第五章

⁶ 所以你們要謙卑，服在神大能的手下，到了時候，他必叫你們升高。⁷ 你們要把一切憂慮卸給神，因為他顧念你們。

⁸ 你們要謹守、警醒。你們的仇敵魔鬼，好像吼叫的獅子走來走去，尋找可以吞吃的人；⁹ 你們要用堅強的信心抵擋他，因為知道你們在世上的弟兄，也經歷過同樣的苦難。

¹⁰ 但滿有恩典的神，就是在基督裡召你們進入他永遠榮耀的那一位，在你們受了短暫的苦難之後，必定親自成全你們，堅固你們，賜力量給你們，建立你們。¹¹ 願權能歸給他，直到永遠。阿們。

 

默想：

1. 當我們受苦時，很難不去擔憂；在焦慮煩躁中，要我們把每一件事都交托給神，似乎是件很困難的事。但彼得說，我們所受的苦難只是短暫的，之後神必要「成全我們，堅固我們」。並且到時候，必要接我們到天堂，在那裡永遠與祂在神的榮耀裡。所以，無論今天的苦難是什麼，不要憂慮，神應許賜給我們力量與永遠榮耀的盼望。
2. 思想一下，我心頭上還有什麼煩惱？將它們一項項寫下來。重讀這段經文，學習將這一切的憂慮卸給神一一地將我的煩惱告訴神，並請求神眷顧與引導。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

Chapter 5

⁶Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

⁸Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

¹⁰And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ¹¹To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Meditation

1. It’s hard not to be anxious when we’re suffering.  Leaving everything to God when we are desperate and stressed out seems difficult indeed.  But Peter has a promise that will help.  Suffering lasts only for a little while.  God will restore you, and make you strong.  And in His time will call you up to heaven to share in His own eternal glory.  Whatever today’s pain, we have the promise of strength, and the prospect of glory – forever.
2. Many things in today’s life cause anxiety for us – finances, jobs, school, illness, conflict.
3. What anxieties do I have?  Write them down.  Read this passage again.  Cast the cares upon God by telling Him my worries one by one and ask for His guidance and care.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.