STRESS!
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.
Right! Just what I need, another yoke to crush me to the ground! How much does the Lord expect of me anyway? The answer is: Everything! It is only as we obey His command to take up His yoke that we find rest for our souls.
Back in the 1970’s I was the Deputy Director of the Idaho Law Enforcement Planning Commission. It was a new position and the stress on me was intense. In addition to this I was teaching a few night classes at Boise State University. There just seemed to be no time for my spiritual nurturing.
One evening I was crying out to the Lord for more time to study the Bible and pray; I asked for Him to open my eyes to see times that were available to me that were being taken up with lower priorities. The Holy Spirit brought several to mind, but the most significant was the lunch hour. Here was one solid hour that I could use if I was willing to prepare for it.
I brought my Bible study materials to work and each day at lunchtime I would close the door and relish the time with Him. Something unusual happened. In a short time other men who were Christians began to ask if I could share a spiritual insight with them. My one hour was not simply for my growth, but for ministry. My new yoke was not hard or burdensome at all. I felt new life and vitality as stress eased away. I pray that you will ask the Lord to show you segments of time and use them with joy.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
P.S. – You can find previous E-Votionals covering a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you in your walk with the Lord at www.Daily-E-Votional.com