〈民数记〉 30:2 人若向耶和华许愿或起誓，要约束自己，就不可食言，必要按口中所出的一切话行
过年时大家最喜欢许愿或立志，不知道时至今日，你所许的愿或立下的志可否有实行了？我立下一个志愿，今年每一天都要先写完功课再玩游戏，或看电影，到目前为止，嗯，失败的时日居多。
许愿或立志的实行关键在于「要约束自己」，才不会食言，才有可能按口中所出的一切话行。「约束自己」，不是一件容易的事。例如减肥，大家都知道只要吃得健康，加上运动就可以了。胖的原因就是热量进得多，消耗得少，自然增磅；只要消耗的热量比进食的热量多，自然减肥。但是能约束自己的人不多，所以减肥成功的人也不多。自己对自己许的愿都不容易做到，何况对神所许的愿。
在〈士师记〉里，以色列人屦屦向神许愿，不去拜外邦人的偶像，但是每次神拯救他们之后，他们就又转去拜偶像。他们不能约束自己，总是投降于自己的邪情私欲和引诱，因而被罪所困，痛苦不堪。
〈民数记〉29:12-40 七月十五日，你们当有圣会，什么劳碌的工都不可做，要向耶和华守节七日。又要将公牛犊十三只、公绵羊两只、一岁的公羊羔十四只，都要没有残疾的，用火献给耶和华为馨香的燔祭。同献的素祭用调油的细面：为那十三只公牛每只要献伊法十分之三，为那两只公羊每只要献伊法十分之二，为那十四只羊羔每只要献伊法十分之一。并献一只公山羊为赎罪祭，这是在常献的燔祭和同献的素祭并同献的奠祭以外。
和赎罪日的气氛完全相反，住棚节是一个充满了欢乐的节期，把赎罪日的严肃和哀伤一扫而空。在〈利未记〉23章40节里，神要以色列人「在耶和华你们的神面前欢乐七日」，以色列人要住在棚里七日，以记念神带领他们的祖先出埃及时，曾使他们住在棚里。
记念耶和华的恩惠，使人对生命有盼望。有一首歌的副歌歌词这样说：“It is no secret what God can do, What He has done for others, He’ll do for you.”意思是说，神的大能不是秘密，神若为别人行了大事，祂也会为你行大事。所以记念神为以色列先祖行的神蹟，便可以明白神也会为现在的以色列人行神蹟；神为以前的圣徒行神蹟，也会为现在信靠祂的人行神蹟。
Prayer really is simple. Resist the urge to complicate it. Don’t take pride in well-crafted prayers. Don’t apologize for incoherent prayers. No games, no cover-up, just be honest. Honest to God.
Climb into his lap, tell him everything that is on your heart. Or, tell him nothing at all. Just lift your heart to heaven and declare “Father, Daddy.” Stress, fear, guilt, grief. Demands on all sides. All we can summon is a plaintive, “Oh Father.” If so, that’s enough. Your Heavenly Father will wrap you in his arms.
Here’s my challenge for you: every day for four weeks, pray four minutes. Then get ready to connect with God like never before.
〈民数记〉29:1 七月初一日，你们当有圣会，什么劳碌的工都不可做，是你们当守为吹角的日子。
以色列人的吹角日，是个很特别的日子。在这日要用弯曲的羊角吹号，不可用牛角或其他角代替。现在的犹太人以吹角日(犹太历七月1日)为新年，但是神在〈出埃及记〉12章2节说：「你们要以本月为正月，为一年之首。」又是怎么一回事呢？以色列的新年为何从犹太历1月1日变成7月1 日？假如犹太历的正月一日是新年，那么就会在逾越节（正月十四日）之前，也就是每年阳历的三、四月期间。
根据犹太拉比的解释，因为巴比伦的新年是提斯利月(犹太历的七月)的初一，和希伯来历的吹角日是同一天。被掳的犹太人从巴比伦回归后，在重建圣殿时期，开始以巴比伦的提斯利月为希伯来历的第七月。因为拉比们不想公然接纳阿基图（巴比伦新年节庆的名字），所以他们把异教的节日犹太化，把吹角节改为犹太人的新年。在《圣经》里并没有为吹角节定一个特别的名称，所以拉比比较容易把七月一日定为新年。话虽如此，拉比们无法否定希伯来历的正月初一是新年，而且订七月一日为新年是有点古怪，但是因为巴比伦人一年庆祝两次阿基图，使犹太人的吹角节可以名正言顺地成为犹太人的第二个新年。（以下简称犹太民历为民历，希伯来历为神历）
We prayer wimps fear mis-praying. What’s the expected etiquette and dress code of prayer? What if we kneel instead of stand? Jesus’ answer is in Matthew 18:3 when he says, “Become as little children.” Carefree. Joy filled. Playful. Trusting. Curious. Trust more—strut less.
God prefers this greeting: “God, you are my Daddy, and I am your child!” It’s hard to show off and call God “Daddy” at the same time. Impossible, in fact. Remember, prayer doesn’t depend on how you pray. The power of prayer depends on the One who hears the prayer.
Here’s my challenge for you! Every day for 4 weeks, pray four minutes. Then get ready to connect with God like never before.
I’m a card-carrying member of the PWA. “Prayer Wimps Anonymous.” Can you relate? We pray. We pray to stay sober, centered, and solvent. We pray when the lump is deemed malignant, when the money runs out before the month does.
We all pray some but wouldn’t we like to pray more? Like the disciples, when they ask Jesus, “Teach us to pray.” Teach us to find strength in prayer, to banish fear in prayer. Prayer is simply a heartfelt conversation between God and you. A prayer as simple as this one: “Father you are good. I need help, heal me and forgive me. They need help. Thank you in Jesus name.”
Every day for four weeks. Pray four minutes and then and get ready to connect with God like never before.
〈民数记〉28:25 第七日当有圣会，什么劳碌的工都不可做。
祭祀对犹太人而言是很重要而严肃的事情，因为它代表了与神的沟通和交流。所以从〈出埃及记〉开始，我们就看到摩西不停地在重复神的交代。这些祭典，也成了以色列人生活中不可分割的礼仪。
这章讲到的当献之祭，包括了每天早晚的燔祭，安息日，月朔，逾越节，初熟节，等等的祭祀。
祭礼是每天进行的，每天早晨和黄昏各一次，这表示神是真的像祂所说的，要和以色列人同在。若没有这些祭礼，以色列人怎样明白神与他们同在呢？所以我们也要如此到主面前，我们的灵修便是每天到神面前所献的馨香之祭。
燔祭，是先献上自己；然后，神接纳，并赐下能力和恩典。灵修，也是如此，每天先献上自己，完全交托，然后领受神赐下的能力和恩典，才能过得胜的生活。每天的开始都要从敬拜神开始。
〈民数记〉27:18-20 耶和华对摩西说：「嫩的儿子约书亚是心中有圣灵的；你将他领来，按手在他头上，使他站在祭司以利亚撒和全会众面前，嘱咐他，又将你的尊荣给他几分，使以色列全会众都听从他。」
看到川普对美国大选弊案的控诉，又看到摩西和约书亚的交接，心里特别有感触。虽然说民主有民主的好处，但是因为人的罪，使再好的制度都充满了邪恶与纷争。看到神带领摩西把权柄交给约书亚，完成了一个非常平和而顺利的交接，对以色列人而言，那真是很有福气的一个过程。
人的生命何等有限，伟大如摩西，也有一天要归回他列祖之地。而神对摩西的定论是，他在米利巴时，没有按著神的吩咐叫磐石出水，而是因为被百姓激动，极为愤怒的情况下，击打磐石出水。因此神说，摩西和亚伦不信祂的话，没有在百姓之前尊神为大，因此他和亚伦都不能进迦南地。相比之下，我们的一生中有多少次渺视神的命令呢？摩西只有一次违背神的命令，就进不了迦南地；那么我们是否也因为违背神的命令，而失去许多神曾经预备要给我们的福气？
This much is sure: God will teach you to pray. Don’t think for a minute that he’s glaring at you from a distance with crossed arms and a scowl, waiting for you to get your prayer life together. Just the opposite! In Revelation 3:20 Jesus says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you will eat with Me.”
Jesus waits on the porch. He taps…and calls. He waits for you to open the door. To pray is the hand of faith on the door handle of your heart. The happy welcome to Jesus: “Come in, O King. Come in. The kitchen is messy, but come in. I’m not much of a conversationalist, but come in.”
Before amen—comes the power of a simple prayer! God changes His people through such moments.
Before amen—comes the power of a simple prayer! Jesus set a compelling prayer example. He prayed before He ate. He prayed for children. He prayed for the sick. He prayed with thanks. With tears. He had made the planets and shaped the stars, yet He prayed.
Here’s a prayer for us today! “Father, you’ve made me your child through your Spirit. In your kindness you have adopted me and delivered me from sin and death. Remind me today what it means to be your child. It’s so easy for me to live every day on my own terms. Help me live it in light of your grace. Thank you for accepting me as I am but not leaving me the same. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Here’s my challenge for you! Every day for 4 weeks, pray four minutes. Then get ready to connect with God like never before!
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