CASTING

In fishing you must load up a hook at the end of a fishing-line that is connected to a fishing pole with bait. Then with a fluid straight back motion with the arm you have your pole-in-hand with, you now come forward with a flick of the wrist, aiming to cast the baited hook at your targeted landing spot. Why? To receive a return of a caught or hooked fish.

When we go through stressful situations in our lives, God calls us to perform the same kind of action spiritually. This time when we cast off our problems or stress, our target is God and our return could be any number of different named fish - peace, direction, hope, love, assurance and so forth. Of course if you are using a net to fish, you could catch all of these at once.

David encourages us - "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken." (Psalm 55:22)

Jesus echoes these sentiments and elaborates on just what you will receive - “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Later, Peter speaking to churches established in the Roman provinces of Asia minor, north of the Taurus mountains, emphasized to the elders of these churches - "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7) I encourage you to notice the word "all" and captilize on this - not withholding anything but casting all worries on Christ.

Paul submits his inspiration on this matter in his final exortations to the believers in Philippi. He says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

Not stressed or worrisome about anything seems impossible, but Paul challenges us to do so. And a help in this area is to pray and present every situation to God with thanksgiving. Not that God doesn't already know what you are going to go through and not thanking Him for the situation, but presenting the circumstances to Him declares your trust in Him to manage and deal with the issue and thanksgiving should be for His presence through the whole ordeal.

The reward is that God's peace which baffles the mind will supply you with that moment of pause needed to think things through with the Lord in your situations - "will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

I have witnessed in my life and the lives of others many times, in many different areas of our lives instances when we feel like we have the answer to the stress of a particular situation. And so many times the issue has dragged on and could have been remedied if I or others would have just practiced Casting.