I Choose Today...

I Choose Today to be Unburdened

Last weekend I hosted an event at my home. When greeting my guest at the door, I ask to take their bags, coats, and anything else that weighs them down. This allows them to relax and be unburdened. When we are unburdened, we have the freedom to be more present and enjoy ourselves with the people we are with. Jesus wants to do that for us too. When we come into His presence, He wants us to give Him our burdens, our baggage, and the things that are weighing on us. He wants to unburden us, teach us, and to give us rest for our souls. That is exactly what He is saying to us in Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭29‬, when He vows, “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” What kind of physical reaction do you have when you imagine having “rest for your soul?” I know I have a visceral response to having rest for my soul. It feels like a deep inward sense of relief, freedom, and lightness, allowing me to feel more settled. For example, when I am up in

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I Choose Today the Sabbath: Part Two

The Word of God is so fascinating. It never ceases to surprise me and makes me want to dig deeper. That is how I would describe this passage regarding the Sabbath, one I’ve never considered before. “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work…Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt, but the Lord your God brought you out with his strong hand and powerful arm. That is why the Lord your God has commanded you to rest on the Sabbath day.” Deuteronomy 5:12-15 NLT At first, when I read the passage in Deuteronomy, I found it interesting that the author (Moses) was correlating the Sabbath with the Israelites’ slavery in Egypt. How do the two connect? I even read the verse in different versions. Moses and Aaron asked Pharaoh if they could go on a three-day journey (stop work and get alone with God) to worship their God. But Pharaoh said he didn’t

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I Choose Today to wait

I recently read about someone who had to learn how to rest, wait, learn, and renew by not moving for a period of time due to a medical condition. What would I do if faced with doing nothing? Would it drive me crazy seemingly doing nothing? What could I possibly do while resting, waiting, learning, renewing like he did? The interesting thing about all these words is they are all verbs. A verb is defined as a word that describes an action, state or experience. As it pertains to the state of resting, waiting, learning, and renewing, it is doing something while doing nothing! To me, the season of waiting is an action. The action of resting involves being inactive to restore strength, health, or energy. Also, seeking rest for the soul, which can only truly be accomplished through Christ Jesus. So the act of resting is actually the action of revival of strength, health, and energy. I need to renew my strength just like it says in Isaiah 40:31,  “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and

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