0716 神掌管的概念
…何况你们在天上的父，岂不更把好东西给求祂的人吗？ 《马太福音 7:11》
耶稣在这段经文中为那些有祂灵的人制定了行为准则，祂敦促我们心中要充满神掌管一切的概念，这意味着门徒必须保持完全信任以及热切祈求和寻找的态度。
让你的心思充满神就在这里的想法，一旦你的心思真正地被这样想法充满，当你遇到困难时，你就会像呼吸一样容易记住：「我的天父知道这一切！」这根本毫不费力，但当困难和不确定性出现时，这对你来说会是很自然的事情。在你的心中形成如此强大的神掌管的概念之前，以往你会找人帮忙，从这个人到那个人，但现在你会去找神。耶稣为那些有祂灵的人制定了行为准则，它基于以下原则运作：神是我的父，祂爱我，我绝不会想到祂会忘记任何事情，所以我为什么要忧虑呢？
耶稣说，有时神不能从你身上除去黑暗，但你应该信任祂。有时神会看起来像一个不友善的朋友，但祂不是；祂会看起来像一个不自然的父亲，但祂不是；祂会看起来像一个不公正的法官，但祂不是。要保持这样的想法：神的心意是在一切事物的背后；这种思想要强烈且不断增强。除非神的旨意在背后，否则即使是生活中最小的细节也不会发生。因此，你可以在完全信靠中安息。祷告不仅是祈求，更是一种心态，它能产生一种氛围，在其中，祈求是完全地自然。 「你们祈求，就给你们…」（马太福音7:7）
来自章伯斯的智慧
读书永远不可能读得太多，但要始终记住你为什么读。要记住，最重要的是「必需接受、认识和依靠圣灵。」《蒙神悦纳》
0716 The Concept of Divine Control
…how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! —Matthew 7:11
Jesus is laying down the rules of conduct in this passage for those people who have His Spirit. He urges us to keep our minds filled with the concept of God’s control over everything, which means that a disciple must maintain an attitude of perfect trust and an eagerness to ask and to seek.
Fill your mind with the thought that God is there. And once your mind is truly filled with that thought, when you experience difficulties it will be as easy as breathing for you to remember, “My heavenly Father knows all about this!” This will be no effort at all, but will be a natural thing for you when difficulties and uncertainties arise. Before you formed this concept of divine control so powerfully in your mind, you used to go from person to person seeking help, but now you go to God about it. Jesus is laying down the rules of conduct for those people who have His Spirit, and it works on the following principle: God is my Father, He loves me, and I will never think of anything that He will forget, so why should I worry?
Jesus said there are times when God cannot lift the darkness from you, but you should trust Him. At times God will appear like an unkind friend, but He is not; He will appear like an unnatural father, but He is not; He will appear like an unjust judge, but He is not. Keep the thought that the mind of God is behind all things strong and growing. Not even the smallest detail of life happens unless God’s will is behind it. Therefore, you can rest in perfect confidence in Him. Prayer is not only asking, but is an attitude of the mind which produces the atmosphere in which asking is perfectly natural. “Ask, and it will be given to you…” (Matthew 7:7).
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
It is impossible to read too much, but always keep before you why you read. Remember that “the need to receive, recognize, and rely on the Holy Spirit” is before all else. Approved Unto God, 11 L