Scripture
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 ESV
Observation
Jesus calls us to come to Him ALL who labor and are heavy laden, and we will find rest in Him. Jesus knows that there are so many things that weigh us down in this life. How much heavier is the burden of sin and guilt? Jesus wants us to find rest in Him by laying down what is burdening us and taking upon us His love, grace, forgiveness, peace, and rest. He is not a demanding taskmaster who pushes and whips us to work more, do more, or carry more. His yoke is easy, and his burden is light.
Application
I read this and felt this speaking to me this morning. I am tired. Not just with tasks of daily life but having the thoughts of things that need attention constantly whirring about my mind. I also feel rundown and just exhausted and here Jesus is calling to me to Him and find rest in Him. I shared this in my devotion yesterday, but silence and solitude are really vital for me now.
I need to spend more time unplugged. Digital things like SNS sap my energy and steal rest from me when rest is the most important thing. It isn’t an escape. Rather, it is a hard taskmaster. Also having the weight of stress of being so demanding of myself and others is really not helping me in any way. I need some time to just rest in Him.
Prayer
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your offer to me today. I choose to take on your yoke, which is easy, and your burden, which is light. I release the stress, the worries, and control and lay them down before You. I release them and choose You! Thank you so much! Help me to find the time of silence and solitude so that I can hear you better and spend time in your peace. I love you and ask of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen!
