Shepherd of My Heart

 

²Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be, not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve. ⁶Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:2, 6-7 (NIV)

 As we humble ourselves to do God’s will and serve others because we willingly obey Him, we should do this because we love Him, not because we must. If we have cares and anxieties that burden us and cause us to be distracted in our obedience to Him or cause us to think twice before obeying Him, then we must give those anxieties and cares to Him. God does not ask us to ignore those difficulties, but to willingly obey Him and receive His heart-peace, shalom, knowing He will take care of what causes us anxiety.

God cares for your heart. He cares about what keeps you from willingly saying yes to Him. God cares about your anxieties and fears you continue to bear as you serve Him. When you answer, “Yes” to God, give Him your anxieties with your willing submission of obedience. He will lift you up. Your burdens will be lighter because you gave them to Him. Covenant is two-sided.

¹⁰And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast. ¹¹To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:10-11 (NIV)