Scripture:

Matthew 11:28-30

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 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.”

Isaiah 40:30-31 reminds us that even the young and the strong get weary, but God never does; He never grows weary or faint; He never tires.   Many things wear on us, drag us down: the struggles of life, difficulties, health issues, relational issues, worry, and anxiety.   For most of us, this is not a mystery, but here in this portion today we are reminded that life does not have to be done alone, in our own strength; the burdens of life do not have to be carried by us; we don't have to muscle it out, try harder; we just need to yoke ourselves with Him, stop trying to do it on our own, bring Christ in, allow Him to pull the load, carry the burden.   Three things, probably more, that yokes do:

• They allow the strength of the two under it to lighten the burden.
• They allow the stronger, more experienced of the two to take the lead.
• Every decision and direction is made together. 

Today our God-Shot is twofold: first, that we would remind ourselves that we don't have to muscle it out, and second, that doing life with Christ will always reduce our burdens, increase our strength, and lead us on the right paths.

1. What have you been muscling out that you need to lay under the yoke of Christ?
2. What have you labored to hold on to that Christ really needs to carry?
3. What area have you been trying to take your own path, that you need to surrender to Him?

Lord, we are all guilty of it, trying to muscle it out, do it on our own, take the reins and go our own way, but life with you, life surrendered to your leading, is so much better. Help us to always yoke ourselves with you, be sensitive to your leading, feel the weights of our burdens lift in your presence.   Today I pray for those who are struggling, weighted down by responsibility and life's troubles, and ask that you lighten their load, that they get under your yoke, that they see relief and clear paths in Jesus' name. Amen!