亚洲路德宗神学院「每週灵修」
诗篇 42:5 我的心哪，你为何忧闷？
在所有与你交谈的人中，与你交谈最多的其实是你自己，其中消极的说话佔大部分。在照镜时你会想，自己为什麽没有吸引的外表？为什麽我没有聪明才智？为什麽我不能成为一个更好的人？
你所聆听的人中，你聆听最多的就是你自己。你对自己不断说消极的说话，慢慢你会相信和接受。例如你说自己如何丑陋和愚蠢，慢慢你会相信自己是一个丑陋和愚蠢的人。这些消极的说话不会带来帮助，只会让你每况愈下。有时候，你就是自己最大的敌人。
诗人清楚明白这一点，他似乎正在与抑鬱对抗他；他的脑袋不断产生消极的想法，但他却提醒自己要把希望寄託在上帝身上，我们也要如此。如保逻所说，我们必须努力 “将人所有的心意夺回，使他都顺服基督”。 （哥林多后书 10:5）。当我们有消极的想法时，必须提醒自己，我们是上帝的儿女。无论我们多麽丑陋，上帝都看我们为美丽；无论我们多麽蠢钝，上帝都看我们为宝贝。
当然，诗人不会因为想到与上帝的关系，而立即平复心情。他多次质问自己，你为什麽忧闷？也多次提醒自己要把希望寄託在上帝身上。积极乐观并不容易，但感谢上帝，我们拥有基督的心（林前 2:16）。
你最近对自己说了什麽负面说话？
这诗篇有什麽正面信息可以取代那些负面的想法？
祷告：主上帝，我的思想不是常常正面积极，有时对自己或其他人都有非常负面的看法。求祢原谅我，赐我一颗清洁的心，并使我裡面重新有正直的灵。在祢恩典的光照下，帮助我以积极的态度面对自己和他人。阿门。
Downcast
ALS Weekly Devotions
Psalm 42:5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Of all the people you talk to, you talk to yourself the most. And most of the time the things you say are not very positive. When you look in the mirror you may think why am I not more beautiful? Why can’t I be smarter? Why can’t I be a better person?
Of all the people you listen to, you listen to yourself the most. When you say negative things to yourself, you may begin to believe them. If you tell yourself you are ugly or stupid, you may begin to believe it. Telling yourself these negative things, never helps, it only brings you lower. At times, you might be your own worst enemy.
The Psalmist clearly understood this. He seems to be fighting depression. His mind wants to tell him many negative things. But what does he do? He reminds himself to put his hope in God. We have to do this too. As Paul said, we must try to “take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5). When we have a negative thought about ourselves, we must remind ourselves that we are Children of God. No matter how ugly we think ourselves, God has found us beautiful. No matter how foolish we think we are, God does not think us stupid or worthless.
Of course, when the Psalmist thinks about his relationship with God he isn’t instantly happy. Three times he says to himself, why are you miserable? Three times he reminds himself to put his hope in God. It’s a struggle to think positively, but thank God that we have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16).
What negative things have you been telling yourself recently?
What positive things from this psalm can replace those negative thoughts?
Prayer: Lord God, my thoughts are not always positive. Sometimes I think very negative things about myself and of others. Please forgive me. Please, give me a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me. In the light of your grace, help me to think positive things about myself and of others. Amen.