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「我曾耐性等候耶和華。」（聖經詩篇四十篇 1 節）
你知道嗎？等候比前進更困難。等候需要忍耐，忍耐是一件難得的美德。神在他子民四周，建築了籬笆保護他們。當籬笆愈築越高，甚至連頂也看不見的時候，我們就會開始急躁 ── 極欲知道以後有沒有機會，從這幽閉的勢力範圍裡出去。我們不能明白，為什麼我們不能有一個隨意出入的環境？但是神在他一切工作上都是有目的的。「義人的腳步，被耶和華立定。」（聖經詩篇三十七篇 23 節）。
在莫勒的聖經上，這一節經文旁邊註著，「義人的止步也被耶和華立定」。但是，我們卻常喜歡穿出神為我們所建築的籬笆外去，這實在是一個極大錯誤。一個基督徒如果已經確實知道，是神將他放在他的地位上的，他千萬不可以輕易活動：直到雲柱移動了，他才可以移動；這是極重要的。 ── 譯自主日學報 (Sunday School Times)
什麼時候我們學會了每件事情等待神的引導，什麼時候我們就會知道，只有在安靜中，我們與神親近的能力才會達到最高點。我們中間有很多人缺乏這種安靜的力量。但是，如果神指定我們去作一件工作，他必定會給我們夠用的力量。耐性等候，遵行神的引導，這是得能力的秘訣。在神旨意之外的，都是浪費。讓我們安靜下來，等候神的引導吧！ ── 戈登 (S. D. Gordon)
在神的引導沒有來到之先，我們不動、坐看良機錯失，結果豈不是一個極大的失敗嗎？不！勝利就是在不動中、靜候中得到的！這要比活動艱難千倍。這需要更大的勇氣去站住、等候、不喪膽、不絕望，絕對順從神的旨意，將工作和榮譽讓給他人。別人都快快活活、忙忙碌碌在工作，自己卻能安安靜靜，帶著信心而歡樂，這才是最偉大的生活 ── 「成就了一切，還能站立得住」（聖經以弗所書六章 13 節）── 密勒 (J. R. Miller)
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"In waiting, I waited, for the Lord." (Psalm 40:1, margin)
WAITING is much more difficult than walking. Waiting requires patience, and patience is a rare virtue. It is fine to know that God builds hedges around His people-when the hedge is looked at from the viewpoint of protection. But when the hedge is kept around one until it grows so high that the cannot see over the top, and wonders whether he is ever to get out of the little sphere of influence and service in which he is pent up, it is hard for him sometimes to understand why he may not have a larger environment-hard for him to "brighten the corner" where he is. But God has a purpose in all HIS holdups. "The steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord," reads Psalm 37:23.
On the margin of his Bible at this verse George Mueller had a notation, "And the stops also." It is a sad mistake for men to break through God's hedges. It is a vital principle of guidance for a Christian never to move out of the place in which he is sure God has placed him, until the Pillar of Cloud moves. --- Sunday School Times.
When we learn to wait for our Lord's lead in everything, we shall know the strength that finds its climax in an even, steady walk. Many of us are lacking in the strength we so covet. But God gives full power for every task He appoints. Waiting, holding oneself true to His lead-this is the secret of strength. And anything that falls out of the line of obedience is a waste of time and strength. Watch for His leading. --- S. D. Gordon.
Must life be a failure for one compelled to stand still in enforced inaction and see the great throbbing tides of life go by? No, victory is then to be gotten by standing still, by quiet waiting. It is a thousand times harder to do this than it was in the active days to rush on in the columns of stirring life. It requires a grander heroism to stand and wait and not lose heart and not lose hope, to submit to the will of God, to give up work and honors to others, to be quiet, confident and rejoicing, while the happy, busy multitude go on and away. It is the grandest life "having done all, to stand." --- J. R. Miller.
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