Close the Door

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

As I was chauffering kids to school this morning, my thoughts preoccupied with the Lord, I felt Him heavily impress this thought on my spirit:

Cast the full weight of your cares on Me.

I was quickly reminded of the verse in 1 Peter above, to give all my worries and cares to God because He cares about me. More than anyone else could ever possibly, He cares for me.

Reflecting on how painful it's been, how much it has grieved my heart to have dear friends move away, I realize it hurts because I grew to love and care about them so much. Such is the same with death. We grieve deeply when we have loved deeply. So when I compare my own level of regard for my friends to God saying that He cares about me, I can be assured He cares far and beyond what I am capable of in the flesh. I can't imagine loving someone more than my husband, my children or a dear friend, but He does me! 

Just as I, as a wife, mother and friend, exhibit concern over the burdens and cares of others, God cares about mine even more. He doesn't want me to toss Him a care or two every now and again, when I get desperate, or because someone told me to. He wants me to bring them all to His feet on a regular basis. Not in the absence of friends or answers, resources, or when all other options are exhausted. He wants me to bring every care to Him because He loves me deeply and He is the only One who can sustain me. Psalm 55:22 says, "Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you..."

The Amplified version of the Bible expounds upon 1 Peter 5:7 in this way: "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."

God wants it all. He wants to hear about everything on my mind and in my heart... the good, the bad, the uncertainties, the failures, the questions, my thoughts and my fears. He's asking me to pour out the full weight of the load I am carrying, taking it off my shoulders and putting it on His. He is willing, and even desires, to bear the full weight of my load so that I can travel lightly.

I am inclined to believe this means serious, get down on my knees - my face, even - in my prayer closet, shut off from the world, serious praying. Emptying myself, kind of prayer. Matthew 6:6 says, "...when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen." Close the door and go pray!

And when I pray, I need to  remember Who I am praying to. He is both the God of the Universe, sovereignly in control of all things - and at the same time, Abba Father, my "Daddy" who cares for me affectionately and with a watchful eye. As an affectionate Father He admires, adores, is attentive to, devoted to, thinks fondly of, is generous towards, passionate over, loyal to, thoughtful of, zealous about and yearns to be with me as His daughter. And He keeps a "watchful eye" on me. He is always on the lookout for my best interest, alert, all ears, careful, guarded in a jealous way for me, wide eyed and never closes an eye to sleep, observant, never missing a beat, because He cares that much for me!

Father God, thank You for being a weight-bearing God. One who loved me enough to not only die and bear the full weight of my sin on the cross, but One who loves me enough still today to bear the full weight of my burdens too. By giving my cares to You I can travel lightly. With my own burdens laid down, I can pray more effectively for others, serve others with a joyful heart vs. drowning in my own pity party, minister to the needs of others more attentively, and have a clear mind to hear You. 

Help me Lord to better understand and comprehend this affectionate love You have for me. Allow me to experience more of it I pray. Thank You for doting over me and keeping a watchful eye out for me. That to me is the true meaning of "Daddy" love. In Your loving name I pray, amen.