“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

That all human beings encounter burdens is universal.

But did you know that carrying burdens is optional? That’s right. That’s exactly what our Bible verse tells us.

The verb for “cast” is rather a strong one. It means to pick up everything that is bothering you, everything that is weighing you down, and fling them on God’s back. He will carry them. You see, he is delighted to do so. Why? Because he loves you. He cares for you.

How marvelous is that?

That all human beings encounter burdens is universal. But whether you carry the burden or not is optional.

Why in the world would you carry burdens? Toss them! Fling them! Give them to Jesus.

He cares for you!

“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of all who fear him; he also hears their cry, and saves them” (Psalm 145:18-19).

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7).

“The wonderful thing about praying is that you leave a world of not being able to do something, and enter God’s realm where everything is possible. He specializes in the impossible. Nothing is too great for his almighty power. Nothing is too small for his love.”
– Corrie ten Boom

Global pandemic, fires, hurricanes, earthquakes, political unrest, racial unrest, economic uncertainty…

Gee. Thanks a lot 2020.

It’s easy to feel powerless and insignificant. I mean, really, what can I do? What can I do to alleviate suffering on a global scale?

This is exactly what the devil would love for us to believe.

Look at the promises of the scriptures. What can you do?

Pray!!! You can pray in the name of Jesus. You can pray for peace. You can pray for others. You can pray that the church of Jesus Christ be all over the business of establishing God’s kingdom here on earth.

It’s not just prayer. Prayer is huge. You can pray. You can pray God’s will.

But I want you to notice that this isn’t just praying what you want. This is praying the truth (Psalms 145:18), and praying in a way that demonstrates our abiding in Christ’s word (John 15:7). When we pray Christ’s will, when we pray God’s promises in scripture, God promises to do that very thing. So pray the promises of the scriptures for our world.

Our world sure needs it. Let’s get praying.

“Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that you may grow into salvation” (1 Peter 2:2).

It is essential that Christ-followers spend daily time in God’s word. God’s word remind us of who God is and all of God’s promises, and who we are and what God calls us to be. We need this daily reminder because it is so easy to forget who God is and who we are as his children.

This verse tells us the attitude and the aim we are to have relating to God’s word.

Attitude – “Like newborn infants, long for pure spiritual milk…”

• Like newborn infants
  • I sometimes joke that babies were born to suck. From the moment of their birth, babies have an innate longing for milk. They are born to suck. No one has to teach them to seek mom’s milk. They are just born with that innate desire.
  • So too for Christians, when we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, when we start loving God, we long to know more about who God is and all that God has promised us.
  • Like newborn infants, Christians long for God’s pure spiritual milk
• When’s the last time you felt that way about God’s word? If it’s been a while, perhaps it’s time for you to remember your first love. Take a moment to thank God for all that God has done for you, starting with the gift of eternal life.

Aim – “So that you may grow into salvation”

• Babies can’t grow without milk. Christians cannot grow without God’s word. You show me a person who is far from God’s word, you’ve shown me a person who is stuck and regressing in their relationship with God.
• Babies don’t work at growing. They just drink milk and growth happens. Christians don’t grow themselves. We get God’s word, God’s promises, God’s truths in us and God’s word changes us.
• I am so glad that you take a few minutes out of your day to start here. Growing Christians grow because God’s word is growing in them.

What is our attitude toward God’s word? Like newborn infants, long for pure spiritual milk

What is our aim regarding God’s word? So that by it we may grow in our salvation.