You’re naturally attracted to what you focus on. Focus determines direction.
If you’re driving on a roadway and your attention is distracted by something off on one side or the other, the natural tendency is for your card to drift in that direction. If you don’t catch it in time, you’ll end up in a ditch on the side of the road. The key, of course, is to keep your eyes on the road. But not only on the road just ahead of your vehicle, but also far enough ahead to identify your direction of travel.
If you ignore what’s immediately ahead of your car you may collide with something, but if you never look ahead and determine your direction of travel, you’re going to get lost. Moving is not the goal of driving a car. I’ve never gotten into my car and started deliberately driving in circles just because I wanted to be moving. Most likely, neither have you. No, we get into our cars or onto a bus, train or plane because we want to get from one particular place to another particular place. Where we are going is a critical part of the journey.
Today’s verse tells us to CAST ALL YOUR ANXIETY ON HIM BECAUSE HE CARES FOR YOU.
Anxiety. Just reading the word can bring a tinge of tension. The “things” all around us and the situations we face can cause anxiety … if we don’t determine to keep our focus in the most productive place. God brings His peace into our world of anxiety when we invite Him to do so.
I love the reality that the psalms express. I was reading Psalm 56 earlier this morning as part of my prayer time. David was having a tough day. His adversaries were walking all over him, they were causing trouble and picking fights with him daily. They’d twist his words, spread rumors and lie in wait looking for the opportunity to tear him down. What I loved about David’s prayer in the psalm was that he was honest about his personal struggle. He said, “Though I am sometimes afraid, yet I will put my trust in you.”
Walking with God doesn’t mean that you’re never afraid. (I wish it did !!!) Walking with God and gaining victory is a constant process of focus and faith. We gain the victory when we refuse to be distracted by the attacks and choose to focus on Him, His call and His direction for our lives.
When the fears and anxieties of life present themselves — and they WILL — we need to give them over to God.
CAST ALL YOUR ANXIETY ON HIM BECAUSE HE CARES FOR YOU
Giving God the things that cause us anxiety is easy. The problem is that it is ALSO easy to take them back!!! Sometimes I feel as though I’m giving God my cares with a yoyo. Over to Him, back to me; over to Him, back to me. Up and down. I keep wanting to take control, to nudge the wheel a little bit this way and that. I get afraid, and I feel like I’m not in control; so I grab control back from Him.
I need to learn David’s lesson, and perhaps you do, too. “Though I am sometimes afraid, yet I will put my trust in you.”
You and I REALLY CAN cast all our anxiety on Jesus.
And we can do it for one simple reason — HE CARES. He truly does. I’m really glad that the verse doesn’t end with the words “He cares” because that would be a little too vague. I’d be tempted to argue, “Of course He cares for that other person, they are holy, read their bible and pray. Their Christian life looks perfect.” But the verse is quite clear — HE CARES FOR YOU.
YOU are worth His care, His time, His attention and His effort.
CAST ALL YOUR ANXIETY ON HIM BECAUSE HE CARES FOR YOU
So what are we supposed to focus on if we give our anxiety to Him? We can’t just “cast all our anxiety” and then think of NOTHING!!! Our brains don’t work that way.
The answer is as simple as it is elegant. (Fair warning – I said “simple,” not “easy.”)
You’re naturally attracted to what you focus on. Focus determines direction. So focus on Jesus Christ, and the things He has called you to. Focus on Him.
As you do, you’ll find yourself in the safest and most productive place you can possibly be – in the center of His will for your life. Like today’s image shows us, the place of power is the point where you and the cross of Jesus connect. The call of the disciple is to be WHO Christ calls you to be WHERE He calls you to serve and doing WHAT He has gifted and equipped you to do.
Don’t let the issues of life distract you from His call and His purpose.
You’re naturally attracted to what you focus on. Focus determines direction. So focus on Jesus Christ.
CAST ALL YOUR ANXIETY ON HIM BECAUSE HE CARES FOR YOU
