 Troubles in life cause anxiety and stress. Breathing exercises, meditation, and work/life balance are some techniques to deal with stress, but Philippians 4:4-12 focuses on the fundamentals.
Inner calm and contentment come from God’s peace, which transcends all understanding (v6-7). Regularly facing attack, torture, and death, Paul teaches us that such contentment can be learned (v11-12). First, think about whatever is true, noble, and right. Think about whatever is pure, lovely, and admirable (v8). Think about God sending His Son to redeem us, to bring us back to Him. Christ on the cross died a violent death, sacrificing His peace, so we could have eternal peace (2 Corinthians 5:21). Think about God’s love. Second, thank God as you present Him your requests (v6). God may not grant our requests, but He will provide. No matter how bad we have been, we know God has accepted us through Christ’s death on the cross. How would He not always give us the best, when He even gave us His only Son? Trust that He cares. Third, set your heart and build your house on God. When we build our foundation on sand, our lives become restless, filled with anxiety and devoid of peace. In all things, God works for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Focus on loving and serving our unchanging God. Then we will find peace. In 1870s, Horatio Spafford went bankrupt just before his five children, one son and four daughters, died. In the wake of such tragedy, he wrote, “It is well with my soul”: Peace, like a river, attendeth my way . . . My sin . . . is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more . . . praise the Lord, O my soul . . . It is well with my soul. Think about God’s love and what He has done for us. Present your requests to Him and thank Him. And set your heart on our unchanging God. Then you will find peace. Adapted from a Tim Keller sermon: https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/peace-8602/ 专心于神而带来的平安 生活中的烦恼导致焦虑和压力。呼吸运动，静坐冥想,和平衡工作与生活是应对压力不同的办法。而腓立比书 4：4 - 12特别关注基本知识。 上帝的平安带来内心的平静和满足。这个平安超越了所有的理解 （腓比书 4：6 - 7）。保罗经常面对攻击，折磨和死亡的挑战。他教导我们如何学来这样的满足（腓立比书 4：11 - 12）。 首先，要思量任何是真实的，高尚的和正确的。思索任何纯净的，可爱的和令人钦佩的东西 （腓立比书 4：8）。所以，想想上帝派他的儿子救赎了我们。基督在十字架上残酷地死亡，祂失去了平安，使我们可以拥有平安 （哥林多后书 5：21）。思忖神的爱。 第二，向上帝提出了我们的要求，然后感谢他 （腓立比书 4：6）。上帝可能不会批准我们的要求。但上帝是会供应的。通过基督在十字架上的死，无论我们如何糟糕，我们都知道上帝接受了我们。当祂赐给了我们祂唯一的儿子时，祂又怎么可能不给我们最好的呢？相信他的关心。 第三，将我们的心像房子建立在神上。建立在其他任何事物上，我们的基础都会像房子建立在沙滩上，令我们生活变得焦躁不安，充满焦虑，没有平安。在所有事情中，上帝会为爱祂的人的利益而设想 （罗马书 8:28）。专心于爱和服务我们不变的上帝，然后平安会与我们同在。 19世纪70年代，Horatio Spafford破产了，跟着他的儿子和四个女儿相继去世。在如此悲痛浩劫中，他写道：“我的灵魂很好”： 和平，就像一条河流，走在我的路上......我的罪......钉在十字架上，我不再需要依靠自己去承受......我的灵魂啊，赞美主啊......我的灵魂很好。 回想上帝为我们做了些什么，再想想祂的爱。向祂提出我们的要求以及感谢祂。并将我们的心放在不变的神上。那么我们的和平就会从祂而来。 Comments are closed.
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