Most of our learning doesn’t happen when we gather information. It happens when we begin to apply the information.
In applying knowledge, many of us have tried over and over to make the necessary changes we know we should make, but have failed. Some of us might not consider ourselves to be religious and would want to do all the practical steps without considering the spiritual side. You can do it without considering the spiritual side, but here’s what I’ve learnt while trying to do it in my own strength and without God, and then trying to do it with Him: Doing it with Him is wiser and easier. You see, there are 2 pitfalls in doing it without God:
#1. Your chances of making mistakes are far greater. As long as you make the right choices, you’ll be OK, but you don’t know the future and you don’t know everything there is to know. God knows everything including the future because He is outside of time. He created time. There are some things you could not possibly know in your human capacity. Without God, you could make some unwise choices and not even realise the pitfalls up ahead. He gave us His Holy Spirit to guide us so we don’t have to make mistakes. He really wants to help you. He said so Himself.
#2. It’s far more difficult doing it on your own – more pressure, less liberty. Another thing God helps you with is inner strength to succeed. Jesus came so you could have it. He said so Himself. He told us to come to Him when we are heavy laden (with burdens and pressures), and He would give us rest and peace. He said that if we would take His yoke (i.e. do it with Him and not without Him), then we would learn from Him because He is kind and gentle towards us (i.e. He won’t pressurise us like people sometimes will). Then, he said, we would find rest and peace for our soul. And after saying all that, He told us that His yoke is easier, better and more manageable than if we tried to do it on our own. He also said that His “burden” is light and easy. I say “burden” in quotation marks because it’s not a burden if it’s easy and light, is it!
An interesting fact about a yoke is that it has place for 2 oxen. Normally, the farmer would put 2 oxen together under a yoke – a stronger, more experienced ox and a younger, inexperienced ox. The older ox would then lead the younger one. Get the picture? That’s why Jesus said we should take His yoke. He is the older, more experienced “ox” and we are the younger, inexperienced “ox”. He didn’t tell us to take His yoke because He wants to control us, take away our fun or make things difficult for us. He said so, because He wants to HELP us! Let Him help you. If you’ve never done it before, what have you got to lose? … Nothing, right?
If you would like to ask God to help you with whatever it is you are dealing with, then all it takes is a simple prayer. If you will oblige, I would like to lead you in that prayer. Please pray with me:
“Father God, help me on every journey I undertake. Thank you for never refusing to help me. I give you my body, soul and spirit. I receive your guidance and help. Show me the way to go, and I will go there. I thank you that with you I cannot fail. Thank you for saving me from failure and destruction. Thank you for always showing me the way out of every challenge. Thank you for always wanting the best for me. I give you my whole life. Do something great with it. I am more than a conqueror with you. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
