May 18, 2024

REST IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30 NLT

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TODAY’S THOUGHT

As I write this devotion my life has been void of rest because of some personal family trauma. My gut has been flipping up and down for several days as I wrestled to figure out the best next step. The path forward has seemed almost impossible at times. 

Then I come to this passage — “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” News flash, God wants to give us rest. 

It doesn’t say God wants to solve all our problems and make life perfect. It says when we come into His presence, we will discover rest. There is a rest in the presence of God that is beyond our understanding.

When we come into His presence we must put on His yoke. He promises us, “my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” 

I think we often struggle through life because we are wearing the wrong yoke. We are living to meet the expectations of other people. Maybe our parents, spouse, or friends place their expectations on us, and we attempt to meet their expectations. 

The solution is to choose to discover God’s plan for our lives and lean into His design for us. He created us with a plan in mind. He has a purpose for us. He has created us and equipped us for every God given task. 

Doing God’s will for our lives is a delight. That doesn’t mean that every day will be a vacation. There will be tough times, but we will move forward in victory because we are living in His rest and reassurance. 

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TODAY’S PRAYER

Holy Spirit, please show me any wrong yokes I have picked up. Help me to learn to rest in You.

“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”