5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
- What attitude must you have to cast all your anxiety on God?
- How are humility and worry related?
- How does realizing that God cares for you help you with your worries?
- When are you willing to cast your anxiety on God?
- What underlying bad attitudes does anxiety evidence?
- How is worrying connected the fact that the devil is roaming?
- How do you feel knowing that you should not be worrying about your suffereing?
When I first found this passage, I focused on verse 7. I wanted to know that God was there and that He cared for me and my worries. I brought up this verse in a class and a sweet sister pointed out the two verses before it. Oh, did it hit home! Most of my worries were about me losing face or what others thought about me. Later I found even more in those two verses; especially that my worry was showing how I thought I knew better than God how my life should go. Today I was struck by the verses following. The connection between my worry and the devil is bothersome. When I worry, it is frequently pride related and the devil will use that pride to his end. The devil appears to want us to worry; so he sends stuff our way, even suffering and persecution. To not worry when being persecuted is almost beyond my comprehension. Got a ways to go on this.
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