"O Lord , I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps" (Jer.10:23)
"Lead me in a plain path" (Ps. 27:14)
Many people want to direct God, instead of resigning themelves to be directed by Him; to show Him a way, instead of passively following where He leads.
━Madame Guyon
I said:"Let me walk in the field”;
God said: 'Nay, walk in the town”;
I said:"There are no flowers there”;
He said: :" No flowers, but a crown.”
I said: "But the sky is black,
There is nothing but noise and din ";
But He wept as He sent me back,
"There is more, " He said, "there is sin.
I said: "But the air is thick,
And fogs are veiling the sun";
He answered: "Yet souls are sick,
And souls in the dark undone. "
I said: "I shall miss the light,
And friends will miss me, they say";
He answered me, "Choose tonight,
If I am to miss you, or they. "
I pleaded for time to be given;
He said: "Is it hard to decide?
It will not seem hard in Heaven
To have followed the steps of your Guide. "
I cast one look at the fields,
Then set my face to the town;
He said: "My child, do you yield?
Will you leave the flowers for the crown?"
Then into His hand went mine,
And into my heart came He;
And I walk in a light Divine,
The path I had feared to see.
━George MacDonald
十二月五日
「耶和华阿，我晓得人的道路不由自己。行路的人，也不能定自己的脚步。」 （耶十:23）
「求祢……引导我走平坦的路。」（诗廿七:11）
许多人非但不听从神的指导，反要指导神；非但不跟神走，反要神跟他走。━盖恩夫人
我说:「让我走向野外」，
神说: 「不，你要领略城市的壮观」，
我说:「那里没有花」，
祂说: 「没有花，却有一顶王冠」。
我说:「可是天空乌黑,
只有喧哗与污浊。」;
而祂含泪看着我,
说道:「还有罪恶。」
我说:「可是天气阴霾,
浓雾遮掩了阳光。」;
祂答道:「正因为人们有病,
黑暗中盼望医疗之方。」
我说:「我将失去光明,
朋友也将失去我这个伴侣。」;
祂回答说:「今夜就选择,
失去他们,还是与我共处。」
我恳求祂给我考虑的时间,
祂说:「这有甚么难于决定?
在天堂的观点看来,
只要跟随你向导者的足印。」
我回头向野外看了一眼,
然后转脸对着城市。
祂说:「你愿意了吗?
为王冠而放弃花儿呢?」
然后我让祂握住我的手,
祂进入我的心灵；
在神圣的光照下,
走向了先前所害怕的路径。
━麦克唐纳