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)

OBSERVE

Some of our emotions feel heavy: fear, anxiety, and shame to name a few. These emotions can literally feel like a weight pressing on our chest or like carrying a book bag full of rocks on our shoulders. As we read in Matthew, Jesus extends an invitation to those of us carrying heavy burdens, “Come to me.” Why? So He can teach us to find rest. As we meet with Jesus, His thoughts become our thoughts and His actions become our actions. This may not happen right away. There’s no Amazon Prime for spiritual growth. But over time, meeting with Jesus regularly, we may just find the burdens that were once heavy begin to get lighter and lighter.

APPLICATION

Make a plan to meet with Jesus every day. Pick a Gospel and start reading. Maybe start with John. Whether it’s a chapter a day or a paragraph, there’s no rule. It’s not about checking off a to-do list, but meeting with Jesus.

PrayER

Before you read each day, tell Jesus you’re meeting with Him during this time. Ask Him to teach you about the rest He offers as you read.