Proverbs 3:1-18 How to Receive the Blessing of Peace May 7, 2006

Time magazine noted that back in the 60's, expert testimony was given to a Senate subcommittee on time management. They predicted that advances in technology would radically change how many hours a week people worked. They forecasted that the average American would be working 22 hours a week within 20 years. “The great challenge,” the experts said, “would be figuring out what to do with all the excess time.” Over 40 years later, after major advances in technology – how many of us are wondering what to do with all the excess time on our hands?

In fact, most of us feel that we have less time. Technologies such as the cell phone and computers were supposed to help free us but instead our work has followed us home. We live in a fast paced stressed world today. This morning, I want to conclude our three week series on stress. We have looked already at some of the causes of stress and we have seen that God wants to guide us in getting on top of our stress. We cannot make all our problems go away but if we walk in God's ways, then we will more and more be on top of stress and not under stress. Today, I want to continue that theme as we talk about how to receive peace by living in obedience to God.

Our scripture today says that if we will acknowledge God in all our ways, then God will direct our paths. We are told if we would only walk in God's commandments, then life would go well for us. Now I know that you are thinking that this sounds just all too easy. You are thinking, “Pastor, you do not know all that I have on my plate. There is nothing I can do about my life.” Let me tell you, that is the voice of Satan speaking in your ear. Most people have no idea how simple it is to relieve stress and Satan wants to keep it that way. The evil one complicates our lives so that we never discover that simplicity brings power and joy.

Listen. The transformation, the change,that you desire in different areas of your life will come through forming a pattern of obeying God in the little daily tasks of life.

So what can we do to obey and follow God? First, come to Jesus. The answer to our stress is to spend time with Jesus. Matthew 11 says, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Spending time with Christ in the Bible and in prayer will bring you peace. (Show the two devotional guides.) Here is medicine for your soul. But I know many of you will not take this medicine. It is there for you but your refuse. And so you live in stress. Why not come to Jesus and receive his peace?

What will happen when you come to Jesus? You will receive power from the Lord. If you are tired and run down, God can give you strength. Isaiah 40 says that God gives strength to the weary. God promises us that we can rise up like eagles by His spirit. Did you know that the Biblical word for spirit is the same word for breath. That is why God breathed into Adam the spirit of life. God can breathe that same life into you. (Take a moment to have everyone breathe five times.) If you are at work or home or school, and you are weary, worried, stress out; then lean back, close your eyes, take five deep breaths, and pray quietly, “Oh breath on me breath of God. Renew my strength and give me peace.” You will be amazed at what happens.

Okay. So you are going to spend some time with God each day reading a devotional and breathing in His Spirit. Now you want to start obeying God more in your daily life. What to do? First, obey God when you make your plans and commitments. Seek to know what God wants you to do and commit only to those things. You have to ask yourself, “What is God's big purpose in my life? What is it that I am trying to do that will make a real difference in my life and in the world? Is this something that will lead toward my true goals or this is this something superfluous?” God does want you involved in His good work. There are times you should say, “Yes, I will do that.” But you only have so much energy. Sometimes you have to say no. Jesus said in Matthew 5:37 , “Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.” Learn to say no.

Next, if you want to be obedient to the prince of peace, then begin to live as a person of peace. If you want a rich peace within your spirit, you must deposit peace within yourself. You cannot go through your day speaking negative words about other people, talking about how everything is awful, thinking about how bad you feel, and then wonder why you have no peace. II Timothy says, “The servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome. He must be kind to everyone and mild tempered. He must correct his opponents with courtesy and gentleness.” Romans 12:16 says, “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but readily adjust yourself to other people.”

Your mind and spirit act as a deposit of all the thoughts, words, and deeds that occur with you all day long. What are you placing in your spirit? Many of you know that I never say things like—“I think I am getting a cold.” I will not deposit those thoughts in my mind. Recently, Charlie was getting in a habit that when he had to do something, he was saying, “Oh, I don't feel so good.” I told him just this week that he should not say that. Saying that all the time was not good for him. It would make him sick. But for many of us, we live in disharmony all the time. We have become an angry culture. We are angry about our politicians, angry about the news, angry about businesses, angry about so many things. Instead of peace and harmony, we live in anger, bitterness, stress all the time. And you can live that way, but it is killing you.

The fact is, the Mayo Clinic claims 75% of total medical caseloads today are due directly to worry and anxiety, and not taking care of ourselves as we should. Some health experts say that coping with stress is the #1 health priority of our day. Medical science has closely tied stress to heart trouble, blood pressure problems, ulcers, thyroid malfunction, migraine headaches, and a host of stomach disorders.

Materially speaking, we in America are the most blessed people who have ever lived. But we seem to be paying a very high price for our success. The ancient philosopher Seneca said, “Approach every decision about your time as if approaching a street huckster wanting to sell you something. Be cautious because whatever you decide, it will cost you something.” What are you paying for the decisions you are making? Are you paying too much? Actor Nicolas Cage has said: “I wonder if there is a hole in the soul of my generation. We've inherited the American dream, but we do not know where to take it?” Do you know where your decisions are taking you?

There is no escape from stress. But you can get yourself on top of it and out from underneath it. That happens in obedience to God's way of life. It is not a hard path. In fact, it is a path of simplicity and joy. We enter that simple path by coming to be with Jesus. We take time each day to allow God to fill us with his breath and spirit. Next, when you make your decisions and plans, consult with God's plan. Ask yourself, “Is this the will of God for me at this time?” Finally, begin living as a person of peace. Allow peace to drop into your heart and mind by always speaking, thinking, and acting in positive peace. There are many fine Christian books and tapes on the subject of overcoming stress and finding peace. I encourage you to reclaim your life by making a decision to overcome stress. I said earlier and I will close on this note-- Most people have no idea how simple it is to relieve stress. You need not remember all the steps I have listed. In the end, really, all you need is to recognize your stressed out condition and then decide clearly to do something about it. God will help you with the rest. Amen.