1 Peter 5:7-8a

I wanted to share from my devotion this morning, which was so appropriate with our verse of the week.  It's written by Dudley C. Rutherford:

"'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.'  Matthew 11:28-30.

'Did you know that all the water in the world can't sink a ship unless the water gets inside?  And did you know the sum total of problems in the world can't sink a Christian unless the problems get inside?  We need to learn to put all our cares, trials and problems at the feet of Jesus.  

Toward the end of his life, the great Apostle Peter had superior advice when he wrote, "Cast all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you" (I Peter 5:7).  Some of us are like the man carrying a big hundred-pound sack of potatoes down a dirt road.  A man driving a pickup truck stops and says, "Throw your potatoes in the back and jump in.  I'll give you a lift."  But the man gets inside the truck and keeps the heavy potatoes on his shoulders.  The driver says, "Mister, lay the potatoes down; the truck can carry that load for you."  The man replies, "Look, mister, you are mighty kind.  It's asking enough for you to carry me, let alone my potatoes."

I (Dudley) am like that sometimes.  Jesus says, "Cast all your anxieties on Me," and I (Dudley) say, "Wait just a minute, Lord; it's asking enough that you saved me and forgave me and wrote my name in Heaven.  I'm not about to ask You to carry my problems also."

Prayer: My dear broad-shouldered, divine Savior, I want to promise, from this day forward, to lay all of my burdens and worries on You.  A million times over, You are bigger and stronger and wiser than I am.  I'm sorry I've been so long in learning this lesson.  I plead guilty of worrying when I should be relying on You.  May I never forget that Your eye is on the sparrow, and I know You're watching me.  I pray in Christ's name.  Amen."                                                          -Dudley C. Rutherford

I felt this devotion very appropriate because it sums me up so well!  I have such a hard time giving my worries over to God and leaving them with Him.  I will present them to Him, but most times I take them back - like a sack of potatoes! 

In our key verse, one of the key words is ALL!  God doesn't ask for us to give some of our worries, or a portion of our worries, He asks us to give them ALL!  I must remember that and practice that daily and then leave it at His feet - for good!

"Thank you Lord for your goodness, your faithfulness and your unconditional love!  No matter what I've done in the past or the present, you love me the same.  I am thankful that I have a Christ that cares so much about me that He wants my problems cast upon Him!  They are too much for me to carry!  Help me to give them over to You and leave them there!  In Christs Name I pray - Amen."
-Kelly