Peace in the Release 交托中的平安
Dexu Xia
The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
Today's Scripture Philippians 4:4-11
Today's Insights Philippians is one of the Prison Epistles (along with Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon) that Paul wrote while in prison. The letter to the Philippians is often referred to as the “joy letter” because of the apostle’s repeated emphasis on our joy in Christ. That’s striking by itself but made even more significant when we remember that he wrote this letter while in custody (1:12-14). He not only reflected on the joy we have in Jesus but also on what it means to have peace in Christ—even while in prison. This powerful truth can speak into whatever circumstances we might be facing. For some, that literally means being imprisoned. But regardless of our situation, Jesus is profoundly at work in our lives and the fruit the Spirit produces is joy and peace
Today's Devotional Kayla’s brow furrowed as she shoved yet another slip of paper into an overstuffed box labeled “Give It to God” on all four sides. Sighing deeply, she sifted through the written prayers she had previously placed in the box. “I read them out loud almost every day,” she said to her friend. “How can I be sure God hears me?” Chantel handed Kayla her Bible. “By trusting that God keeps His word,” she said, “and letting go every time you write or read a prayer you’ve released into His hands.”
The apostle Paul urged believers in Jesus to “rejoice in the Lord” and gave good reason to do so by affirming, “The Lord is near” (Philippians 4:4-5). He encouraged God’s people to trade anxious thoughts for faith-filled prayers, to believe He receives every request, and to praise Him while resting in the unfathomable peace of His never-ending presence (vv. 6-7).
The Prince of Peace—Jesus—guards our emotional and mental well-being when we turn our thoughts toward qualities that point to Him, things that are “true,” “right,” “pure,” and “praiseworthy” (v. 8).
The peace of God protects us when we trust that the God of peace is with us. Liberated from the burden of clinging to concerns, we can experience peace in the release of every prayer into God’s trustworthy hands.
Reflect & Pray
How has God used Scripture to help you trust that He hears your prayers? What concerns have you been clinging to instead of giving them to God in prayer?
Dear God, thank You for being my peace whenever I release my worries into Your hands.
By Xochitl Dixon
“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。”（腓立比书 4:7 ）
今日经文：腓立比书 4章4-11 节
今日心得：腓立比书是保罗在狱中写的监狱书信之一（另三封是《以弗所书》、《歌罗西书》和《腓利门书》）。这封写给腓立比人的信常被称为“喜乐书”，因为使徒保罗反复强调我们在基督里的喜乐。这本身就很引人注目，要是我们想到这封信是他在狱中写的（1:12-14），就更有意义了。他不仅反思了我们在耶稣里的喜乐，也探讨了即使在狱中也能在基督里拥有平安的意义。这个强有力的真理能够帮助我们应对任何可能面临的境况。对一些人来说，这实际就意味着面临监禁。但无论我们的处境如何，耶稣都在我们生命中深深地动工，圣灵所结的果子就是喜乐与平安。
今日灵修 凯拉皱着眉头，把另一张纸条塞进一个塞得满满的盒子里，盒子四面都贴着“交给上帝”的标签。她深深地叹了口气，仔细翻阅着之前放在盒子里的祷告文。“我几乎每天都大声朗读，”她对朋友说。“我怎么能确定上帝听到了我的祷告呢？” 尚特尔把她的圣经递给凯拉。“相信上帝信守祂的诺言，”她说，“并且每次写下或朗读祷告时，你都已经把心交托在祂的手中了。”
使徒保罗敦促信靠耶稣的人“要靠主喜乐”，并说“主已经近了”（腓立比书 4:4-5），所以我们有充分理由靠主喜乐。他鼓励神的子民用充满信心的祷告取代焦虑的思绪，相信上帝垂听每一个祈求，并因安息在祂永不止息的同在中而享受到的深不可测的平安而赞美祂（6-7节）。
当我们将思想转向指向上帝的特质，即“真实”、“公义”、“纯洁”和“值得赞美”等品格时，和平之君耶稣会守护我们的情感，使我们心灵康健（8节）。当我们相信赐平安的神与我们同在时，我们就能享受到神的平安保守。从执着于忧虑的重担中解脱出来，我们就能体验到，将每一个祷告交托在神信实的手中必得着平安。
反思与祷告 神是如何运用圣经帮助你相信，祂垂听你的祷告的？你一直执着于哪些忧虑，而不是在祷告中将它们交托给神？