Choose Your Yoke by Donna L. Watkins - The Herbs Place

Choosing Your Yoke
by Donna L. Watkins

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;
for I am meek and lowly in heart:
and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy,
and my burden is light. Matthew 11:29-30

Do you carry heavy loads through life? As I entered my 40’s I seemed to realize that the older I got the more burdens I was bearing — it was like life just added more and more onto the ones I was already carrying. I wondered how I would survive the rest of my life with all the burdens that I had on me.

That was when I realized that I wouldn’t survive it. I was not meant to survive that kind of load. Just as a heavy load will literally break the camel’s back, the loads we carry through life break us. They break our spirit. We become bitter and angry at what life has dealt us. As Christians, we have a choice whether to carry those worldly burdens or not. Jesus came so that we didn’t have to carry heavy burdens. He told us,

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me"

As we learn of Jesus and begin to walk in His footsteps we find that life can be much brighter no matter what the circumstances that are going on around us.

"For I am meek and lowly in heart"

Sometimes much of our burden is what we expect to get done. The world sets such high expectations for us! We make lists and when we don’t finish them by day’s end, we feel like we’ve failed. If we see ourselves as "meek and lowly" we cannot fail. Live up to God’s expectations [based on what the Word says], not your own.

"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." 1 John 2:16

Our busyness is focused on having more of this world and with it comes the burdens we were not meant to bear. Pride of life. What have we accomplished! What salary do we make? Where do we live? What do we drive? What’s my title!?

"and ye shall find rest unto your souls"

Isn’t this what the whole world is looking for? A restful place? In one way or another all the seeking is really to find rest, but for most it never comes, because it is not found in things, money, cars, titles, addresses or accomplishments.

"O Lord our God, other lords besides you have ruled over us, but your name alone do we honor." Isaiah 26:13

We make many lords in our lives, but God asks us to have one Lord – HIM! We have been ruled by stress, worry, addictions, money, envy, depression and despair.

"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light"

Do you carry a heavy load through life? Let it go!

SWITCH YOKES!

Christ came that you might have abundant life! Filled with the fruits of the spirit – not things and burdens.

CHOOSE YOUR YOKE!

I’m now 52 and I left many burdens behind. I’ll tell you, the devil doesn’t stop trying to toss them on your back, but you are in Christ and free from his attempts if you stay hidden in Christ and what He has for you!

"I run in the path of your commands for you have set my heart free." Psalm 119:32