Prayers: Father God, I thank you for this new day and new beginning in my life, I ask you to touch my life and me draw closer to you and help me to know Jesus more and more and help me to rest in his presence. As I come to you, have mercy upon me, cleanse me from all sin and lead me to Christ my saviour. 

Scripture Reading for Prayer and Praise: Psalms 28:7

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.” My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.”                                                                                                               

Worship Song Sung or Said: I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say (Horatuis Bonar)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSSiEixBt8E&list=RDcSSiEixBt8E&index=1

I heard the voice of Jesus say, "Come unto me and rest;
Lay down, O weary one, lay down Your head upon my breast."
I came to Jesus as I was, So weary, worn, and sad; I found in him a resting place,
And he has made me glad.

I heard the voice of Jesus say, "Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one, Stoop down, and drink, and live."
I came to Jesus, and I drank Of that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, And now I live in him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say, "I am this dark world's light;
Look unto me, your morn shall rise, And all your day be bright."
I looked to Jesus, and I found In him my star, my sun;
And in that light of life I'll walk Till traveling days are done.

Gods Word for Today: Matthew 11:28

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” 29 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.” 

Devotional/Study: Part 1 

Brothers and sisters, I want to ask you a question, what kind of life have you had, has it been a good or bad life or somewhere in the middle? During my Christian life I have met hundreds of Christians and unbelievers and never came across anyone who said they had and are living the perfect life, a life without issues and problems. I have met people who had everything in life, money, success, a lovely family, but still struggled with all kinds of issues, physically and emotionally.                                                                                               

When we look back at own lives there have been times that have been tough, whether it be with health or family life or even in the workplace. Today many people who are troubled are turning to all kinds of things, religion, drugs or even alcohol. In a world full of confusion and anxiety Jesus his calling people to turn to him for salvation and for us he is calling us to come to him and believe and trust and have confidence in Him, whatever the circumstances .

People have not realized, Jesus is the answer to our broken relationship with God, he is the answer our broken relationship with others, he is the answer to worry and fears and the one who brings hope.

When Jesus was on this earth, throughout his ministry he saw many people were troubled and burdened with life. On one occasion He said in 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.”

Who was Jesus talking to in this verse? Some suggest that Jesus had in mind those who were burdened by the rites and traditions that the Pharisees put on them and were weighed down with anxiety. 

In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says something wonderful that can be transformation into our lives, three words “Come to me” Jesus never called people to turn to anyone else or anything he asked people to come to him. He wasn’t calling people to come to a set of doctrines or a set of laws, all these are important he was calling people to come to him. 

What people didn’t realize, coming to Jesus was coming to God in the flesh, the light of the world, the way the truth and the life, the price of peace, the great I Am, the saviour of the world, the son of God, the holy one, 

Brothers and sisters whatever is happening in your life today Jesus says to “come to me” Jesus calls you and me to come to Him and rest in His presence. 

If you feel weary and troubled by health and financial concerns and feeling overwhelmed by all that is happening around the world and in your life turn to Him. When Jesus said come to me, he was declaring he was the only one who could give rest and peace. 

Resting in him is laying down all that troubles us, all we are, believing and trusting he is in control, he has a purpose for our lives. When we rest in Jesus, we are allowing him to reach into the depts of souls and experience his presence and peace. I have discovered that as soon as your mind starts to be anxious take it to the Lord in prayer. 

I love the words to that wonderful song “what a friend we have in Jesus. “Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged, take it to the Lord in prayer Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness take it to the Lord in prayer.”

If we rest in Christ, seeking, loving, and trusting in Him, we will discover more of His love, purpose and plan for our lives and His world. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Jesus could simply take away all the troubles and difficulties? However, we know from life experiences the Lord doesn’t suddenly take us out of the storms of life. Brothers and sisters Jesus invites and calls each one of us to come to Him. He knows our hearts and all that troubles us and what weighs us down. He wants to listen to our troubles and assure us that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. I have discovered in my own life that when I spend time with him, I do find inner peace and rest for my soul. 

Something that really encourages me is, he never grows tired of listening to me and with love constantly renews my heart and love for him. Can I ask you, what burdens are weighing you down? loneliness, illness, guilt, bereavement, depression? 

Whatever it may be Jesus says to you today Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” When we come to Jesus, he will never turn us away or in any way reject us.  We read in John 6:37 "All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” 

I love those words “whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”   

We may feel unworthy or sinful to come to Jesus, however when we come to Christ with a contrite heart, he will never reject or turn us away. Why? because He loves you and cares for you and wants to embrace you, so that you will know and experience his amazing love, grace and peace, what a wonderful saviour we have.

Brothers and sisters, I would encourage you, make it your aim whenever you get up in the morning to go to Jesus in prayer and rest in His presence. When you rest in the heart of Christ you find, you are resting in the loving arms of the God your father in heaven. 

This doesn’t mean all our problems will go away, but what it does mean is we will find peace and calm in His glorious presence. The prophet Isaiah said in chapter 26:3 "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

Personal Prayers: