Cast Your Cares

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Read 1 Peter 5:6-10 (New Living Translation)

6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters[a] all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. 10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.

Casting Your Cares – Relieving Stress

Peter advises his readers to cast their cares on the Master, for the Master cares. In the modern day, Peter’s advice might involve finding productive ways to relieve our stress. Many of the stress busters provided here were suggested by Stephen F. Duncan of the Montana State University Extension Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. Other items come from my own personal experiences. Some of the items are common sense. Regardless of their source, these stress busting activities will help you center your attention on developing a posture of expectancy and receptivity as you reflect on scripture and flex your spiritual muscles.

Stretch: Muscle tension is a common reaction to stress. Let go of that stress using these stretching activities:

• Neck Stretch: While standing or sitting up straight, gently tip your head to the left, hold for 30 seconds, and then return to center. Do the same on the right side.
• Side Stretch: With your feet comfortably apart and right hand on your hip, reach your left arm overhead and stretch to the right side. Hold for 30 seconds, and then switch sides.
• Chest and Back Stretch: While standing, clasp your hands behind you, arms straight, and then lift your arms up slightly. Hold for 30 seconds. Next, clasp your hands in front of you. Rotate your shoulder, reaching as far forward as you can. Hold for 30 seconds.

Exercise: People who are physically active handle stress better than those who are not active. Make time in your schedule for regular exercise. Choose an aerobic activity you can do 20-30 minutes every other day. Walking, running, swimming, and bicycling are all excellent choices. Give yourself five minutes of warm-up and five minutes of cool-down each session. Do it with friends who can help you keep your commitment, or do it alone and use the time for reflection.

Find Peace: Take time to fill your spiritual reservoir each day. Different things work for different people. Some fill their reservoir through prayer, meditation, thought, or pondering inspirational writings. Others fill it through admiring the beauties of nature or gazing into a star-filled sky. Do what brings you peace.

Listen to Your Body: Pay attention to what the voice of your body is telling you. The body speaks to us in many ways: by headaches, stiff necks, high blood pressure, or an upset stomach. When you “hear” these messages, you may be pushing yourself too hard. Slow down. Relax.

Think before You Eat: Some of us use food in unhealthy ways when we are under stress. Ask yourself how you view food. Do you view eating as a way to alleviate stress? Do you eat because you are bored? If your answer is yes, try to find more positive ways to fill your empty hours. Try reading, exercise, visiting friends, taking kids on an outing, or a hobby.