Posts
Tuesday
During the peak of the New Year snowstorm, millions of "ming gong" (migrant workers) waited stoically in train stations in the cold and rain for days. Going home for the New Year is the only time in the year they have to see their families. Many believers work in cities and do not see much of their families. We pray for blessing as they reunite with family. We too pray for special grace as they deal with many issues relating to parenting and marital communication.
Wednesday
How is the health of China’s churches today? A new article suggests that it is “a mile wide but only an inch deep.” While many well-meaning foreign observers view China’s churches optimistically, the problem of a lack of spiritual depth and training persist. It is nearly meaningless to guess the number of Christians in China, but higher estimates are advertised yearly. Let us pray for the revival and renewal of China’s churches, especially in a time of prosperity.
Thursday
Placing great emphasis on miracles is a key feature of China’s churches. Many Christians simply pray for the occurrence of miracles, ignoring the proper interpretation and application of the Word of God. This is one reason why cults and the occult are rampant, especially among rural churches. Again, we need to pray for the solid teaching of the Word of God. Many preachers feel inadequate and even intimated when they are not “empowered” with the gift of prophecy, healing, and performing miracles.
Friday
Young teachers, who were sent to villages as their assignment, complain about the lack of housing facilities. Many of them have to share a dorm-like room because of low pay and school’s lack of funds. Even though young church workers have the burden to serve in the villages, lack of urban accommodations make it difficult to retain them. Let us pray for the phenomenon of older believers “demanding” the younger workers to make sacrifices and be willing to behave like servants of God in the rural churches.
Saturday
An article points out that a problem for Chinese Christians today is “extremism,” equating it with spiritual maturity. Often, one’s spirituality is measured by how much time one devotes to Bible reading, prayer, or attending churches. Let us pray for a close walk with Christ for every believer. One’s faith is balanced with the knowledge of God’s grace and living out His love.
Sunday
What is special about those who grew up under Communism and came to know Jesus later in life? One Chinese scholar and pastor said, “There are still many conflicting and deeply ingrained values which cannot be changed. A renewal of both mind and spirit is needed.” Many will agree that new Chinese converts struggle greatly with humility and submission. Let us pray for the transformation and molding of the Holy Spirit in all Chinese believers.
Monday
The tendency to oversimplify all problems and provide a simple spiritual solution is common among Chinese churches. Many are quick to diagnose and offer spiritual solutions as the cure-all answer. Most of these “solutions” are characterized by “have more faith in God, read the Bible more, and pray more.” We pray for those who are hurting emotionally or in a relationship that badly needs sympathetic ears, friendship, and encouragement from fellow Christians.
星期二
農曆新年前的一場大風雪，讓數百萬待返的民工在火車站的淒風冷雨中苦候數日。新年春假是他們一年裡唯一回家團聚的機會。許多在城裏工作的信徒同樣長期難得與家人相見，我們為他們與家人團聚的時刻向神求恩，也求神給他們特別的恩典來處理與父母、配偶以及子女之間的溝通問題。
星期三
中國教會當今的屬靈狀況如何？有作者在其文章中用「雖有一英里寬，卻只有一英寸深」來形容之。雖然許多海外的觀察者都用樂觀的看待中國教會，但她一直都存著屬靈根基膚淺和缺乏訓練等問題。猜測中國基督徒的數量多寡，實際意義不大，然而每年都會公佈更高的估計數字。，讓我們特別為處於現今豐盛富裕時代的中國教會禱告，求主賜下復興和更新的火。
星期四
中國教會往往過度強調神蹟。許多基督徒只為了神蹟而禱告，完全忽視從正確角度去認識和應用神的話 - 聖經。異端邪教因而得以迅速蔓延，尤以農村教會爲甚。許多傳道人因爲沒有被賦予說預言、醫治、或行神蹟的恩賜，而自覺裝備不足，以為被神疏遠而灰心退後。我們需要再次為中國教會能夠接受紮實的教導，確實明瞭神的話語來禱告。
星期五
派往鄉村執教的年輕教師，無不為住處而煩惱。農村學校缺乏資金，學校公房緊缺擁擠，教師收入偏低，導致農村偏遠學校教師流失嚴重。居住設施短缺的農村教會同樣很難留得住原本滿懷抱負前往服事的年輕傳道人。而農村教會的老信徒仍期望年輕的傳道作出種種犧牲以符合他們心目中神僕人的樣式。求主施恩改變這些現象，讓傳道人在農村教會能夠獲得較好的待遇和尊重。
星期六
有文章指出當今的中國基督徒在信仰上有走極端主義的傾向，誤以爲是靈命成熟的表現，而且常常以讀經禱告時間的長短或上教會的次數，作爲衡量信徒屬靈深度的標準。讓我們為信徒皆能真正與基督親密同行來禱告。求神讓所有信徒瞭解，健康平衡的信心，除了聖經知識上認識神，也要在生活行爲上活出神的恩典，彰顯出祂的愛和榮耀。
星期日
唱著東方紅、受著共產主義教育長大的歸主基督徒有何特點？一位中國學者兼牧師說：「存有短時間內難以完全消除的、與基督信仰相矛盾的價值觀。必須要在心靈和思想上更新。」很多人會同意，初信的中國基督徒都很難做到謙卑和順服。求聖靈在所有中國信徒身上動工，按神的心意來塑造和改變他們。
星期一
信徒常有將問題簡單化的傾向，且喜歡給人開包治百病的屬靈藥方—即援引聖經，要人相信神、多讀聖經、多禱告等等。信徒當中有許多曾受過情緒或人際關係上的傷害，最需要得到的是真誠的同情和傾聽，溫暖的友誼和鼓勵，我們求神幫助每位信徒滿有耶穌基督的恩慈能用同理心，彼此扶持，切實相愛。
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