Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Cast My Cares on the Lord? Oh, Yes!
I hear about cares and concerns. Oh, yes. Certainly, I do. Familiar from my former position as a hospital chaplain, as well as my current position as a small church pastor, I very much serve as a listening ear to individuals.
Imagine my pleasure at discovering the reading from the liturgical lectionary prayer book for today: 1 Peter 5:1-11. This passage is chock-full of quotable verses, for a number of different reasons. However, my eye fell on verse 5:7. I have committed that verse to memory, and for me t actually try to do that, the verse must mean a whole lot. (I have difficulty memorizing things. I’ve spoken about my problem in several other blog posts. Suffice it to say that I have problems due to some disability from a former health difficulty.) So, I particularly wanted to commit this verse to memory.
“We can surely accept our Lord’s invitation, indeed His command, to cast all our cares upon Him and let Him care for them.” This quote from Simon Tugwell, taken from this lectionary prayer book, helps me to understand more what others think about this verse. God doesn’t want us to be hurt, or sick, or in need. But—it happens. All we need to do is accept our Lord’s invitation. (Well, yes, it is written as a kind of a command. Which I, as a Christian, ought to receive.)
Dear Lord, gracious God, this verse has great advice for me! Now, if only I would listen more carefully. To see You more clearly, love You more dearly, follow You more nearly. Gracious God, help me to care for You, then others, and me last. Lord, in Your mercy, hear all of our prayers.
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Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind. @chaplaineliza And read #40acts sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er .
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