Daily Devotions – Cast your anxiety on him

Daily Devotions – Cast your anxiety on him

 

 

Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:

1 Peter 5:6-11 (NIV)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

In Peter’s first letter, he ends with these words to encourage us in the face of fear. Once again, we see the theme of humbling ourselves before God (in effect, being humble enough to allow God to take charge) and putting our cares into God’s “in box”. But Peter also gives us the helpful advice to resist the devil. Christians are not paranoid – we really do have a spiritual enemy who desires our harm. Many believers are suffering throughout our world today. This suffering does not mean that God is not with us. Rather, because God is with us and strengthening us, we are able to face suffering with confidence and joy, because we are assured of our ultimate salvation. Pray for the Christians in China, Nigeria, Somalia, Iran, Pakistan, and many other places, who are suffering persecution today.