禁食與禱告Prayer & fasting

從一頓飯、一句話開始。Begin with one meal, one sentence.

禱告與禁食在聖經裡從不是屬靈高手的專利。它們是給疲乏的人、給說不出話的人、給不知道還能做什麼的人的。這一頁盡量寫得實際，也盡量寫得誠實。In Scripture, prayer and fasting were never the preserve of spiritual experts. They are for the exhausted, the speechless, and those out of ideas. This page tries to be practical, and tries to be honest.

健康優先。若你正服藥、懷孕或哺乳、患有糖尿病或其他慢性病、體重過輕，或曾有飲食失調的經歷，請先諮詢醫生，或改以其他方式禁食（例如停用社交媒體、停止某項消費）。聖經從不要求你以健康作為獻祭。

Health comes first. If you take medication, are pregnant or nursing, live with diabetes or another chronic condition, are underweight, or have any history of an eating disorder, speak with a doctor first — or fast from something else entirely, such as social media or spending. Scripture never asks you to sacrifice your health.

禁食是什麼，不是什麼What Fasting Is — And Is Not What Fasting Is — And Is Not

禁食不是絕食抗議，也不是換取答案的交易。以賽亞書五十八章把神所揀選的禁食定義為：鬆開凶惡的繩、解下軛上的索、把餅分給飢餓的人。換句話說，一場真正的禁食會改變你如何對待別人。若禁食只讓你更屬靈、卻沒有讓你更溫柔，那就走錯了方向。

Fasting is not a hunger strike, nor a transaction that buys an answer. Isaiah 58 defines the fast God chooses as loosing the bands of wickedness, undoing heavy burdens, sharing bread with the hungry. A real fast changes how you treat people. If it makes you more spiritual but not more gentle, you have taken a wrong turn.

以賽亞書 58:6-8Isaiah 58:6-8

我所揀選的禁食不是要鬆開凶惡的繩，解下軛上的索，使被欺壓的得自由，折斷一切的軛麼？不是要把你的餅分給飢餓的人，將飄流的窮人接到你家中，見赤身的給他衣服遮體，顧恤自己的骨肉而不掩藏麼？這樣，你的光就必發現如早晨的光，你所得的醫治要速速發明。你的公義必在你前面行；耶和華的榮光必作你的後盾。

“Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to release the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Isn’t it to distribute your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor who are cast out to your house? When you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you not hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light will break out as the morning, and your healing will appear quickly; then your righteousness shall go before you; and Yahweh’s glory will be your rear guard.

馬太福音 6:16-18Matthew 6:16-18

你們禁食的時候，不可像那假冒為善的人，臉上帶著愁容；因為他們把臉弄得難看，故意叫人看出他們是禁食。我實在告訴你們，他們已經得了他們的賞賜。你禁食的時候，要梳頭洗臉，不叫人看出你禁食來，只叫你暗中的父看見；你父在暗中察看，必然報答你。

“Moreover when you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face; so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

約珥書 2:12-13Joel 2:12-13

耶和華說：雖然如此，你們應當禁食、哭泣、悲哀，一心歸向我。你們要撕裂心腸，不撕裂衣服。歸向耶和華 ─ 你們的神；因為他有恩典，有憐憫，不輕易發怒，有豐盛的慈愛，並且後悔不降所說的災。

“Yet even now,” says Yahweh, “turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.” Tear your heart, and not your garments, and turn to Yahweh, your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and relents from sending calamity.

如何開始：一份謹慎的實踐指引How to Begin: A Careful Practice How to Begin: A Careful Practice

從小處開始，而不是從壯舉開始。第一步可以只是一餐，把那段時間用來安靜與禱告。多喝水。若你正服藥、懷孕、哺乳、患糖尿病或飲食失調史，請先諮詢醫生——聖經從不要求你以健康作為獻祭。禁食的重點不是空腹，而是騰出來的那段時間。

Begin small, not heroically. The first step can be a single meal, with that time given to silence and prayer. Drink water. If you take medication, are pregnant or nursing, live with diabetes, or have any history of an eating disorder, speak to a doctor first — Scripture never asks you to sacrifice your health. The point is not the empty stomach but the emptied hour.

馬太福音 4:1-2Matthew 4:1-2

當時，耶穌被聖靈引到曠野，受魔鬼的試探。他禁食四十晝夜，後來就餓了。

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward.

以斯帖記 4:16Esther 4:16

「你當去招聚書珊城所有的猶大人，為我禁食三晝三夜，不吃不喝；我和我的宮女也要這樣禁食。然後我違例進去見王，我若死就死吧！」

“Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day. I and my maidens will also fast the same way. Then I will go in to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.”

但以理書 9:3Daniel 9:3

我便禁食，披麻蒙灰，定意向主神祈禱懇求。

I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and petitions, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.

尼希米記 1:4Nehemiah 1:4

我聽見這話，就坐下哭泣，悲哀幾日，在天上的神面前禁食祈禱，說：

When I heard these words, I sat down and wept, and mourned several days; and I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven,

當你不知道怎麼禱告When You Do Not Know How to Pray When You Do Not Know How to Pray

耶穌對禱告的第一項指示是關於態度，不是技巧：進你的內屋，關上門，不要用許多重複話。禱告不需要漂亮。四個簡單的動作可以開始：說出實情、承認過失、為別人求、然後安靜地聽。若你連話都說不出來，聖經說聖靈會用說不出來的嘆息代替你祈求。

Jesus’ first instruction about prayer concerns posture, not technique: go into your room, shut the door, do not heap up words. Prayer does not have to be beautiful. Four simple movements are enough to begin — tell the truth, name what you got wrong, ask for someone else, then be quiet and listen. And if no words come at all, Scripture says the Spirit intercedes with groanings that cannot be uttered.

馬太福音 6:5-8Matthew 6:5-8

你們禱告的時候，不可像那假冒為善的人，愛站在會堂裡和十字路口上禱告，故意叫人看見。我實在告訴你們，他們已經得了他們的賞賜。你禱告的時候，要進你的內屋，關上門，禱告你在暗中的父；你父在暗中察看，必然報答你。你們禱告，不可像外邦人，用許多重複話，他們以為話多了必蒙垂聽。你們不可效法他們；因為你們沒有祈求以先，你們所需用的，你們的父早已知道了。

“When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward. But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. In praying, don’t use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking. Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him.

羅馬書 8:26Romans 8:26

況且我們的軟弱有聖靈幫助，我們本不曉得當怎樣禱告，只是聖靈親自用說不出來的歎息替我們禱告。

In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can’t be uttered.

帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:16-181 Thessalonians 5:16-18

要常常喜樂，不住的禱告，凡事謝恩；因為這是神在基督耶穌裡向你們所定的旨意。

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.

路加福音 18:1Luke 18:1

耶穌設一個比喻，是要人常常禱告，不可灰心。

He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not give up,

不要一個人：一起禱告的力量Do Not Do It Alone Do Not Do It Alone

雅各書把醫治與群體連在一起：互相認罪、互相代求。安提阿的教會是在一同禁食禱告時得著方向的。獨自的操練容易變成自我證明；有人同行，才有人扶你起來。

James ties healing to community: confess to one another, pray for one another. The church at Antioch received direction while fasting together. Solitary discipline easily becomes self-proving; it takes someone beside you to lift you up when you fall.

雅各書 5:16James 5:16

所以你們要彼此認罪，互相代求，使你們可以得醫治。義人祈禱所發的力量是大有功效的。

Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.

使徒行傳 13:2-3Acts 13:2-3

他們事奉主、禁食的時候，聖靈說：要為我分派巴拿巴和掃羅，去做我召他們所做的工。於是禁食禱告，按手在他們頭上，就打發他們去了。

As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them.” Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

傳道書 4:9-10Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

兩個人總比一個人好，因為二人勞碌同得美好的果效。若是跌倒，這人可以扶起他的同伴；若是孤身跌倒，沒有別人扶起他來，這人就有禍了。

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift him up.

詩篇 133:1Psalms 133:1

（大衛上行之詩。）看哪，弟兄和睦同居是何等地善，何等地美！

See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity!

當醫治沒有來When Healing Does Not Come When Healing Does Not Come

這一頁必須誠實地寫。保羅三次求主挪去他的刺，答案是「不」，換來的是「我的恩典夠你用的」。有些禱告在此生不會得著我們想要的答案。這不是信心不足的證據，也不表示神沒有聽。啟示錄的應許是：擦去眼淚的那一天必要來到——但它還沒有來，所以我們的哀哭仍然是合法的。

This page has to be written honestly. Paul asked three times for the thorn to be removed. The answer was no, and what came instead was grace sufficient for the day. Some prayers will not receive the answer we wanted in this life. That is not evidence of insufficient faith, nor proof that God did not hear. Revelation promises a day when tears are wiped away — but it has not come yet, and so our grieving is still legitimate.

哥林多後書 12:8-92 Corinthians 12:8-9

為這事，我三次求過主，叫這刺離開我。他對我說：我的恩典夠你用的，因為我的能力是在人的軟弱上顯得完全。所以，我更喜歡誇自己的軟弱，好叫基督的能力覆庇我。

Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me. He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.

詩篇 13:1-2Psalms 13:1-2

（大衛的詩，交與伶長。）耶和華啊，你忘記我要到幾時呢？要到永遠麼？你掩面不顧我要到幾時呢？我心裡籌算，終日愁苦，要到幾時呢？我的仇敵升高壓制我，要到幾時呢？

How long, Yahweh? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart every day? How long shall my enemy triumph over me?

哈巴谷書 3:17-18Habakkuk 3:17-18

雖然無花果樹不發旺，葡萄樹不結果，橄欖樹也不效力，田地不出糧食，圈中絕了羊，棚內也沒有牛；然而，我要因耶和華歡欣，因救我的神喜樂。

For though the fig tree doesn’t flourish, nor fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive fails, the fields yield no food; the flocks are cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in Yahweh. I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

啟示錄 21:4Revelation 21:4

神要擦去他們一切的眼淚；不再有死亡，也不再有悲哀、哭號、疼痛，因為以前的事都過去了。

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.”