Finding Peace & Rest

There is something about Jesus.

This "something" caused people like Matthew the tax collector to just "up and leave" his occupation to follow Him. (Mt.9:9)Those who heard Him teach were astonished. (Mt.7:28,29) Peter described his relationship with Jesus after He ascended to Heaven (the one we have also) as, "joy inexpressible and full of glory". (I Peter 1:9) Men, women, the young, and the old, have died for His Name's sake, as He did for us. Each of us who have truly known Him understands.

Incredible as this is, we still can allow ourselves to sleepwalk into meaningless distractions if we aren't careful. Weary, worn-out, overwhelmed, and spiritually dry, we hopefully awaken and repent, wondering why we ever walked away in the first place.

"Why?" is simple to answer. We listened to the "Wizard of Is". (If you never saw the Wizard of Ozthis won't make as much sense. However, it's not worth renting the movie.) The Wizard was a nobody, just a big blow-hard, pretending to be somebody important, hiding behind a curtain, where no one dared to look. His power came from deception, just like the devil. Adam and Eve listened to the devil in the Garden of Eden, and it destroyed the whole planet. The Lord, the Great I Am, had given them everything. He is "all there Is". The devil deceived them into thinking he could give them more. He was playing the "Wizard of Is". When we wander from pursuing Jesus, we are listening to him also.

Do you find yourself as I described- weary, run-down, stressed, etc.? Remember the day you first came to Jesus. It was refreshing. It is every time you come to Him. It restores. It is new. Take guidance from Jesus Himself...

28 Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
29 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.
30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.   (Matt.11:28-30)

�  Go to Him. Return to the Lord. Repent of your sins. He will receive
   you as a
Loving Father.
 
� Take His yoke. A yoke connected two oxen together in order to plow.
   Everyone wants to control us: people, the devil, religion, family, society,
   our minds, etc. Take off every yoke but the Lord's! It is easy and the
   load He gives you is light!

� Learn from Him. Jesus did everything in a way that was stress-free.
  It required faith, it denied the flesh, but the rewards were awesome!