October 8

"Do not begin to be anxious" (Phil. 4:6, PBV)

Not a few Christians¹ live in a state of unbroken anxiety, and others fret² and fume³ terribly. To be perfectly⁴ at peace amid the hurly-burly of daily life is a secret worth knowing. What is the use of worrying? It never made anybody strong; never helped anybody to do God's will; never made a way of escape for anyone out of perplexity. Worry spoils lives which would otherwise be useful and beautiful. Restlessness, anxiety, and care are absolutely forbidden by our Lord, who said: "Take no thought," that is, no anxious thought, "saying what shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or wherewithal shall we be clothed?"(Mt.6:25)

He does not mean that we are not to take forethought and that our life is to be without plan or method; but that we are not to worry about these things. People know you live in the realm of anxious care by the lines on your face, the tones of your voice, the minor⁵ key in your life, and the lack of joy in your spirit. Scale the heights of a life abandoned to God, then you will look down on the clouds beneath your feet.(Mt.11:28) ━Rev. Darlow Sargeant

It is always weakness to be fretting⁶ and worrying, questioning and mistrusting. Can we gain anything by it? Do we not unfit ourselves for action, and unhinge our minds for wise decision? We are sinking by our struggles when we might float by faith.

Oh, for grace to be quiet! Oh, to be still and know that Jehovah is God! The Holy One of Israel must defend and deliver His own. We may be sure that every word of His will stand, though the mountains should depart. He deserves to be confided⁷ in. Come, my soul, return unto thy rest, and lean thy head upon the bosom⁸ of the Lord Jesus.━Selected

十月八日

「应当一无挂虑。」 （腓四:6）

许多基督人不断地过着焦急挂虑的生活，有的竟烦恼得可怜。怎样能在日常忙乱的生活中得到完全的安息是一个值得知道的秘诀。让我们先看：挂虑究竟有甚么用处？挂虑从来没有使谁强壮过；从来没有使谁遵行神旨意过；也从来没有使谁逃出困难过。挂虑只会损害有用的生命、美丽的生命。焦急、挂虑、担忧，都是我们的主所绝对禁止的，我们的主说：「不要…忧虑吃甚么…穿甚么。」（太六:25）

主的意思并不是说：我们用不着预先思想，我们的生活可以毫无计划、毫无规律；祂乃是说：我们用不着为这些事挂虑。你以为你这样挂虑、担忧，别人不会知道么？我告诉你：从你脸上的愁纹，从你说话的声调，从你生活中最微小的动作，从你缺乏喜乐的精神看来，别人早已知道了。我们应当把我们的挂虑卸给神！因为祂说：「凡劳苦担重担的人可以到我这里来，我就使你们得安息。」（太十一:28）━沙勤德

烦恼、挂虑、猜疑、不信，都是基督人最大的弱点。我们究竟能不能从它得到甚么呢？它们不是常使我们失去活动的机会么？它们不是常使我们失却智慧的果断么？许多时候我们原可以依靠信心漂浮的，却因为自己挣扎的缘故反沉下去了。

哦，我们多么需要安静的能力！哦，我们当安静，当知道耶和华是神！以色列的圣者不能不保护拯救祂自己的子民。祂的每一句话都是有效力的；高山可以挪开，天地可以废去，祂的话却不能废去。祂值得我们信任，也应得我们信任。我的魂哪，归来罢，归来安息罢，归来倒在主的怀里罢！━选

1 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

2 fret   

v.(使)烦恼；(使)焦急；(使)腐蚀，(使)磨损

参考例句：

• Don't fret.We'll get there on time.别着急，我们能准时到那里。
• She'll fret herself to death one of these days.她总有一天会愁死的.

3 fume   

n.(usu pl.)(浓烈或难闻的)烟，气，汽

参考例句：

• The pressure of fume in chimney increases slowly from top to bottom.烟道内压力自上而下逐渐增加，底层住户的排烟最为不利。
• Your harsh words put her in a fume.你那些难听的话使她生气了。

4 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

5 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

6 fretting   

n. 微振磨损 adj. 烦躁的, 焦虑的

参考例句：

• Fretting about it won't help. 苦恼于事无补。
• The old lady is always fretting over something unimportant. 那位老妇人总是为一些小事焦虑不安。

7 confided   

v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等）

参考例句：

• She confided all her secrets to her best friend. 她向她最要好的朋友倾吐了自己所有的秘密。
• He confided to me that he had spent five years in prison. 他私下向我透露，他蹲过五年监狱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 bosom   

n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的

参考例句：

• She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
• A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。