“应当一无挂虑,只要凡事藉着祷告,祈求,和感谢,将你们所要的告诉神。” - 腓 4:6
生活让我们有机会享受平稳安静。生活也会让我们经历焦虑躁动。
当疾病来临,我们会感到焦虑,特别是会导致死亡的疾病。当我们没有钱买食物或支付每月账单的时候,我们会感到焦虑。当我们脾气暴躁、怒形于色,也会引发人际关系的焦虑。我记得在一个黑暗、寒冷、刮风的夜晚,我沿着一条没有灯光的街道走回家去。我被各种变幻莫测的影子吓坏了。我以最快的速度在路中央奔跑,直到我安全到家。
你会对什么感到焦虑呢?我最近听到一篇很好的讲道,讲到焦虑和祈祷之间的关联。当我们焦虑时,我们可以转向知晓我们一切处境的那一位主,祂将在我们的焦虑中与我们相遇。我们向祂祈祷,感谢祂是神,并向祂坦承我们的焦虑。祂对我们说:“你们要安静,要知道我是神”(诗 46:10)。
安静让我们有时间思想神和祂的爱。我一遍又一遍地反复默念“天父”这个词,直到我在神我的天父面前满有平安。于是焦虑就退去了;一切都掌管在祂的手中,而不在乎我。神的平安在等待临到那些以神为念的人。
祷告
天父,天父,天父,你是神,我是你的孩子。求你吸引我,帮助我相信我可以把我的忧虑卸给你,从今时直到永远。阿们。
腓立比书 4:4-7
4你们要靠主常常喜乐,我再说,你们要喜乐!
5当叫众人知道你们谦让的心。主已经近了。
6应当一无挂虑,只要凡事藉着祷告、祈求和感谢,将你们所要的告诉神。
7神所赐出人意外的平安,必在基督耶稣里保守你们的心怀意念。
Do Not Be Anxious About Anything
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." - Philippians 4:6
Life gives us opportunities to enjoy calm and peacefulness. Life also gives us opportunities to be anxious.
We can grow anxious when sickness comes—especially when sickness might lead to death. We can also feel anxious when we run out of money for food or for our monthly bills. Relationships can create times of anxiety when tempers flare and anger burns. I remember a dark, cold, windy night when I had to walk along a lightless street to get home. I was frightened by all kinds of shifting shadows. I raced down the middle of that street as fast as I could till I was safely home.
What do you become anxious about? I heard a good sermon recently about a correlation between anxiety and prayer. When we are anxious, we can turn to the One who is aware of all our circumstances and who will meet us in our times of anxiety. To him we pray, thanking him for who he is and telling him our anxieties. He says, "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).
Being still gives us time to discern God and his love. I repeat the word "Father" over and over until I am at peace with God my Father. Then anxiety has its rightful place; it is in his hands, not mine. The peace of God awaits those whose hearts are set on God.
Prayer
Father, Father, Father, you are God, and I am your child. Draw me to yourself today and always, helping me trust that I can leave my anxiety with you. Amen.