Be Humble – Be Valiant: 7 Keys to Casting Cares

Be Humble – Be Valiant: 7 Keys to Casting Cares

1 Peter 5:6-7

 

Given the facts of who God is versus who we are we have no grounds for argument against humbling ourselves before our Maker. (Please see my previous post, "Me vs. God.")

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7 NKJV). 

“Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker—an earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’ Or the thing you are making say, ‘He has no hands’?” (Isaiah 45:9 NASV).    

As we continue in humility before God, He will exalt us when the time is right. Now, wouldn’t you rather be elevated by God Himself when the time is divine according to His unquestionable wisdom than strive to raise yourself up in an artificial or self-serving manner? I certainly would.

Have I always restrained myself? No. And this has led me into some embarrassing moments. “God, please help me to wait on you and allow You to elevate me in due time, because You are all knowing and wise beyond my imagination. In Jesus name—Amen.”

 

In God’s divine time He will make you shine.

I’m not saying I have some burning desire to stand out as a shining star—that’s uncomfortable. But I do have some things to say which I believe will help others.

Meanwhile, Peter calls us to cast our cares onto God, “casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). “Cast your cares on Him,” is one of the most quoted truths of the Bible. I say it often and am comforted by adding the second part of the verse, “for He cares for you.” Is this a verse you often quote?

What comes to mind when you think of cares? We probably think of worries, trials, burdens, anxieties, etc. 

The word, care in Greek is merimna, from the root word, meiro, which means “to divide.” The literal meaning is “to be anxious beforehand about daily life,”*  

Woah! Does this not describe the way we go through some days? For some people this describes their every day. It’s no wonder so many people suffer from various psychosomatic disorders. 

It’s imperative that we know deep in our knower that God cares for each of us. To be reassured of that truth read Psalm 23 and meditate on each line. 

Before moving to the next passage lets spotlight the phrase, “under the mighty hand of God.” There is no limit to the mighty hand of God.  We, as mere humans, are clueless of the power contained therein. The hand of God is mentioned at least 1265 times in the Bible, according to BibleGateway.com.

One of my favorite passages is Isaiah 48:12-13. “’Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, My called: I am He, I am the First, I am also the Last. Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth. And My right hand has stretched out the heavens; When I call to them, they stand up together.’” 

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God” (1 Peter 5:6a).

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9 NKJV). 

This passage is clear-cut with instruction and warning, but let’s expand it a little with the Amplifies version. “Be well-balanced—temperate, sober-minded; be vigilant and cautious at all times, for that enemy of yours the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset], rooted, established, strong, immovable and determined—knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) through the world.”

In these verses (6-9) Peter gives Seven Keys to Casting Cares and trials we face as we navigate this fallen world:

1-   Live humbly before God.

2-   Cast your cares on God being confident that He cares for you. 

3-   Be sober-minded and self-controlled. 

4-   Be vigilant—constantly watchful—alert to the tricks, traps, and triggers of the devil. 

5-   Resist the devil, withstanding his every attack, scheme, and temptation.

6-   Be steadfast in faith, careful not to let down this shield, as it is your first line of defense. Our shield of faith guards you and deflects Satan’s flaming arrows. (Ephesians 6:16) 

7-   Be aware that other followers of Jesus face trials, persecutions, and temptations just as you do. All are in the same boat so need not develop a victim mentality and be waylaid by self-pity or false humility.

If we take to heart Peter’s counsel we will better understand things that are happening to and around us. We won’t be shocked by evil doers and illogical craziness that goes on in the world. 

We can go through our days, mindful of God’s minute by minute involvement in our lives. His Holy Spirit is reliable in us to help us valiantly do the work we’re called to do as warriors in God’s army. He’s well able to arm us as we assist Him in equipping the saints and building His Eternal Kingdom alongside our King Jesus. 

Thank you, Father God, for Your steadfast love, Your Mighty Hand, and Your abundant provision. In Jesus name—Amen. 

©Copyright 2018 Connie Wohlford

*Word Wealth for 1 Peter 5:7, Spirit Filled Life Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991, page 1915.

God knows, y'all!

God Knows, Y’all!

Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:8 [He also knows what you want.]

Last week while chatting with friends, I began lamenting over the weather forecast for the upcoming Saturday− 85% chance of rain in the town where I was planning to sell my books at an outdoor arts festival.  I had already paid the nonrefundable fee of $50 and dreaded the thought of setting up in the rain for a show that would likely have only a handful of browsers and shopper.

When I realized I was sounding like a negative grumbler it occurred to me that God is in charge of the weather. And besides, He’s the One Who called me to do what I’m doing− write and sell my books. My bemoaning was surely not honoring Him. So I came to myself, looked at my friends, threw my hands in the air, and in my naturally southern way, declared, “God knows, y’all!” They agreed and we laughed together.

The next day while thinking about the fact that God truly knows, my thoughts turned to an experience I had had several months earlier where He clearly showed me that truth. It happened at my 40-something high school class reunion. I’m still blown away by what happened that night.

An old classmate came over and sat down with my husband and me and said he wanted to tell me something. I eagerly listened as he began describing an old photograph he had bought in an antique store a few years back and he thought I would like to have it.

As he continued on, I knew the exact photo he was talking about and it was all I could do to hold back tears. In fact a few began to leak no matter how hard I tried.

The picture was of my brother, Tommy, as a sophomore, sitting in the locker room before a baseball game. It had been taken by a yearbook staffer and held a major spot in the yearbook that year (1966) as the sports section intro page.

Very puzzled, I asked my former classmate how in the world he came to find it in an antique store and where. A few years earlier I had been told that it was in a box in storage and would be given to me when the box was emptied.

This photo had been given to Charles Fretwell, a highly respected man in our city, who wrote a monthly column for our local newspaper. When my brother, Tommy, was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 19, Charles visited him and my parents and asked if he could write about Tommy and our family’s experience. His column for that edition was titled, “Tommy Edwards Puts on the Badge of Courage.”

Then after my brother lost his battle with cancer, at age 22, Charles wrote about Tommy again, commending his quiet courage and faith in God. Charles obviously thought highly of my brother and admired his “quiet courage” as he expressed it.

A few years later, my husband and I were visiting Charles in his office and I noticed, hanging on the wall, the picture of Tommy-- nicely framed, and with a caption, “Tommy - Quiet Courage.” I recognized it immediately as the one from the yearbook.

I said, “Wow Charles, you have the picture of Tommy!”

He commented about how he was so pleased to have it and we reminisced a little about days gone by.

Several years later Charles and his wife both passed away and I was sent word from one of their daughters that when they came across the photo of Tommy, which had gotten packed away, they’d send it to me.

Then a few years later, at this reunion, you can imagine my surprise when I was told it was found in an antique store. My classmate didn’t remember the city or even the state where he’d discovered it. But, God knew.

I said to him, “God had His eye on that photo for me and kept it safe all these years! It’s just incredible!”

He agreed and said how pleased he was to give it to me and wouldn’t even let me reimburse him for the price he’d paid. I’m still amazed every time I look at the photo of my dear brother. It truly encapsulates his quiet nature and unassuming personality.    

Little did we know, at the time the photo was taken, that he would one day exhibit such quiet courage as a young man struck with cancer in the prime of life. His faith in his Savior sustained him and was a witness to his college friends as well as to our community.

Some may say, “Big deal. It’s just a picture.” I would respond, “True, it’s just a picture. And I could have lived out my life never seeing it again or owning it and that would be okay. It’s not like I thought of it often or fretted over it. I did not.”

But the fact that it was basically tossed out, found, rescued, and then placed in my hands is just one more example that God knows and God cares, even about little things.

Through this experience, God reminded me that He’s literally on top of all things. At the time of his illness and death, Tommy’s favorite song was, “His Eye is on the Sparrow,” as sung by Mahalia Jackson. Indeed, God’s eye is on the sparrow, and on you and me as well as every little thing that matters to you and me− such as a meaningful photo from years gone by.

Let’s be mindful always that, God knows, y’all!

Can you think of a time in your life when God showed you He knows even though it may have seemed like a small matter? (Or it might have been a bid deal.) 


Feel free to share in the comments below.

Thank you for reading my post today. I hope it encouraged you in some way.

©Copyright 2015 Connie Wohlford