Some More Changes to the Prayer Guide
Over the next couple of months we're going to be experimenting with some changes to the prayer guide. Our goal is to help you to engage in prayer more consistently and in ways you might not have experienced before. For our next sermon series we're going to try connecting the prayer guide to the Sunday topics, but for this week we are going to pray related to our new series What's the Difference? If you didn't get a chance to participate in the service, head on over to the website to check it out.
Matthew 11:28-30
"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."
The Easy Way
In Jesus day, yolks were made to accommodate two animals. A good carpenter would notice which animal was the weaker one, and build the yolk to allow the stronger animal to bear the heavier weight.
Jewish Rabbi's often used the word 'yolk' to describe their understanding of God's will and God's work in living out every day life. There were so many commandments for the Jewish people, that they needed guidance on how to live out these truths. A Rabbi's 'yolk' referred to the way they taught their followers to live and respond to God.
Jesus says: 'My yolk is easy' because he aims at transforming us from the inside out where we learn to rely on his power and not our own. You are Jesus' student and he invites you to learn from him. We don't bear the weight of our lives on our own.
Prayer Exercise
1. Identify a challenge or situation you are facing in your life right now, something you've been wrestling with by trying harder on your own.
2. Resist the urge to fix yourself and throw that strategy away!
3. Create space to invite God to speak into your life. Remember God is your advocate. He's for you, not against you. Trust that God is as good as he says he is.
4. Do something based on how you heard God speak. This 'doing' is only in response to God and surrendering the outcome to him.
Petition
God invites us to cast our cares on him because he cares for us. God is all-together good, already knows what we need, and is eager to give us good things. So we don’t need to pray out of anxiety or fear, but confident trust. Spend a few minutes making your requests known to God.
- For the church
- For others
- For myself
Closing Prayer
Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.