Looking Unto Jesus

(From one of my favorite devotionals, Look Unto Me)

January 6

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

There is no better way to soothe sorrow than to know: "He cares for me!" Dear believer, do not dishonor the Christian faith by always exhibiting a furrowed brow of worry. Instead, cast your burden upon your Lord. Why do you continue to stagger beneath a weight your Father would not even feel? What may seem to be a crushing burden to you would not amount to the weight of a speck of dust to Him. Nothing is as sweet as to:

Lie passive in God's hands,
And to know no will but His.
(William S. Plumer, 1802-1880)

O child of suffering, be patient. Your sovereign God has not passed over or forgotten you. He who feeds the sparrows will also provide everything you need. Don't give up in despair--hope on! Hope forever! Use the weapons of faith against the seas of trouble and ultimately your foes will be defeated, and your distress will come to an end.

There is One who cares for you. His eye is fixed upon you, His heart beats with pity for your suffering, and His omnipotent hand will not fail to provide you help. Even the darkest storm cloud will be scattered into showers of mercy and the darkest night will give way to the morning sun.

If you are a member of His family He will bind your wounds and heal your broken heart. Never doubt His grace because of the troubles in your life, but believe He loves you just as much during the seasons of trouble as in times of happiness.

How quiet and peaceful your life would be if you would only leave the work of providing to the very God of providence! With "only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug" (1 Kings 17:12) Elijah outlived the famine--and you will do the same.

If God cares for you, why should you care too? If you trust Him with your soul, can't you trust Him with your body? He has never refused to bear your burdens, nor has he ever fainted underneath their weight.

Come then, dear soul! Be done with fretting and worry--leave all your concerns in the hands of your gracious God.

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

Fear and worry are sins yet, we often think of them as simply inevitable and therefore tolerate them in our lives. Paul stated, "Everything that does not come from faith is sin" (Rom. 14:23). Yet from the Word we find that faith can coexist with some doubt. Consider the man who brought his son to Jesus for healing, who said, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24).

What a wonderful choice of words, for they were spoken to Him who said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33).

Father, I thank You that in "all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Rom. 8:37). Thank You that through You we who are Your people are an army of "overcomers" indeed!

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