I don’t care . . . but God does

How to live a care – free life

INTRODUCTION

I don’t care . . . but God does ! Nowadays, who can live

without cares ? Cares, anxieties, worries, concerns, fears –

whatever you want to call them – to say that one could live

without them, one would think you crazy. But God’s ways

are higher than ours. That is why – if we look to Him – we

can discover that there is a way to live a care – free life.

What does God say in the Bible about cares ?

Cast all your care upon Him; for he cares for you.

1 Peter 5 : 7

We need to understand that there are two kinds of care

described in this verse –

1. cares such as concerns, fears, anxieties, worries –

which are what we are told to cast upon Him

2. cares such as love, affection and responsibility which

God demonstrates towards us.

Therefore, simply put, the title of this book is a statement

of faith which declares - I don’t have any concerns,

because I gave them to God, who is concerned about me.

How do we activate this unique relationship, and obtain this

promise ? In the following pages, I would like to explain a

beautiful passage from Philippians 4 verses 6 – 8 which

will help us understand how to live a care – free life.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and

supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made

known unto God.

And the Peace of God, which passes all understanding,

shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever

things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever

things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever

things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if

there be any praise, think on these things.

Philippians 4 verses 6 – 8

In this passage, we will discover that there are 4 steps,

which teach us truly – how to live a care – free life !

How do we make this work in our lives ? In each of the

steps, there will be a brief explanation, and a prayer which

we can use to apply to our lives until we sense that we have

been released from our cares.

Are you ready to start living a care – free life ? Let’s go to

the first step !

Step 1 - Cast your cares upon Him

Cast all your care upon Him; for he cares for you.

1 Peter 5 : 7

Be careful for nothing verse 6

Verse 6 commands us to be careful for nothing.

Realistically, that is impossible, unless we know how to get

rid of our cares !

The answer is found in 1 Peter 5 : 7 ! In our introduction,

we looked at the two different types of cares – our cares

and concerns, and God’s care and concern for us.

A study of this verse would reveal that the word cast

describes the practice of casting a blanket upon a donkey,

which was very familiar to the people of Bible days. What

we need to understand is that Jesus rode a donkey to

Jerusalem, so that He could become our beast of burden !

Therefore, if we learn how to cast our burdens upon Jesus,

He carries them for us !

PRAY THIS CARE – FREE PRAYER :

Lord Jesus ! Thank you for going to the cross for me. I

commit EVERY CARE of my mind to you. It no longer

belongs to me. Because you love me, I am free.

In Jesus’ Name I pray

Step 2 – Talk with God

but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with

thanksgiving make your requests known unto God. Verse 6

In conversation, the word but often means the most

important part is coming. It usually negates the first part.

Do you understand what I mean ?

What God is saying is - in everything concerning us - cares

are not important – BUT - what is important are prayer,

supplication, and thanksgiving! This is a three – step

process of how we should talk with God about . . . OUR

CARES !

1. prayer is: dialogue with God. Just like conversation

with a person – tell God what your concerns are.

2. supplication is seeking and asking. Another version

describes this part as all types of requests. I like to

call this strategy. By presenting all types of requests

before God – we open our creative minds to reveal

God’s strategies and solutions to the problem.

3. thanksgiving is saying thank you. Thank God for

what He has helped you with in the past, and what He

will help you with in the future.

PRAY THIS CARE – FREE PRAYER :

Lord Jesus ! Let’s talk about these concerns I have. Help

me explore a way out. Thank you for helping me in the

past. I know you will continue to help me forever. In

Jesus’ Name I pray !

Step 3 – Take up the Peace of God

And the Peace of God, which passes all understanding,

shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Verse 7

Now that we have learned how to cast away our cares, we

need to take up something to prevent them from coming

back into our hearts and minds.

How do we do this ? We learn to take up the peace of God.

I love the story of Gideon in Judges 6. verse 24 describes

how

Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it

Jehovah-shalom (the Lord is Peace)

After Gideon built this altar is when God began to use him

to end the oppression of Israel’s enemies, the Midianites.

PRAY THIS CARE – FREE PRAYER :

Lord Jesus !

I come to you, my Prince of Peace. May your peace guard

and protect my heart and mind. I now command every

arrow of hostile thoughts and reasonings to fall before your

peace. My heart and mind are safe and secure through you,

Lord Jesus !

Step 4 – Think good thoughts

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true . . are

honest . . are just . . are pure . . are lovely . . are of good

report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,

think on these things. verse 8

Now that we have learned how to protect our hearts and

minds, what is the final step ? Think good thoughts !

I love what Colossians 3 : 15 says –

Let the peace of God rule in your hearts

The word rule actually describes an umpire. Imagine an

umpire standing at home plate during a baseball game. As

a runner comes into the plate, and the ball is thrown to the

catcher, the umpire watches carefully, to declare either –

SAFE, or OUT !

Can you imagine the Peace of God declaring you cannot

enter to all negative thoughts, and you may enter to all

positive thoughts ?

PRAY THIS CARE – FREE PRAYER :

Lord Jesus ! I will finally think on good thoughts. Every

hostile thought, I cast you down to the ground in Jesus’

name – you have no place in me. Now, more than ever, I

am transformed by the renewing of my heart and mind to

good thoughts. In Jesus’ Name

I don’t care . . . but God does