Verse from Daniel

“于是我转向主神，禁食，披麻蒙灰，藉祈祷和恳求寻求他。”

‭‭但以理书‬ ‭9:3‬ ‭

“So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with Him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.”

‭‭Daniel‬ ‭9:3‬ ‭

Bible teacher Oswald Chambers emphasized the importance of praying for someone else. He said that “intercession is putting yourself in God’s place; it is having His mind and perspective.” It’s praying for others in light of what we know about God and His love for us.

We find a great example of intercessory prayer in Daniel 9. The prophet understood God’s troubling promise that the Jews would have seventy years of captivity in Babylon (Jeremiah 25:11-12). 

Realizing that those years were nearing their completion, Daniel went into prayer mode. He referenced God’s commands (Daniel 9:4-6), humbled himself (v. 8), honored His character (v. 9), confessed sin (v. 15), and depended on His mercy as he prayed for His people (v. 18). And he got an immediate answer from God (v. 21).

Not all prayer ends with such a dramatic response, but be encouraged that we can go to God on behalf of others with an attitude of trust and dependence on Him

Verse from 1 Thessalonians

“又要立志过安静的生活，办自己的事，亲手作工，正如我们从前吩咐过你们，”

‭‭帖撒罗尼迦前书‬ ‭4:11‬ ‭

“and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you,”

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:11‬ ‭

Sometimes it’s best not to poke around in other people’s business. That’s especially true in relationships with fellow believers in Jesus. 

We’re to pray for others and seek by God’s grace to share the Scriptures, and occasionally we may be called to offer a gentle word of correction. 

But learning to live a quiet life and not meddling into others’ lives is important. It becomes an example to those who are now outside God’s family (v. 12). Our calling is to “love each other” (v. 9).

Verse from Ecclesiastes

“在亨通的日子，应当享福；遭遇患难的时候，就当省察。神使这两样并存，为了叫人查不出未来的事。”

‭‭传道书‬ ‭7:14‬ ‭

“When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭7:14‬ ‭

According to Chinese legend, when Sai Weng lost one of his prized horses, his neighbor expressed sorrow for his loss. But Sai Weng was unconcerned. He said, “Who knows if it may be a good thing for me?” Surprisingly, the lost horse returned home with another horse. 

As the neighbor congratulated him, Sai Weng said, “Who knows if it may be a bad thing for me?” As it turned out, his son broke his leg when he rode on the new horse. This seemed like a misfortune, until the army arrived at the village to recruit all able-bodied men to fight in the war. Because of the son’s injury, he wasn’t recruited, which ultimately could have spared him from death.

This is the story behind the Chinese proverb which teaches that a difficulty can be a blessing in disguise and vice versa. This ancient wisdom has a close parallel in Ecclesiastes 6:12, where the author observes: “Who knows what is good for a person in life?” Indeed, none of us know what the future holds. An adversity might have positive benefits, and prosperity might have ill effects.

Each day offers new opportunities, joys, struggles, and suffering. As God’s beloved children, we can rest in His sovereignty and trust Him through the good and bad times alike. God has “made the one as well as the other” (7:14). He’s with us in all the events in our lives and promises His loving care

Verse from John

“耶稣说：“腓力，我跟你们在一起这么久了，你还不认识我吗？那看见了我的就是看见了父，你怎么还说‘把父显示给我们’呢？”

‭‭约翰福音‬ ‭14:9‬ ‭

“Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”

‭‭John‬ ‭14:9‬ ‭

According to legend, British conductor Sir Thomas Beecham once saw a distinguished-looking woman in a hotel foyer. Believing he knew her but unable to remember her name, he paused to talk with her. As the two chatted, he vaguely recollected that she had a brother. Hoping for a clue, he asked how her brother was doing and whether he was still working at the same job. “Oh, he’s very well,” she said, “And still king.”

A case of mistaken identity can be embarrassing, as it was for Sir Beecham. But at other times it may be more serious, as it was for Jesus’ disciple Philip. The disciple knew Christ, of course, but he hadn’t fully appreciated who He was. 

He wanted Jesus to “show [them] the Father,” and Jesus responded, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:8-9). As God’s unique Son, Christ reveals the Father so perfectly that to know one is to know the other (vv. 10-11).

If we ever wonder what God is like in His character, personality, or concern for others, we only need to look to Jesus to find out. Christ’s character, kindness, love, and mercy reveal God’s character. 

And although our amazing, awesome God is beyond our complete comprehension and understanding, we have a tremendous gift in what He’s revealed of Himself in Jesus.

Dear God, 

help me to grow in my knowledge and appreciation of who You are

Verse from Deuteronomy

“耶和华亲自在你前头行，与你同在；他决不撇下你，也不离弃你；你不要害怕，也不要惊慌。””

‭‭申命记‬ ‭31:8‬ ‭

“And the Lord is the one who is going ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not desert you or abandon you. Do not fear and do not be dismayed.””

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭31:8‬ ‭

Sometimes difficult things happen that we may not understand, but we can also reflect on the number of times God has preserved us without our ever being aware!

Scripture reminds us that His perfect, providential care remains over His people every day. He’s always with us (Matthew 28:20)

Verse from Psalms

“住在至高者的隐密处的，必在全能者的荫庇下安居。”

‭‭诗篇‬ ‭91:1‬ ‭

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭91:1‬ ‭

He’s our refuge, no matter how many troubles or uncertainties surround us. The path ahead may seem long, scary, or overwhelming, but His love envelops us. He hears us, answers us, and stays with us . . . now and forever into eternity (Psalm 91).

We can embrace the quiet and lean into God’s unfailing love and constant presence. We can be still and rest in Him because we’re safe under the shelter of His unchanging faithfulness (v. 4)

Verse from Joshua

“这律法书不可离开你的口，要昼夜默诵，好使你谨守遵行书中所记的一切；这样，你的道路就必顺利，你必一路亨通。”

‭‭约书亚记‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭

“Time went by. War came in.” That’s how Bishop Semi Nigo of the Keliko people of South Sudan described delays in his church’s long struggle to get the Bible in their own language. Not one word, in fact, had ever been printed in the Keliko language. 

Decades earlier, Bishop Nigo’s grandfather had courageously started a Bible translation project, but war and unrest kept halting the effort. Yet, despite repeated attacks on their refugee camps in northern Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the bishop and fellow believers kept the project alive.

Their persistence paid off. After nearly three decades, the New Testament Bible in Keliko was delivered to the refugees in a rousing celebration. “The motivation of the Keliko is beyond words,” said one project consultant.

The commitment of the Keliko reflects the perseverance God asked of Joshua (Joshua 1:8). 

With equal persistence, the Keliko pursued the translation of Scripture. Now, “when you see them in the camps, they are smiling,” said one translator. Hearing and understanding the Bible “gives them hope.” 

Like the Keliko people, may we never give up seeking the power and wisdom of Scripture