昨天我们在思考复兴所带来的问题时，看到有一家教会认为应该每天晚上认真祷告，直到复兴的来临；这是一种沉溺的需求过于深刻的属灵渴望。在这儿我们不禁要问：甚么叫做沉溺？沉溺，是不断挤进脑海中、重复或持续的思想意念，以减轻个人的基本焦虑。它实际上是一种防卫机制，令人可以专注于持续或不断出现的思想，从而避免焦虑。

多年前我曾经和一位年青的心理学家谈话，他告诉我他曾作过一个关于人的个性的研究，对象是那些不断撰写或谈论属灵复兴的人。研究的过程中他发现一个有趣的模式，就是这些人都有一种沉溺的倾向。我于是提议让我也参加他所设计的这个心理测验，结果显示虽然我是坚定和专一的人，但是我可以接受改变，而这是有沉溺倾向的人所做不到的。当我看到他完全相信我是一个有节制的人时，我于是告诉他我一直以来同样是对复兴有很大的渴望，他听后认为我真是一个例外！

我知道有些基督徒会由于个性的缘故而对某些事情执着沉迷，包括对复兴的渴望。但是我也知道在世界各地，越来越多有节制的基督徒在这个关键的历史时刻，发现自己的内心是越来越渴望能够看见神行使祂更强大的能力。有些人可能认为这是一种沉溺，我却认为这是一种掌管，是神的旨意在掌管人的思想。

Yesterday we looked at a church whose commitment to pray every evening until revival came was more an obsessive demand than a deep spiritual desire. This raises the question: What is an obsession? An obsession is a repetitive or persistent thought or idea which crowds into the mind and thus helps to relieve one's basic anxiety. It is really a defence mechanism which enables the personality to avoid anxiety by focusing not on the anxious feelings but on the continuing or recurring thought instead.

Some years ago I talked with a young psychologist who told me that he had made a study of the temperaments of people who continually wrote and talked about spiritual revival and had found an interesting pattern - all of them tended to be obsessive. I offered to take the psychological test he had devised and it showed that although I was determined and single-minded, I was also able to change - something an obsessive person cannot do. When I saw he was convinced that I was a fairly well-adjusted person, I talked to him about my own preoccupation with revival. And he said I was the exception that proved the rule!

I have no doubt that by reason of their temperament some Christians can become obsessed about anything - including revival. But I also know that around the world there is a growing army of well-adjusted Christians who are discovering within their hearts at this vital time in history a deepening desire to see God work in great and mighty power. Some may see it as an obsession; I see it as a possession - the thoughts of God taking hold of the thoughts of man.