2016年2月20日
不要放棄 Four Ways to Look
读经: 詩篇77篇1-15節
Reading: Psalm 77: 1-15
我也要思想祢的經營，默念祢的作為。-詩篇77篇12節
I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.- Psalm 77:12
全年读经: 利未記26-27章;馬可福音2章
Bible in a Year: Leviticus 26- 27; Mark 2
主日聚會時，她坐在椅子上，但身心俱疲，內心正為著孩子們的問題煩惱，甚至想「放棄」母親的職分。這時，台上的講員開始分享信息，內容正好激勵了那些想要放棄的人。那天早上，她聽見了四個重點，使她得著幫助繼續前進：
仰望與禱告：亞薩在夜間不住地禱告，甚至表達了被上帝遺忘和丟棄的感覺 （詩篇77篇9-10節） 。我們可以向上帝陳明一切，述說我們真實的感受，無論何事都可以向祂祈求。上帝可能不會立刻回應，祂的回應方式也可能並不符合我們的期待，但是祂不會嫌棄我們的祈求。
回顧從前上帝為你和他人所成就的事：亞薩不只是向上帝述說他的痛苦，他也回想上帝的能力，以及上帝為他和以色列百姓所行的奇事。亞薩寫道：「我要提說耶和華所行的，我要記念祢古時的奇事。」 （11節）
向前看：你的處境會帶來什麼益處？你可能會學到什麼？上帝要成就什麼？你知道美善的上帝會做什麼嗎？ （13節）
重新檢視：再次用信心的眼光看看你的境遇。提醒自己，祂是行神蹟奇事的上帝，祂確實可靠 （14節） 。
在我們與耶穌同行的信心之旅中，這些提醒能幫助我們擁有正確的眼光，繼續前行。
主啊，我總是只看到困難。幫助我不要氣餒、
不要感到疲乏厭倦，而是要在困境中親眼看見祢。
我們的問題是發現上帝解決方案的良機。
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Joan was struggling with some difficult issues with her children when she sat down for a worship service. Exhausted, she wanted to "resign" from motherhood. Then the speaker began to share encouragement for those who feel like quitting. These four thoughts that Joan heard that morning helped her to keep going:
Look up and pray. Asaph prayed all night long and even expressed feelings that God had forgotten and rejected him (Ps. 77:9-10). We can tell God everything and be honest about our feelings. We can ask Him anything. His answer may not come right away or in the form we want or expect, but He won't criticize us for asking.
God is the God of great wonders and can be trusted.
Look back and remember what God has done in the past for you and others. Asaph didn't talk to God only about the pain; he also recalled God's power and mighty works for him and God's people. He wrote, "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago" (v. 11).
Look forward. Think about the good that might come out of the situation. What might you learn? What might God want to do? What do you know He will do because His ways are perfect? (v.13).
Look again. This time look at your circumstances with eyes of faith. Remind yourself that He is the God of great wonders and can be trusted (v. 14).
May these ideas help us gain perspective and keep moving in our faith journey with Jesus.
Lord, I can't help but see my problems. Help me not to be discouraged and weary, but to see You in the midst of them.
Our problems are opportunities to discover God's solutions.