In our house, we have what I call the "care bucket. When our kids were little, I encouraged them to place all their cares into an imaginary bucket and then hand it to Jesus for him to take care of and deal with. I still encourage everyone to do it regularly to offload all the worries, cares, disappointments and hurts we can carry.
Sometimes it's not a bucket but one of those industrial roadside "skip bins" that is required, but that's okay because it's better to offload our cares than to let them fester in our hearts and minds.
God doesn't want us to carry loads and be weighed down by burdens. He knows there are some things in life we cannot fix ourselves; the task or situation is too big. We need help, and God says He is our help.
He says, "Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis." (Matt 11:28). "Cast all your cares and anxiety upon him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)
God's ways are different from our ways, and He wants us to live free from worry and anxiety. But to live like that, it helps to live by His ways and not our own. When things come up that cause us to become anxious and worried, God wants us to seek His help.
The Bible is like a God's manual for life, and it has a lot to say about how to deal with worry.
God encourages us to:
1. Humble ourselves; that means we must let go of the controls and ask for help.
2. Cast all our cares on Him. Give them over to Him, and then don't take them back. When we do that, our concerns are His concern. Ask yourself, "How are things working out for me doing things my way" As long as we try to do everything ourselves, God will let us. But perhaps instead of making ourselves miserable trying to figure everything out on our own, we can give them over to God to sort out.
3. Pray about everything. Find what God says and then pray and speak what He has promised into your situation.
When we do these things, God releases His miracle-working power into our situation.
Today I encourage you to offload your cares onto Jesus and to use the "care bucket. He loves and cares for you and wants to carry your load so you don't have to.
Ask for His help, acknowledge your need, cast all your cares upon Him, and then watch His miracle-working power go to work in your life.
"Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways, and you'll discover that I'm gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear." (Matthew 11:28-30)
"Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, 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 watchfully1 Peter 5:6-7
Prayer: Lord, thank you for caring about every area of my life. Please help me to cast all my cares on you and to learn to trust you. In Jesus' Name Amen.
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