Matthew 11:28-30 Easy-to-Read Version
28 “Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest. 29 Accept my teaching.[a] Learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit. And you will be able to get some rest. 30 Yes, the teaching that I ask you to accept is easy. The load I give you to carry is light.”
Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by your circumstances, when nothing you do seems to be enough? I have been there more times than I would like to admit.
You are facing a crisis situation at home, job, financial loss, worry about the long and short term future, mourning the loss of loved ones, a prodigal child, or an unfavorable medical diagnosis. Maybe people and commitments are tugging at you from all sides and you don’t know how to avoid letting people down.
Where do you turn when no answer is apparent?
The unforced rhythms of grace
What are the rhythms of grace?
“Unforced rhythms of grace” is like a lesson for walking in time with what God is calling us to do.
When looking at this phrase, we will see that God’s unforced rhythms of grace are really about our flowing with His current, His will, obeying God, following God, finding our place, finding new opportunities, doing the things that God summons us to and into ministries and missions that come naturally to us.
Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) echoes in my soul,
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Verse 30 from the NIV says, “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
I feel as if I have been wrestling with King Kong and Godzilla with these verses from the first moments following my Triple Bypass Heart Surgery July 17, 2023.
Recovering from that, how could His yoke be easy? His burden light? Nothing about my circumstances feels easy or light, but rather heavy and overwhelming, yet I need His grace. I want to live freely and lightly. I want to learn from Him.
God promises to be our refuge
Hebrews 6:18-19 reminds us, “So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold on to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.”
We don’t have to have all the answers to learn the unforced rhythms of grace.
As we journey to Him for help, for refuge, for security. we can be confident in the hope from the promises discerned from His word.
This hope is an anchor for our souls.
Our God is unchangeable.
If He says it, we can believe it.
If He promised, it will come to pass.
When we are overwhelmed by our circumstances, the weight of our trials in this world, we can take Psalm 91 refuge in Him.
As we keep company with Him, He promises we’ll learn to live freely, lightly.
What are you struggling with today?
Are you willing to take refuge in Him and learn the unforced rhythms of grace?
How can I practice rhythms of grace daily?
Adherence to a daily routine of disciplined practices such as Sabbath, praying, meditating, reading God’s Word, and worshipping—are how Jesus breathes life into our days. They’re not another burden he places on our shoulders, but a narrow way he Himself illuminates, and relieves the burdens we already carry.
Jesus did a lot in His 3 1/2 years of ministry but He was never rushed.
He didn’t go from one miracle to the next.
He had time to preach, teach, heal etc, spend time with His father and eat.
Yes – He did get tired but Jesus lived in those unforced rhythms of grace. He knew what to do and how to do it. He knew who to heal and who to speak to.
Today, in our lives, consider Jesus’ example for us and learn to live in those unforced rhythms of grace.
Go to the Father and recover from your busyness then let it go and learn to live a different way.
This applies to me too.
So this week let’s learn from Jesus, evaluate our priorities ensuring they are truly from God and learn how to walk in the phrase that’s the title of this blog.
Your priorities will change and so will your life.
This is how you live the life God intended for you.
In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit …..
Praying ….
Psalm 91 Names of God Bible
Psalm 91
1 Whoever lives under the shelter of Elyon
will remain in the shadow of Shadday.
2 I will say to Yahweh,
“You are my Machseh and my Metsuda, my Elohim in whom I trust.”
3 He is the one who will rescue you from hunters’ traps
and from deadly plagues.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge.
His truth is your shield and armor.
5 You do not need to fear
terrors of the night,
arrows that fly during the day,
6 plagues that roam the dark,
epidemics that strike at noon.
7 They will not come near you,
even though a thousand may fall dead beside you
or ten thousand at your right side.
8 You only have to look with your eyes
to see the punishment of wicked people.
9 You, O Yahweh, are my Machseh!
You have made Elyon your home.
10 No harm will come to you.
No sickness will come near your house.
11 He will put his angels in charge of you
to protect you in all your ways.
12 They will carry you in their hands
so that you never hit your foot against a rock.
13 You will step on lions and cobras.
You will trample young lions and snakes.
14 Because you love me, I will rescue you.
I will protect you because you know my name.
15 When you call to me, I will answer you.
I will be with you when you are in trouble.
I will save you and honor you.
16 I will satisfy you with a long life.
I will show you how I will save you.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 