God’s Promises
Ever went browsing through the bookshelf of a mentor who was away when you needed a quick word? The mentor you were looking for was missing, but you were intent on finding the missing answer before leaving the place. So your eyes scanned his table for clues, and you moved to focus on the bookshelf he maintains, hoping to find an answer. That was the day, I chanced upon a little red leather-bound booklet, GOD’s PROMISES for Your Every Need.
In the absence of a living, breathing mentor who not only can answer your questions, but also help you to ask the right questions, a thin small booklet with a title like that sure sounds like the best one to pluck out and read! If you needed an answer there and then, what would you do?
So, I opened the book and fanned through the pages … text is not too small, plenty of spacing and just about 300 pages. Well, it wouldn’t take much time to read, I supposed. But would it be helpful? Has anyone read this book before and gotten anything out of it? I flipped to the front and my eyes lit up. Wow. Found the name of the owner of this book written in ink across from the title. It turns out that this book belonged first to one of the major benefactors of Christian work, a man who gave much to God’s work all over the world. I know, because I met with him not too long ago and he was still giving generously. His son is a blessing to the nations. I know, because I know his son and have seen him serve the nations with all he’s got and more. Wow, if this man found this book useful, and boy, I have such high regards for this elder statesman of Christ, I’m sure it’s got the answer I’m looking for.
It was better than that! As I read through this little booklet, I saw where the previous owner pencil-marked the promises of God. There was a tiny scribble next to the chapter on depression in the contents, all the verses in the pages for “What to do when you feel worried” have been checked off, the same for “What to do when you need confidence.” In fact, there were only a few verses that did not bear any scribble marks! This was a tiny booklet that was well-thumbed and well-read. I come to realize the man I highly regarded was indeed, just a man, equally susceptible to doubts and fears. His life was also filled with many ups and downs, just like me. This book indeed has the answer I was looking for, and more than that, it’s got all the answers for whatever future doubts I have! Boy, was I happy!
Are you in doubt of some things in your life? Maybe you are seeking for a sign. Sometimes, we all feel a little lost, no matter where we are, who we are with, or what we are doing. Let me quote the booklet’s dedication note from the author,
“This book is God’s personal word to you. Someone has said, ‘God is speaking all the time, all the time.’ No matter what your need, if you will stop to listen, He will speak to you through these portions of His Word.
I have found strength and comfort so many times as I have felt God speaking to me, personally, from the scriptures. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will speak to you in a special way each time you open this book.
Through the noise and confusion of the world around us, God continues to speak, Take a moment each day to listen.”
I have had this book of God’s promises with me for some time now. I thumb it each time I need an answer to my weakness and pain. Each time, I find God’s specific promise for every need, without fail. And each time, I experience His promise being fulfilled in my life. I know our God is a living, breathing Father who not only can answer our questions, but also can help us ask the right questions. If you need an answer now, what would you do?
Lemuel
你是否曾瀏覽過成長導師或屬靈前輩的書架？我就有過這樣的經驗。本想請一位屬靈前輩給我一句及時的指教，他卻不在。我實在很想找到那個問題的答案，不想無功而返，於是眼睛開始搜尋他的桌子，想找到一點提示或線索，接著注意力轉到他的書架，希望能夠找到所要的答案。那天，我找了一本小小的紅皮書《神的應許—你每日所需》。
一位活生生、有氣息的成長導師不但能夠回答你的問題，還會幫助你問對的問題。既然他不在，一本書名像這樣而且輕薄的小書應該是最佳選擇，當然要從書架上拿下來讀！如果你當時正好有一個問題，你會怎做？
於是，我打開那本書，翻一翻 …，字不算太小，空白處很多，而且只有三百頁。我想，讀起來應該不會花太多時間。但這會有幫助嗎？真的有人讀過這本書，因此得到幫助嗎？我翻到第一頁，眼為之一亮。在書名下面寫著這本書原主人的名字，他是基督教事工的主要捐助者之一，為主在世界各地的工作大筆大筆的捐款，他的兒子是列國的祝福。我之所以知道是因為我認識他兒子，曾親眼看著他盡其所有地服事列國。哇，如果連他都覺得這本書有幫助，那麼我也一定可以找到所需的答案，因為這位屬靈的前輩是我所敬仰的基督使者。
結果超過所求所想！當我讀這本小書時，我看到前主人用鉛筆輕輕地在神各樣應許的旁邊作記號。有關灰心沮喪的那一章，“憂慮時當如何” 這一段所列的每一節經文都作了記號，“需要信心時當如何”這一段也是每節經文都有記號 。事實上，沒有作記號的經文很少。這麼小的一本書，他卻讀得那麼仔細。我才體認到，我所景仰的這個人不是高高在上的完人，而是和每個人都一樣，會懷疑會懼怕的人。就像我一樣，他的人生也是充滿許多起伏。這本書真的姶了我所需的答案，而且不只如此，它還涵蓋了我將來懷疑時所需的一切答案！哇，我真是太高興了！
你在生活中是否也對一些事感到懷疑？也許你在尋求一個印證，一個記號。不論我們在哪裡，跟什麼樣的人在一起，或是做什麼事，我們都會有感到迷惘的時候。這本書的作者在書一開頭的獻詞上寫著：
「本書是神特地給你的話。有人曾說：」神無時無刻不在說話。」不論你需要什麼，只要停下來留心聽，祂會藉由在此所摘錄的話語對你說話。
常常，在讀這些經文時，我感到神在對我這個人說話時，因此得到力量和安慰。我所祈求的是，每當你打開這本書，聖靈會以特別的方式對你說話。
儘管周遭的世界紛亂吵鬧，神能在這當中對我們說話。每天花些時間留心聽吧！」
這些日子來，我把本神的應許的小書帶在身上。每當軟弱痛苦時，我就打開這本書找答案。每一次，我都找到神對每一個需要的特殊應許，從無例外。每一次，我都經歷到祂的應許成就在我生命中。我知道我們的神是又真又活的父，不但能回答我們的問題，還會引導我們問對的問題。如果你現在在尋找一個問題的答案，你會怎麼做？
你是否曾瀏覽過成長導師或屬靈前輩的書架？我就有過這樣的經驗。本想請一位屬靈前輩給我一句及時的指教，他卻不在。我實在很想找到那個問題的答案，不想無功而返，於是眼睛開始搜尋他的桌子，想找到一點提示或線索，接著注意力轉到他的書架，希望能夠找到所要的答案。那天，我找了一本小小的紅皮書《神的應許—你每日所需》。
一位活生生、有氣息的成長導師不但能夠回答你的問題，還會幫助你問對的問題。既然他不在，一本書名像這樣而且輕薄的小書應該是最佳選擇，當然要從書架上拿下來讀！如果你當時正好有一個問題，你會怎做？
於是，我打開那本書，翻一翻 …，字不算太小，空白處很多，而且只有三百頁。我想，讀起來應該不會花太多時間。但這會有幫助嗎？真的有人讀過這本書，因此得到幫助嗎？我翻到第一頁，眼為之一亮。在書名下面寫著這本書原主人的名字，他是基督教事工的主要捐助者之一，為主在世界各地的工作大筆大筆的捐款，他的兒子是列國的祝福。我之所以知道是因為我認識他兒子，曾親眼看著他盡其所有地服事列國。哇，如果連他都覺得這本書有幫助，那麼我也一定可以找到所需的答案，因為這位屬靈的前輩是我所敬仰的基督使者。
結果超過所求所想！當我讀這本小書時，我看到前主人用鉛筆輕輕地在神各樣應許的旁邊作記號。有關灰心沮喪的那一章，“憂慮時當如何” 這一段所列的每一節經文都作了記號，“需要信心時當如何”這一段也是每節經文都有記號 。事實上，沒有作記號的經文很少。這麼小的一本書，他卻讀得那麼仔細。我才體認到，我所景仰的這個人不是高高在上的完人，而是和每個人都一樣，會懷疑會懼怕的人。就像我一樣，他的人生也是充滿許多起伏。這本書真的姶了我所需的答案，而且不只如此，它還涵蓋了我將來懷疑時所需的一切答案！哇，我真是太高興了！
你在生活中是否也對一些事感到懷疑？也許你在尋求一個印證，一個記號。不論我們在哪裡，跟什麼樣的人在一起，或是做什麼事，我們都會有感到迷惘的時候。這本書的作者在書一開頭的獻詞上寫著：
「本書是神特地給你的話。有人曾說：」神無時無刻不在說話。」不論你需要什麼，只要停下來留心聽，祂會藉由在此所摘錄的話語對你說話。
常常，在讀這些經文時，我感到神在對我這個人說話時，因此得到力量和安慰。我所祈求的是，每當你打開這本書，聖靈會以特別的方式對你說話。
儘管周遭的世界紛亂吵鬧，神能在這當中對我們說話。每天花些時間留心聽吧！」
這些日子來，我把本神的應許的小書帶在身上。每當軟弱痛苦時，我就打開這本書找答案。每一次，我都找到神對每一個需要的特殊應許，從無例外。每一次，我都經歷到祂的應許成就在我生命中。我知道我們的神是又真又活的父，不但能回答我們的問題，還會引導我們問對的問題。如果你現在在尋找一個問題的答案，你會怎麼做？
