How do you refuel your soul?

My favorite moment in Craig and Rachel’s wedding was listening to them speak their vows.  They wrote them – and they were a beautiful expression of their love for God and their love for each other.  Our family is blessed to have a “Rachel Denison.”  I have to smile as I type that name.  If Craig had been born a daughter, his name would have been Rachel.  How fun that I have a Rachel Denison after all!  Another favorite moment was walking in my back door yesterday, happy to be home.  It was a wonderful wedding but I have to admit, I am tired!!  My “cup ranneth over” and now it feels kind of empty.  The high moments in life are often followed by the quiet, down times. 

I walk through my neighborhood in the mornings because that is my time to exercise and talk with God.  I call it my “power-walk” but I define power a little differently.  Power = God.  I pray best when my feet move.  Today, I found myself telling God  about my thoughts and feelings until I finally reached the end of “me.”  I confessed to the Lord what he already knew . . . I am tired!  The very next thought was, “Jesus had moments just like this.  He understands.”  I am smiling as I type those words.  God always knows just what I need to hear.  All of us grow tired.  God made us that way.  We are created to need him.  So I write this blog to remind myself and hopefully all of you, what we should do when we need to “refuel” our souls.  

God said, “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint” (Jeremiah 31:25).  I’ve had people advise me to do any number of things in order to rest and have a break.  Truthfully, what I need most is the refreshment and satisfaction that God provides.  Knowing that fact, prompted me to tie on tennis shoes and hit the road early in the day.  I can think of a lot of things I need to do, but none of them are “doable” until I spend some time with God.  Is this blog your first “God-thought” today?  If it is, I hope it is the first of many.  God made us and he knows how to do the required “maintenance.”  He wants us to be well-oiled machines, but we have to take the time to submit ourselves to the chief mechanic.  And I know you know, what I just said is true – but knowing it and doing it are not the same thing.  I know I am thirsty, but I will stay thirsty until I drink the water. 

Jesus said, “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).  That is a familiar verse, but have you ever fully unpacked what it means?  Jesus said, “Come to me” when you are weary and burdened.  Is Jesus where you look for rest?  Isn’t it interesting that Jesus defined rest as carrying a yoke?  Granted, he promised his yoke was light, but don’t you wish he had said something like, “Come and sit on the beach with me for awhile and learn from me.”  Instead, we are to strap on a yoke!  Jesus was probably in a field, pointing to the oxen working there, when he said those words.  A good team of oxen consisted of a young, inexperienced animal who shared a yoke with an ox who knew what to do.  Guess which “ox” we are!  Jesus said, if you want rest, go to him and learn.  Work with him because he is gentle, humble in heart, and wants to help you know what to do.  Jesus knows how you should spend your energy – have you asked him?  Are you willing to work with the One who knows what to do?  The most important word in that verse might be the word “take.”  Jesus gave us the choice.  He doesn’t force his yoke on us.  We have to choose it.

I took a long walk.  My feet are tired, but my soul feels refreshed.  I have a lot to do this week, but I know how to get it done.  I choose the yoke Jesus offers.  But truthfully, I wouldn’t mind if he wants us to plow a beach or two in the near future!!!

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