Refresh our heart by God’s Character (Christ-centered)

       It’s amazing what a simple glass of water can do. In a normal day, it can be refreshing. But in the swelling heat wave last week, it can be life-saving.

      There are days when we look at God’s character and it’s refreshing and inspiring, yet there are times when we are in the seemingly bottomless pits, focusing on who God is, is the ladder that can bring us out of those pits.

       What are those pits? They are the pits of:

       Fear – Will things ever be the same again? Is it safe to go out? Will I be hurt/disappointed if I connect with others relationally again? What if the job application get turn down again?

       Anxious – Will there be 4th wave, 5th wave … better “hang tight” until this is “over”; I have work now, but it can change suddenly, like last time;

        Hopelessness and Helplessness – I feel helpless in doing anything for my elderly parent’s declining health (or teenage child with their outlook on life, or depressed spouse with her/his stress, or my homeland with its future … (fill in the name of those you want to help, but feel helpless) 

       Friends, in our hopelessness and helplessness, remember that our God is the mighty God. When we can’t, He is the one who CAN.

“Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.”  (Jeremiah 32:17)

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)

         In our Fear, remember that our God is not only able, but He is our God and we belong to Him. And He is the one who can and will sustain us.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

        In our anxiety, remember that not only we belong to Him, He cares for us and invites us to draw near to Him.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.  (1 Peter 5:7)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Let these verse soak in your heart, as you remember who our God is, we are the children of the Almighty, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the sovereign Lord who brings justice to the nations, and the resurrect Lord who has triumph over death and who will ultimately destroy even death (Revelation 20:14) – what is there to fear? 

                                                      以神的品格更新我們的心靈（以基督為中心）

            一杯普通的清水可以做的事情是不可思議的。在平常的日子裡，它可以令人精神為之一振；但若在之前火灼炎炎的熱浪中，卻可能是救命的一杯水。

            有些時候我們細味神的品格時，會精神振奮，心靈得啟迪；但有時候當我們仿佛陷在無底深淵時，神就會是那把能將我們從深淵中拯救出來的梯子。

            那是些什麼的深淵：

恐懼 - 事情會再像以前一樣嗎？出門安全嗎？如果我再次與他人建立關係，我會感到失望或者受到傷害嗎？如果工作申請再次被拒絕怎麼辦？

 焦慮– 會不會有第四波、第五波……最好還是「堅守」多一會直到「真正結束」吧！我現在有工作，但可能隨時有變，就像上次一樣 ....

無望和無助–面對年邁的父母身體每況愈下（或家中青少年的子女所持的人生觀，或者精神抑鬱的配偶所面對的壓力，又或者是祖國的前景......一切一切你想幫助，但卻是無助）。

      朋友們，在我們的絕望和無助中，記住我們的上帝是大能的神。在人不能，在神卻凡事都能。

「主耶和華阿，祢曾用大能和伸出來的膀臂創造天地，在祢沒有難成的事。」耶利米書32:17 主神說：「我是阿拉法，我是俄梅戛，是昔在、今在以後永在的全能者。」啟示錄1:8

      在我們的恐懼中，請記住我們的神不單有能力，而且祂是我們的神，我們屬於祂。祂是滿力能力，必能堅固我們到底。

「你不要害怕，因為我與你同在； 不要驚惶，因為我是你的神。 我必堅固你，我必幫助你， 我必用牫公義的右手扶持你。」

以賽亞書41:10 「因為神賜給我們，不是膽怯的心，乃是剛強、仁愛、謹守的心。」提摩太後書1:7

       在我們的焦慮中，請記住，我們不僅屬於祂，祂更顧念我們並且喜悅我們親近祂。

「你們要將一切的憂慮卸給神，因為祂顧念你們。」 彼得前書5:7  

「凡勞苦擔重擔的人，可以到我這裏來，我就使你們得安息。我心裏柔和謙卑，你們當負我的軛，學我的樣式；這樣你們心裡就必得享安息。因為我的軛是容易的，我的擔子是輕省的。」馬太福音11:28-30

        讓這些經文都深藏在你心坎中，你若曉得我們的父神就是那位全能者﹑是創天造地的神，是那位為萬國帶來公義擁有無上權威的主，祂是已經戰勝死亡的複活主，並且最終要消滅死亡的權勢（啟示錄 20:14）- 我們還有何足懼呢？   

 

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