Day One: Heavy Burdens

(Friends… this is a sneak peak of m y 28 Days of Gratitude Devotional, Growing In Gratitude! I have created this for all of us to journey a deeper gratitude practice for the month of November. A brief teaching video will accompany 20 days of this devotional! Enjoy day one!! If you would like deepen YOUR experience of Gratitude next month, click here to learn more!! All of my blog readers receive 10% off. Type “blog” in the promo!)

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

I have a feeling that any one of us could read this and identify with Jesus description of carrying a heavy burden. I feel the weight of my own in this moment, actually.

Today, let us pause and take note of Jesus’ invitation here.

First, he invites us to come. Well, I would say you have. Here you are before Him.

Well done, friend.

Next, He invites us to take His “yoke” and let Him teach us. This yoke, of course, is a metaphor but the idea is this… “the demands of the law are too much for you. In contrast, take my law, my requirements, instead – they are light.” 

Friend, what demands are you putting on yourself today?  Perfection? People-pleasing? Trying to be everything to everyone? Jesus says, he will teach us how to live His way… and the outcome will be rest. Mmmm, don’t you love that?

And last, notice the promises:

He WILL give us rest for our souls.His burden IS light and easy to bear.

Friend, Jesus doesn’t offer something he won’t deliver!! He is a man of His Word. He is the Word. He can not not lie.

So here it is…. the invitation to enter into a new month, with a light and easy soul. Any takers?

Today, let us begin by acknowledging the gift of Jesus.

I invite you to settle into silence and hold gratitude for the FACT we serve a God who doesn’t demand impossible things – He just wants to be with you and for you to surrender to His love.

Today, would you trade all of your heavy burdens for his easy yoke? Write each one down on a piece of paper… trade them in. Release them with each scratch of your pen. Take the light yoke of Jesus and find REST for your soul.