March 24, 2023 - Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

Lord, how wonderful and caring you are to us. You are willing and able to carry our burdens. You are not a task master who wants us to slave for you. You do not require our service to earn your love. No, you want us to find rest in you. We are so grateful for this.

Lord, we thank you that your yoke is easy, and your burden is light. If there are any burdens that we have taken on that are not even ours to bear, open our eyes to those today. Help us clearly see that they are not our responsibility and give us the strength to release them to you and not pick them back up again. Help us learn to live in a place of surrender - a place that we don’t take on more than we should. Never let worry, fear, anxiety, or weariness rule in our lives. Teach us how to truly let them go and rest in you!

We thank you for how humble and gentle you are with us. You have us safely tucked into your hand. You have everything in control. We ask for forgiveness for any area where we insist on being in control. We have no idea what the future holds. We can’t see behind the scenes. We don’t really know what people are thinking or what their motives really are. But you do. You see it all and know it all. How much more sense does it make to surrender things to you and let you take control. Teach us to let go, trust you and find rest in that trust.

Thank you so much for your rest. You are such an amazing Father. It is an honor to serve you! What a privilege to be loved by you the way we are. We are so grateful. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Now help us live like we truly are grateful for it. We love you.

In Jesus name, amen.