Pressure Cooker

b. To relieve the pressure out of life it is imperative from our verse that we create a place that is filled with peace and quietness of spirit were we can retreat.

c. The Scriptures above do speak to the modern way of life and thinking today.

i. We have lost peace and contentment in life because of pressure of the times.

1. We think we cannot turn off our cell phones or e-mail or msn messenger.

2. We think we cannot relax because we are to busy and yet it’s when your too busy that you need to relax.

3. We have beepers and phones that constantly steal our time of peace and contentment.

4. We here people complaining that that they never have a moment of peace and tranquility. But they refuse to make the adjustments necessary to find those tranquil moments in life.

ii. I have sat and pondered this verse in Proverbs the last couple of days and I believe it is speaking to each of us today.

1. I hear of so many people who live in strife because they are so consumed with doing more and being so busy that there is no break in life.

2. They are so busy and trapped in the whirlwind of business and stress that they are heading right for a pressure cooker explosion in their lives.

3. They do not rest as the Lord commanded in Scripture and in turn their lives are headed for a pressure cooker explosion.

iii. I did read this quote from Steve Shepherd which said, “To have a stress-free day, take a night job.”

1. Truth is life is filled with pressure and stress and it must be managed with wisdom from above.

a. We must understand that if we do not manage life’s pressure moments well then it will cause us to explode.

d. This verse tells me to understand that a life filled with the simple things of life brings peace and tranquility to a soul.

i. Video Illustration – Cutting back – A couple talks about how they have chosen to simplify their life.

ii. Our society has a defective mindset that says, “Peace, joy and contentment comes from great parties and by having a lot of stuff.”

1. We honestly believe places like bars are going to help reduce our stressed filled lives.

2. "The saloon is a liar. It promises good cheer and sends sorrow. It promises prosperity and sends adversity. It promises happiness and sends misery.... It is God’s worst enemy and the devil’s best friend."

-Billy Sunday

3. So many people today have fallen prey to this lifestyle and the result is it just brings strife, fights, fits of rage, anger out bursts, stress, unfulfilled expectations, insecurity, and financial debt.

a. This mindset uses alcohol and drugs to deal with their stress and it compounds the pressure cooker moments down the road.

b. This mindset brings strife, tension and quarrels to relationships as the drug becomes the controller in the individual’s life.

c. Think about this for a moment how many families have you heard of that get together for the holiday parties and they end in strife filled moments.

i. We get in quarrels over some ones reckless words.

ii. We get into a confrontation over some ones attitude toward us or others in the family.