:18）

主僕
潘啟華傳道

September 10/11, 2022

From the Pastor’s Desk:Pastor Alex Poon

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

Growing up, I always had to remind myself that the “new year” didn’t start in September, it starts in January… but it just feels like the Fall holds much more significance.

Because September brings news backpacks, new pencils, new notebooks… new teachers, new schedules, new friends, and potentially even new schools.

The launch of a new academic year is an intimidating process – for both students and their families. The countdown begins in mid-August, as students make the realization that school is just around the corner. It’s a mental battle at that point – preparing for all the adjustments that will come. Then the big day finally arrives. New hallways are wandered, new classrooms are soaked in, new syllabi are handed out – and at some point, or another on that first day – students feel either a rush of excitement… or they make a wish that time would somehow rewind back to the summer. Do you remember that feeling? I imagine that’s what a lot of our students faced this week as classes began.

For us who have left this stage of life behind; how can we lift up our students in prayer?

Here are a couple suggestions:

1. Gospel Joy

We need the joy of the Gospel every day. Pray this for all you know.

We need continual assurance that our sins are forgiven because of Christ, that our God is for us and not against us, that we are destined not for wrath but for everlasting joy – all because of the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. Pray for belief and faith.

Our Living God is with us in every new moment, we are in His presence – and our relationship with Him even gives us a purpose in vocation, a hope for today’s trials, and a heart of thanksgiving that renews each morning.

2. Sacrificial Love

At some point or another, our students will come across a situation where they will be asked to lay down their desires – to love on another. Love will require sacrifice, time, effort – even inconvenience.

Will our students notice the peer who is struggling? Will they say the “unpopular” thing and stand up for someone who is neglected, cast away and dejected?

Will our students love God, even with their schedules?

Will families prioritize Christ, over a pursuit of achievements?

We need a fresh reminder that it is God who schedules our day. “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that”. For our “lives are like a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (James 4:13-17).

Let’s keep our eyes fixed on our God who sends us into these places of training and equipping. It is He who helps us marvel at His creation through tools and technology, through formulas and pondering thoughts. And by His wonderful grace, He leads us into a vocational path that honors Him, with all the abilities He gifts. And by His side, abiding in His will – we will find our satisfaction in yesterday’s work, our contentment for today and a joy for tomorrow’s new adventures.

Join us in prayer:

Our Lord God, we surrender our students to you. They are beautiful and a delight in your eyes. Each of them is special, unique, and wonderfully made. Our students will face trials each day – may their “soul cling to you, may your right hand uphold” them (Psalm 63:8). May this academic year be glorifying to you – we long for stories of students turning to you in wonder, students finding their purposes in you, and families adoring you as one. Let us, your Church, love our students well – in discipleship, and through prayer. This we pray in your precious name, Amen.

Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Alex Poon

2022.09.10/11

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

在我的成長過程中，我需要常常提醒自己，“新的一年”是從一月開始，不是九月， 可是秋季總是給我們很特別的意義。

在九月開學的時候，我們可能會有新書包、新鉛筆、新筆記本等，還有新老師、新日程、新朋友，甚至可能是新學校。

新學年的開始，對學生和家長們來說，可以是具有挑戰的。其實從8月中我們就可能開始倒數，因為知道開課的日子指日可待。這是一場心理戰－要為了各方面的改變做好準備，然後大日子終於到臨。學生們都擠擁在新的走廊，新的課室，老師分發新的教學大綱等，這一切都會令人感到一陣興奮；或者會有一刻幻想，希望時間能重回到暑假。你還記得那種感覺嗎？我想這就是本週開課時我們的許多學生所面對的問題。

對於已經離開這個階段的我們來說；我們該怎樣用禱告鼓勵我們的學生呢？

這裡有幾個建議：

1. 從福音中獲得喜樂

我們每天都需要從福音中獲得喜樂。請你為你所認識的學生們祈禱。

從福音中獲得喜樂就是因為我們確信罪因基督而被赦免，上帝是我們的幫助，我們不需要活在恐懼中，而是為了要能夠獲得永恆的喜樂而感恩。這一切都是因為我們的主耶穌已經從死裡復活，勝過死亡。為這些學生們的信心禱告。

我們的神每一刻都與我們同在。就是因為我們與祂的關係，驅使我們的人生有了一個新的目標。為今天所面對的試煉帶來希望，並且在每天清晨讓我們以感恩的心開始。

2. 犧牲的愛

在某些時候，我們都可能會遇到一些情況，就是要為了別人的益處而放下自己的利益。愛是需要犧牲、時間和努力；甚至在很多時候，會為我們帶來不便。當這些我們所認識的學生注意到正在掙扎的同伴的時候，他們會否說出一些“不受歡迎”的話，卻又是符合聖經真理，又或者會否為了那些被拋棄和厭棄的人挺身而出呢？

我們的學生會愛上帝嗎，即使他們的日程被安排得滿滿？

家庭會以基督為首位，而不是追求屬世的成就嗎？

我們需要一個被提醒，就是上帝掌握我們的日程。還記得聖經中：“你們說：「今天或明天，我們要到某城去，在那裡住一年，作生意賺錢。」其實明天怎樣，你們並不知道。你們的生命是甚麼呢？你們本來是過眼雲煙，轉瞬之間就消逝了。你們倒不如說：「主若願意，我們就可以活著，作這事或作那事。」”（雅各書4:13-17）。

讓我們定睛在神的身上，祂要鍛練和裝備我們。透過各樣的工具和技術來讓我們驚嘆祂的創造。憑藉祂奇妙的恩典，並賦予我們的恩賜，帶我們走上一條榮耀祂的道路。讓我們在主身旁並遵行祂的旨意，就會在昨天的工作中找到滿足，並對今天所面對的一切感到穩妥和帶著喜悅來面對明天的挑戰。

請你與我們一同禱告：

我們的主，我們將所認識的學生交給祢。他們在祢眼中是如此美麗和可愛的，每一個人都是獨特的，是祢奇妙的創造。我們的學生每天都會面臨考驗，願他們的心「緊緊追隨祢，祢的右手扶持他們。」（詩篇63:8）。願這個學年他們能夠為祢帶來榮耀，我們期盼他們轉向祢，明白在主裡是他們唯一的目標，以致他們的家庭也因此同心敬拜祢。讓我們列宣家透過不同的方法來好好愛我們的學生。我們的禱告是奉主寶貴的名祈求，阿門。

主僕
潘啟華傳道

May 7/8, 2022

From the Pastor’s Desk: Pastor Alex Poon

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

Have you ever been on a long drive? It’s wonderful, of course for those of us who aren’t affected by motion sickness.

Going on long drives reminds me of James’ exhortation for the Church. “Be doers of the Word, and not just hearers only” (James 1:22).

How do we become doers of the Word? First, it involves the deep and consistent work of understanding the Word of God. Before we may respond to Scriptures, our minds must first comprehend the Scriptures.

And to do this, long journeys in a car remind me of three similarities between a road trip and meditating on God’s Word to us.

Both, ask us to (1) slow down to soak in the scenery, (2) be intelligent to understand the task at hand, (3) grow in patience, so we may find joy.

Slow down and soak in the scenery.

Slow down on your road trip so you may shift your gaze from not only what is in front of you – but all around you. Like a drive through the deep forest – did you see that birds nest way up high? Did you notice the bright sun in how its light hit the treetops?

Slow down as you receive the Word of God. Scriptures doesn’t only give us words of comfort, or the words we are longing to hear… it gives us an argument, a reasoning, a logic – how can we understand the train of thought when we don’t take time to ponder?

Did you notice the nuance of the Biblical authors, in how they used the most descriptive expressions to call attention to this one specific aspect of our glorious Creator? Did you see the fine-tuned word that is written to tune our hearts to His? Did you pace yourself – just enough – to see the majestic detail hidden in the author’s language?

Did you give yourself time to admire, to be mesmerized, so that your heart may be moved?

Be intelligent to understand the task at hand.

The pathway towards worship in our hearts begins first with our minds.

On the Emmaus Road, when Jesus finally revealed himself to those he was walking with, the men asked each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us?” (Luke 24:32). Every disciple of Jesus wants to feel something with God. And to light their hearts ablaze; Jesus opened the Scriptures to them, interpreting it all for them. Their touched hearts started first with their minds.

So, follow the logic behind each thought. Bring your intelligence into the task of reading Scriptures, and let the reason evoke your mind.

Grow in patience so we may find joy.

Patience is a virtue we all need. When we prayerfully and thoughtfully take lingering step after step towards the heart of God, we will know what He says to us, and how He says it.

And with the aiding of the indwelling Spirit who proclaims the truth of God to us, we will feel His presence so near to us, and joy in worship will arise.

His Servant
Pastor Alex Poon

2022.05.07/08

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

你曾否試過長途駕駛？對於那些不受暈車浪影響的人來說，過程是精彩的。

長途駕駛讓我想起雅各對教會的勸勉。“你們應該作行道的人，不要單作聽道的人”（雅各書1:22）。

我們如何成為行道的人？首先，需要努力不懈和深入理解神的話語。在回應前，必須首先要領會經文如何對我們說話。

長途駕車就讓我想起駕駛和默想上帝的話語之間的三個相似之處。

（1）放慢腳步享受沿途風景；（2）敏銳並領受；（3）並有耐性，透過過程找到喜樂。

放慢腳步享受沿途風景
駕駛的時候，你會留意到四周圍的事物嗎？穿過茂密的森林的時候－你會否看到在樹上的鳥巢？或者是燦爛的陽光照射到樹梢上？
聖經不僅給我們安慰的說話，或是我們渴望聽到的說話……神的話語可能會給予我們一個論據，一個論證，一個邏輯－如果不用心思考，不能心神領會？
聖經作者會運用不同的表達，希望我們體會神的心意？我們有留意到嗎？
我們有否用時間去欣賞，以至自己的心被感動？

敏銳並領受
我們敬拜的心首先始於我們的心思意念。
在以馬忤斯路上，當耶穌最終向與眾人顯現時，他們彼此說：“我們的心不是火熱的嗎？” （路加福音24:32）。我們有否有這種敏銳的心呢？我們需要全人的投入，才能夠感受。

並有耐性，透過過程找到喜樂
耐性是我們都需要具備的美德。當我們全心全意一步一步地走向上帝的時候，我們就會知道祂向我們說什麼，和如何對我們說。
同一時間，聖靈會幫助我們，明白神的真理。當我們慢下腳步，全人投入，並有耐性去讀神的話語的時候，我們一定會感受到神親密的與我們同在。也因為有了這種感受，我們的敬拜就會體會一種喜樂。

你想要體會這種關係嗎？你需要（1）放慢腳步，（2）敏銳並領受（3）並有耐性。願神祝福你。

主僕
潘啟華傳道

2022.01.15/16
From the Pastor’s Desk: Pastor Alex Poon

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

In Matthew 26 Jesus, after falling on his face in prayer, praying words that never cease to amaze us, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will”, found his disciples sleeping.

He said to Peter, “… the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41b)

In one sense or another, you may find yourself weak these days. And that’s ok. Sometimes we get up in the morning finding ourselves just in a bit of a sour mood. We wonder why. It wasn’t like the previous evening was eventful in that there was anything to upset us. You might even think to yourself that there isn’t one particular issue in your life that is causing you great stress. Or there might be. There might be something causing you to wake up in anxiousness, or as the saying goes, “on the wrong side of bed”. Sad to say, but that reality is ok too.

How does our Lord Jesus invite us to respond?

He went and fell on his face in prayer when the most trying moment of his life was just around the corner. And then he showed understanding to his disciples when he found them asleep – even if their spirit was willing, their flesh was weak.

And then Jesus went and prayed a common prayer familiar to all of God’s people, “your will be done.”

The point is this; consider, on the days where you want to pray but find it difficult to pray, to pray the words gifted to us by God and the inspired authors.

Consider praying the common words of God’s people.

Consider finding the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6 and praying as he teaches us to. Consider opening the book of Psalms to allow the Biblical authors to usher us into seeking God in all circumstances.

You see, in God’s loving heart of compassion; He knows His children need Him. He knows that for those children who depend on Him, our hearts are longing to cry out to Him – but sometimes we just don’t have the words to muster up. And so, He left us with some.

In particular seasons we will experience tiredness, despair and indifference and we’re assured that without exception we’re all going to experience seasons where prayer is dry and honestly really challenging.

And so, it’s like God has left us with handrails to grip onto so that we might know how to pray and what to pray.

Know this; prayer doesn’t have to be full of enthusiasm and passion, but sometimes it will feel like a challenge of enduring stamina.

Keep praying and may you long to pray, still.

Our Lord inclines his ears to us, to hear our every word and cry. And He understands both the joy and longing that fills our hearts.

When the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. When we are falling on our face about to enter into a deep darkness, our Lord Jesus invites us to lean into the words that keep us tuned to Him.

Let us follow Him, let us pray together,
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. (Matthew 6:9-13 ESV)
For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Alex Poon

2022.01.15/16
作者:潘啟華傳道                                  

列宣家親愛的弟兄弟姊妹：

馬太福音26 章39-40節述說耶穌俯伏在地上禱告後，回頭卻看見祂的門徒睡著了。祂禱告說：“我的父啊，可能的話，求你使這杯離開我；但不要照我的意思，只要照你的旨意”。一個我們驚嘆不已的禱告。

祂對彼得說：“……你們心靈雖然願意，肉體卻是軟弱。”（馬太福音26:41b）

從某程度來上說，當下這些日子你可能會發覺自己精神不振。不要緊；偶爾我們早上起床發覺自己心情有點低落，我們都莫明其妙？是否前一天晚上太多事情煩擾，令我們感到不安。甚至可能會問自己，我的生活沒有甚麼特別的問題會給我帶來巨大的壓力。又或者，一覺醒來發覺自己非常焦慮。無論如何，現實就是如此。

我們的主耶穌邀請我們如何回應？

當主耶穌在祂生命中最艱難的時刻即將到來時，祂俯伏在地上祈禱。然後，當祂發現門徒睡著時，祂向他們表示理解－你們心靈雖然願意，肉體卻是軟弱。

隨後耶穌再次走開去禱告，一個神子民耳熟能詳的禱告：“願你的旨意成全”。

重點是，當你想祈禱但發覺難以祈禱的時候，嘗試用上帝已經賜予我們和默示給作者的話來祈禱。參考上帝子民常用的話語禱告。參考馬太福音六章中的主禱文，按照主耶穌教導我們的方式祈禱。又或者打開詩篇，讓聖經作者引導我們在任何情況下尋求上帝。

上帝慈憐的愛心，祂知道祂的孩子需要祂。祂知道我們那些信靠祂的孩子，我們的心渴望向祂呼求－我們卻不曉得如何開口說話。所以，祂給我們留下了一些話語。

在某些日子裡，我們感到疲乏、絕望和不安；我們會經歷心靈乾涸，缺乏力量去祈禱。因此，上帝給我們留下了幫助，教導我們如何禱告。要知道祈禱不一定是滿腔熱情和激動，反而感覺像是持久耐力的挑戰。不住禱告，願我們仍然渴望禱告。

我們的主耶穌在聆聽我們的每一句說話和呼求。祂明白喜悅和盼望充滿我們的內心。當我們心靈願意，肉體卻是軟弱，當我們落在深邃的黑暗裡，我們的主耶穌邀請我們靠著祂的話語與祂同行。讓我們一起跟隨祂，我們一起禱告。

“我們在天上的父，願你的名被尊為聖，願你的國降臨，願你的旨意成就在地上，如同在天上一樣。我們每天所需的食物，求你今天賜給我們；赦免我們的罪債，好像我們饒恕了得罪我們的人；不要讓我們陷入試探，救我們脫離那惡者。(太6:9-13新譯本)。因為國度、權柄、榮耀，全是你的，直到永遠。阿們”

主僕,
潘啟華傳道