可以为什么事情祷告？祷告有范围限制吗？
What can we pray for? Are there limits to prayer?
简答 Short Answer
凡是合乎上帝旨意的事，大到国度降临、小到日用饮食，都可以祷告。但我们不应该为犯罪的事或试探上帝的事祷告。
Anything aligned with God's will — from His kingdom coming to daily bread — is appropriate for prayer. But we should not pray for sinful things or to test God.
详细解答 Detailed Answer
保罗说：「应当一无挂虑，只要凡事借着祷告、祈求和感谢，将你们所要的告诉上帝」（腓4:6）。注意这个「凡事」——上帝不嫌我们的事太小或太世俗。
我们可以为属灵的事祷告：求智慧（雅1:5）、求圣灵充满（路11:13）、求信心增长（可9:24）、为教会合一祷告（约17:21）、为福音广传祷告（帖后3:1）。
我们也可以为日常的事祷告：健康、工作、考试、人际关系、经济需要。「你们需用的这一切东西，你们的天父是知道的」（太6:32）。没有什么事情是大到上帝管不了，也没有什么事情是小到上帝不关心。
我们应当为他人代祷：为执政掌权者（提前2:1-2）、为患病的弟兄姐妹（雅5:14）、为逼迫我们的人（太5:44）、为不信的亲友得救（罗10:1）。
但有些祷告是不合宜的：为犯罪的事祷告（雅4:3「你们求也得不着，是因为你们妄求」）、为试探上帝祷告（如「上帝啊，让我从楼上跳下去不受伤」）、为报复仇敌祷告（虽然诗篇有咒诅诗，但新约教导我们爱仇敌）。
总原则：可以为一切事祷告，但要加上「愿你的旨意成就」（太26:39），把结果交托给全知全善的上帝。
Paul says: 'Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God' (Phil 4:6). Notice 'everything' — God doesn't consider our concerns too small or mundane.
We can pray for spiritual things: wisdom (James 1:5), Spirit's filling (Luke 11:13), growing faith (Mark 9:24), church unity (John 17:21), gospel advancement (2 Thess 3:1).
We can pray for daily things: health, work, exams, relationships, financial needs. 'Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all' (Matt 6:32). Nothing is too big for God to handle or too small for Him to care about.
We should intercede for others: rulers (1 Tim 2:1-2), sick brothers and sisters (James 5:14), those who persecute us (Matt 5:44), unsaved loved ones (Rom 10:1).
But some prayers are inappropriate: praying for sinful things (James 4:3, 'You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly'), testing God ('God, let me jump off a building unharmed'), praying for revenge.
General principle: pray about everything, but add 'Your will be done' (Matt 26:39), entrusting outcomes to the all-knowing, all-good God.
📖 经文引用 Bible Verses
📚 推荐阅读 Related Readings
- •提摩太·凯勒，《祷告》；Tim Keller, Prayer📖
- •韦敏斯德小要理问答 第98问；WSC Q98