Fastball
casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 NASB
Casting – Here is the Greek word epirripsantes. It means “to throw upon.” This is not a casual action. It is a deliberate forceful throwing like throwing an enemy down to the ground. Peter actually quotes Psalm 55:22 which uses the Hebrew word shalak, a word that means “to throw something away” or “to cast something out or down.” This is the Greek 98-mile-an-hour fastball. Throw it as hard and as fast as you can so that it will never come back.
In Greek, Peter puts the word “all” in the first position. He wants us to see that the emphasis here is on all your anxieties. Don’t throw just a few of them on God. Don’t toss off the big ones and keep the little ones that you think you can handle. Or the big ones that you think God won’t handle. Hurl them all away. Load your fastball with all the cares you have and let it rip.
It will seem crazy to do this. After all, everything in life tells us that we have to take care of Number One. The whole world seems to believe that God only helps those who help themselves. Anxiety appears to be one of life’s unavoidable disturbances.
But God says, “NO!” “Throw all your anxiety on Me. Stop living under the specter of ‘What if?’ thinking.” God is completely capable of taking care of you. And even more importantly, He wants to! Can you imagine that?! Here stands the God of the universe asking us to give Him the opportunity to take care of us and we say, “No thanks, God. I think I’d better worry about this one. I just need to give myself ulcers and stress fatigue and back pain because I have to take life on my shoulders. Oh, I know You want to care for me, but I would rather do it myself, even if I haven’t a clue about tomorrow and I am incapable of protecting myself from disaster. You see, I want life on my terms. So I am willing to trade peace of mind for all of this anxiety so just I can say that I did it my way.”
How stupid is that?!
Most of us know perfectly well that Peter’s insight is the truth, but we still worry. Why? Because knowing is a cognitive exercise for us. Our problem is not the information Peter gives us. Our problem is the emotional implication. We worry because we don’t feel as if God will really hold us up. We let our emotional distress override our cognitive agreement. What we don’t understand is that in Hebraic thought doing what we are told to do is the first step in changing emotional moods. Do it – then feel! Go ahead. Step up to the pitcher’s mound and wind up that fastball. Let it rip. God is there behind home plate. He’s giving you the sign. He’ll catch whatever you throw. Why are you hesitating?
Topical Index: 1 Peter 5:7, throw, cast away, epirripsantes
This was exactly what I needed to hear today. I love G-D so much. My life is being turned upside down and this was like Him talking directly to me. Thank you.
Excuse me for asking, but what does “Looking out for Number One” (yesterday) and “Number One” (today) mean? I don’t know these expressions.
These are American idioms that mean taking care of myself ahead of everything else
Thanks!
Why are you hesitating?
Just a thought!
I believe most of us know intuitively that unrepentant sin is the cause of our disasters and we also know that God isn’t inclined to save us from our self indulgences.
The other side of this equation is to stand still (in righteousness) and behold the salvation (Yeshuat) of the Lord (YHVH).
Israel was doing what God had told them to do step by step when He came and crushed their enemies. The command to “Stand Still” is very simliar to “be anxious for nothing”
Another way to put it is;
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and “””””””””having done all, to stand””””””””””””
Eph 6:14 {{{{STAND}}}} therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Just my opinion 🙂
Good morning my bride
This is the story of me and Pam.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2156161706585783232
Thank you sweetie,
I just want to also say concerning my post above, that there are real life Jobs in our midst. They are the ones who need today’s encouragement.
Sorry the trials and tribulations of shared computers.
Thank you sweetie,
I just want to also say concerning my post above, that there are real life Jobs in our midst. They are the ones who need today’s encouragement.
Broken Toys
As children bring their broken toys, with tears, for me to mend
I brought my broken dreams to G-D because he was my friend.
But then, instead of leaving Him in peace to work alone
I hung around and tried to help . . . with ways that were my own.
At last I snatched them back and cried, “How can You be so slow?”
“My child,” He said. “What could I do? You never did let go.”
–By Ben Hildner–
Another timely word.
I am praying for friends in a uniquely difficult situation and has unintentionally started to worry because of the complete impossibility for a favourable solution to the situation.
And now I know why I could not break through – thank you.
Hebrew Worldview
Psalm 55:4
My heart aches in my breast
Death’s terrors assail me
Psalm 55:22
Unload your burden on to Yahweh
And he will support you
Greek Worldview
1 Peter 5:7
Bow down then, before the power of God now
and he will raise you up on the appointed day;
unload all your worries onto him,
since he is looking after you
1 Peter 5:8
Be calm and vigilant, because your enemy the devil
is prowling around…looking for something to eat…
Ha Satan is not the devil (evil)
Rather Ha Satan works for YahweH
the GodFather
And we don’t need to wait until the end of time
It is all happening all at the zoo
In the here and now
Very good teaching! (Yup, its really me)
I spend lots of time trying to get this very point across, too. One person at a time.
Feelings are to let us know when to put a coat on and when to take it off, sit down for a rest, when to eat, and to not stick our hands in the oven to bring the pie out. Feelings are helpful to life and limb when used correctly.
Other feelings come from thoughts, — and if we are unable to change how we feel, we CAN change how we think. And this is what God wants us to do.
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” or Phil. 4:8, “think on things that are “true”, “noble,” “just,” “pure,” “lovely,” “of good report,” and “praiseworthy.”
We are instructed to set our minds on things above, not things on earth, Col. 3:2.
We can rejoice in our problems because God will use them to our benefit. “Knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Rom. 5:3-4)
We can look at “worries” as a chance to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths”
We can counteract anger’s comsuming feelings by doing Eph. 4: 32 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you”
Wrong thoughts and feelings lead to trouble in a variety of ways, everywhere — if I don’t ‘feel like’ the speed limit is 65, well, the patrolman isn’t hindered by my wrong beliefs.
God declares both His ability and His willingness to be our strength and support—in every way. He is able (and best of all, willing!) to take everything that threatens to overwhelm us and use it for our benefit.
Those “fastballs” are the construction material He uses. I agree we ought not hoard them!
Thanks again Skip, Needed to hear it again.