In this blog, we dive deep into how and why spending time with Jesus is so important. Be with Him and fall into His strength, power, love, and gentleness today.
The Gospel of Matthew was written around AD 50â60. The writer is a former tax collector, and he primarily writes for a Jewish audience. The opening of Matthewâs Gospel affirms the Jewish lineage of Jesus. Written for a Jewish audience, it demonstrates how Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah to save and rescue His people. âCome 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.â Matthew 11:28-30
A well-known speaker once said, âWe all need fewer goals and resolutions and more of God and his solutions for our lives.â Such a statement can sound abstract and unrealistic at the start of a new year, as we look forward to embracing the opportunity for new beginnings. Upon reflection, however, the speakersâ words ring true as we seek to better ourselves and receive Godâs newness into our everyday lives.
Watching the date change on the calendar does not automatically change what needs changing inside of us. And we must not place our hope in the calendar but in the one who makes all things new. As we seek more of Godâs presence, we will focus less on the promises a new year brings, and fall more deeply in love with the One who makes the promise. His name is Jesus.
Executing all the different plans and projects we have can feel utterly exhausting and intimidating. But Jesus offers us the greatest solution imaginable. Not the wise words from a seasoned saint, or platitudes from self-help gurus. But it is simply an invitation to come to Jesus. With all our worries and burdens,. And simply rest. Who doesnât get weary from time to time? Jesus will be the refreshment and complete nourishment we crave. Jesus is well aware of your desires and dreams. He wants you to get to what He has purposed for you more than you do. But he offers a softer, gentler way than the âhustle-and-grindâ culture that permeates so much of todayâs world. This year he invites you to come. Rest. Be with Him and fall into His strength, power, love, and gentleness for free, grace-fuelled recovery, rest, and replenishment.
Before you start your days, invite Jesus to fuel a revolution in your heart that prizes, prioritizes and pursues His presence above all other things. And then watch Him bring clarity to your purpose, strength to your personal relationships, and increase your effectiveness, not just your productivity. The most important thing in the year ahead won't just be what you do, but who you decide to follow and rest in. What practices will you put in place today to spend more time with Jesus?
Heavenly Father, thank you for the invitation to draw near to you, when I feel worried and burdened, so that you can give me a rest that the world does not know, and cannot give. I ask for the strength and trust to draw near more readily this year, and to prioritize your presence more frequently, so I can walk with you, work with you, and watch how you want to move in peopleâs lives. In Jesusâ name. Amen
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