June 16

"My expectation is from him." (Psalm 62:5)

Our too general neglect of looking for answers to what we ask, shows how little we are in earnest in our petitions. A husbandman is not content without the harvest; a marksman will observe whether the ball hits the target; a physician watches the effect of the medicine which he gives; and shall the Christian¹ be careless about the effect of his labor²?

Every prayer of the Christian, made in faith, according to the will of God, for which God has promised, offered up in the name of Jesus Christ, and under the influence of the Spirit, whether for temporal or for spiritual blessings³, is, or will be, fully⁴ answered.

God always answers the general design and intention of His people's prayers, in doing that which, all things considered, is most for His own glory and their spiritual and eternal welfare. As we never find that Jesus Christ rejected a single supplicant⁵ who came to Him for mercy, so we believe that no prayer made in His name will be in vain.

The answer to prayer may be approaching, though we discern not its coming. The seed that lies under ground in winter is taking root in order to a spring and harvest, though it appears not above ground, but seems dead and lost. --Bickersteth.

Delayed answers to prayer are not only trials of faith, but they give us opportunities of honoring God by our steadfast⁶ confidence in Him under apparent repulses⁷. --C. H. Spurgeon.

　 六月十六日

“我的盼望是从他而来”（诗六十二：5）。

　　我们祷告了以后，常不关心神的答应是否来到，这就表明我们的祷告并不诚恳。农夫的注意力集中于收获，医生的注意力集中于药的功效；一个祷告的基督徒岂可漠然不关心神的答应呢？

　基督徒每一次的祷告，若有信心，符合神的旨意和应许，奉主名祈求，无有不被神答应的。

　　神答应我们的祷告，有两个分不开的目的：荣耀自己的名和祝福他的儿女。当初人到主面前来求怜悯，他从未拒绝过；今天奉他的名到神前来，也决不会被拒绝的。

　　祷告的答应或许就要来了，虽然我们看不见它的来到。种子埋在土中伸根，在上面看来，一点没有动静，好似死了一般。——别克司蒂

　　祷告的答应耽延，不单是信心的试炼，也是我们用坚信来尊重神的机会。——司布真

1 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

2 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

3 blessings   

n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福

参考例句：

• Afflictions are sometimes blessings in disguise. 塞翁失马，焉知非福。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We don't rely on blessings from Heaven. 我们不靠老天保佑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

5 supplicant   

adj.恳求的n.恳求者

参考例句：

• Her rendering of it fell somewhere between that of teacher and supplicant. 她表达这首诗的方式是介乎教学和祈求之间。 来自英汉文学 - 廊桥遗梦
• He flung himself down in the flat submissive posture of a mere supplicant. 他以一个卑微的哀求者绝对谦恭的姿态猛地趴在地上。 来自辞典例句

6 steadfast   

adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的

参考例句：

• Her steadfast belief never left her for one moment.她坚定的信仰从未动摇过。
• He succeeded in his studies by dint of steadfast application.由于坚持不懈的努力他获得了学业上的成功。

7 repulses   

v.击退( repulse的第三人称单数 )；驳斥；拒绝

参考例句：