How To Receive Peace

Little Bobby had a habit ......of stretching.. the truth.

One day .....while he was walking home from school .....he saw a large black dog ......run across the street ..... right in front of him.

He rushed home .....as fast as he could ......and told his mother, ...."Mom, ......you're never going to believe .....what I just saw!"

"What did you see Bobby?"........his mother asked ...........cautiously.

"While I was walking home,... a huge black bear.... jumped out of the bushes ....and tried ...to eat me! But I was too fast for him ......and got home...... as fast as I could!"

By this time ....his mother was somewhat distraught .....and began to worry .....about Bobby's..... "truth-stretching".

When his father .....returned home the next day from a business trip, .....Bobby excitedly ran to his father ......and told him about the Adventurous encounter he had on the way home from school.

His father promptly instructed Bobby..... to go to his room, .....get down on his knees .....and ask God ......what He thinks ....about his story.

Within just a few minutes .....Bobby came bouncing out of his room .....and into the kitchen. (Pause)

"Well son, ...... what did God think about your story?"

"Well, replied Bobby, .......God told me .....that when He first saw that dog, .....He thought it was a bear too!" (Pause)

Beloved.....Life Can Be A Bear.

More often than not, .....life looks and feels much like..... a mean old bear.

Bears are relentless. Bears never give up.

And so are the pressures of this thing..... called life..... they too .....are a bear.

Continually Bearing down on us.

Every day .....we feel the wear and tear .....of the relentless pressure .....of the bear's pursuit.

And it should not surprise us ...... that one of the predictable results of this Relentless pressure.... is ....stress... worry....and the lack of Peace.

Paul Shares with us a promise in our text from Philippians ....... That....When we pray, ......We Will ........receive something.

Hear God's word once again: BIBLE Phil 4:6-7 "Be anxious for nothing, .....but in everything .....by prayer and supplication ....with thanksgiving .....let your requests be made known to God" END

Be anxious ......for ..... nothing.... Be anxious .....for No Thing.

In other words ....do not take on ....stress, ...... do not take on..... worry..... do not take on...anxiety.

God's word tells us:......Whatever is troubling you, .....whatever is causing you to be restless..... whatever is weighing on your heart ...... Pray ..... Pray about ......these things!

Whatever it may be..... come to God....speak with... and to God about it!

Beloved ..... That is what God has called us to do.

Now hear the promise... hear the promise of what you will receive..... if you turn these things over to God!

BIBLE "And the peace of God,.... which passes all understanding, .....shall guard your hearts .....and your minds.... in Christ Jesus" END (v.7).

Be anxious for...... No Thing.

Do not be anxious...... (Slow) even over ..... one thing.

That's right...... not One thing.

Beloved, .....the ball is in our court.

You and I must........"choose"!

You can chose to worry... You can choose to be anxious....... Or you can chose to ....Take the Scriptural alternative .... And Give It To God.

This passage is a picture of God...... inviting you .....to come .....to come to Him.

He is saying.... "Come, ....... Lay your burden down.....give it ......to Me!"

Are you worrying ......about something today?

Are you anxious ......about something this day?

God says, "Come, ....... Come and leave it.... Come and Give it to Me!"

Remember what Jesus told his followers: .....My yoke is easy .....and my burden is light.

Is there something...... weighing on your heart?

Are you carrying ....a heavy burden.

If you are .......it is not ......from the Lord.

My yoke is easy .....and his burden is light...... Saith the Lord.

We are also told in Psalm 55:22 "Cast your cares on the LORD .....and He will sustain you; .....He will.... never let the righteous fall."

He will.... never ......ever let the righteous fall."

Cast your cares on the LORD .....and if you do......He will sustain you.... he will never .....let you fall.

There is a sense of an Exchange here.

Cast you cares... cast your worry.... Cast your Anxiety on God .....and he will sustain you... He will hold you up ......

And Paul shares from our text today.... He will give you ...... Peace.

Peace.......Now that is an exchange ...... that only a loving God .....would ever make.

If ......you believe .....in the authority of Scripture.

If...you believe ....in a loving and personal God...... than ...cast your cares give your cares to him.....and receive His Peace.... Receive his rest.

Jesus said: "Come to me, .....all who are weary ....and Heavy Laden , .....and I .....will give you ..... rest." (Matt 11:28)

Beloved....Jesus is standing at the door to your heart every day..... do you hear his knock..... do you hear his voice?