Saturday, 24 October 2020
Title: May the Lord strengthen our hearts
By: Ps Johnson Chong

Psalm 57:7-8
7″ My heart, O God, is steadfast,
my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and make music.
8 Awake, my soul!
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.”

A believer may have no accomplishment and no progress in the spiritual life. The reason is that his heart is not fixed, and he harnesses two objectives, two preferences, two thoughts, and two desires in his mind and soul. He wanted to serve God, but he could not relinquish his monetary possession; he wanted to follow the Lord, but he could not leave his family. He held the plow in his hand but looked back. This kind of person can only set the foundation, but cannot finish a building, which is a joke.

There are many examples in the Bible. Lot was a righteous man but lived in Sodom. He was hurt every day but refused to leave. He was miserable even after he was retrieved by the angel. Aaron was not as staunch or stands as steadfast as his grandson, Phinehas, because of his attitude towards sin. Aaron would have perished without Moses’ intercession. The man of God from Judah was not determined to obey God’s command and was killed by a lion. Zedekiah was ashamed by failure because of fear and hesitation.

But in the Bible, we also see people who stood steadfast in their heart. Caleb was a man with a steadfast heart. He had been following God exclusively when he was old, never wavered, and received beautiful promises and inheritance. Ruth was a very determined woman, determined to follow her mother-in-law, without being shaken. Elisha was a determined man as well. He followed Elijah to the end, and he asked for abundant inspiration until he got it. Mordecai was a steadfast man. He never gave in to Haman, and he was glorified. Paul was a steadfast man and finished his race without hesitation.

God uses this pandemic to test our attitude of worship. In the past seven months or so, the pandemic has indeed endangered people’s lives and livelihoods globally. Christians also face challenges in church life. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, our faith has been shaken in one way or another, whether it is a tribulation in faith amid natural or man-made disasters. David belongs to God and he knew God intimately. Therefore, in times of difficulties, he took refuge in God for peace and steadiness.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, how about you and me? How can we stand steadfast in the Lord? The answer is faith and trust in our God. David strengthened himself in the Lord his God (1 Samuel 30:6). Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58). May the Lord renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, I want to thank you and praise you. We can see David’s faith stood steadfast when he faced many difficulties and dangers. Our merciful and loving God, we are full of hope in you. In every trough of our lives, you will give unexpected peace and blessings like running rivers in the desert. Through You, our hearts stand steadfast in Christ, we will not be shaken in all sufferings, we thank and praise you. We are to recognise our shortcomings in weakness, our faith strengthens in trusting You. Lord! Please strengthen us with supplications and thankful hearts, in the holy name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen !

每日灵粮
题目：求主叫我们的心坚定
作者：张胜牧师

詩篇57：7~8 “神阿，我心坚定，我心坚定。我要唱诗，我要歌颂。我的灵阿，你当醒起，琴瑟阿，你们当醒起。我自己要极早醒起。”

一个信徒可能一生毫无成就，在属灵的生命上没有长进，原因就是心不坚定，一直容让两个意思、两种喜好、两种思想和两种愿望在心里。他想事奉神，又舍不得玛门；想跟从主，又离不开家人；手扶着犁却向後看。这种人只能安了地基，却盖不成楼，令人笑话。

在圣经中不是没有这样的例子，罗得是个义人，却住在所多玛，他天天伤痛，却不肯离开，结果，虽然被天使拉出来了，却非常悲惨。亚伦就是因为对於罪恶的态度，不像他孙子非尼哈那样坚定，以致陷在大罪中，若不是摩西代祷，必遭灭亡。从犹大来的神人因为对遵守神的命令不坚定，以致被狮子咬死。西底家因为惧怕、犹豫不定，最终遭到失败的羞耻。

但在圣经中，我们也看到心里坚定的人，迦勒就是一个心里坚定的人，到老一直专一跟从神，绝不摇动，而得到美好的应许和产业。路得是非常坚定的女子，决心至死跟从婆母，不受任何摇动。以利沙又是一个坚定的人，他跟随以利亚到底，一定要求得加倍的灵感为止，他真的得到了。末底改更是一个坚定的人，他就是不向哈曼屈服，结果得到荣耀。保罗是一个坚定的人，他不以性命为念，直到行完路程。

神藉着这次的疫情考验我们对主敬拜的心态。过去的七个多月，疫情确实危及人们的生命和生计。疫情也为许多国家带来民不聊生的境遇，许多人在生活与生计上都面对困难，基督徒在教会生活上也一样面对挑战。亲爱的弟兄姊妹，无论是信仰上的患难，或是天灾人祸，我们的信心或多或少都受到动摇。大衛屬神，他更認識神，因此，在重重困難下，他投靠神，使他的心靈得安寧，堅定。亲爱的弟兄姊妹，你和我呢？

亲爱的弟兄姊妹，怎样才能心里坚定呢？那就是因着信心和倚靠神。大卫却倚靠耶和华他的神，心里坚固（撒上30：6）。所以我亲爱的弟兄们，你们务要坚固不可摇动，常常竭力多作主工，因为知道你们的劳苦，在主里面不是徒然的（林前15：58）。求主叫我们的心坚定。

祷告：
亲爱的天父，我要感谢和赞美你。我们看见大卫当他在面对重重困难和危险时，他的信心依然是那么坚定不移。慈爱的主，爱我们的神，在你里面满有盼望，你要在沙漠开江河，在我们人生的每个低谷，你都赐下出人意料的平安和祝福，你也使我们的心坚定在基督里面，在苦难面前不至动摇，我们唯有感谢和赞美你。在软弱中认识到自己的不足，信靠你的人信心却要增强，主啊！求你坚固我们的心。
祷告祈求和感谢, 奉主耶稣基督的圣名。阿门 !