How Do You Cast Your Cares

After a time of praise and worship through songs and testimonies, Pastor Dale taught on Phil. 4:6. Be careful for nothing. That’s a command, not a suggestion, and since God told us to do it, it’s possible to do. Grab peace, and don’t fret or be anxious about anything. It doesn’t mean you don’t care because you aren’t worrying. Sympathy identifies with a person, but compassion meets that person’s needs. Even if you are addicted to and trained in worrying, it is possible to stop it. So what do you do? In prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. You can’t shout and doubt, and you can’t worry with thanksgiving. Praise is a choice. In everything give thanks and praise God. Matt. 5:11 tells us that even in persecution for Christ’s sake, you can rejoice and be exceedingly glad. Praising the Lord isn’t a feeling. It’s like priming a pump. Unless you first pour some water in, no more will come up, but as soon as you do, you will have great amounts of water. It’s the same way with praise: you have to pour some out first, and then your emotions will follow your praise. Luke says to leap for joy, not because you have it, but because you’re leaping to get it, just like holding a treat up for a dog to jump to get. Shout! Rejoice in the Lord (Phil. 3:1; Phil. 4:4). God’s promise to meet your needs is a promise you will always have needs. Rejoice! If you are worrying, you are not rejoicing.