Five-minute read.
“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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:29-30
Putting on Jesus’s yoke refers to the discipline of discipleship. A yoke, put on animals for heavy pulling, distributed the workload between the two beasts. Christ wants to help us with life’s burdens, but we can’t receive His assistance if we don’t put on His yoke. We can accept divine strength for the troubles of this world when we develop a daily discipline of yoking ourselves to the Savior and allowing Him to take our challenges.
The last day of the year provides the perfect opportunity to let go of the past and embrace the future. Determine today to yoke yourself to the Lord and receive rest for your soul. Remembering that today’s troubles won’t last and glory awaits us will help you persevere through today. “You will find rest for your souls” comes from Jeremiah 6:16:
“Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”
When we encounter crossroads in life and don’t know which way to walk, we can trust Jesus. Putting on His yoke allows the Lord to direct us as He guides us down the ancient paths. Walking in the good way gives rest to our souls, following the Lord’s teachings, and doing our part means trusting Jesus will do His. Forgive, pray, and serve others as Jesus calls us to do, and we will find His rest. Knowing we’ve done all we can gives us peace of heart and rest for our souls.
Let go of the past, cast your burdens on Jesus, putting on His yoke. Let the Lord walk with you on the journey, carrying your troubles. The Prince of Peace wants to share your challenges, but when we don’t turn to Him, we can’t receive Christ’s tranquility. Jesus never said we wouldn’t have problems; He promised we would. But the Savior also promised that He overcame them for us, and we could trust Him, no matter the issue. Victory comes from the cross, won thousands of years ago, giving us abundant life. Claim yours today.
Align yourself with Christ, put on His yoke, and experience the Lord’s peace that surpasses all understanding. Allow the Creator to usher you into the coming year with a restful soul and calm assurance of His guidance. Live in victory, claiming the promises of the cross, and rest in the Lord.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the promise of rest we can find when we yoke ourselves with Christ. Please help us develop the discipline necessary to enjoy the tranquility of life with Jesus each day. No matter the situation, the Savior has the answer, and we can find rest in Him.
IJNIP. Amen
