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「把約瑟下在監裡....但耶和華與約瑟同在....耶和華使他所作的盡都順利」。（聖經創世紀卅九章 20/23 節）
如果神應允我們因為事奉祂的緣故被下在監裡的話，祂必與我們同在；這樣，監獄反成了世上最幸福的地方。約瑟知道這個。所以他在監獄裡並不憤怒，並不沮喪，也並不反叛。如果他有一點點不甘心的表示，獄司也決不會這樣信任他了。約瑟連自憐的心也沒有一點。
讓我們記住：什麼時候我們容讓自憐的心進來，什麼時候我們就完了。約瑟把所有的事情歡歡喜喜地交託神，所以獄司把所有的事情交託約瑟。主耶穌啊，當我被囚在監裡的時候，求你叫我能信靠、能喜樂。求你藉著我在監獄裡完成你的工作。 ── 選
我已經學會了喜愛黑暗；因為處境越黑暗，主的臉越光明。 ── 凱恩夫人（Madame Guyon）
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"And Joseph's master took him, and put him into a prison … But Jehovah was with Joseph … and that which he did, Jehovah made it to prosper. (Gen. 39:20-23.)
When God lets us go to prison because we have been serving Him, and goes there with us, prison is about the most blessed place in the world that we could be in. Joseph seems to have known that. He did not sulk and grow discouraged and rebellious because "everything was against him." If he had, the prison-keeper would never have trusted him so. Joseph does not even seem to have pitied himself.
Let us remember that if self-pity is allowed to set in, that is the end of us -- until it is cast utterly from us. Joseph just turned over everything in joyous trust to God, and so the keeper of the prison turned over everything to Joseph. Lord Jesus, when the prison doors close in on me, keep me trusting, and keep my joy full and abounding. Prosper Thy work through me in prison: even there, make me free indeed. --Selected.
A little bird I am,
Shut from the fields of air,
And in my cage I sit and sing
To Him who placed me there;
Well pleased a prisoner to be,
Because, my God, it pleaseth Thee.
My cage confines me round,
A broad I cannot fly,
But though my wing is closely bound,
My soul is at liberty;
For prison walls cannot control
The flight, the freedom of the soul.
I have learnt to love the darkness of sorrow; there you see the brightness of His face. --Madame Guyon.
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