“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 11:29,30
I don’t know about you, but emerging from the strange season we’ve been in for much of the past year has been a challenge. While I’m very excited to be living life and resuming normal activities, I’ve found that I need to ration energy as I pick up the pace and move ahead. Something about being totally slowed down and then going forward at full steam has been a struggle. In fact, it reminds me afresh of the incredibly fast pace of our 21st century world, and how it can take its toll on our souls if we’re not careful. You see, I believe our minds are like computer batteries, and when we have too many programs operating beneath the surface, they strip our gears and we run out of juice. Whether it’s feeling the pressure to respond to everyone on social media, crafting perfect replies to text messages, or making sure we guard our image with co-workers and stakeholders, we frequently fail to recognize how much energy we’re pouring into managing our reputation or hustling for worthiness — that is, until we’re too burned out to care. Once we give more than we have, we’re forced to slow down and re-evaluate how we invest our time. Knowing this, the key to maintaining physical, emotional, and spiritual health is to find balance through periods of rest, and most importantly, to let go of reputation management. When we stop caring about what other people think, we have more of ourselves to give to the relationships and activities that really matter! My friend, quit spreading yourself thin trying to make everyone else happy, and start doing what’s best for your relationship with Jesus and those He’s called you to care for. You are precious in your Savior’s sight, and He wants you to live abundantly, peacefully, and full of the fruit of His Spirit, but it’s only possible when you walk in His footsteps. His yoke is easy and His burden is light, and He invites you to seek His presence first, knowing that as you do, everything else you need will be added to you! |
Prayer
Jesus, I surrender my desire to manage my reputation, and I look to you. Help me slow down so that I don’t burn out.
Reflection
Is your soul’s battery fully charged or are you feeling depleted? If you’re drained, what changes might you need to make to get refreshed?
If you’re unable to attend your local church or need some additional weekly inspiration, be sure to tune into Hour of Power every Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. PT on TBN or watch online at hourofpower.org/episode.
5 Responses
I am still taking this time off from resuming my lector ministry to really make sure that it is safe for me to go back. I don’t want to take any chances with my health.Even though I am fully vaccinated against Covid-19. There is this delta variant running rampant throughout and it is scary. Hopefully I will get the OK,to return.But for now. I will continue to just take everything at an easy pace and concentrate on improving my overall physical condition. By riding my stationery bike every day and also doing some other form of exercise.I hope and pray that the Hour of Power will continue its mission of reaching out to all around the world with its positive and healing messages of God.To the Schuller family. I pray that they are blessed with excellent health.To the worshiping community of Shepherd’s Grove at Irvine Presbyterian Church I send to them warm greetings. To the Hour of Power Choir and Orchestra and their directors much thanks and appreciation for the beautiful and uplifting music and singing.As always I remain a faithful viewer and Happy and Wholesome student in Jesus Christ.Be not afraid. For God goes before you.To guide and lead you to peaceful rest in his heavenly kingdom. Amen and Alleliua
THANK YOU, BOBBY, FOR THIS PARTICULAR MESSAGE!!!!!! IT’S ALSO THE STORY OF MY LIFE!!!!!I AM GUILTY OF EVERYTHING YOU JUST ENUNCIATED!!!!!! THIS LIFE-STYLE (BEHAVIOR) STEMS FROM A MULTITUDE OF PEOPLE AND CIRCUMSTANCES IN MY LIFE JOURNEY!!!!! MUCH HAS ORIGINATED FROM MY ATTEMPT TO PROVE MY ABILITIES AND WHAT I’M ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH!
IT’S A VERY LONG STORY OF MY INADEQUACY (IES). BECAUSE OF THIS DILEMMA, I’M EXPERIENCING FEELINGS OF LOSS WITH THOSE, ESPECIALLY WITH THOSE NEAR AND DEAR TO MY IN MY PERSONAL FAMILY!
I KNOW, I NEED TO ASK GOD FOR HELP, AND THAT I DO. I FEEL HIS HELP! AND I ATTRIBUTE A PORTION OF KNOWLEDGE (HELP) FROM YOUR MESSAGES AND SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS!! YOU ARE DOING A REMARKABLE JOB, BOBBY! I STILL HEAR YOUR VOICE ON THE PHONE WHEN YOU WERE A LITTLE CHILD! NO ONE ELSE WOULD UNDERSTAND THIS COMMENT, EXCEPT FOR YOUR DAD! I THINK ABOUT THIS OFTEN!!! THANK YOU, BOBBY!!!!!
-BILL KELLEY
Please Pray for healthcare professionals and all in healthcare now. We are exhausted! Our burdens are heavy and the laborers are few in the nursing homes especially.
Jesus said true ministry is caring for the widows and the orphans. We don’t hear that preached much these days. I pray more Christians are called to service in healthcare.
What a wonderful message today and how we all need to heed your advice, regardless of age, current situations and just life in general. The loss of my spouse has put me in a difficult time, but so, so thankful that Christ has walked through this with me and He continues to comfort me!! The song I’ll Walk With God, has meant so much to me in these past days and months!!
Dear Bobby your a real daily friend I know your a musician and I was recently reading a peace
written about a song recorded by Glen Campbell
Whitchyta lineman and how the Smithonian museum had set it aside as a national treasure
When Glen first heard it he cried because that
was him so far away from home and so lonely
And I feel the same , some part of the day when
work has abated for a minute you think about
Your love ones ,, men take so much on themselves and are very lonely at times
God bless