Daily Devotion 每日灵修

在我们的日常生活中，总会面对许许多多的问题。而这些问题有时候缠绕着我们，使我们远离神了。其实，无论在任何问题中，我们都要把神居首位，知道祂必带领我们胜过。把神居首位的意思是无论在什么样的情况中，我们仍然选择信靠神，把自己的问题交托给祂，而不是靠我们自己的能力去解决，不是我们自己庸人自扰。应当一无挂虑，藉着祷告祈求和感谢，把我们所要的都告诉神，（腓 4:6）因为祂必顾念我们。

很多时候，靠着我们自己的能力非但问题没有解决，反而越弄越糟，到最后把自己搞得精疲力尽。圣经里清楚地记载着，非靠实力，非靠才能，唯有靠神的灵方能成事。（撒加 4:6）唯有当我们被神的灵所引导的时候，我们肯定是能胜过一切的问题，是能打胜仗的。神是我们的帮助，是我们的高台，是我们的避难所，更是我们的隐秘处。（诗 46:1）知道吗？当我们的心底是依靠神的，就必有从祂而来的力量帮助我们。祂在万有之先，万有也靠祂而立。祂也是教会全体之首，祂是元始，是从死里首先复生的，使祂可以在凡事上居首位。（西 1:17-18）因此，在这世上没有什么问题是能大过我们的耶稣基督。

所以，让我们的生命是把神居首位的，好让神的灵来指引我们的方向，让祂来引导我们走在祂的旨意里。因为一切的丰盛都居住在神里头，（西 1:19）当我们甘心听从，就必吃那地上的美物。（赛 1:19）阿门！

Philippians 3:13 - Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.

Many of times when you still want to live in the past, counting what did that person do to you, remembering that hurt that you could not get rid of, reminiscing how much pain that you've gone through, you are unable to live life to the fullest. All the more you want to stay in the past, all the more you will be robbed of from today's joy and blessing. You have to know that you cannot return to what has happened behind, but only to strain toward what is ahead. Do not let the past rob you any longer from enjoying what you can enjoy in today.

Therefore, God has called us to live not just a life but life abundantly, the fullest of life that He has called us to live is the fullest of joy, the fullest of peace, not the fullest of tears. Hence, do know that God has wiped off your tears, the past cannot hold you back, but instead, look forward to what is ahead for God has prepared great things ahead of you! Press on!

Ephesians 5:1 - Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children.

Imitate carries meaning like take and follow one as a model, echo, parrot, follow and impersonate; however many of times, people will tend to see imitating God as something burdensome and it gives them great pressure in learning how to impersonate and take Christ as a model. But do know that when Paul was writing this, he did not mean that we are to be burdensome in being imitators of God, but instead there is secret lying in this verse.

Paul said "be imitators of God, as dearly loved children", he means that you can imitate God because you are God's children. You do it by natural and not by force. Children of God will act like God because it is their born again nature, which means being generous is never by force but instead this characteristic that your Father in Heaven has is already in your born again nature, being rejoicing all the time is never by force but instead this characteristic that your Father in Heaven has is already in your born again nature, the same goes with being forgiving all the time is never by force but instead this characteristic that your Father in Heaven has is already in your born again nature! Therefore, being generous, being joyful and being forgiving is not something that you are to do it by force, it is never burdensome, but the secret lies on "AS DEARLY LOVED CHILDREN". If you will realize how much you are loved by God, if you will have this revelation of who you are and what you have in Christ, you will live life imitating your Father in Heaven out of love, instead of out of fear.

Many Christians nowadays trying to live life imitating the Father in Heaven out of fear, believing in teachings like if they do not do this, if they do not behave like Him, if they are not like Him, then God will not love them anymore. Hence, fear is never a motivation, but love is. The moment you know how your Father in Heaven dearly loves you, you will live out your born again nature, you will be like Him, you will eventually talk like Him, you will react like Him, you will do what He does, you will love what He loves, you will see what He sees, you just want to be like the one you love!

The New Living Translation gives a great view of this verse "Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children." In everything you do you can imitate God just because you are His dear children!! How wonderful to know that becoming like Him, transforming from glory to glory is never relying on our effort, nor the force of fear, but instead the Father's love! Therefore, let no one deceive you that you cannot, you can, not because of you are capable to, but because it is already in your born again nature!

1 Samuel 17:45 - But David said to him, " You come to me using a sword, a large spear and a small spear. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of heaven's armies. He is the God of the armies of Israel! You have spoken out against him."

Do you ever realize every day in your life, a giant Goliath will be there to accuse you of being unable and weak? Just like what the Israelite encountered when the Philistines were having war with them. The word of God says that Goliath came out every morning and evening and stood before the army of Israelite, and this continued for 40 days. Imagine that for 40 days, day and night Goliath was out there shouting war against Israelite, throwing them with words before they started with any real fight. It was stated in verse 11 that when Saul and the Israelites heard the Philistine's words, they were very afraid. You see, the accusation was there day and night, for 40 days; likewise in our daily lives, the devil are always there throwing you with accusations and words of fear. But if you compromise to those words and accusations, you will end up living in fear and timidity.

But God doesn't want us to live life like that, He called us to be bold and courageous. Saul's response and David's response are totally different. David said "You come to me using a sword, a large spear and a small spear, but I come to you in the name of the Lord". Therefore, at anytime when you feel that you are being accused, or in fear, you are to talk back to your fear! Tell that fear of sickness that " I come in the name of the Lord, I am not afraid and I am healthy in the Lord!", tell that fear of failure that " I come in the name of the Lord, I am not afraid and the Lord is my success!", tell that fear of lack that "I come in the name of the Lord, I am not afraid and the Lord is my Shepherd!".

As you call on to the name of the Lord, you will be saved! Therefore, do not be fearful of that accusation, that condemnation or that lies of the devil, keep yourself be reminded that no matter how great is the giant in front of you, you have a greater one as your support, and He is Jesus! Face the giants with words of victory, and in the end, giants shall die, accusations shall cease, and fear shall flee!

帖前 5:5 - 你们都是光明之子都是白昼之子；我们不是属黑夜的，也不是属幽暗的。

当我们信并且跟从了耶稣基督那一刻开始，我们就是光明之子。当我们的身份是光明之子，我们就不在黑暗里走了，因为我们乃是跟随耶稣基督的脚步而行。（约 8:12）经上记着说：耶稣到世上来，乃是光，叫凡信祂的，不住在黑暗里。（约 12:46）我们既不跟从黑暗，就不与恶者有所接触，不与它打交道了。因此，一切来自恶者的，都与我们无关，只要不是来自于神的，我们都不必去理会。就好比病痛，神是给我们健康的，祂是医治我们的神，绝不会把病痛给我们，为的只是要试验我们。所以当我们知道了以后，就不要被病痛所骚扰我们，要把它驱赶出我们的生命，因为它不属于我们。贫穷也不属于我们，因为我们知道耶稣基督为了我们成为贫穷，好让我们可以因着祂的贫穷而成为富足。（林后 8:9） 因此，我们要拿起神所赐的权柄，把贫穷驱赶出我们的生命中。

朋友们，神就是光，在祂毫无黑暗。（约一 1:5）所以，在我们的生命中一切属于恶者的作为都不能停留在我们的生命里。就算只是小小的烛光，却依然能点亮整个房间，所以我们所到之处是毫无黑暗的。一个行在光明中的人是遵行神的话，领受祂的道的。神所说的每一句话，绝不徒然返回的，（赛 55:11） 因为祂是信实的，祂必不说谎。当神说，祂是我们的牧者，我们不至缺乏。（诗 23:1）那身为光明之子的我们必要领受祂的话，相信并且行出来。当神说，祂是我们的圣洁、智慧、公义、救赎，（林前 1:30）那么我们就要相信我们是圣洁的，是有神的聪明和智慧。当神说，祂是万有之首，万有也靠祂而立，（西 1:17）那么我们就知道我们一切的好处不在祂以外。

因此，让我们成为神的广告牌，当神的荣耀彰显在我们的生命中时，我们便能把这荣耀归于我们的父。所以，紧抓着我们的身份，让我们继续为神闪闪发光吧！阿门！

Psalm 19:7 - The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

If you want a seed to grow into a tree, you'll need to plant it at a good soil. However, if you keep the seed for twenty years without planting it at the right place, but letting it sitting in your drawer, you'll never see the result. Likewise, the Word of God is just like a seed, you can never estimate how powerful it will be or what fruit it can bear until you plant it. The moment when you plant it in your heart, which is the good soil, you shall see growth and fruits! However, many children of God are still complaining that God never do anything for them, and choose to stay defeated and live in complaints. But they never realize that the Word of God can turn lives around!

The Word of God is perfect, it never comes with a flaw, not a single tiny little one. His perfect words prove to us that when He promised us health, it's a perfect state of health; when He said we are no longer poor but rich in Him, He means we enjoy perfect abundance and we can never exhaust what He has blessed us with! When He said you shall have favor no matter where you are, it means a perfect favor, without needing you to strive and perform to get people to please with you, they will just like you and help you!

The next time when you need a refreshment, go into the Word. Let the Word of God refreshes you like never before, His Word can even make wise the simple! If you need any help in making decision, in doing plannings, get yourself soak into the Word first before you make any decision on your own and decide to go your own way; instead as you seek Him first, all the things that you need shall be added! He will lead you towards the most marvelous idea that you may not even think of, that's truly God! Start to plant, enjoy the growth and taste the fruits!

Romans 4:21 - being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

Many of times we may be so easily persuaded by the things happened around us, whatever that people said, whatever the trend may be going on in the world, there are times that if you are not standing firm, you are easily being influenced away to the pattern of this world. Persuade carries meaning of convince. There are still a lot of Christian still living life believing that God is there to judge them, that God's love for them is never constant, it requires them to earn and perform in order to get the blessings. However, we are not to be convinced of the things in the world, but instead of the things of God.

Therefore, regardless what may happen around you, in your family, or towards your finance, we are to being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised. He had promised you blessings, good health, good life, a good future, hence instead of being convinced on you will live poor, you will stay sick, you will have a bad future; you are to believe and being convinced that you are blessed, you are healthy, you have good life and a good future!!

When everything seems to be fading away, remember that everything is possible in God. All you need is to stay in the Word and getting to know Him more and more, and being fully, not just partly, but fully persuaded and convinced that your God is able and He has the power to accomplish His promises! Trust in Him and know that He is able!

曾经，有人在感到迷惘无助的时候，对着镜子看着自己，然后问自己，到底我是谁？尤其在失落的时候，或是在遭到否定的时候，若这人是站立不稳的，他会开始质疑自己，会开始对自己的价值动摇了。其实，我们在神的眼里是为宝为尊的，祂甚至愿意用自己独生爱子的性命来与我们替换，使我们的生命是无价之宝。

朋友们，当我们有了耶稣，我们的身份就转换了。从前我们是罪人，如今我们却是成为义人了。（罗 5:1）因着耶稣基督一次的献祭，我们的生命就永远得完全，（希 10:14）并且我们已是新造的人，旧事已过，都变成新的了。（林后 5:17） 从前我们是软弱无助的，如今我们有耶稣基督随时的帮助，（希 4:16）有神的能力覆庇我们，刚强了我们，（林后 12:9）使我们是重新得力，勇往向前的继续我们人生的道路。从前我们是居无定所，流离困苦，甚至是缺乏的。但如今耶稣基督的隐秘处却是我们稳固的居所，祂为了我们成为贫穷，好叫我们如今可以因着耶稣而成为富足。（林后 8:9） 从前我们是在黑暗中行走的，如今神却救我们脱离了黑暗的权势，领我们到祂爱子光明的国度里。（西 1:13） 从前我们什么也不是，甚至没有人会看我们一眼。如今我们却是抬得起头来的了，（诗 3:3）我们是祂得胜的子民，是神所爱的。从前我们是愚昧无知的，但如今我们有了神的智慧和启示，我们是有知识，有聪明智慧的了。（箴 9:10， 弗 1:17）

所以，我们要清楚的知道在基督我们的身份。我们是谁，我们有什么，我们能做什么。当我们知道并且拿起我们所有的权柄和祝福，我们的生命肯定是丰盛而且是得胜有余的。阿门！

Jeremiah 31:3 - Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.

When is the last time you rejoice and be glad? Probably all the circumstances are weighing you down and you are dragging on in life. Things might not be going well around you. You feel disappointed, down, wear out, and depress. Then, this is just the right passage for you! Today, remember that there is nothing that God cannot do and settle for you. He owns all the heavenly resources and everything are from Him. It means that you have a very strong supporter supporting you behind, and He will never ever shaken. Therefore, when God is with you; you have the very reason to rejoice and be glad!

No matter how old are you or what situation you are in right now, there is nothing that can hold you back from rejoicing when you know that you have a Father in Heaven that loves you so much. Even when you are down, even when someone disappoints you; you have to keep on focusing on Jesus. He will turn your mourning into gladness, and bless you with comfort and joy instead of sorrow. When you have Jesus, your life will encounter a turnaround! It will turn from bad into good, from lacking into abundance, from sorrow into joy!

Mourning and sorrowing over your situation will never make any changes. Mourning can never change your circumstances but instead the sorrowful heart dries up the bones. Being sad all the time will only makes your body unwell! Therefore, you are to keep your mind and your heart on Christ. He has bore all the curses, mourns, sorrows and judgments on the cross, the divine exchange has happened during the day of crucifixion! That's why you redeemed into His joy and gladness, you are redeemed into His comfort, you are redeemed into His healing, and you are redeemed into every single goodness and blessings from Jesus Christ!

The more you rejoice and be glad over your situation, the more you are putting your trust and faith on Jesus' finished work. It is because you have the full assurance that He will turnaround your situations and benefit you in the end! Therefore, keep on expecting the love of Christ being poured down in your life. He said " I will", He will do whatever He promised you, and He will do them fast! So, buckle up your seat belt and enjoy the adventure with Christ! He is forever your turning point!