May 1, 2024 - Matthew 11:28-30

“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.” Matthew 11:28-30 MSG

Oh, Lord, how these verses speak to our souls. Lord, we want to come away with you. Please recover our lives. Restore them to what you created them to be. We want to learn what it means to really rest with you. Teach us how to just sit still in your presence. We want to breathe you in and allow you to speak to us. Jesus, when we look at your life here on earth, we don’t see someone who was running around stressed trying to get as much done as you possibly could. We see someone at peace. You walked in obedience to what God was asking of you. And we can safely say that you made the biggest impact of any human.

Lord, show us how to walk with you and work with you. Teach us how to live like you lived. Lead us and guide us. Let us really see people the way you did. Let us impact their lives the way you did. Not in a stressful, rushing around, accomplishing all we can kind of way, but in a peaceful and impactful way. Please help us learn to live in the unforced rhythms of grace. What a beautiful description. Let our lives be a wonderful example of that beauty.

We praise you that you want to see us flourish from that place. You don’t want to weigh us down or give us something ill-fitting. When we walk with you and in your ways, our calling isn’t a burden to push through but a blessing to us and others. How amazing. We want to keep close company with you. We want to live freely and lightly. That sounds so wonderful. Oh Lord, lead us into making that a reality.

In Jesus name, amen.