1 Peter 5:7 - GIVE IT TO JESUS.
1 Peter 5:7: GIVE IT TO JESUS.
1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares
for you.
1 Peter 5:7 (NCV) Give all your worries to him, because he cares
about you.
1 Peter 5:7 (AMP) Casting the whole of your care [all your
anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him,
for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
COMMENTARY PEARL
Henri Nouwen confessed that when he met with Mother Teresa of
Calcutta, he started explaining all his problems as soon as they sat down.
For ten minutes, he tried to convince her how complicated they were.
When he was finally quiet, Mother Teresa said, "Well, when
you spend one hour a day adoring your Lord and never do anything you
know is wrong ... you will be fine."
Nouwen's response? "I realized, suddenly, that she had
punctured my big balloon of complex self-complaints and pointed me far
beyond myself to the place of real healing. I HAD RAISED A QUESTION
FROM BELOW AND SHE HAD GIVEN AN ANSWER FROM ABOVE - from God's place
and not the place of my complaints. Mother Teresa's answer was like
a flash of lightning in my darkness."
Our setbacks, struggles, doubts, and insecurities can enmesh
us in severe complications. We want solutions. We want practical
answers. A simple answer "from above" often strikes us as irrelevant to
the problem, as it did at first to Henri Nouwen. After all, he was
an Ivy League professor and understood the complications of life.
Yet many problems cannot be "solved," and other times the solution
is in our seeing the maze of difficulties through God's eyes.
Nouwen advises, "Your life, my life, is given graciously by
God. OUR LIVES ARE NOT PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BUT JOURNEYS TO BE TAKEN
WITH JESUS AS OUR FRIEND AND FINEST GUIDE."
Lord Jesus, my need for you to guide me is greater than ever.
My journey seems a thicket of troubles, with no pathway out. Please
grant me your perspective and your confidence as you lead me today.
[The One Year Book of Encouragement by Harold Myra re vss. 6, 7]
COMMENTARY
Anxiety begins with worrisome thoughts - and they influence
our bodies. Anxiety can affect our breathing, heart rate, hormones,
and other biological functions. The way to counteract anxiety is to
breathe slowly and deeply. On each out-breath, think about or repeat a
truth from God's Word. Next, tell God each anxious thought, each
situation that causes worry or fear. Slow down, breathe and then say the
truth, which is that God cares for you and has your circumstances
completely under his control.
Pray or meditate on biblical truths such as Psalm 31:7, "I
will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and
knew the anguish of my soul." Or Psalm 34:4, "I sought the LORD, and
he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears."
Is there anything troubling you today? Offer it up to God.
He'll affirm the truth of his love for you.
God cares for us as his own children, so we can entrust all
our concerns to his wisdom and love. [The Daniel Plan 365-Day
Devotional]
Turning Worry Into Prayer
A businessman once made a "Worry Chart" on which he recorded
all of his worries. After a year, he tabulated the results. He found
that 40 percent of the things he had worried about were now very
unlikely to happen, 30 percent were worries about past decisions he had
made and which he could not now change, 12 percent dealt with other
people's opinions of him, and 10 percent were worries about his future
health, only about half of which he could presently do anything about.
In all, he concluded that only about 8 percent of his worries over
the previous year had been legitimate.
What is it that you are worried about today? Most days?
Keeping a worry chart might be a good way of discovering what it is that
truly concerns you and what things aren't really worth worrying about
at all.
A comparative way of measuring one's worries would be to use
a "Prayer Chart." What is it that you pray about the most? When
asked to catalogue their prayers, many people find that they actually
spend very little time praying about the things that concern them the
most!
Convert your worry time into prayer time. It's not only a
more productive activity, but a healthier and more enjoyable one.
[God's Little Devotional Bible re Psa.46:10]
The Source Of Our Supply
There once was a saintly man who lived on the edge of
poverty"by his own choice. He distributed all the money he earned equally
between himself and the poor. The man's adult son was among those who
found it extremely difficult to make ends meet, so the man gave him
just enough to keep body and soul intact, and continued to help
others who found themselves in dire need. One day, the father was asked
why he paid so little attention to his own son's personal needs
while the bulk of his attention went to others. "You could help your
son much more," his critic said, "if you would help strangers
less."
"Ah," the man replied wisely, "but if I were to meet all my
son's requirements, would he perhaps forget the necessity of relying
upon the Lord? Would he begin to see me as the source all his supply,
rather than his Heavenly Father? If that became the case, I would not
be helping my son at all!"
God forbid that we find ourselves feeling totally
self-sufficient, without need. It is in that dark corner that pride lurks. Once
pride takes over, we see little reason to invite the Lord to do His
work in our lives. Take inventory. Have you invited God into the
affairs of your life lately? [God's Little Devotional Bible re Psa.66:8,
9]
ILLUSTRATIONS
We live in a world absolutely crippled by anxiety. I feel it,
and I know my kids do too. It's pervasive in the world around us. We
see it even in the faces of strangers in the crowd. Living with
anxiety is like being bound by chains.
But worry and anxiety don't help us at all! When we worry, we
aren't solving a problem; we are just being bound by it. Like chains,
worry and anxiety keep us locked down, unable to move forward. We get
stuck. Maybe it's a bill we don't know how we're going to pay. Maybe we
worry that we aren't strong enough to stay on the road to recovery. We
might even be worrying about those we love.
When we worry, we are telling God, "I've got this one." We
think we are in control, but we aren't. Worry and anxiety really don't
change anything. They just wear us out and keep us tied up. But God
will break those chains if we ask him to. Instead of continuing to
turn those anxious thoughts over in our minds and worrying about
things we can't control, let's leave our anxious thoughts with Jesus
and let him break those chains that have us bound.
Father, thank you for setting me free from the chains of
worry and anxiety. I leave all my anxious thoughts at your feet. In
Jesus' name, Amen. [Celebrate Recovery Daily Devotional by John &
Johnny Baker]
A few years ago, my young daughter insisted on riding a
gigantic roller coaster at Sea World. She had never ridden a roller
coaster of any size before, so I tried to talk her out of it. But she
was determined that she was ready.
She was all smiles as we stepped into the seats, buckled up,
and waited for the upward climb. But the higher we got, the more
concerned she looked. She began to lose a little color in her face as we
began the climb, and her nervousness spiked as we neared the top. Just
before we began the descent, I saw fear in her eyes, so I leaned into
her, held her hand, and said as calmly as I could, "Daddy has you,
sweetie. You don't need to be afraid. I'm here." I will never forget the
rest of the ride - she did not enjoy a single moment of it!
Afterward, she felt sick for the rest of the day.
When we face lifes trials and scary roller coaster
moments, we can feel confident that our Daddy, the Abba Father, is
leaning into us, holding our hand, and saying, "Daddy has you; don't be
afraid. I am here." Even when we find ourselves in situations of our own
choosing, circumstances we weren't quite ready for, he is there making the
ride right along with us because of his great love for us.
Heavenly Father, thank you for holding my hand as I face the
challenges in my life. Thank you for loving me constantly and
unconditionally. In Jesus' name, Amen. [Celebrate Recovery Daily Devotional by
John & Johnny Baker]
Sunday nights in our house have a predictable pattern. Right
around bedtime we'll have at least one meltdown. Usually it's our
oldest daughter. She worries about school, which is strange because
she's really smart. The problem is that she doesn't feel that way.
Every Sunday she worries that there will be something she
won't be able to understand. She stresses out about it, cries, begs to
stay home. It's sad to watch her struggle so unnecessarily. On Monday
afternoons, I usually ask her about her day. Did the things she was worried
about happen? Almost always her answer is no.
Many of us carry around a similar weight of anxiety, working
ourselves into a ball of tears over things that will never materialize.
This is not how God wants us to live. He looks down on us, his
precious children, and asks us to turn all those things that are worrying
us over to him. He loves us, and he's much more capable of handling
those things than we are.
My wife and I have noticed that after our daughter tells us
about her worries, she feels better. Nothing has changed, of course,
but she no longer feels she is carrying those burdens alone. She
knows that we love her and will always be there to help her. We can
have that same security by sharing our worries and fears with God. He
will always be there for us. He will always help us.
Dear Father, thank you for walking with us, helping us to
carry all our burdens, real and imagined. Thank you for loving us. In
Jesus' name, Amen. [Celebrate Recovery Daily Devotional by John &
Johnny Baker]
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Cast all your care on Me, for I am watching over you. I am
actually a very good Catcher, so throw Me your cares - your anxieties and
concerns - with abandon. As soon as you release those worrisome things,
you can breathe a sigh of relief and refresh yourself in My
Presence. It doesn't matter if you have to do this many times each day -
and sometimes during the night too. I am always awake, ready to
catch your cares and bear your burdens.
Because I am infinitely powerful, bearing your burdens does
not weigh Me down at all. In fact, I enjoy this game of catch very
much because I see your load becoming lighter and your face becoming
brighter. No matter how much you throw at Me, I never miss! So refuse to
let your worries weigh you down. Remember that I am with you - ready
to help with whatever you are facing. Instead of mulling over your
problems, look to Me lightheartedly and say, "Catch, Jesus!" Then fling
your cares into My strong, waiting hands. (1Pe. 5:7; Psa. 139:23;
121:5-8; 68:19) [Jesus Today by Sarah Young]
Trust and thankfulness will get you safely through this day.
Trust protects you from worrying and obsessing. Thankfulness keeps you
from criticizing and complaining: those "sister sins" that so easily
entangle you.
Keeping your eyes on Me is the same thing as trusting Me. It
is a free choice that you must make thousands of times daily. The
more you choose to trust Me, the easier it becomes. Thought patterns
of trust become etched into your brain. Relegate troubles to the
periphery of your mind, so that I can be central in your thoughts. Thus
you focus on Me, entrusting your concerns into My care. (Col. 2:6,
7; Psa. 141:8; 1Pe. 5:7) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
I am taking care of you. Sometimes you feel alone and
vulnerable - exposed to the "elements" of a fallen world. When you are
feeling this way, stop and remind yourself, "Jesus is taking care of
me." This reminder can comfort you and help you relax. It draws you
back from obsessing about the future, trying to figure out and
orchestrate what will happen.
When circumstances are confusing and you don't know which way
to proceed, remember that you are in My watchcare. I know
everything about you and your situation. I also know the future. A child in
a good family with adequate resources doesn't need to know how his
parents will provide for him tomorrow, next week, next year. You are in
the best Family imaginable, and My resources are absolutely
unlimited! So bring Me all your needs and concerns. Entrust them to Me and
live confidently - as a child of the King of kings! Relax and
rejoice, for I am taking good care of you. (1Pe. 5:7; Isa. 58:11; Rev.
19:16) [Jesus Always by Sarah Young]
I am taking care of you. Feel the warmth and security of
being enveloped in My loving Presence. Every detail of your life is
under My control. Moreover, everything fits into a pattern for good,
to those who love Me and are called according to My design and
purpose.
Because the world is in an abnormal, fallen condition, people
tend to think that chance governs the universe. Events may seem to
occur randomly, with little or no meaning. People who view the world
this way have overlooked one basic fact: the limitations of human
understanding. What you know of the world you inhabit is only the tip of the
iceberg. Submerged beneath the surface of the visible world are mysteries
too vast for you to comprehend. If you could only see how close I am
to you and how constantly I work on your behalf, you would never
again doubt that I am wonderfully caring for you. This is why you must
live by faith, not by sight; trusting in My mysterious, majestic
Presence. (Rom. 8:28; Job 42:1-3; 1Pe. 5:7; 2Co. 5:7) [Jesus Calling by
Sarah Young]
Rest in the deep assurance of My unfailing Love. Let your
body, mind, and spirit relax in My Presence. Release into My care
anything that is troubling you, so that you can focus your full attention
on Me. Be awed by the vast dimensions of My Love for you: wider,
longer, higher, and deeper than anything you know. Rejoice that this
marvelous Love is yours forever!
The best response to this glorious gift is a life steeped in
thankfulness. Every time you thank Me, you acknowledge that I am your Lord and
Provider. This is the proper stance for a child of God: receiving with
thanksgiving. (1Pe. 5:7; Eph. 3:16-19; Psa. 107:21, 22) [Jesus Calling by
Sarah Young]
CLOSING THOUGHT
Over the years, my wheelchair has taught me to leave
"providing" to the God of providence. Although it's true my paralysis is
often hard to bear, pain sears into my hip, and I feel utterly
overwhelmed, the years have taught me to trust that God will provide. He will
provide for me, just as He provided for Elijah. With a little oil in a
jar and a handful of flour, Elijah outlived the famine (1Ki.
17:14-16). So will I, and so will you. Yes, the sky may seem dark and
threatening, but even those black clouds contain showers of mercy.
So take heart if you are struggling in much hardship. God
loves you as much now as He does when skies are bright and life is a
breeze. This very day, God will provide grace and a blessed escape.
Today's Scripture contains some of the most beautiful words ever
written: "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
Lord, I seek to do that right now. If I'm holding on to fear,
help me to release it. If I'm wrestling with anxiety, show me how to
let it go. If I'm carrying weights that You never intended me to
carry, help me to cast them aside. No matter what, I want to rest in
You today, knowing You care for me. [A Spectacle of Glory by Joni
Eareckson Tada and Larry Libby]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE:
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2015/20150312-1916.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2016/20161017-1714.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2015/20150108-1645.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES AND SEMINARS
Restoring The Power by John Bradshaw:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRogO1SxoZN15Boa7BMon4BouVMdteVaq
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: http://www.bibleresearch.info/
ABible.com: http://www.aBible.com
