Welcome to Winding Down with the Word!

Friend, I am so grateful you have chosen to read this 7-Day Bible Plan! Out of all the Bible Plans there are to choose from you chose this one! For that I want to thank you and tell how much I appreciate you!

I pray that as you read this devotional for the next 7 days that you are blessed, you are encouraged, you are filled with God's supernatural peace.

Blessings,

Pastor Elizabeth

DAY 1

If we read verse 29 and 30 of Matthew 11, Jesus says, "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. For my yoke is easy to bear and the burden I give you is light."

Let's talk about a yoke. You might be asking what is a yoke? I've never even heard of it.

A yoke is a wooden beam or harness used for joining animals together for a purpose: This yoke would help them pull a load such as a plow, cart, or wagon.

It allows the animals to work together efficiently by distributing the weight of the load evenly across their shoulders and enabling them to move in sync.

We know that two are better than one! I am always telling my children, "Teamwork makes the dream work!"

What am I doing?

I am instilling into my children that we DON'T have to do life alone. We are part of the same team. We each have a part to do and when we do them together it makes life much easier.

The world is quick to tell us that we cannot count on anyone. I'm sure you have heard this statement before if you want something done right you just need to do it yourself...

The enemy would love for us to go through life feeling like we can't reach out for help, that we need to do it alone, and we don't need to bother God with our problems.

But here in Scripture, we read that Jesus wants us to be yoked with Him.

We've got a purpose to fulfill, and we cannot do it apart from Him.

We need Jesus!

We must be yoked with Him.

When we live according to God's way and allow Him to have control, all while giving Him the burdens we are carrying, we CAN do what needs to be done all from a place of REST.

His rest. His supernatural rest. A rest that this world cannot provide.

It's through being yoked with our Lord and Savior Jesus that we can experience this kind of rest that we desperately need.

How many of you reading this genuinely need rest?

How many of you can't remember the last time you really truly rested?

I'm going to say most everyone who is reading this is in need of a serious rest!

I encourage you to sit with the Lord.

Sit in His presence.

Write out all those things that are weighing you down and keeping you from sleeping peacefully at night.

SURRENDER them all to the Lord. Lay them at His precious feet.

I encourage you to INVITE Him into those places where you feel you have to do it all alone.

The burden Jesus gives is LIGHT!

As you RELEASE your burdens to the Lord, RECEIVE His rest today in return.

You've got Jesus, the Son of God who wants to be on your team.

Allow Him!

He is there willing, able, and eager to do life with you.

DECLARATION

I am yoked with Jesus. I give God all my burdens today. As I release it all to Him, I receive His supernatural rest in return in Jesus' mighty name! Amen.

QUESTION

What burdens are you carrying that are making you weary and heavy today?

Take a moment and surrender it all to the Lord.