“Casting is an intentional act to relocate an object. . . . Let this ‘throwing’ be your first response to bad news. As you sense anxiety welling up inside you, cast it in the direction of Christ. Do so specifically and immediately.”- Max Lucado
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”- 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
As Max Lucado concludes Chapter 6 of Anxious for Nothing, he encourages you to take your problem to the One who knows how to solve it. Take your problem to Christ. Ask for His help.
Pastor Lucado notes that God told the prophet Isaiah, “Put Me in remembrance; let us contend together” (Isaiah 43:26). Thus, prayer paves the pathway to peace. And, Max states, there’s “less consternation, more supplication. Fewer anxious thoughts, more prayer-filled thoughts.”
Furthermore, as Pastor Lucado reminds us, Jesus asked the blind man (Luke 18:41) what he wanted Jesus to do for him. Because Jesus wanted to hear the blind man articulate his specific requests. In addition, Max lists three reasons why it matters to be specific:
- A specific prayer is a serious prayer. When you offer specific requests, God knows the sincerity of your petition.
- Specific prayer is an opportunity for us to see God at work. Our faith grows as we see God respond in specific ways to specific requests. For example, when Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac, the servant: (a) prayed about it; (b) asked for success in his endeavor; (c) envisioned an exact dialogue; and (d) stepped forward in faith.
- Specific prayer creates a lighter load. Anxieties threaten when they’re ill-defined and vague. Therefore, we bring anxiety down to size when we distill the challenge into a phrase. Hence, we reduce the problem to a prayer-sized challenge.
In conclusion, the peace of God guards your heart and mind as you pray. And, in the end, Max asks, what could be better?
Today’s question: What Bible verses support you in casting your anxiety in Christ’s direction? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: the Easter Short Meditation, “The loudest voice in your life”
