Monday, March 10, 2008

Cast and Present

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:22

Well, it happened again. Not another seizure (although I'll get to that in a minute), but He did it again! I know it had to be Him, I just don't believe in coincidences! Do you remember on Saturday, I mentioned how cool it was to need to hear certain words so badly and then I opened my book to have some quiet time and there were the EXACT words I needed at the EXACT moment I needed them? They were from the book of Isaiah about having hope in the Lord. After Hayden's seizure yesterday, I was feeling a little scared about his condition. What caused him to become unconcious? Would the doctor be able to tell?

Then I opened my book for some quiet time ... again. The title of my lesson this morning: The Great Physician. Immediately I felt a sense of comfort and peace come over me. I know the Great Physician well. And I trust Him. At once, I was no longer worried about Hayden. I know he is in very capable Hands, the mighty Hands of the Great Physician. Of course we still went to the doctor, who I absolutely love and adore. She's been Hayden's doctor his whole life. She's very thorough. She examined him and has referred us to a cardiologist for further tests, mostly just to confirm what she believes was his reaction to pain and not reason for panic or major concern. But regardless, I know the Great Physician has great plans for Hayden and is healing him.

That same Great Physician is there for us too. He wants us to come to him for healing. How stubborn we can be sometimes! I remember once when I was sick. I needed to go to the doctor but I didn't feel like making an appointment, waiting in a waiting room all afternoon, and then having to spend money on a prescription. Plus I just figured it would go away eventually. I put it off each day until finally I was so sick I could hardly get out of bed. I had strep throat and that required that I get medical attention. I went to the doctor, got a shot (OUCH) and I was better within 24 hours! If only I had gone sooner I would have saved myself a lot of trouble! Same is true with the Great Physician. (That's God in case you haven't you figured that out yet.) How many times I try to solve a problem, issue, or situation and take matters in my own hands only to make a bigger mess of things. Oh, but I want to do things my way. Then finally when I do hand it over to the Great Physician, I think, "Why didn't I turn it over to Him a long time ago?"

Psalm 55:22 says (as Diane posted yesterday I think), "Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall." And Philippians 4:6 tells us "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." We aren't supposed to fix ourselves. We aren't supposed to worry and fret. We are supposed turn it over to the One Who can fix it and His Word says that He will sustain us.

In trying to obtain a healthy lifestyle, I know I need to turn it over to God. My problem is that I'll skip exercise or eat when I'm stressed or worried instead of taking my burdens to the Lord. He wants me unload on Him. I can assure you, that raspberry dark chocolate yum yum I ate today did not help release my stress and anxiety. It really only added to it, because now I feel guilt over it! Why didn't I go to God and ask for help and relief? I needed to cast and present.

Cast and present. Those are my action words for the day. Cast my burdens on the Lord (who wants them) and present my requests to God (who wants to help me deal with them).

Action Plan:
The next time you find yourself carrying more than you can handle, or if you feel drawn to something else besides God to make you feel better (like food), Cast and Present. I bet we will all feel much better and be much healthier in our minds and bodies if we do just that. Remember to cast and present.

Hayden is home now. I hear him in the next room talking to his little sister. They are laughing. I'm so thankful for the laughter. I'm so thankful for my Great Physician who has given me a peace so that I can enjoy the laughter.

Blessings Beautiful Friends,

Melissa

7 comments:

Amy L Brooke said...

Great reminder! I have to be careful because some times I cast my cares and for some unknown reason, grab them all up again. Maybe it is impatience. I'm not sure. It reminds me of that poem, not sure of the name or author, but it says something like, "As children bring their broken things with tears for us to mend, so I took my broken things to God because He is my friend" That's all I remember from heart, but then it continues, about snatching them back again and saying something about "How can you be so slow?" And God replies, "My child, you never did let go . . . ."

Blessings today and I'm still praying for Hayden.

Joyful said...

So glad to hear that God again spoke His Word into your day. Isn't is amazing when He does that!! I can just imagine opening the devotional in the morning and seeing, "The Great Physician". Ours is a great God!

Continuing in prayer for you all.
Love & prayers,
Joy

Chef Diane said...

WOW, Melissa thank you for being obedient to the Lord and sharing your heart. Today I went to the doctor and he put me in a cast for the next two months. This will be number (53). The most amazing thing happened, I didn’t fall apart. After he left the room, I starting praying for grace to endure this next round. Then they came to put the cast on, that is sassy purple. God is the great physician and if we allow him, he will heal us to that place where he wants us. I used to pray for total healing. But after my battle with pain and surgeries I have learned to pray for the healing of the place that HE wants me. Maybe I have not finished this particular journey yet and need to learn more. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t blame God for this. Actually I thank him for allowing me the grace to grow through my struggles. Sometimes we are head strong on a course that we know is dangerous or takes time from the loved ones in our life. The Lord waits for us to call upon him, but sometimes we don’t do it soon enough. Melissa I think that you are not alone in waiting out the sickness. I think we as mothers sometimes think that we have to be so strong and the house will get turned over if we are not right there. I have learned if I am not obedient to the things that make me whole then I cheat myself and my family.
I am so glad you have some answers about your son. Thank you also for mentioning his name. This allows us to call him by name before the Father in our prayers.
Thanks again and I will be in prayer,
Diane

Michelle said...

Oh Melissa! I love it when God does this! When we open up His word or our devotions and we are desperate and He says,"You don't have to be desperate, I have comfort for you!" I cherish those moments I have had with my Daddy God and I am sure you do too!!

Charlene Kidd said...

I have been away from the computer for a couple of days. I missed a lot. I am praying for Hayden, and for your continued peace and perseverance in your quest for a healthier you. Many of us are walking that same walk right now.
Blessings,
Charlene

Amy L Brooke said...

Your a winner! Come by and see!

Jodie Wolfe said...

Thanks for the reminder. Hope your son is completely better now.