Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your soul. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
My words…
Praise
Jesus, you must have spoken millions of words in the years You lived as a man, but there are so few for me to read. I’ve grown to be content with the few precious passages because I know that what I have is all I need. Of all Your words I have to ponder and remember, these I can actually hear You speaking in my mind. The words that describe You – gentle, humble, rest, easy, light – are a soothing balm on the spirits of those of us who are burdened, exhausted, spent. Our souls are chafed by the unyielding yoke and considerable load. You have the perfect remedy: swap yokes. You implore us to cast off our yokes and take Yours instead. In other words, learn how to handle burdens the way You would do it. Learn from You. Your way is the best way. Your way is the right way.And then, our spirits will rejoice in the One who has replaced our burden of granite with feathers.
Prayer for me
Lord, at times I am not a very ardent student. I do not take advantage of the opportunity to learn from the One who knows all. I pray Your Spirit will convict me of my need to learn from You every day of my life.
Forgive me
Forgive me when I do the ridiculous: I place Your yoke on the hook and take mine back again. I am tempted to believe in the independent, “boot straps” method of carrying my own distressing load and turn my back on Your free offer of an easy yoke and light burden. Pardon my audacity. Forgive my lack of trust.
Prayer for others
Lord, I know of so many souls who carry a load of painful emotional baggage that was strapped to their souls years ago, yet they continue to drag it around day after day. Each year the burden grows heavier. Despondency veils the eyes of their souls, and they throw hope overboard. I fervently pray that these souls will take up Your yoke as You teach them how to hold on to hope and throw the baggage overboard.
Thank You
Thank You for being the One who longs to surround Himself with those who are heavy laden. All of them. You care about our hardships and afflictions, and You want to teach us how to live a burden-free life. And for this, I am eternally grateful.
More praise
There is no greater rest than the soul-sustaining rest of Jesus. I praise You for offering this divine rest to me.
