Yoked

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. Matthew 11:28-30

I’ve been pondering what it looks like to be “yoked with Christ.” Have you checked out a yoke lately? It’s a bit intimidating. Looks rigid and confining. Once one ox is yoked to another, they’re basically stuck together until someone unyokes them. Sounds … restrictive, doesn’t it? So, why would Jesus want us yoked with Him? Why would He use the analogy of a yoke when we are weary and burdened?

• Being yoked means being close. All day long. There’s no “feeling stuck” when you’re yoked with the One who loves you most. It’s a joy to be close. It’s a dream come true.
• Being yoked means we aren’t doing life alone. In fact, just as the stronger ox bears the weight of the yoke when training an inexperienced ox, Jesus bears the weight for us. That’s why His “yoke is easy.”
• Being yoked with the Lord means we have direction. I can spin in circles on my own, never sure what to do next. If I’m yoked with Him, I have a path, a plan, a purpose.

I want to be yoked with the Lord Jesus. At least … I do when my heart is right. I’m ashamed to say there are days when I refuse the yoke. I’m not sure I want to go where He will lead me. And yet, He knows me intimately. He knows the future. He loves me. Why in the world would I want to go anywhere but where He leads? So … how do I obey the command to “take my yoke upon you and learn from me?”

Y – Yield. I need to be willing to yield my will to His, trusting that He knows better than I do what the day will hold and how I can best fill it with work that matters. He knows best the work or service He will guide me into when we are yoked together.

O – Obey. I need to obey if He says, “go left,” even if I had favored the right. Practically, that means I’m willing to give up my plans when they are interrupted—maybe by someone in need or a whisper from the Spirit to stop and make a call. It definitely means I must walk in obedience to the commands in His Word.

K – Know. I need to know Him so well that I trust Him as the leader in our yoke. He is truly “gentle and humble in heart,” and I really will “find rest” for my soul. Often, He calls me to stop and be still, something I would seldom do on my own. My God is good, and His plans for me are good. The more I know who God is, the more I can trust Him.

E – Expect. I need to walk in expectation when I take His yoke. He has a plan to guide me. My job is simply to stay yoked. Close to Him. Remembering He is right there with me. A day yoked with Him is a day of adventure and accomplishment. It’s a day of victory, because I’m walking the path He has marked out for me, doing work that matters for His kingdom.

Picture yourself today in Jesus’ wonderful yoke of comfort, closeness and guidance. Will you pray with me for that yoking?

Dear Lord, thank You for this invitation to willingly take Your yoke upon me all day long. I choose to do that today. I want to be that close to You! Help me to seek Your guidance and Your will at every turn. Remind me to turn to You in prayer when I’m perplexed or angry—or happy. Help me consult You and remember You in every circumstance of the day. Lord, forgive me for the times I wander in circles because I’m not yoked. Today, Lord, I willingly yield to Your directions and to Your good plans. Today, Lord, I take on Your yoke. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

You are loved,
Sharon

Sweet Selah Ministries

Vision
To encourage a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth that stillness and knowing God matter most—
and will be reflected in more effective work and service

Mission 
To offer resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)