Proper Casting is Essential for a Bountiful Harvest
“casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
All fishermen know that proper casting is essential to catching fish. For some fish such as bass, we cast and then slowly reel the hook back in to attract a strike. However, the opposite is true for some other fish. For example, when I fish for catfish, I cast and wait. 1Peter 5:7 is a favorite scripture of mine because it tells us that we can cast all of our anxieties on Him. The Psalmist gives similar instructions in Pslam 55:22. “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.”
Each day I cast my anxiety on our Lord. However, each day I also take it back. The key to fishing with God is patience. Fishing for catfish requires sitting patiently and waiting. “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord (Psalm 27:14). Our time and God’s time are as far as the East is from the West. 2 Peter 3:8 tells us “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”
Some would say that an inability to cast and leave your anxiety on God is an indication of a lack of faith. Perhaps this is true but I don’t think so. I have faith but I think many of us struggle with the “human condition.” Faith is critical for a disciple, and I think it is a natural consequence of our human condition to cry out to God in times of despair. I would never underestimate the need for faith or the value of all the fruits of the spirit. However, I think love is of upmost importance to the disciple. “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing” (1 Cor. 13:2).
Our God is waiting patiently for us to come to surrender to Him and give Him our anxiety. Then, and only then, we can live without worry. “Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you” (Isaiah 35:4).
Fishing was a common trade in the time of Jesus. It is well known that some of His diciples were fishermen and even returned to fishing after His crucifixion. I love the story in John 21 when the disciples were not catching fish and a Jesus tells the disciples to “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” The disciples did not know at the time to whom they were speaking. His advice is still applicable today. We may not be physically fishing with nets or poles but all of us are fishing for peace. The key is to cast it on Him and leave it. Jesus will tell you where and how to cast it, just be patient and wait for His voice and don’t be surprised if you don’t immediately recognize the source of the voice. Cast your anxiety on Him and the harvest of peace will surpass that of all understanding.
Meet the Author
Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
We welcome your comments below.
Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.
Liked this post?
Read more below or search for more topics...
-
The Traits Of True Leadership
The Traits Of True Leadership "Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant" (Matthew 20:26 NIV). If you are like me, you have seen several books on leadership. The books are typically authored by successful CEOs of large companies or military leaders. These books are often best-sellers and contain very useful information on the principles of secular leadership. The themes are typically along the lines of this: A leader is a visionary. A leader knows how to delegate. A leader surrounds himself/herself with good people. A leader leads by example. A leader is trustworthy.... -
A Lesson On Patience From A Rock Song
A Lesson On Patience From A Rock Song? "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31 NKJV).I loved the rock singer Tom Petty. One of my favorite songs by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers was called “The Waiting.” The chorus is: “The waiting is the hardest part. Every day you see one more card. You take it on faith, you take it to the heart. The waiting is the hardest part." I totally agree that... -
Judge Others or Pray?
Judge Others or Pray? "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin” (John 8:11).It is so very tempting to judge others as we can go about our day. We often do not say anything negative but in our minds, we condemn others. Some of us will pass judgment when we see someone smoking cigarettes. Others will pass judgment when they see a person with multiple tattoos and piercings. We can even quote Scripture to support our case. Don’t they know that their bodies are a “holy temple”? (1...