calm

I DON’T HAVE A CARE IN THE WORLD

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CAST YOUR CARE

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.
I Peter 5:7 Amplified

SONG: I DON’T HAVE A CARE

Are you worried about something today?  You may say, “I’m not really worried, just a little concerned.” Do you know that God cares about everything you care about?  Yes, He does . . . because He cares about you.  I love the way this verse puts it in the Amplified Bible.  (The Amplified Bible is just a version that amplifies or defines the words so that we can understand them better.)  Care is defined as anxiety, worry or concern.  That pretty much covers it all doesn’t it? It goes on to say that we can cast or throw all of those cares on the Lord, because not only does He watch over us in a protective way, but He also has a deep affection for us as His children.  He wants the very best for us. “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4) “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32) The Father’s kingdom consists of ALL good things… health, wealth, joy, peace… anything you need.

It always helps me to understand our relationship with the Heavenly Father by comparing it to the relationship we have with our own children.  Do you care about everything that touches the lives of your children?  Of course you do!  Then why would you think our Heavenly Father would feel any differently?  “He who did not spare even his own Son, but gave him up on behalf of us all — is it possible that, having given us his Son, he would not give us everything else too?” (Romans 8:32 Complete Jewish Bible) Not only does He care, but He wants to help us if we just bring our cares to Him and leave them there.  How many times have you said to your child, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.”  Does that child worry about it anymore?  No, because Daddy said he would take care of it. Today your Heavenly Father is saying, “Child, give it to me.  I’ll take care of it.” Usually the problem is that we want control. We want to try to figure it out ourselves first and then when we fall flat on our face or have exhausted all our resources, give it to God. It’s like my three year old grand-daughter saying, “I can do it myself, Meme!” Wouldn’t it be so much better to save ourselves all of the anguish and self-imposed worry, and give it to God the Father in the first place?

For some reason, society has taught us that if we care about something, we have an absolute obligation to worry about it. That mentality is passed down from generation to generation even among church-going people. It is a slap in our Father’s face and a life filled with agony for us, for this world is filled with opportunities to worry. Haven’t you seen people that you actually envy for their carefree attitude? I have. It is my greatest desire to live a life of complete rest in Jesus, trusting Him in every situation…knowing that He loved me so much that He gave His life for me and the Father loved me so much that He sent His only Son to die. What greater love…what greater care…what greater peace exists? Let’s make this our confession today:

Father, I cast all my care [all my anxieties,
all my worries, all my concerns, once and for all] on You,
for You care for me affectionately
and care about me watchfully.
I rest in Your love for me.

THE “Aaaaah!” MOMENTS

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COFFEE . CHILD DRINKING

I (Jesus) came that they may have and enjoy life,
and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
John 10:10 Amplified Bible

When I get up each morning, the first words out of my mouth are “Good morning, Father. Good morning, Jesus. Good morning, Holy Spirit. Thank you for abiding with me.” Isn’t that a lovely way to start the day? : ) …But then my day really starts! I amble to the kitchen, start my coffee, feed the cat, fix my lunch and sit down for my devotional with a fresh cup of coffee. But my eye is never far away from the clock. I glance up again as the cuckoo rudely interrupts me to remind me that my time is limited. I’ve got to get up and get ready…just five more minutes…now three, two, one …time is up! Now the race is on! I jump up (literally) and head for the closet to pick out my clothes for the day. I have a walk in closet overflowing with clothes and shoes, besides two more in other bedrooms, but what am I going to wear?! I just don’t have anything! (Lord, forgive me.) I pick out an outfit and lay it on the bed. After showering and doing make-up I put it on and…oh my goodness, it shrunk the last time I washed it! (Yeah, really?) Bummer! I have to find something else. By this time that cuckoo is screaming its head off…”You’re going to be late, you‘re going to be late, you’re going to be late…again!” I finally make it to the car and I’m on my way. Oh, no, I forgot my cell phone. Can’t do without that! I turn around and go back to get it. Then I get behind an elderly lady headed for the Piggly Wiggly with her weekly grocery list. She is oblivious to my presence behind her. She doesn’t believe in driving over thirty-five miles per hour and there’s no place to pass on these country roads. “Lady, you need to turn in your car keys!” I didn’t say it…only thought it (or maybe I did say it that time). Anyway, by the time I get to work, I have to consciously calm myself and settle down. You get the picture…probably very vividly.

Life shouldn’t be that way. I spend five out of every seven days in this routine. I need to change something! Some things about it I can’t change. I can’t change the fact that I need to get to work on time. But I can change my attitude and maybe even do a little more preparation. (Me…preparation?…did I say that in the same sentence?!). I just read a statement that made me think about all of this. “Today should be savored, not gulped down.” A preacher I often listen to talked about how he and his siblings used to sit with his dad and drink a cup of coffee in the morning…probably on Saturday and probably the coffee was half milk. But he said his dad would take a sip and then say “Aaaaah”. After a while all of the kids were following suit. Everyone would take a sip of coffee and in unison say, “Aaaaah.” That is the perfect picture of a savored moment!

I know that every moment in life can’t be savored. There are times that we just barely get through. But we can enjoy a lot more of those moments if we make a conscious effort. We can choose to be hurried without being harried. Next time we find ourselves getting caught up in the “rat race” so to speak, let’s mentally pour a cup of coffee, take a sip, sit back and say “Aaaaah!”