A guest post from Nancy Kay Grace,
author of The Grace Impact.
author of The Grace Impact.
Easter preparations. Laundry. Baking. Daily commitments. Preparing for weekend guests. My mind swirls in the stress and I wonder how I will get it all done. This is often the way life is, no matter what the season of the year. The daily grind wears us down.
The following is an Excerpt from
The Grace Impact
by Nancy Kay Grace
Day 21: Giving Up the Grind
A flurry of activity has become the badge of identification for many. It states, “I have so much to do.” Our time is filled with caring for our families and making a living. These are good things, but too often we leave out the most important relationship — our connection with the Lord.
The Lord doesn’t demand us to do more, more, more. On the contrary, He teaches us to rest in Him. Even when crowds pressed in on Him, Jesus slipped away to make time with His Father. Jesus drew strength from this time.
In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus says, “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.”
We are often yoked to the burden of responsibilities to our families and the calendar full of activities. Life feels overwhelming. People are demanding, and we cry out in desperation. “How can I take on another yoke to help me out when I’m so busy? I don’t have time for another thing.” Jesus uses an interesting metaphor of a yoke to teach us about the Christian life.
A yoke is a wooden collar that joins two animals, usually oxen, to enable them to pull together. A yoke also refers to a team paired together. When animals are trained with a yoke, a younger, weaker ox is paired with an older, stronger one. Over time they learn to work together, walking in step with one another.
When we are yoked with Jesus, we learn to walk in step with Him. Being the stronger one, He helps carry the burden of stress and worry that is on our backs. His yoke brings relief to our overwhelmed souls.
In The Message Bible, Matthew 11:28-30 states “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.”
Selah, a Hebrew word of uncertain meaning, appears seventy-four times in the Psalms, and is regarded as a musical term indicating a pause or interlude. Beyond its musical implication, it can be a pause or rest for us in the activity of life. A selah moment would be a time to pause and reflect in the midst of the busyness of life, learning “the unforced rhythms of grace.”
Psalm 62:5-7 explains what I call a selah moment, resting in the Lord. “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.”
Choosing to rest in the Lord’s sovereign grace is a remedy to the stress of busyness.
Breathe deeply of His all-sufficient grace. Accept the invitation from Jesus to be yoked to Him and not to the stress of too much activity. Give up the striving and pressure of the daily grind as you rest your spirit in the Lord.
As I prepare for a busy weekend, I will remember to make time for selah moments—to take a deep breath and focus on the Lord. Only in Him will I find the strength and have the peace to enjoy life.
Will you join me in making time for selah moments?
Prayer: Lord, I come to You for rest. The busyness of life is overwhelming, but in You there is peace and rest. Take my weary heart and revive me again through Your unending grace. Amen.
What an encouragement. And there is more where that came from in Nancy’s new devotional book, The Grace Impact, which releases tomorrow, April 17, 2015.
Grace Impact is available at
Autographed copies can
be ordered by contacting
Nancy directly at nancy@nancykaygrace.com
In a few months, Nancy will be hosting an online Bible study using The Grace Impact. If you are interested in more information about this opportunity, please sign up for her GraceNotes
newsletter at http://www.nancykaygrace.
Nancy Kay Grace is captivated by God’s grace and loves to share about embracing it in everyday life. Her devotional book, The Grace Impact, releases April 17 from CrossRiver Media. She has contributed stories to several anthologies and published magazine articles. Nancy is married to her best friend, Rick, who is a senior pastor in northwest Arkansas. They have served the Lord for mare than forty years, seeing His grace at work in many countries. Now they enjoy the stage of life with two married children and an increasing number of grandchildren. To learn more please visit Nancy on her website. You can also connect with her on social media:
Congratulations on your launch, Nancy. May this book bless the hearts of many weary souls!
Congrats Nancy Kay Grace, I am certain that The Grace Impact will bless and inspire many!
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