““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”” Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
Rest. Relax. Renew. Repeat.
I think those may be my four favorite words. I think I need someone to say them to me often. It turns out putting them into practice isn’t as easy as it sounds.
I’m putting them into practice today.
When this morning started out, when I placed my beach chair in the sand, as I pulled off my cover-up and settled in my chair, I felt burdened. I felt defeated. I felt sad. I wanted to cry. All of the long days and long hours I’ve been working have caught up with me.
My patience was worn thin. My tolerance level was low. My judgement meter was high. My love tank was empty.
I’m not completely filled back up yet, I am however on the way. I started by reading my Bible. I opened my journal to write the scriptures God showed me. I poured my heart out to Him on paper. I was honest I didn’t lie.
I felt hatred towards someone, I told Him who. I asked Him to renew my heart and let me see them through His eyes, not mine. God loves everyone, even those who offend us. I love how He softened my heart. I love how He showed me they didn’t mean to offend me. They don’t even know they offended me. They were doing the best they could with what they had. He turned my hatred into love. Only God can do that.
I am so saddened by the hatred in our country. The incident in Charlottesville, one of my favorite places, is burdensome. As I scroll through facebook and see people make hateful statements, convinced they are right, thinking they are loving, it breaks my heart. God addressed it in my Bible reading:
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
My first inclination was to post it on Facebook, but then God stopped me. I realized He wanted me to pray it for our nation. He lifted my burden. He showed me how to pray. I first need to humble myself. I need to turn from my wicked ways. I need to seek His face.
Letting God examine your heart will be revealing. It can be painful. None of us are without sin, yet we find it easier to focus on someone else’s sin rather than deal with our own. I have used this phrase often in the past few weeks:
“When you point your finger at someone else, there are four fingers pointing back at you.”
I don’t know where it originated. I do know it’s true. I’ve been praying people will stop pointing fingers. Including myself. I’ve been praying people will humble themselves and turn to God. I’ve been praying they will address the sin in their lives, instead of focusing on others.
I’m feeling rested. I’m feeling relaxed. I’m feeling renewed.
I went to God weary and burdened. He has given me rest. I have taken His yoke upon me and I’m learning to be gentle and humble in heart. He has given rest to my soul. His yoke is easy, His burden is light.
First, however, we need to seek Him. I’m praying for you, whoever reads this. I’m praying you will seek Him. I’m praying you will take on his yoke, learn His ways, find His rest.
It’s there, waiting for you!
Rest, Relax, Renew.
