Jesus You Have My Attention
Here is the part of this whole “YOKED to Jesus” invitation that has been most challenging for my daily life. Remember, in the old farming world, they would connect 2 animals/oxen together to plow a field etc. One thing they’d do was to match up a more mature oxen with a younger oxen so that the younger one could learn the ways and become more effective and useful. When they were yoked together, the more mature oxen would carry the majority of the weight until the younger one could carry its weight.
Sooooooooo, what happens when the student tries to go their own way? Just imagine the scene. The teaching oxen, is trying to lead and the student starts pulling its own way with what it thinks is best. Friction, tension, heaviness, pain, confusion, weariness, a battle for control, exhaustion (this sounds like the list of side effects to those drug commercials: difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, nausea, hot sweats, cold sweats, blood in your stool :) too far? :).
What happens when we try to go our own way while we are yoked to Jesus? Friction, tension, heaviness, pain, confusion, weariness, a battle for control, exhaustion. Not because Jesus is necessarily causing these things, but because we aren’t listening, trusting, watching, teachable, humble (a right view of oneself), and controlling. No shame here, no condemnation, but how often are we tired?
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
How cool does that context make this scripture! So where in your life are you fighting with Jesus for autonomy? What area in your life are you not letting Him lead and teach you?
Want rest, true rest for your soul? Let’s take Jesus at His word: “Come to me...take my yoke upon you”
10000 MINUTES Practice:
This is probably one of my favorite breathing prayers/practices of them all:
Breathe In: Jesus
Breathe Out: You Have My Attention