Tag Archives: Matthew

Boyd Bailey

“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

Sometimes, your soul needs to catch up with your body. There is a disconnect created by distractions and busyness. You are weary of life and work. This soul fatigue will follow you until it finds rest. It is relentless in reminding you what is important and necessary. The warning lights of weariness flash in the face of your faith. You are tired and troubled with nowhere to turn. This is when you can turn your eyes upon Jesus. He offers a constant invitation to come to Him. Burdens bear down on your back of responsibility like a ton of bricks, but Jesus is there to ease the pressure. Health issues assault your body like unceasing fire from the enemy, but Jesus is there to soothe the pain through prayer.

Marriage confusion has the best of you and you are ready to give up, but Jesus has the answers as the supreme counselor. Work expectations have overwhelmed your ability to execute the right results, but Jesus is there to impart His wisdom and discernment. Do not let failure talk you into giving up. You can carry on with Christ. Submit to His restful invitation. Take Him at His word and yoke up with His humility and gentleness. His invitation to rest is received by faith. The yoke of Jesus gives hope and encouragement to the soul.

Start by aligning your calendar with Jesus time. A partnership with Christ requires time and attention. You cannot maintain a relationship with Him without investing in Him. Jesus went to the mountain to commune with His heavenly Father, and when He came down, large crowds followed Him. Why? People follow leaders they know they can trust. When you spend time with Jesus, you build trustworthiness. You go to the mountains alone to pray, and you come back surrounded by followers. They know you have been with Jesus (Acts 4:13).

When others know you have been with Jesus, they are reassured that you are depending on Him for wisdom and direction. They can trust that your motives are pure and that this business or ministry is not your deal but His. You gain instruction from Him on how to execute His plan. Followers take great comfort when their leader pauses to pray and takes time to receive the Holy Spirit’s discernment over issues of vision and strategy.

Therefore, slow down each day and listen to the voice of the One who created the world with a word. His words are powerful and freeing. They are comforting and convicting. The Word of God will save you from unwise decisions and free you to make wise ones (Proverbs 30:5). Organize your priorities around the priorities of Christ. Get away, and get with Him. Give your soul a break when it is strained under the barrage of activity.  Take a step back and reevaluate. This requires faith. Let others into your confidence and trust that they are agents of the Almighty. His angels surround those who fear Him. Be accountable to be alone with Almighty God. This sensitive soul-care reaps temporal and eternal rewards. A well-kept soul results in robust living. Go to Jesus for He is asking you to come. Come quickly to Christ. Your soul deserves to catch up.

Post/Tweet: Sometimes, our soul needs to catch up with our body. Prayer slows us down. #prayer

© 2012 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved.

Wisdom Hunters Resources / A registered 501 c3 ministry info@mail.wisdomhuntersdevotional.com / www.wisdomhunters.com

Rachel Olsen

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2 (NIV 1984)

Focus is an interesting thing. A powerful thing. I believe it makes change possible.

I live in in North Carolina - home to NASCAR. I even drove a stock car once in a qualifying race at the Franklin County Speedway. So I've talked to a few race car drivers in my time. Here's what I learned from them: You have to focus on where you want to go.

Race cars move so fast that the slightest change in course - the slightest turn of the wheel - quickly produces big changes in your position on that track. Surprisingly, where you look can shift your body enough to turn the wheel just enough to send you in that direction. Even if that wasn't where you intended to go.

In other words, your focus determines your direction.

That's why race car drivers are taught never to look at the wall. Look at the wall and that is where you will end up - crashed.

I think that's also why the Bible spends so much time teaching us to keep our eyes on Christ. Because our focus determines our direction.

Do you recall the story of Peter when he saw Jesus walking on the water in Matthew 14:29? Peter climbed out of the boat and walked on the waves. As long as he focused on Jesus, he walked toward Him on the water. But as soon as Peter looked down at the wind-whipped waves beneath him, that's precisely where he ended up.

I wonder if our typical New Year's Resolutions aren't us looking at the wall, or down at the sea instead of us focusing on Christ. We make promises like "I'm going to lose weight," or "I'm going to get more organized." (I've made both those resolutions before.) Or maybe, "I'm going to stop this affair." And then our focus is on our weight, the mess, or the forbidden fruit.

Next thing we know, although it's not where we intended to go, we're sinking in calories or clutter once again. And we feel defeated. Crashed. Then we give up.

Thankfully, I've found a new way to do New Year's Resolutions that keeps me properly focused. Instead of making my long list of ways I plan to improve, I prayerfully choose just one word to be my focus for the entire year. Just one word that represents what I most hope Christ will do in or through me that year. One word to give me direction.

It's not a regret-based word but a vision-driven word centering on the kind of person I want to become. It keeps me looking forward and upward.

I pray that word, meditate on it, memorize verses with it, and use it to remind me to keep my eyes on Christ, trusting Him for transformation in that area of my life. And I've seen transformation take place!

Reading Hebrews 12:2 reminds us to take our eyes off ourselves and our circumstances - off the problem behaviors or the "walls" in our lives—and fix them squarely on Christ. Because our focus determines our direction.

Ultimately Christ is the perfecter of us and our faith. We can trust Him to turn our resolution into reality as we stay focused with our one word and with our eyes on Him.

Dear Lord, I want to fix my eyes squarely on You today. Help me see You at work in my life and in the forming of my heart. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
If you're looking for focus and direction this year, Rachel Olsen has written a new book with her pastor called My One Word: Change Your Life With Just One Word. Pick up a copy and learn how to walk through a year with Christ and your one word.

Reflect and Respond:
What "walls" in your life have you been looking at?

What can you do to remind yourself to keep your eyes on Christ? What word would help you maintain focus?

Power Verses:
Psalm 105:4, "Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always." (NIV)

Romans 8:5, "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit." (ESV)

© 2013 by Rachel Olsen. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org

Wendy Blight

"Listen carefully to my words. Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart; for they bring life to those who find them, and health to their whole body." Proverbs 4:20b-22 (NLT)

Sometimes I feel like I disappoint God. My days get so busy that I forget to open my Bible. I know I should, but I can't seem to find the time.

Eventually, when guilt overtakes me, I open it and read some Scripture.

What do I find? Not what I expect.

First, let me tell you what I don't find. I don't find condemnation and rebuke. Instead, I find grace and encouragement. In fact, recently, God greeted me tenderly and lovingly with these words, "My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body." (Proverbs 4:20-22, NLT, emphasis added)

God lovingly reminded me of what I miss when I fail to open His Word each day.

Each time we neglect Him, He graciously gives us a fresh start, a new opportunity to come to Him and meet Him in His Word guilt-free.

When I ignore time in my Bible, I forget how much God desires for me to meet Him there. Not for lessons and lectures, but because He wants to speak to me.

You see, God wants us to read our Bibles with no agenda, no homework assignment, no check list. He wants us to sit and simply experience Him through His Word. The Lord has secrets to teach us and treasures to unearth for us.

Paul confirms this in 1 Corinthians 2:6-16. He says that the secret things of God were once hidden from us, but now God has made them available in His Word through His Holy Spirit.

Years and years ago, only God's chosen heard directly from God. But not anymore! God makes His Word known to you and to me.

In John 16:13, Jesus promised that through His Holy Spirit, He would guide us into all truth. "To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken from them." (Matthew 13:12, NLT)

If you have been neglecting the Word, will you join me today and open God's Word? Open it from a place of great confidence! Believe with all your heart and trust God at His Word that you will understand the words you read through the help of His Holy Spirit.

Ask God to reveal His secrets and unearth those treasures. When you get a taste of God's Holy Spirit speaking to you and teaching you while you read His Word ... you will never want to stop!

Go for it! Remember, He is waiting for you.

Dear Lord, help me not to neglect time Your Word. Create in me a hunger to carve out time to be with You. When I meet with You, through the power of Your Holy Spirit, open the eyes of my heart to understand the wonderful treasures tucked away in Your Word. Thank You that You are waiting for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner by Wendy Blight

Reflect and Respond:
Read Proverbs 2:1-11.

Journal what you learn about God's Word and the role God wants it to play in your life.

Power Verses:
1 Corinthians 2:6-10, "God's wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of His purposes. You don't find it lying around on the surface. It’s not the latest message, but more like the oldest - what God determined as the way to bring out His best in us, long before we ever arrived on the scene ... No one's ever seen or heard anything like this, never so much as imagined anything quite like it - what God has arranged for those who love Him. But you've seen and heard it because God by His Spirit has brought it all out into the open before you." (MSG)

© 2012 by Wendy Blight. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org

Lysa TerKeurst

"He replied, 'You of little faith, why are you so afraid?' Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm." Matthew 8:26 (NIV)

I failed at being a wedding planner.

No one wants a planner who gets so undone by the neurotic mother-of-the-bride that she throws up in the parking lot right beside the guest sidewalk.

Really, nothing says, "Welcome to my wedding" quite like that.

I failed at being a kitchen gadget saleswoman.

No one wants to see the tip of a thumb sliced off into the veggie pizza at the exact moment I was promising how safe this gadget is.

Awesome.

I failed at being a cafeteria lady at a private school.

My assistant decided her arms were so dry she needed to coat herself with our spray butter. When we took the trash out later that day, we both got attacked by bees and forgot about the pizza in the oven.

Kids don't take kindly to burnt pizza.

I failed at being a receptionist.

It's never a good idea to just succumb to those sleepy afternoon feelings and lay your head down on the desk.

Bosses don't like workers who snore. Even if they are pregnant.

Yes, I failed at a lot during those years where I was trying to figure out what to do with my life. At the time each of these things felt like the worst that could have happened. Now, I think they were the best worst things.

Had these things been successful, I would have never discovered the joy of being in the ministry I'm in now.

I see this same theme woven throughout many stories in the Bible.

In Matthew 8:23-24 we find Jesus getting into a boat with His disciples. "Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat." Worst thing.

But in verse 26 Jesus got up and rebuked the winds and waves and things turned completely calm. The disciples were amazed. Best worst thing.

In Acts 5:18 we find the apostles being arrested and thrown in jail. Worst thing.

But in Acts 5:19 we find an angel of the Lord opening the doors of the jail and bringing them out. Later we find them with so much confidence they boldly proclaim, "We must obey God rather than men!" (v. 29b) Best worst thing.

I don't understand why we have to go through cruddy stuff. And I certainly know there are many worse things to go through then what I've mentioned here.

We live in a broken world full of broken people. But isn't it comforting to know God isn't ever broken? He isn't ever caught off guard, taken by surprise, or shocked by what happens next.

He can take our worst and add His best. We just have to make the choice to stay with Him and keep following Him through it all.

Dear Lord, I know You are capable of taking my worst and turning it into Your best. Show me this truth anew today. Refresh my spirit. I want to follow You through it all. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Check out Lysa's new book, Unglued.

Reflect and Respond:
We live in a broken world full of broken people. But isn't it comforting to know God isn't ever broken?

Ponder the promises He has made in the Bible and how He has been faithful to you.

Power Verses:
Psalm 37:23, "If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm." (NIV 1984)

Jeremiah 29:11, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" (NIV 1984)

© 2012 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org

Emily Freeman

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

New York City is alive with the late fall air. Faith stands next to me, her blonde hair blows across her face just as the carriage pulls in front of us.

We flew to the city to stay with friends and celebrate Faith's birthday. During this entire trip I've felt a nagging sense of anxiety and worry over what's going on back home. It isn't one thing in particular, but I can't shake the heaviness. I clench my jaw and know I'm carrying around a sense of responsibility to manage things outside of my control.

It's our turn to ride. We get the carriage pulled by white horses, a detail I feel compelled to mention because it seems the ones pulled by white horses are more important than the ones pulled by regular brown horses.

The two girlfriends who are with us live here in the city. Though they roll their eyes over the cliché they've become by hanging out with us (A carriage ride through Central Park? Really must we?) they love us enough to climb up and squeeze tight into the red velvet covered benches.

The black bag on my shoulder is packed to nearly unzippable extremes with my camera, wallet, extra gloves and bottle of water. It's heavy, and my right shoulder aches beneath the weight of it.

I plop it down on the floor of the carriage just as the wheels begin to move.

Faith laughs at something the driver says. I watch as she throws back her head and claps her small, gloved hands, my bag sitting at her feet.

I remember a story I heard a long time ago about a horse and buggy and a man with a heavy load. The man climbs into a horse-drawn buggy and keeps his pack on his back once he sits down.

When asked if he would like to remove it, he answers, "Oh no, I couldn't do that. I wouldn't want the horse to have to work so hard. I'll just carry it myself."

I can't help but smile. I can see the ears of the horses in front of me, their heads bobbing up and down carrying me, my girlfriends...and my heavy bag.

I never once thought to keep my bag strapped to my shoulder so the horses wouldn't have to carry the load. That would be needless, as they were already doing the work. Why should I do it, too?

Matthew 11:28 comes to mind. Jesus issues an invitation to the weary, the burdened, the heavy-laden. He offers rest from heavy burdens to those of us who insist on carrying bags on carriage rides.

The clip-clopping of horse hooves tap out a gentle rhythm as we ride. My friends chat and laugh, yellow leaves swirl out from underneath us, and I feel a shift inside my heart.

The horses aren't just carrying my bag. They're carrying me.

We have a God who can be trusted with not only our burdens, but also ourselves. He sees and cares and notices.

He will not come undone.

He remains un-overwhelmable.

Dear Lord, gather us up into Your arms with all of our longings, fears, worries and burdens. We admit how futile it is for us to carry these things on our own. May we instead release them into your hands and walk with you by grace through faith. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

If you tend to take on responsibility for things never meant for you to carry, check out Emily Freeman's books, Grace for the Good Girl: Letting Go of the Try Hard Life.

Reflect and Respond:
Are you carrying the burden of things you can't control?

Let's imagine what life could look like if you dared to believe God carried both you and your burdens. How would today be different?

Power Verses:
2 Corinthians 12:9-10, "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (NIV)

Psalm 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God." (NIV)

© 2012 by Emily P. Freeman. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org