Philippians 4:7-8 (NKJV) and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

The key to keeping God’s peace in our hearts and minds is meditating on God’s Word. We also need to be vigilant in guarding our thought life against anything that could lead us into depression. God’s peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus as we meditate on His Word, especially His promises. 

The Greek word for “guard” is a military term meaning to surround and protect a garrison or a city.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

We need to take down the stronghold in our minds and cast down every argument and high thing that exalts itself. That is taking every thought captive.

In her book “Up: Writing A New Chapter of Joy and Laughter”, Beth Jones wrote that if we read the opening passage from the bottom up, we will notice that “everything begins with a thought and then moves into an argument or a high thing that is set against the knowledge of God. And finally, that thought moves into a stronghold. For example, depression is a stronghold, but it doesn’t start as a stronghold. It starts with a thought… The good news is that this sequence can establish a stronghold of joy in our lives in the same way. For example, if we take a thought of joy and let it become an argument or an imagination that agrees with God’s Word, we can argue for this truth and imagine ourselves full of joy. Then, as we continue to do this, in time, joy will become a stronghold in our lives!”

When we are fearful, our minds meditate on the unknown—possible negative scenarios that may never happen. However, our brain can think of only one thing at a time. Therefore, we need to determine what the brain thinks about. Rubbish in, rubbish out. Stop the devil from inflicting fear through your thought life. Guard your thoughts and close the door to him by not entertaining those thoughts. 

Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV) You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.

Biblical truth is unchanging, whereas facts and circumstances will change. Therefore, we need to maintain the soundness of our minds by meditating on the Word of God, focusing on it, and believing what it says rather than the circumstances.

Reflection: How proactive are you in guarding your thought life? In what ways is God leading you to focus on His goodness rather than on circumstances?

Sermon Script： 2026 CG Campaign — Up Part 3

保守你的心思意念

腓立比书 4:7-8 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。8 弟兄们，我还有未尽的话，凡是真实的、可敬的、公义的、清洁的、可爱的、有美名的，若有什么德行，若有什么称赞，这些事你们都要思念。

保守我们心怀意念、活在神平安中的关键，就是默想神的话语。同时，我们也需要警醒，谨慎保守自己的思想，不让任何可能引向抑郁、灰心或绝望的念头在心中扎根。当我们持续默想神的话语，尤其是祂的应许时，神所赐的平安就会在基督耶稣里保守我们的心怀意念。

这「保守」（Guard）一词，在希腊原文中是一个军事用语，意思是像军队驻守城池一样，在四周严密防卫、保护一座城堡或驻军营地。

哥林多后书 10:3-5 因为我们虽然在血气中行事，却不凭着血气争战。 4 我们争战的兵器本不是属血气的，乃是在神面前有能力，可以攻破坚固的营垒， 5 将各样的计谋、各样拦阻人认识神的那些自高之事，一概攻破了，又将人所有的心意夺回，使它都顺服基督；

我们需要拆毁心思中的坚固营垒，攻破一切拦阻我们认识神、抵挡神真理的思想和论调。这就是圣经所说的：把每一个意念都夺回，使它顺服基督。

在《天天向上》这本书中，作者贝丝琼斯提到，如果我们从哥林多后书 10:3-5的最后一句开始，倒过来阅读这段经文，就会发现一个思想发展的过程：一切都是从一个思想开始，然后发展成一种论点，或一种高举自己、抵挡神真理的想法，最终形成一个坚固营垒。例如，抑郁是一种坚固营垒，但它并不是一开始就是坚固营垒。它是从一个思想开始的……然而，好消息是，这个过程同样可以建立一个喜乐的坚固营垒。例如，当我们选择一个充满喜乐的思想，并让这个思想不断发展，成为与神的话一致的信念和想象，我们就会开始站在神真理这一边，为神的话辩护，并且在心中想象自己充满喜乐。当我们持续这样操练，久而久之，喜乐就会成为我们生命中的坚固营垒。

当我们害怕的时候，我们的思想往往会不断揣测未知，反复设想各种可能发生、却未必真的会发生的负面情境。然而，我们的大脑一次只能专注于一个思想。因此，我们需要主动决定，让自己的思想专注于什么。垃圾进，垃圾出。不要让魔鬼借着你的思想把惧怕放进你的心里。要谨慎保守自己的思想，不去迎合、停留或反复思想那些充满惧怕的念头，以此向仇敌关上大门。

以赛亚书 26:3 坚心倚赖你的，你必保守他十分平安，因为他倚靠你。

圣经中的真理永远不会改变，但事实和环境却会不断改变。因此，我们需要借着默想神的话语，使自己的心思保持健全、稳固。让我们的注意力专注于神的话，并选择相信神所说的，而不是相信眼前不断变化的环境。

默想

你平时有多主动地保守自己的心思意念？神正在引导你以哪些实际的方法，把焦点更多放在祂的良善上，而不是放在眼前的环境和困难上？

讲章系列：UP！细胞小组活动 2026 第三部分