Make prayer a first priority, instead of a last resort.

祷告是重要的第一步，而不是最后的办法。

Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant. Nehemiah 1:11 

主啊，求祢侧耳听祢仆人的祈祷。-尼希米记1章11节

I respect my Aunt Gladys’s intrepid spirit, even if that very spirit concerns me sometimes. The source of my concern came in the form of news she shared in an email: “I cut down a walnut tree yesterday.”

在一个令我很敬佩姑姑勇敢无畏的精神，但有时她那股干劲却也让我担忧。正如她在电子邮件中所分享的消息，更是令我提心吊胆，她说：“昨天我砍倒了一颗核桃树。”

You must understand that my chainsaw-wielding aunt is seventy-six years old! The tree had grown up behind her garage. When the roots threatened to burst through the concrete, she knew it had to go. But she did tell us, “I always pray before I tackle a job like that.”

要知道，我那挥舞着电锯的姑姑已经高龄76岁了！那棵树一直长在她的车库后方，当树根险些撑破水泥地时，她知道那棵树不能留了。但她也告诉我们：“我在进行那样的工作之前，一定会先向上帝祷告。”

While serving as butler to the king of Persia during the time of Israel’s exile, Nehemiah heard news concerning the people who had returned to Jerusalem. Some work needed to be done. “The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire” (Nehemiah 1:3). The broken walls left them vulnerable to attack by enemies. Nehemiah had compassion for his people and wanted to get involved. But prayer came first, especially since a new king had written a letter to stop the building efforts in Jerusalem (see Ezra 4). Nehemiah prayed for his people (Nehemiah 1:5–10), and then asked God for help before requesting permission from the king to leave (v. 11).

在以色列人被掳的时期，尼希米担任波斯王的侍酒总管，当他听到那些回到耶路撒冷的同胞所面对的情况，他知道自己必须采取行动。因为“耶路撒冷的城墙拆毁，城门被火焚烧”（尼希米记1章3节）。损坏的城墙让城内居民更容易遭外敌侵扰，尼希米关心同胞们的景况，想为他们贡献一些心力。然而，他做的第一件事是先为此祷告，因为新任的波斯王已写了一封信，禁止重建耶路撒冷（参阅以斯拉记4章）。于是，尼希米为同胞祷告（尼希米记1章5-10节），先求上帝的帮助，然后才请求国王让他返回耶路撒冷（11节）。

Is prayer your response? It’s always the best way to face any task or trial in life.

祷告是你处事的第一反应吗？无论在生活中遇到何种难题或试炼，祷告都是最好的应对方式。

Father, Your Holy Spirit reminds us to pray first. Today, we commit to doing so as Your Spirit prompts us.

亲爱的天父，圣灵提醒我们要先祷告。今天，我们愿按圣灵感动去祷告。

Nehemiah 1    NIV

1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. 3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” 4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said: “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses. 8 “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’ 10 “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11 Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” I was cupbearer to the king.

尼希米记 1

1 哈迦利亚的儿子尼希米的言语如下：亚达薛西王二十年基斯流月，我在书珊城的宫中。 2 那时，有我一个弟兄哈拿尼同着几个人从犹大来。我问他们那些被掳归回剩下逃脱的犹大人和耶路撒冷的光景。3 他们对我说：“那些被掳归回剩下的人在犹大省遭大难，受凌辱，并且耶路撒冷的城墙拆毁，城门被火焚烧。” 4 我听见这话，就坐下哭泣，悲哀几日，在天上的神面前禁食祈祷，说： 5 “耶和华天上的神，大而可畏的神啊，你向爱你守你诫命的人守约施慈爱， 6 愿你睁眼看、侧耳听，你仆人昼夜在你面前为你众仆人以色列民的祈祷，承认我们以色列人向你所犯的罪。我与我父家都有罪了！ 7 我们向你所行的甚是邪恶，没有遵守你借着仆人摩西所吩咐的诫命、律例、典章。 8 求你记念所吩咐你仆人摩西的话说：‘你们若犯罪，我就把你们分散在万民中。 9 但你们若归向我，谨守遵行我的诫命，你们被赶散的人虽在天涯，我也必从那里将他们招聚回来，带到我所选择立为我名的居所。’ 10 这都是你的仆人、你的百姓，就是你用大力和大能的手所救赎的。 11 主啊，求你侧耳听你仆人的祈祷和喜爱敬畏你名众仆人的祈祷，使你仆人现今亨通，在王面前蒙恩。” 我是做王酒政的。

整理：于姊妹