June 20

"Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." (Isa. 30:21)

When we are in doubt or difficulty, when many voices urge this course or the other, when prudence¹ utters one advice and faith another, then let us be still, hushing each intruder, calming ourselves in the sacred hush² of God's presence; let us study His Word in the attitude of devout³ attention; let us lift up our nature into the pure light of His face, eager only to know what God the Lord shall determine--and ere long a very distinct impression will be made, the unmistakable forth-telling of His secret counsel.

It is not wise in the earlier stages of Christian⁴ life to depend on this alone, but to wait for the corroboration⁵ of circumstances. But those who have had many dealings with God know well the value of secret fellowship with Him, to ascertain⁶ His will.

Are you in difficulty about your way? Go to God with your question; get direction from the light of His smile or the cloud of His refusal.

If you will only get alone, where the lights and shadows of earth cannot interfere⁷, where human opinions fail to reach--and if you will dare to wait there silent and expectant, though all around you insist on immediate⁸ decision or action--the will of God will be made clear; and you will have a new conception of God, a deeper insight into His nature and heart of love, which shall be for yourself alone--a rapturous experience, to abide⁹ your precious perquisite¹⁰ forever, the rich guerdon of those long waiting hours. --David.

"STAND STILL," my soul, for so thy Lord commands:

E'en when thy way seems blocked, leave it in His wise hands;

His arm is mighty¹¹ to divide the wave.

"Stand still," my soul, "stand still" and thou shalt see

How God can work the "impossible" for thee,

For with a great deliverance He doth save.

Be not impatient, but in stillness stand,

Even when compassed 'round on every hand,

In ways thy spirit does not comprehend.

God cannot clear thy way till thou art still,

That He may work in thee His blessed will,

And all thy heart and will to Him do bend.

"BE STILL," my soul, for just as thou art still,

Can God reveal Himself to thee; until

Through thee His love and light and life can freely flow;

In stillness God can work through thee and reach

The souls around thee. He then through thee can teach

His lessons, and His power in weakness show.

"BE STILL"--a deeper step in faith and rest.

"Be still and know" thy Father knoweth best

The way to lead His child to that fair land,

A "summer" land, where quiet waters flow;

Where longing¹² souls are satisfied, and "know

Their God," and praise for all that He has planned.—Selected.

　 六月二十日

“你或向左或向右，你必听见后边有声音说，这是正路，要行在其间”（赛三十：21）。

　　当我们犹豫不决的时候，或者遭遇了什么困难的时候，有许多声音会来催促我们这样做，那样做；智慧会发表意见，信心也会发表意见；遇到这样的时候，我们就当安静下来，排除所有的意见静静地等候在神的面前。恭恭敬敬地把神的话寻思一回；专心仰望神的旨意——不久我们就会得到一个极清楚的声音，明明白白地告诉我们神机密的指导。

　　灵命幼稚的信徒，不当单独凭依这样的直觉来行事，最好还须等待环境的证实。与神多有交通的信徒，很容易知道神的旨意。

　　读者，你是不是正在困难的处境中？将你的问题带到神面前去；从他脸上的微笑或峻拒，你就可以找到你所要找的答案。

　　只要你肯独自安静在一个地方——人世间的光明和黑暗，一概接触不到的地方——人们的意见不能到达的地方——只要你敢在那里静静地等候着，不顾你四围一切的催促，那时神旨意就要向你显明；你对神就会有一种新的概念，对他的神性和爱心会有更深切的洞见，这会成了你极乐的经历——永久可宝贵的经历。你等待的时间虽长，至此也得到了丰富的酬报。——大卫

灵魂啊，要安静，这是神的命令，

即使前途封闭，还是信靠他的权柄。

他万能的臂可以把波浪分开。

要安定，灵魂啊，只要安定，

必见神为你使不可能为可能，

他大施拯救，使你得获全胜。

不要没有耐心，只管安稳站定，

即使你方向莫辨，无路可循，

神给你开路僻径，

先要你能安定，静如星辰，

然后他可以领导你，

一切心意归向万能的神。

灵魂哪，只要你安静，

神就会向你显出他的大能，

在安静中，他的爱和光，

还有他的生命，会在你里面运行，

直达你周围的人们，

传他的圣言，使弱者得胜。

要安定，踏入信与静的深处，

要安静，要知道你的天父，

最清楚带他子女上祝福的路，

那里常年如忧，清溪在悄悄奔流，

一切可以满足人们的渴慕，

知道天父，赞美他的一切爱护。

1 prudence   

n.谨慎，精明，节俭

参考例句：

• A lack of prudence may lead to financial problems.不够谨慎可能会导致财政上出现问题。
• The happy impute all their success to prudence or merit.幸运者都把他们的成功归因于谨慎或功德。

2 hush   

int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静

参考例句：

• A hush fell over the onlookers.旁观者们突然静了下来。
• Do hush up the scandal!不要把这丑事声张出去！

3 devout   

adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness)

参考例句：

• His devout Catholicism appeals to ordinary people.他对天主教的虔诚信仰感染了普通民众。
• The devout man prayed daily.那位虔诚的男士每天都祈祷。

4 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。

5 corroboration   

n.进一步的证实，进一步的证据

参考例句：

• Without corroboration from forensic tests,it will be difficult to prove that the suspect is guilty. 没有法医化验的确证就很难证明嫌疑犯有罪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Definitely more independent corroboration is necessary. 有必要更明确地进一步证实。 来自辞典例句

6 ascertain   

vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清

参考例句：

• It's difficult to ascertain the coal deposits.煤储量很难探明。
• We must ascertain the responsibility in light of different situtations.我们必须根据不同情况判定责任。

7 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

8 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

9 abide   

vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受

参考例句：

• You must abide by the results of your mistakes.你必须承担你的错误所造成的后果。
• If you join the club,you have to abide by its rules.如果你参加俱乐部，你就得遵守它的规章。

10 perquisite   

n.固定津贴，福利

参考例句：

• Perquisites include the use of the company car.福利包括可以使用公司的汽车。
• Politics in Britain used to be the perquisite of the property-owning classes.英国的政治以往是有产阶级的特权。

11 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

12 longing   

n.（for）渴望

参考例句：

• Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
• His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。