God Exchanges our Burdens for His Peace..Craig Denison Ministries

 God Exchanges our Burdens for His Peace

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

This week we’ll spend time simply stirring up our affections for God. God has designed us to see him, to know his character and to let the truth of his goodness lead us into deeper relationship with him. Augustine wrote, “Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.” In seeing God for who he is, our hearts are naturally stirred to find rest in his goodness. May your heart be stirred at the revelation of God’s wonderful character.

Scripture:“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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 11:28-30

Devotional:

Scripture describes a great exchange of our burdens for the peace of God. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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.” You have a God who loves you so much that he offers to take your burdens off your own shoulders, place them on his, and give you peace in return. Where does your life feel heavy? Where do you feel buried under the burdens of the world? God offers you his peace today if you will take some time to align yourself with him and “yoke” yourself to the teaching of Jesus.

In Matthew 11, Jesus presents us with an image of two animals sharing the burden of work together. The point Jesus is making here is in reference to coming under his teaching. He asks us, “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.” He isn’t asking us simply to cast our burdens on him, but also to humble ourselves and submit to his teaching. If we are willing to come underneath him as our Teacher, then we no longer carry the burden of figuring out life on our own. And in freedom we are able to live life under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit.

Do you ever feel alone in what you’re doing? Do you ever feel like peace is an unobtainable goal, blocked by layer upon layer of work you need to get through first? God’s plan is different than the world’s plan. The world says you can only have peace when you’ve completed the job, become the best, or gained the approval of man. God tells you to stop working in your own strength, yoke yourself to his teaching, and rid yourself of all the stress and pressure of the world. 1 Peter 5:7 says “[Cast] all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” You have a God who cares about you. Your God is for you. He knows society tells you to work for and care about certain things, but he offers you the refuge of his peace instead.

You serve a God who doesn’t want you to live even one day burdened. Every day, you can wake up and choose to yoke yourself to your heavenly Father and his word. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Align your mind with what he says about you—casting off every opinion other than his. Align your day with the leading of God’s Spirit, and receive the anointing and power he longs to bring into every situation.

God says, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” If you will choose God today over the way you’ve done things in the past, if you will choose to obey his word, then “you will find rest for your souls.” What area of your life needs rest today? In what parts of your heart do you need God’s peace and ease? He’s waiting right now to meet with you, to offer you his yoke. Let him take your burdens, fears, and stress. Our fragile frame wasn’t meant to bear such pressure. Come underneath God’s teaching today, align your thinking with his, and let the cares of the world fall off as you live in light of the teaching of Jesus.

Guided Prayer:

1. Reflect on your life for a minute. In what areas do you need God’s peace today? It could be your mindset, your appearance, friends, family, work, anything that you feel burdened by.

2. Now offer that area of your life to God and ask him for his opinion. Listen to God and let him tell you what he thinks about you. Look up verses that reveal his teaching on the subject.

3. Meditate on Scripture or what God spoke regarding the area in which you need peace. Let his peace flood that area of your life. Submit yourself to his word. Believe that he sees things truthfully. Whatever God says goes.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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 11:28-30

Yoke yourself to the teaching of Jesus today. Let his word be your refuge in a world full of opinions. Doing life yoked to God, being obedient to his word, is the best way to walk the path God lays out for us to abundant life. Every day attacks will come your way. But every day God has provided the truth you need in his word to fight those attacks. Choose the word of Jesus today, walk in obedience to it, and experience God’s “rest for your [soul].”

Extended Reading: Matthew 11

But What About Her?..STACY J. LOWE

 But What About Her?

STACY J. LOWE

“Peter asked Jesus, ‘What about him, Lord?’ Jesus replied, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.’” John 21:21-22 (NLT)

Spectator coaching at baseball games has always amused me — all the advice and critiques yelled out by well-meaning fans who most likely can’t even be heard on the field. Recently, though, one sideline comment stopped me in my tracks.

It was at a regional tournament, and my nephew’s team was up to bat. After a spectacular hit from one of his teammates, a runner took off from second base. As he rounded third, he turned his head to see where the ball was.

That’s when I heard it: “Don’t watch the ball; watch the coach!”

This spectator knew what the runner seemed to have forgotten in the moment: It’s the coach’s job to know where the ball is and advise his players accordingly. It’s the player’s job to listen to the coach and simply trust his leading.

Which brings to mind this passage of Scripture from the book of John:

“Peter asked Jesus, ‘What about him, Lord?’ Jesus replied, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me’” (John 21:21-22).

Not too long before this moment, the resurrected Jesus had shown up and performed a miracle for His disciples who were out fishing on the Sea of Galilee. The moment Peter realized it was Jesus standing on the shore, he cast aside his net and jumped in the water to get to Him. Peter knew then what mattered the most.

So what happened? Later in that same chapter, John tells us “Peter turned around” (John 21:20, NLT).

Peter took his eyes off his Coach, Jesus, to gauge his own position in life compared to others’. Instantly he went from a faith-filled high to being caught in the “what about him?” trap.

How often do I fall victim to the same?

How many times do I take my eyes off Jesus to turn around and look at others?

How many times do I compare my life against someone else’s and decide my own falls short?

How many times do I wonder if God’s plan for me even matters?

More than I’d care to admit.

That’s why I’m thankful for the grace shown to Peter in this moment of Scripture. Rather than condemning him for his doubts, Jesus lovingly reassured him, then issued him an invitation, the same invitation He still gives to you and me today: to simply follow Him.

But what about her, Lord? What are Your plans for her life?

Jesus says lovingly, “What is that to you?” (John 21:22).

But what if I don’t measure up? What am I supposed to do?

Hear His voice: “As for you, follow me” (John 21:22).

Following Jesus may not be easy, and we may not understand everything that happens along the way, but we can choose today to trust Him that it’s worth it. His plans for us may look different from His plans for others, but they are all good plans.

Father, in this world full of highlight reels that constantly tempt me to look around at others, help me to keep my eyes on You. Help me to follow You wholeheartedly, knowing that Your plan for me is good and that I can always trust where You lead. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

A True Servant..Dr. Charles Stanley

 A True Servant

Dr. Charles Stanley

John 13:1-15

Do you equate success with wealth, acclaim, and power? If we measured by these standards, then Jesus, who was rejected by His community and didn't even have a house of His own, was a failure. But, of course, we know that's not the case. So God must use something other than these worldly goals to define success. In fact, Scripture is clear that Jesus Christ is our example--we should strive to be like Him.

So, what exactly was our Savior's mission? In today's passage, we see the answer through His actions: He came to serve. The disciples, wanting recognition and reward, were arguing about who'd be the greatest in heaven. In contrast, Jesus took off His outer garment and performed the task of the lowliest servant: He washed the dirty feet of His followers. The next day, Almighty God was crucified by His own creation. In allowing this, He offered salvation to all--even those who nailed Him to a cross.

Jesus deserved glory but chose sacrifice and pain. And He asks that we follow His example of service. With the exception of Judas, His disciples obeyed. In fact, they all faced great difficulty and most died brutal deaths because of their faith. But they willingly walked the path of humility because of what Jesus had taught them: "The last shall be first, and the first last" (Matt. 20:16).

How do you spend your resources and time? And which topics dominate your thoughts and conversation? These are a few indicators of the driving goals in your life. You may long for worldly recognition, but God has a higher calling for His children. Ask Him to foster a servant's attitude in your heart.

Loving Our Neighbors as Ourselves..Lynette Kittle

 Loving Our Neighbors as Ourselves

By Lynette Kittle

“And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” - Matthew 22:39

How far are you willing to go to love your neighbor as yourself? Especially when it comes to addressing an issue with a fellow believer. Such as, are you willing to say something to your social media friend if they start posting unkind comments, photos, and videos? Or do you believe ignoring or not reacting to their post is taking a stand and letting them know your thoughts on it?

As simple and easy as that is to do, it’s pretty risk-free and leaves much room for miscommunication and misunderstanding. Or are you willing to be a true friend and go the extra mile? Are you willing to risk saying something privately to your friend because you love them and care about them and their Christian walk and witness, genuinely concerned about how they are coming across on social media?

I'm not suggesting calling a friend out directly on the post and embarrassing them in front of their peers, as doing so can make the person speaking out look unkind, too. But realize that not saying anything is exactly what it sounds like, saying nothing. Truly loving others involves stepping out when it feels uncomfortable. It’s caring more about them than how they might react to our reaching out to them in love.

Truth and Consequences
Recently I reached out to a couple of Christian friends on social media concerning some of their posts. In doing so, one ignored my message completely, keeping her questionable social media photo posted. Although she read it and didn’t unfriend me, she also didn’t respond to my message either. Another believing friend also didn’t reply to my message but did remove his post. Still, reaching out to love our neighbors comes with risks and consequences, ones we have to be willing to receive and accept. These include being ignored, rejected, and scorned.

So is it even worth the effort? In my opinion, absolutely, and as Romans 12:10 urges us, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Honoring others includes caring enough about their Christian walk and witnessing to not look the other way when we see them stumbling, influenced, or led astray by worldly thinking and methods.

How Open Are We to Godly Correction?
As Christians, isn’t it good to be open to correction? Doesn’t doing so express our love, care, and concern for each other? 1 Timothy 3:16 explains how “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”

So when we see what seems like a fellow believer wandering off from what the Bible teaches, is it okay to lovingly approach them in the hopes of helping them to evaluate their actions and attitudes? Honestly, if we’re truly seeking to live out the truths revealed in God’s Word, don’t we want someone to reach out and help us get back on track? If not, then maybe we want to examine our own hearts to see if pride keeps us from being open to godly correction. 

Unwilling to receive correction, or even consider it, reveals a more serious issue than any social media post. Proverbs 11:2 uncovers the danger of resistance to having our actions and attitudes critiqued, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

As well, Proverbs 16:18 reminds us how serious and dangerous pride is in our lives gone unchecked, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Although not every comment that comes from others may be biblical or valid, it’s wise for us to at least consider it by checking our own heart, what God says about the situation in His Word, and by asking Him to reveal the truth of the matter to us.

Intersecting Faith and Life:
How much do you love your neighbor? Is it enough to reach out in love when you see a fellow believer stumbling? Likewise, how receptive are you to someone reaching out to you? Are you willing to receive godly correction in your life when addressed by a brother or sister in Christ? 

Hannah’s Prayer: 2 Important Lessons Her Faith Teaches Us Today..Debbie McDaniel

 Hannah’s Prayer: 2 Important Lessons Her Faith Teaches Us Today

By: Debbie McDaniel

“Then Hannah prayed and said; ‘My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you, there is no Rock like our God.’” (1 Samuel 2:1-2)

Hannah’s story is one of the most well-known stories of faith-filled women mentioned in the Bible. Her longing for a child, and dark season of waiting, has brought countless women (and men) to pore over these pages of 1 Samuel chapters 1-2. At that time in the Bible, barrenness brought deep shame upon a family. Because children were counted as God’s blessing, to encounter infertility was a difficult burden for any couple to bear.

But God never makes a mistake. He never forgets to work on our behalf. And He never ignores our deepest prayers and longings. It’s just that often, many times, His ways are much higher than ours, and His timing is different.

Here are 2 Ways Hannah’s Faith Can Help Strengthen Ours Today:

1. She believed God would do what He said He would do.

“Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast…so in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, ‘Because I asked the Lord for him.’” (1 Samuel 1:18, 20)

As soon as Hannah was on her way, she was no longer downcast. She knew in her heart that God was at work. She had faith in her God who is always faithful. She didn’t doubt, she didn’t worry.

This section of Scripture also says that she “worshipped Him” before they left. She offered to God a sacrifice of praise of worship, believing in His power to do great things. It doesn’t say how long exactly it took. Maybe her faith was still tested. But in the “course of time,” meaning God’s anointed and appointed time, He did a miracle in Hannah’s life, and she conceived and gave birth to a son.

2. She gave God praise for the way He had worked.

“Then Hannah prayed and said; ‘My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you, there is no Rock like our God.’” (1 Samuel 2:1-2)

This beautiful, anointed prayer of Hannah can be read through the first 10 verses of Chapter 2. It’s similar in theme and thought to Mary’s prayer, the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55), spoken as praise to God over the child in her womb, our Savior Jesus. I believe God spoke these words straight to the hearts of these two faith-filled women. Their pregnancies and the births of their sons would impact people, nations, and our world today.

Samuel the priest, was also a prophet, counselor, and Israel’s greatest judge. He was the one who would anoint David as King, who was in the direct lineage of Christ. In fact, many agree that the last verse of Hannah’s powerful prayer is a specific prophecy of Christ the King, “He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed,” (v. 10).

There are never accidents in God’s timing and purposes.

Just as Hannah praised God for being a “Rock,” we too can lean fully on Him. In our ever-changing, hectic world, it may be difficult to know what, or who, we can really trust anymore. But God is secure, He’s our sure foundation, our solid Rock. We can rely on Him who never changes to hold us steady in every tumultuous time. Our God is forever faithful.

No matter what you’re facing today, hope in Him. He will never fail. And He is with you, always.

A Prayer for Good Leaders..Meg Bucher

 A Prayer for Good Leaders

By Meg Bucher

“Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.” - Hebrews 13:7 NLT

“Be a leader.”

Between jokes and quips, the Abbot I had the privilege of growing up around was as perfect a combination of wisdom and kindness as a human being this side of heaven could be. Compassionate but sturdy and steady, he taught us the importance of obedience and discipline but also of laughter, love, and a genuine heart for Jesus. He was a great leader and mentor. 

“When you get to the last 300,” coach affirmed, “put your head down and go.” Coach was larger than life. When he said something, we leaned in to listen. And at the mark of the last 300, he was there, louder than life! I ran faster than ever, just like he said I would when he met me as a senior in high school, looking for a way to go to my first choice college. Vividly, I remember him staring into my fear and assuring me he’d be there to pick me up at the finish line if the worst happened. He was …but it didn’t.

These are just two of the people who made a mark on my life. God is faithful to place these hallmark souls in the path of our lives to help us learn who we are while at the same time - if we are willing - shining through our lives to lead the generations following us. He faithfully weaves us together one at a time, our lives blending together to illuminate the beautiful spectrum of color and compassion He knit into every human heart. 

Let’s pray:

Father, 
Your mercies are new every day. Great is Your faithfulness. Lord, You know what we need before we are done expressing the desires of our hearts. Faithful to forgive and faithful to save, You have an amazing way of fulfilling our need for connection on this earth. Thank You, Father, for the way You connect us to the people around us. Thank You for the way You bring leaders into our lives to show us the next steps and to help us understand who we are. Help us to meditate on the words of Hebrews today. Send Your Holy Spirit to fill our minds with wisdom, connection, understanding, and conviction as we personalize and pray this verse today:

Let us remember the leaders who taught us the word of God. 
Let us think of all the good that has come from their lives,
And let us follow the example of their faith. 

Father God, You are amazing in the way You love us. The story of our lives is written so personally and purposefully. The freedom we find through Christ Jesus to fully live our lives is crafted by a love we will not be able to fully understand this side of heaven. Thank You, God, for the leaders You have placed in our lives. As we prayerfully search our memories, we can trace the faithful strokes of Your creative genius and compassionate care for us as we picture and place the hallmark figures in our lives. Along the way, You have undoubtedly blessed our journey on this earth with other people. Help us to remember those who have left us and recognize those who still stand among us. 

Father, help us to appreciate and pray for the good leaders in our lives. Bless them today, Father. Fill their hearts with a peaceful assurance of their good work on this earth. The ability to affect another human life is a powerful sentiment. Sharpen our wisdom and discernment, Father, to spot false and damaging people who appear to be leaders but, in fact, cause hurt and harm. Hold us in the shelter of Your comfort and care, Father, protecting our minds, hearts, friends, and families from bad leaders. They are out there, Father. Scripture assures us. Bless our lives fully with people who have hearts after Your own, Father. And allow us to lead in the same capacity. Keep us on the narrow path which leads home to You in heaven. Equip us to follow and lead all the days of our lives, bringing glory and honor to You.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.