In this devotional series, you will learn how to encounter God’s presence by entering the rest of God. If you are finding it difficult to rest from all troubles in life then this devotional is for you.
Phases-Encounter God’s presence:
- Oneness/intimacy- Knowing Him intimately ( Part 1)
- True Worship- Awareness ( Part 1)
- The 3 essentials: God’s Truth, Identity, Abide in Him ( Part 2)
- Rest
- Purity
- Die already! ( Dying to self). The great transition
- Authority
- Enter the promise land ( you are the promise land)
- Encounter – hunger for God and being thirsty to be filled with His spirit
- Do you trust me? A whole new world
- Flower garden
- Feet of Jesus
- Narrow gate
- Ever green mountains and flying in the sky
Check out How to Encounter God’s Presence Now: Devotional (Part 1) if you would like to learn more about intimacy with God and How to Encounter God’s Presence Now: Devotional (Part 2).
Encounter God’s Presence: Rest in His Yoke
God’s yoke is easy…
If I am tired in my mind and body, I can hear the soft whisper of God in my spirit, saying I love you. Lately, I have been feeling so out of touch with myself and reality. It has been difficult trying to sleep at night, because I find myself thinking about all of the things that I need to get done or if I will be able to achieve my dreams. I find it difficult to make my mind remain still.
“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.
30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light
Matthew 11:28-30
God reminds me in Matthew 11:28-30 a few ways I can find rest in His yoke. The first thing He tells me to do is to come to him. God’s presence is always with you but I believe that when your soul is exhausted that He beckons you to Him. He wants you to come closer to Him.
Activation exercise 1
Spend time asking God to show you how to take His yoke in your life. Journal your experiences in a prayer journal. You won’t remember the shifts and changes in your life unless you write it down.
Prayer Prompts to get you started:
- Ask God to help you rest in His yoke when your soul feels heavy
- Write down all of the amazing miracles from God
- Rest in How God loves you in His perfect ways
Encounter God’s Presence: Take His Yoke Upon You
He also wants us to take His yoke. The yoke in this verse is a metaphor to attach ourselves to Him in total surrender of His perfect ways. God knows more than we could ever know. He wants to take some of the load off your back so that you can be free to submit to Him.
Submission looks like ” Yes Jesus, I don’t understand what is going on in my life but I trust you anyway to guide me to the next destination in my life.”
Submission is having faith for the impossible to become possible.
Submission is yielding your heart, mind, and soul to the miracle working power of God in your life.
Activation exercise 2
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I take your yoke upon me and trust that you are with me for all eternity. You will guide me in all decision making so I take your yoke and completely trust in your direction for my life.
In Jesus name, Amen
Encounter God’s Presence: God is gentle, humble, and light
God’s presence is gentle and humble. God is gentle in His approach to take your burdens away from you. However, it is false humility to deny support when it is given. I often wonder why I deny help when my neighbors offer to help me with my heavy groceries or when someone holds the door for me I will often say, ” oh I got it.” God is saying to us ” I got it.” I got your pain, your stress, your shame, and anything that is holding you down. He walks with us and places the heavy load of the “yoke” onto His shoulders.
Activation Exercise 3
Write down a list of God’s characteristics in this format
God is gentle because _____ ( write down how he is gentle in your life).
God is humble because______ ( write down how he is humble in your life).
God’s yoke is light because____ ( write down how God makes life easy for you).
Read part 4 here: How to Encounter God’s Presence Now: Devotional (Part 4)
