问题38：什么是祷告？
答：祷告就是用赞美、祈求、认罪和感恩向神倾心吐意。
儿童版：祷告就是向神倾心吐意。

Question 38: What is Prayer?
Answer: Prayer is pouring out our hearts to God in praise, petition, confession of sin, and thanksgiving.
For Kids: Prayer is pouring out our hearts to God.


歌谱 Lead Sheet

经文

《诗篇》62 篇8 节：

你们众民当时时倚靠祂，
在祂面前倾心吐意。
神是我们的避难所。

注解

亚伯拉罕·布斯

　　你灵魂的敌人是顽固、狡猾、强有力的，而你灵命的基础是不稳固的，你需要一直记住这一点，以时刻保持清醒。为了谨慎行事，警醒祷告是更可取也是很有必要的，免得你入了迷惑。你应当永远记住自己是软弱的和不足的，这些都会在我们的行为上体现出来。只要你还在地上活着，你本性中的败坏就是永远伴随着你的敌人，它强烈地倾向于每一个来自外界的新的诱惑，所以你要「保守你的心，胜过保守一切。」省察，竭力地省察它所有的想象、动机和倾向。在你执行你内心的任何意图之前，先思考这个意图从哪里来，又倾向于哪里。因为「心中自是的，便是愚昧人」，这是人心最高形式的欺骗。他不知道自己很危险，也不关心自己最大的福祉。活着，并且要活在施恩的宝座前，别离开，直到危险远离；为此，每一个神的孩子都应尽可能多地带着谦卑与热忱来到施恩宝座前屈膝恳求。可以肯定的是，我们越看到对手的强大和自己处境的危险，我们就越应该在迫切的祈祷中操练自己。基督徒啊，当世界、肉体和魔鬼都在毫不留情、不知疲倦地与你为敌时，你还能冷静，无动于衷吗？还会傻傻的，漠不关心吗？

默想

约翰·派博

　　祷告是顺着圣灵而行，是凭着信心行事为人的方式。换句话说，这是基督徒生命的呼吸。一整天吸气进去，呼气出来，这是你生活的方式。

　　所以我要以要理问答中的四个元素向你说明，告诉你我如何使用祷告来面对生命中的所有挑战。我向你保证，在你生命中的任何时刻、面对任何情景，只要你感受到我现在需要帮助，你就可以用这四个元素来祷告。

　　我用这次对要理问答的影片拍摄为例。几分钟以前，我不确定我能不能做到，我能不能记住我要说的，我会不会不停地拍打自己的脚结果破坏了音效。然后我在那个时刻，向神承认我的需要。我说：「主啊，我是个罪人，我不配得你的帮助，但我需要祢的帮助。没有祢，我不能做任何事情。」这就是认罪的部分。

　　认罪后我接着祈求，「主啊，请帮助我，我需要好记性，我需要好的表达能力，我需要好的精神，我需要更谦卑，我需要看镜头，我需要这一切。我想帮助我的听众，但我自己没有办法做到这一切，请帮助我。」我呼求帮助，这就是祈求。

　　然后，我抓住与我所祈求的有关的应许，这些应许值得赞美和信靠。比如神说：「我会帮助你，我会加添你力量，我会用我胜利的右手托住你。」（赛41:10）我抓住这些大能、爱、怜悯的应许；我信靠这些应许，并且赞美神：「主，唯有祢能够帮助我，我相信祢会帮助我，感谢祢愿意帮助我！」这就是赞美。

　　然后我把我的拍摄过程都交托给祂，相信祂。拍完影片之后我会感谢祂。这就是感恩。
这就是要理问答中关于祷告的四个关键词。

　　我建议你在人生中持续不断向主坦承你的所需：「我需要祢，我做不到应该要做的事。」

　　呼喊并请求：「帮助我！」

　　相信和赞美神的应许，因为祂有恩典，有能力，有智慧。

　　当神帮助了你，就像这段视频拍完了。匍匐在地对主说：谢谢！

　　这就是基督徒生命属灵呼吸的旋律。

祷告

　　我们伟大的避难所，谢谢祢叫我们祷告。祢离我们并不远，祢就在我们身边，当我们祷告时，祢垂听我们的祈祷。求祢让我们不住地向祢倾心吐意。让我们的祷告没有诡诈，让我们带着真实的自己来到祢的施恩宝座前。阿们。

Scripture

PSALM 62:8

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

Commentary

ABRAHAM BOOTH

As the enemies of your soul are inveterate, subtle, and powerful, and your spiritual frames inconstant, it is highly necessary you should live under a continual remembrance of those awakening considerations. What more advisable, what so necessary for you, as to walk circumspectly; to watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation? A sense of your own weakness and insufficiency, should ever abide on your mind and appear in your conduct. As the corruption of nature is an enemy that is always near you, and always in you, while on earth; and as it is very strongly disposed to second every temptation from without; you should “keep your heart with all diligence.” Watch, diligently watch, over all its imaginations, motions, and tendencies. Consider whence they arise and to what they incline, before you execute any of the purposes formed in it. For such is the superlative deceitfulness of the human heart, “that he who trusteth in it is a fool,” ignorant of his danger, and unmindful of his best interests. This consideration should cause every child of God to bend the suppliant knee, with the utmost frequency, humility, and fervour: to live, as it were, at the throne of grace; nor depart thence till far from the reach of danger. Certain it is, that the more we see of the strength of our adversaries and of the danger we are in from them, the more shall we exercise ourselves in fervent prayer. Can you, O Christian, be cool and indifferent, be dull and careless, when the world, the flesh, and the devil are your implacable and unwearied opposers?

Devotional

JOHN PIPER

Prayer is the way you walk by the Spirit. Prayer is the way you walk by faith. In other words, it’s the breath of the Christian life all day long. Just breathe in, breathe out. It’s the way you live.

Let me illustrate for you with four elements from the catechism: confession, petition, praise, and thanks. I’m commending to you that any time you face any situation when you feel I need help here, you do it by prayer using these four elements.

Suppose I have to speak in front of a group, and I am nervous (you can pick your particular challenge). As the moment approaches, I wonder, “Am I going to be able to do this? Will I remember what I have to say? Will I make a fool of myself?” And at that moment I confess my need to God. I say, “Lord, I’m a sinner. I don’t deserve your help, but I need your help. I can’t do anything without you.” That’s the confession step of prayer.

And then I turn my confession to petition. “Lord, please help me. I need memory. I need articulation. I need the right spirit. I need humility. I need to look the people in the eye. I need all these things. I want to be helpful to my listeners. But I don’t have it in me to be all that they need. Help me.” That’s the petition step of prayer. A cry for help.

And then I need to reach out and take hold of something about God that will be worthy of my praise and worthy of my trust. Like God says, “I’ll strengthen you. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you up with my victorious right hand” (see Isa. 41:10). I take hold of that promise, that power, that love, that mercy, and I hold onto it. And I trust him and praise him. “You, oh Lord, can help me. I trust you to help me. I praise you for being the kind of God who is willing and able to help me!” That’s the trust and praise step of prayer.

Then I give my talk, trusting him. And when I am done, no matter what, I thank him. Since I trusted him for his help, I believe that he is going to use my effort, no matter how well I think I did. “Thank you, Lord!” That is the thanks step of prayer.

There they are—four key words from the catechism.

First, continually confess your need to the Lord. “I need you.”

Second, cry out in petition. “Help me.”

Third, lay hold of God’s promises with trust and praise for his
ability to fulfill them.

And then when he helps you, go on your face and say, “Thank you.”

That’s the rhythm and the breath of the Christian life.

Prayer

Our Great Refuge, thank you for calling us to prayer. You are not far away; you are near, and you hear us when we pray. Let us pour out our hearts to you without ceasing. Let us pray without guile, bringing our true selves before your throne of grace. Amen.