"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
--Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
--Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
For many, life is busy, hectic, demanding, and stressful. We are inundated with tasks, chores, and deadlines. We are raising families, taking care of elderly loved ones, and managing careers. We are living in a time of extreme violence, hatred, and lack of regard. As our minds attempt to absorb, filter, and organize what we are experiencing in efforts to make sense of our world--we can become completely overwhelmed.
The cares of life can render one mentally exhausted, weary, and depleted. Increased worry, anxiety, frustration, and irritability as well as statements like, "I've had enough" or "I don't know how much more I can take" are indicators that we are at a place of undeniable mental fatigue.
So what is one to do? How do we traverse through the incessant demands and cares of life? Is it possible to experience the abundant life Jesus spoke of in John 10:10?
"...I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]."--John 10:10 (AMP)
Good News! The answer is YES to the above. Even in the place of tremendous stress and pressure, we can experience lives of joy that are spiritually rich and overflowing. How? I'm glad you asked! We can experience abundant living when we accept Jesus' invitation to come to Him. Because it is an invitation, it requires a willful, volitional, and deliberate decision to go and receive what Christ is offering.
It requires putting pride and ego aside. "I'm good..." or "I got it..." or "Thanks, but I'm okay..." speaks of efforts to maintain control and disallow or forbid one's self from being in a posture to receive. Such acts impede obtaining the rest noted in Matthew 11:28, which in the Greek translation is "anapauo", meaning to refresh, take ease, to give one's self rest, to take rest, to keep quiet or calm, or to cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labor in order to recover and collect strength.
Whoa! Powerful, right? Told you there was good news! This is what Jesus is offering to those who are tired, weary, and burdened. And, best of all, we can experience this rest on a continuum. The rest of God is not a pause break or a temporary reprieve; it is a lifestyle. It is possible to live in a place of supernatural rest when we accept Jesus' invitation to come to Him.
"He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside peaceful waters. He renews my soul. He guides me along the paths of righteousness for the sake of his name."--Psalm 23:2-3(GW)
Prayer
Father, in the name of Jesus, we bring our burdens and weariness before you. Every outstanding issue, concern, and worry. We bring the things that are weighing us down and bringing distress to our souls. Unresolved matters that are keeping us roused; bringing negativity and toxicity into our lives. We thank you that as we make an exchange in the spiritual realm--exchanging our cares for your rest--you are downloading wisdom. You're giving answers and solutions. You are bringing peace and endowing us with strength and grace. Thank you for your love and compassion toward us. We receive it now.
We decree and declare that we are recipients of your rest and we walk in perpetual refreshing. In Jesus' name, Amen and so be it according to your word.
The cares of life can render one mentally exhausted, weary, and depleted. Increased worry, anxiety, frustration, and irritability as well as statements like, "I've had enough" or "I don't know how much more I can take" are indicators that we are at a place of undeniable mental fatigue.
So what is one to do? How do we traverse through the incessant demands and cares of life? Is it possible to experience the abundant life Jesus spoke of in John 10:10?
"...I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]."--John 10:10 (AMP)
Good News! The answer is YES to the above. Even in the place of tremendous stress and pressure, we can experience lives of joy that are spiritually rich and overflowing. How? I'm glad you asked! We can experience abundant living when we accept Jesus' invitation to come to Him. Because it is an invitation, it requires a willful, volitional, and deliberate decision to go and receive what Christ is offering.
It requires putting pride and ego aside. "I'm good..." or "I got it..." or "Thanks, but I'm okay..." speaks of efforts to maintain control and disallow or forbid one's self from being in a posture to receive. Such acts impede obtaining the rest noted in Matthew 11:28, which in the Greek translation is "anapauo", meaning to refresh, take ease, to give one's self rest, to take rest, to keep quiet or calm, or to cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labor in order to recover and collect strength.
Whoa! Powerful, right? Told you there was good news! This is what Jesus is offering to those who are tired, weary, and burdened. And, best of all, we can experience this rest on a continuum. The rest of God is not a pause break or a temporary reprieve; it is a lifestyle. It is possible to live in a place of supernatural rest when we accept Jesus' invitation to come to Him.
"He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside peaceful waters. He renews my soul. He guides me along the paths of righteousness for the sake of his name."--Psalm 23:2-3(GW)
Prayer
Father, in the name of Jesus, we bring our burdens and weariness before you. Every outstanding issue, concern, and worry. We bring the things that are weighing us down and bringing distress to our souls. Unresolved matters that are keeping us roused; bringing negativity and toxicity into our lives. We thank you that as we make an exchange in the spiritual realm--exchanging our cares for your rest--you are downloading wisdom. You're giving answers and solutions. You are bringing peace and endowing us with strength and grace. Thank you for your love and compassion toward us. We receive it now.
We decree and declare that we are recipients of your rest and we walk in perpetual refreshing. In Jesus' name, Amen and so be it according to your word.
