087 Come Unto Me All Ye That Labor and I Will Give You Rest - A Guided Christian Meditation Podcast

 

Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:

Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God.

Bible verse for meditation:

KJV
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 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.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

NRSV
28 “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 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.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

What does this scripture mean to you?
Has it had a different effect this reading as compared to times past?
How does this scripture make you feel?

Continue breathing deeply as you ponder this meaning.

Meditation on scripture / bible verse meditation:

What a powerful message. Many people at this time of a year feel exhausted. Engaged with work, activity, and even charitable acts we may feel overwhelmed by all that we have committed to. When Jesus speaks of the heavy laden or those carrying heavy burdens he is addressing each one of us in a way. It may be burdens of sin and guilt, or anxiety and depression, or physical work, or a combination of many of these.

I find it interesting that Jesus’ recommendation to those who carry heavy burdens is to take HIS yoke upon us. A Yoke is a type of harness that links together multiple animals to carry some heavy weight so that they weight is shared between them. What this means is that we share the weight and don’t carry it along. In other places in scripture Paul recommends that we equally yolk ourselves with other believers. We can rely on each other and help each other. Most importantly though of all is the role that Jesus plays in this. In the struggles of our lives, Jesus is the one that carries the heaviest weights. He is not a task master with a whip sitting behind us or guiding us with a rope from in front, but he walks beside us and pulls our weights when we are weak.

Meditation of Prayer:

Pray as directed by the Spirit.
Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him.

Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm:
I invite you to sit in silence feeling being patient for your own faults and trials.

Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation:

Meditate and Visualize Positive Change in Your Life:

Details:

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Final Question: What burden can you give to the Lord?

Final Thought:

With the Christmas season behind us, the new year is upon us. As we prepare to refresh our efforts and goals for improvement, may we feel guided by peace and hope instead of obligation and guilt. As we take on the yolk of Jesus our burdens are eased, because he helps us focus on his path and what he wants for us and he carries us. In this way, his burden is truly light. As you commit to working toward goals of self improvement may you be comforted and guided along the way of the Lord for you.

FIND ME ON:
iTunes
Facebook
ChristianMeditationPodcast.com
Youtube
Twitter
Pintrist