June 4
Jesus isn't waiting for you to get your life together before you can go to him. He just wants you to show up. And the beautiful thing about going to him with your troubles is that he will give you the rest you've been craving.
Three Thoughts
Jesus says to come to him when you're worn out. When you're beat down. When you're exhausted and ready to quit. The rest that he offers is a gift you receive when you stop trying to carry what was never yours to hold in the first place.
MATTHEW 11:28
Jesus offers us his yoke. A yoke is a way for two oxen to pull something together. He isn't asking you to pull everything yourself. He says that his yoke is easy because you're no longer doing it alone. The pace of grace beats the pace of grinding every time.
MATTHEW 11:29-30
Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is stop talking. The soul waits in silence because it has finally remembered who's actually saving it. It's so easy to try and talk our way to be heard by God, but oftentimes he's just waiting for us to be still, so we can listen instead.
PSALM 62:1
Two Quotes
Pastor and author Tyler Staton on prayer:
"When it comes to prayer, God isn't grading essays; he's talking to children."
Priest and author Henri Nouwen on solitude:
"Solitude is the furnace of transformation."
Prayer
Jesus, I'm tired. I've been carrying things you never asked me to carry. So today, I lay them all down at your feet. Teach me your pace. Pull me back into your rhythm, as a child. Give me rest. Amen.
Question
What heavy thing are you carrying alone? What would change if you actually believed Jesus wanted to carry it with you?
See you next Thursday,
Zach
P.S. Today is a big day...I submitted the manuscript for my next book, How to Be a Christian, to my publisher! Now we spend the next 6 months editing it, word by word, line by line, and making it even better. Can't wait for you guys to read it!