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 Apostle Paul said that after we have cast our cares upon God, we need to meditate on the truth and keep our eyes on God so that we can keep the peace.
The key to keeping God’s peace in our hearts and minds is meditation. God’s peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. The Greek word for “guard” is a military term meaning to surround and protect a garrison or a city. This peace is very different from the peace the world offers, which is subject to circumstances.
When we are fearful, we are meditating on the unknown and possible negative scenarios that might not happen. Our minds can only think of one thing at a time, so we should choose what we think about. Rubbish in, rubbish out. Therefore, take charge of our thought life so that we keep the peace in our hearts and minds.
When we stay focused on God and His character, we will experience perfect peace. He does not want us to fear but to take comfort in His presence. He has promised to help, strengthen and uphold us in all circumstances.
Spiritual warfare is waged in our thought life. Temptation comes through our thoughts and our physical senses. There is an argument in our minds because thoughts and suggestions are thrown into them. We are products of our thought lives, influenced by what we watch and read, and the way our thoughts unfold. Therefore, either fear or peace will enter through our thought life.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NKJV) 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,
The Apostle Paul teaches us to pull down those thoughts, cast down every high thing, including rationalism, and bring them under the teaching of the Word of God. Meditating on the Word is the very act of casting down arguments by replacing them with what the Word says, rather than with what rationalism tries to dilute the Word into or what our senses try to instil in us. The weapon of our warfare is meditation on the Word of God, and it helps us to replace and take captive other thoughts. We should take Paul’s instruction to think of what is true, reverent, noble, just, pure, lovely, lovable, kind, winsome, gracious, and praiseworthy.
Reflection: How will you respond to the truth that meditating on God’s Word is necessary to keep your peace?
Sermon Series: 2026 CG Campaign – Up! (Part 2)
默想神的话语
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。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。
使徒保罗说，当我们已经将一切忧虑卸给神之后，我们需要默想真理，并定睛在神身上，这样我们才能持守平安。
在我们的心思意念中持守神的平安，关键在于默想。神的平安会在基督耶稣里保守我们的心怀意念。“保守”这个希腊文是一个军事用语，意思是包围并保护一个驻防地或一座城。这种平安与世界所提供的平安非常不同，因为世界的平安会随着环境而改变。
当我们感到惧怕时，我们其实是在默想那些未知的事情，以及可能发生但未必会发生的负面情况。我们的思想一次只能专注于一件事情，因此我们需要选择自己要思想什么。垃圾进，垃圾出。因此，我们需要管理自己的思想生活，使我们的心怀意念能够持守平安。
当我们持续专注于神和祂的属性时，我们就会经历完全的平安。神不希望我们惧怕，而是希望我们在祂的同在中得着安慰。祂已经应许，在一切环境中帮助我们、坚固我们，并扶持我们。
属灵争战发生在我们的思想生活中。试探会通过我们的思想和身体的感官临到。我们的思想中会产生争论，因为各种想法和建议会被放入我们的心思意念中。我们是自己思想生活的产物，会受到我们所观看、所阅读的内容，以及思想发展的方式所影响。因此，惧怕或平安都会通过我们的思想生活进入我们的生命。
哥林多后书 10:4-5 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， 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；
使徒保罗教导我们，要攻破那些思想，攻破一切自高之事，包括理性主义，并使这些思想降服于神话语的教导之下。默想神的话语，正是借着以神的话语取代那些思想来攻破争论的行为，而不是让理性主义试图削弱神的话语，或让我们的感官向我们灌输错误的信息。我们争战的武器就是默想神的话语，它帮助我们取代并夺回其他的思想。我们应当遵行保罗的教导，思想那些真实的、可敬的、公义的、清洁的、可爱的、可爱的、有恩慈的、令人欣赏的，以及值得称赞的事情。
默想：当你面对“默想神的话语是持守平安所必需的”这个真理时，你将如何回应？
讲章系列：UP! 细胞小组活动 2026 第二部分