55 : Bible Study With Mari - Matthew 11:28-30
In this episode of The Ever Be Podcast, host Mari Wagner shares her unique and fruitful experience of Lent, where she gave up screens after 8 PM and added daily Mass. Mari discusses how these practices have brought her peace and rest, connecting it to a Bible study on Matthew 11:28-30. Listen in for insightful, real-life conversations on finding rest in God, surrendering burdens, and seeking spiritual growth in a busy world. Mari also offers practical tips for daily surrender, prayer, and observing a true Sabbath.
------
Episode Sponsors
Salt and Light by Sami - Shop non toxic perfumes and candles at saltandlightbysami.com and use code: EVERBE10 for 10% off your order!
Crunchi - crunchi.com/mariwagner
West Coast Catholic - westcoastcatholic.co
------
Follow Along:
Transcript
Hey, I am your host, Mari Wagner,
and you're listening to The Ever Be
2
:Podcast where Faith Meets Lifestyle.
3
:I'm so excited you're here.
4
:Whether you're a new listener
or a longtime follower, I know
5
:there's something here for you.
6
:Pull up a chair and listen in for
insightful, real life conversations and
7
:actionable steps on how to claim the.
8
:Full life God created you for.
9
:If you're a woman desiring to live
a Christ-centered life in today's
10
:modern world, then this is for you.
11
:Welcome to ever be.
12
:mari-wagner_3_04-02-2025_170751:
Hey you guys.
13
:How are you?
14
:It is middle lent.
15
:Um, I always feel like I wanna
ask you how you're doing, but
16
:it's weird 'cause obviously I.
17
:I can't hear you.
18
:Um, but just know that I'm
like thinking about you and
19
:wondering like, how's Lent going?
20
:I know for me, this Lent has been unique.
21
:It's been, I've approached it
differently than I have in the past,
22
:and I'm actually really enjoying this.
23
:Lent.
24
:I'm, I'm like really feeling
the fruits of this lent.
25
:Um, I hope your guys'
lent is also fruitful and.
26
:Is just a season of spiritual
growth and drawing closer to the
27
:Lord and strengthening your faith
and your relationship with Jesus.
28
:Um.
29
:And if it's been hard, I've had hard lunch
before too, and it's rough hanging there.
30
:Just another couple weeks before Easter.
31
:Um, for Lent this year I gave up using
my screens after 8:00 PM and that is
32
:just like all screens, not just tv.
33
:It's basically like I put my phone
away and I don't open my computer or
34
:turn the TV on, starting at 8:00 PM Um.
35
:And then I added daily mass Monday
through Friday to my schedule.
36
:Um, and that was just something
that I had been wanting to do
37
:for a while and just hadn't like,
honestly had the discipline to do it.
38
:Um.
39
:And I'm really, really glad that
sometimes we need a good Lent, you know,
40
:to like give us a kick in the butt.
41
:And I'm really glad that I
did that for Lent this year.
42
:Um, and I usually add like a
devotional or some sort of like
43
:program that I'm doing and I.
44
:I had every full intention to do
Ascensions program, like on their app
45
:of the Seven Deadly Sins, which I can
probably still access post lent, I hope.
46
:Um, but I didn't actually end
up doing it, which I'm bummed
47
:because it looked so good.
48
:I need to just like.
49
:Be okay with starting late
if I still want to do it.
50
:'cause it, it sounds so interesting to me,
but a part of me has been like, kind of
51
:hard on myself being like, wow, you didn't
add like a specific devotional or a prayer
52
:or like, you were gonna do this like, you
know, app program and then you didn't.
53
:And part of me wants to feel like I failed
in, um, and maybe y'all don't experience
54
:this, maybe I'm just too hard on myself.
55
:Um.
56
:But I keep feeling almost like
the love of God, just being like,
57
:you have sought out like me.
58
:You know, like you've received me
every day in, and you've sought out
59
:like communion with me in the mass.
60
:Like nothing is a greater gift than that.
61
:Like, don't be hard on yourself.
62
:Like, I'm with you.
63
:And so I've just allowed myself to kind
of like, yeah, just like feel that peace
64
:and that consolation and know that I.
65
:That like what I'm doing is enough
and it's actually like such a big
66
:gift to myself, to my faith life,
and a gift to the Lord, um, to
67
:show up at daily mass every day.
68
:Um, and it's, I just, I'm bringing
this up because I just feel like
69
:it ties in with today's episode.
70
:We're gonna do a little Bible study.
71
:Um, I've only done one other Bible
study episode before and I got so
72
:much feedback saying people loved
it and they wanted more of 'em.
73
:And I just recently thought,
wow, I haven't done it in.
74
:Forever.
75
:I mean, it's probably been
like six months or so.
76
:So we're gonna do another one today and
it's gonna be on finding true rest in God.
77
:And so the reason I bring up just this
experience that I've had throughout
78
:Lent and going to Mass is because I feel
like I'm finding rest and peace in my
79
:life more than I have experienced in the
past year of my life probably than ever.
80
:Um, and I.
81
:If I sit and reflect, I really believe
it's because I'm going to mass every day,
82
:and therefore it's because I'm finding
rest in God himself and relying on him
83
:to give me the graces necessary, you
know, to go about my life and my day,
84
:and to answer God's call in my life.
85
:And I just bring this up because I
think this is something we all seek and
86
:it's something we're all yearning for,
is lasting peace and rest, especially
87
:in just the culture we live in today.
88
:I feel like we glorify busyness and we
worship productivity and we can't rest
89
:un until we're, you know, done with our
to-do list, which by the way, never ends.
90
:Um.
91
:And it's almost like we try and outdo
each other with busyness or we like
92
:pride ourselves off of our busyness and
that's just not how God wants us to live.
93
:That's not how he created us
to live, and I feel like it
94
:is the work of the evil one.
95
:I.
96
:Working to distract us and keep us
busy and distracted on so many other
97
:things, whether they're good or bad.
98
:I'm not saying all the things that
we do are bad, like we could be
99
:distracted with really good things.
100
:Um, but he keeps us
distracted and tired and, um.
101
:Yeah, just like constantly pouring out
and not making time to be poured into
102
:which we can only seek from God the
father, um, from spending time with
103
:Jesus in prayer and seeking him in just
different ways throughout our life.
104
:So I.
105
:I think this is just a realization
that I've just been coming
106
:to in the past few weeks.
107
:It's like, wow, I feel, I feel rest in
the Lord and no matter like what's going
108
:on in my life, or you know, a busyness
of schedule that I have or whatever,
109
:like I don't feel that same like I.
110
:I don't even know what to call it,
like pressure, like heavy tiredness.
111
:I don't feel a heavy tiredness.
112
:I, I feel like a lightness
of heart, a lightness in my
113
:body, in my face, in my chest.
114
:Um, and I think it's really because the
Lord is providing, the Lord is sustaining.
115
:Um.
116
:And I, I host a Bible study
at my house every week.
117
:And that's one thing that we talked
about briefly, kind of on the same topic.
118
:Um, last night in Bible study was
one of the women shared how, you
119
:know, she's a mother and she is, you
know, trying to learn how to like
120
:mother her children and trust in God.
121
:And, um.
122
:Basically like do things well and like
have all this energy to do things, um,
123
:and to trust that she's doing things well
and to trust her children as they grow
124
:into these different stages and trust
God that he's gonna take care of 'em and
125
:all these different things, um, that I.
126
:You know, in fears that I'm sure
a lot of new moms feel, or you may
127
:feel it entering into the season of
engagement or marriage and being like,
128
:how the heck am I gonna be a good wife?
129
:Um, yeah.
130
:Or, or starting a new
job or just anything.
131
:Right.
132
:That like, we feel like inadequate in, um.
133
:And we talked about how in these
moments you can put it back on the
134
:Lord, you can go to the Lord and say
like, Lord, this is how I'm feeling
135
:in my vocation in this calling.
136
:You asked of me in my job, in a
relationship I have in a friendship, um,
137
:or in my relationship with you, right?
138
:And just feel like I feel inadequate,
I feel tired, I feel lost.
139
:IX, Y, Z, like can't actually.
140
:Do this the way that you would want
me to, um, because the truth is you
141
:can't, you can't trust the way God
like calls us to trust You can't
142
:love the way he calls us to love
because we're human and we're broken.
143
:He actually calls us to rely on him to
be given the grace to do these things.
144
:And so we talked about last night
how we can put it back on the Lord
145
:and we can say, okay, Lord, like.
146
:Please give me the grace to trust.
147
:Please give me a greater gift of
faith, a greater gift of hope,
148
:a greater gift of, um, patience.
149
:And, you know, whatever the virtue
is you're seeking to grow in whatever
150
:gift of the Holy Spirit that you wanna
ask for and go to him faithfully,
151
:continually, go to mass, receive
him, and ask for these things in
152
:humility, and he will give them to you.
153
:He will, he absolutely will.
154
:But I think so often we just feel like
we need to do things ourselves and we
155
:kind of like pick ourselves up by our
bootstraps and we're like, yep, we just
156
:gotta work hard and we just gotta put
our head down and we just gotta do the
157
:things God calling us to do and gotta
be a good Christian and a good Catholic.
158
:And, and if you're struggling, we,
you just gotta do it harder, right?
159
:You just gotta work harder.
160
:You just gotta trust better
or have greater faith.
161
:Um, and.
162
:No, like we can ask for these
things as a gift from God in
163
:humility and he will give it to us.
164
:So just wanted to kind of preface this
conversation with that and basically
165
:share my experience of just like
finding peace and rest and realizing
166
:that no shock, it's because I'm.
167
:Going to the Lord,
going to the Lord often.
168
:And I just want to share that in this
place of consolation right now to
169
:encourage you to do the same thing.
170
:So we're gonna open up our Bibles
and just pull from scripture
171
:to guide our conversation.
172
:Um, so we're gonna turn
to Matthew chapter 11.
173
:Matthew chapter 11 verses 28 through 30.
174
:So not very long.
175
:Just a couple verses and I'll
just go ahead and read it.
176
:Um, and so let's just do some like lexio.
177
:Dina, if you can, um, I'll read it
and then allow yourself to maybe
178
:pause the recording and take some
time to ask the Holy Spirit to kind
179
:of shed light on what you just heard.
180
:If you have the time, you
know to stop for a moment.
181
:If not, that's okay.
182
:You can just keep it going and listen
to the rest of the Bible study.
183
:But if you have time to sit down and do a
little prayer s session with me, go ahead
184
:and do it, and we can do it together.
185
:So Matthew Levin, verse
28 through 30 reads.
186
:Come to me, all who labor and our
heavy laden and I will give you rest.
187
:Take my yoke upon you and learn from
me for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
188
:and you will find rest for your souls.
189
:For my yoke is easy
and my burden is light.
190
:So I'll read it one more time and I
just want you to listen and kind of
191
:just see where your heart is moved.
192
:Where are you, um, you know, what
word are you being drawn to, or
193
:what phrase are you being drawn to?
194
:Where is your heart leaning
towards as I'm reading?
195
:And just see what stands out to you.
196
:One more time.
197
:Come to me all who labor and our
heavy laden and I will give you rest.
198
:Take my yoke upon you and learn from
me for I am gentle and lowly and heart,
199
:and you'll find rest for your souls.
200
:For my yoke is easy
and my burden is light.
201
:So I think what stands out to
me right off the bat is in verse
202
:29, at the end it says, and you
will find rest for your souls.
203
:That to me is.
204
:So powerful because I feel like the way
we try and seek rest in our day to day is
205
:honestly by like numbing ourselves is by
just zoning out, you know, like scrolling
206
:on your phone or throwing on a TV show.
207
:Um, or maybe just listening
to a podcast or a music.
208
:And again, not to say any of these
is bad, but I find myself doing this
209
:often of just like, oh, I'm super
tired, or I'm just like exhausted
210
:for something from something.
211
:Or.
212
:I just feel overwhelmed and my initial
reaction is to like lay on the couch and
213
:pull out my phone and open Instagram or,
um, yeah, like lay on my bed and like
214
:throw a show on or something like that.
215
:And while that is, you
know, maybe a form of like.
216
:Maybe physically resting
our bodies like laying down.
217
:It's not a true rest of our soul.
218
:And in fact, like we're still
continuing to, to be stimulated by all
219
:of, you know, the things that we're
scrolling or seeing on our screen.
220
:And correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel
like more often than not we walk away
221
:from those like doom scroll sessions,
like still feeling overwhelmed and
222
:kind of like buzzed and kind of just
like, uh, like wired almost, you
223
:know, not like, not like truly rested.
224
:And here Jesus is.
225
:Saying like, you'll find
rest for your souls.
226
:And that just sounds like such
a like deep, long lasting peace
227
:and like stillness in our souls.
228
:Something that like stills, our heart,
mind, soul is just so attractive to me.
229
:I don't know about you.
230
:Um, so I think that's what
initially stands out to me.
231
:But I mean, let's just like, let's
just break this up line by line and
232
:just kind of go through it a little
bit and just do a little study.
233
:So it starts out with, come to
Me All who Labor and our heavy
234
:laden, and I will give you rest.
235
:So who is Jesus inviting here?
236
:He says, come to me all who labor.
237
:Um, and really that's all of us.
238
:He's inviting all of us.
239
:He's extending an invitation
to you to go to him and to give
240
:him everything you're carrying.
241
:And just to kind of unload those burdens
that you feel like you have in your life,
242
:whether they're emotional or spiritual
or physical, whether it's burdens
243
:you're carrying in your own life, or
you know, burdens that you feel like
244
:you're caring of people that you love
and care about other people in your life.
245
:He invites us here to give that to him.
246
:And to seek rest in him, right?
247
:To be able to let go of that burden,
to entrust it to him and to trust him
248
:when he says, and I will give you rest.
249
:And I feel like, you know, going off of
this conversation that I just started
250
:here about where we seek rest, I just
feel like we seek rest in, in so many
251
:places and honestly the wrong places in
our culture today, like social media,
252
:tv, alcohol, you know, any other vices we
might have, gossip, um, whatever it is.
253
:I just feel like our bodies naturally
and our souls naturally like are
254
:yearning for that rest of soul.
255
:Um, and when we feel overwhelmed
or burdened, we tend to
256
:look in the wrong places.
257
:Especially if we're not like rooting
ourselves in God and in prayer constantly.
258
:It's not gonna be our first reaction to be
like, oh, I'm feeling super overwhelmed.
259
:Let me go spend some time with the Lord.
260
:And honestly, I feel like
that kind of ties into a level
261
:of trust that we have with.
262
:Jesus and kind of reveals
where we're at in that trust.
263
:Like if times when we just feel like
life is really heavy or we have a lot
264
:going on, or you feel super overwhelmed
or anxious or stressed, we're just
265
:exhausted and our reaction is to go
to something worldly to find rest.
266
:It almost communicates that we don't
trust that God will give us that
267
:rest, or we don't trust that we're
actually gonna feel, you know, that.
268
:Peace that rest that he can give
us, but that we, we feel like
269
:we're gonna feel it in those other
areas that we're seeking out.
270
:And again, it's almost kinda like seeking
out this instant gratification of just
271
:like, oh, I know if I scroll on my phone
for 30 minutes, you know, that's what I'll
272
:need right now to, to kind of disconnect.
273
:And I think that's key right there
is like in those coping mechanisms.
274
:What we're actually doing is disconnecting
and kind of disassociating from our
275
:reality in order to give ourselves
a break, whether as when we take our
276
:burdens to Jesus, we are facing our
reality and surrendering it to Christ,
277
:letting go and allowing Christ to
work in it and trusting that he will.
278
:And that's where that level of trust comes
in and where that true surrender comes in.
279
:To be able to feel that heaviness
and go first to Jesus and be like,
280
:Lord, I know that you can take it.
281
:You know, please take it from me.
282
:Please give me your.
283
:Your rest and give me
a lightness of heart.
284
:You know, please calm my anxiety.
285
:Please give me peace, confidence,
joy, hope, whatever it is that you
286
:feel like you're struggling in, and to
trust that he's gonna fill your cup.
287
:Um, I.
288
:And I mean, I won't lie.
289
:It doesn't mean that every time
you go to prayer, you're gonna
290
:feel all these like happy feelings.
291
:All these like rainbows and
butterflies in your heart, and
292
:everything's gonna feel better.
293
:But I guarantee you the work that will
be happening in your heart and soul is
294
:actually going to be healing more so
than your scrolling session is gonna be.
295
:Although you might feel like you got a
break from it because you disassociated
296
:and disconnected while you were scrolling.
297
:The he.
298
:There's no healing work that's happening.
299
:Whereas when you go to the Lord and
surrender your burdens to the Lord,
300
:there is healing work that happens
where the Lord is, is acting as a
301
:father and is saying, I got you.
302
:You know, I'm here for
your, I'm here for you.
303
:Let me provide, let me take
care of it like rest my child.
304
:So that true rest really is about
taking it an extra step further and
305
:surrendering our burden and trusting
that Jesus is gonna take care of it.
306
:Okay, the next line, verse 29 says,
take my yoke upon you and learn from
307
:me for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
308
:For the longest time, I mean, almost
my whole life, basically, I didn't
309
:understand this line when it said like,
take my yolk or like my yolk is light.
310
:I obviously just thought of
an egg yolk and I was like,
311
:what the heck does that mean?
312
:He's got a really light egg yolk.
313
:Um, and so I never.
314
:Understood how that like
connected to this passage or rest.
315
:Um, well come to learn if you
guys might already know this.
316
:Maybe it's just me, but if you're like me
and you're like, what the heck is a yolk?
317
:It's like a thing that they put on
oxen, I think is the way you say it.
318
:Plu elite, like on like the animal an ox.
319
:So they would put this like
thing on the oxen like a.
320
:Wooden like connector, right?
321
:To connect the oxen to like pull
the like weight, like the burden or
322
:whatever it is, the load that they're
carrying to kind of share the weight.
323
:So they're able to be, um, you
know, working together to get
324
:this job done, to carry this load.
325
:So what Jesus is saying here
basically is take my yoke upon you.
326
:Like share this yoke with me and.
327
:Attach yourself to me.
328
:He's not saying like, I'm gonna
put this yoke on you to like, give
329
:you the work to help you like so
that you can feel this like weight.
330
:No.
331
:Instead, he's like, attach yourself to
me and you'll see how easy the ride is.
332
:Right now you're carrying your yoke alone.
333
:And if you would just attach
yourself to me, you would see how,
334
:how much lighter I would make it.
335
:And then he says, not just attach.
336
:Yourself to me, right?
337
:Not just take your, take my yoke
upon you, but then learn from me.
338
:Now what does that mean?
339
:Right?
340
:What does it mean to learn from Jesus?
341
:I mean, I just feel like it means to
like walk in his ways and to emulate
342
:the way that he lived and to live
the way that he calls us to, that
343
:we can learn from in the scriptures.
344
:To live in humility, to live in surrender,
to live in reliance on God, to live in
345
:constant prayer, to be constantly seeking
God, seeking God's will over your own.
346
:That is what it means to learn
from the Lord, to walk in his ways.
347
:And when we do that, when we walk in
the way that Christ taught us to, we are
348
:able to find this rest and we'll be able
to see how our, our yoke is lightened.
349
:Because the weight isn't all on us
and we're not just trying to live out
350
:of this self-reliance and us figuring
out life on our own and trying to
351
:grasp at everything that we think we
need or that we want or yearn for.
352
:And instead, we live an open handed
life of surrender, of humility, walking
353
:in the way of the Lord, in complete
trust in God, in this closeness of,
354
:of communion with God, where we are
open to his will and always just.
355
:Being docile to the Holy Spirit
and being ready to say yes to
356
:his call, whatever that may be.
357
:And then he says, for I am gentle
and lowly in heart, and this should
358
:be refreshing and comforting to us.
359
:Like to me, this brings me.
360
:Oh gosh.
361
:It just feels like a hug.
362
:Like it just feels like
a hug from like my dad.
363
:You know what I mean?
364
:Like just like a comfort and
a safety where he's reassuring
365
:us, like, I am gentle in heart.
366
:Like when you give me your burden,
when you like, share your burden
367
:with me and allow me to pick up your
load, I'm not going to yell at you.
368
:I'm not gonna punish you.
369
:I'm not gonna be a harsh, you know, like.
370
:Master that tells you like keep
going, work harder, do better.
371
:He's just gonna have mercy and
love and gentleness and kindness.
372
:Because he was fully human.
373
:He experienced the whole array of
emotions and that human experience that
374
:we experience, um, without sin, of course.
375
:But he's able to empathize with us
on a very personal level and so.
376
:How does knowing Jesus' heart, you
know, being gentle, empathetic, merciful
377
:kind, change how we approach him?
378
:Right?
379
:How does that change our disposition
of heart we go to the Lord with
380
:our burdens and know that he's just
gonna receive us with kindness?
381
:And then he says, for my yoke
is easy and my burden is light.
382
:Does this mean that life
will be effortless and will
383
:never encounter struggle?
384
:No.
385
:Right.
386
:He's not saying for, I
will take away, you know?
387
:Every cross in your life.
388
:In fact, we know Jesus says,
pick up your cross and follow me.
389
:But he reinforces that herewith,
you know, share your cross with me.
390
:let me pick it up with you.
391
:'cause then that burden will be light.
392
:Jesus wants to carry the weight with us.
393
:He doesn't ask us to face anything alone.
394
:Anything.
395
:Whatever you're going through right
now, whatever you're struggling with,
396
:whatever your cross is that you just feel.
397
:Is just heavy and that you are just
maybe crumbling under the weight of,
398
:or anything that's weighing on you.
399
:The Lord is not asking you to
do it alone, and I just want
400
:you to hear me when I say that.
401
:Don't put this pressure and
expectation on yourself that
402
:the Lord is not putting on you.
403
:He's not waiting for you to perform
in some way for you to figure it
404
:out on your own, for you to prove
yourself to him of how well you
405
:were able to carry this cross alone.
406
:In fact, he's waiting for you to
share it with him so that he can
407
:redeem you, so that he can pour
forth his love, his lightness, his
408
:mercy, his rest, his grace upon you.
409
:Because when we try to do it ourselves,
we're literally rejecting Jesus.
410
:We're literally rejecting what he
came to do and what he continues
411
:to do for us every single day.
412
:So don't try and do it alone.
413
:Don't reject the love and
the um, you know, the hand of
414
:Christ reaching out to save you.
415
:Allow him into your life and
allow him to share the burden
416
:with you and to carry it for you.
417
:Honestly.
418
:Surrender it to him.
419
:Let him carry it for you.
420
:So how do we do this
practically in our lives?
421
:Right?
422
:You know, I'm all about the practical,
so let's just talk about a few practical
423
:ways that we can surrender to Christ and
allow him to carry our crosses for us.
424
:So how do we do this practically?
425
:How do we practically give him our
burdens in our day-to-day life?
426
:In a very simple way.
427
:On a daily basis, I would
say surrender your day to him
428
:in the morning, doing a morning offering
and doing a daily surrender of the day.
429
:We'll start you off on the right foot and
allow your heart to be in a disposition
430
:to allow the Lord to be in control
and not you, and to just kind of like
431
:surrender anything that comes your way
and be like, Lord, you take care of it.
432
:And obviously that'll be hard to
do if you don't feel like you are
433
:naturally already rooted in like
a deep seed of trust for the Lord.
434
:So prayer and scripture daily is
something that's going to root us
435
:in that relationship and give us.
436
:That trust and give us those graces that
we need to be able to surrender and, and
437
:rely on the Lord and give him everything
that we're carrying every single day.
438
:Another practical way is
honestly going to mass.
439
:And I have found this, like I said earlier
in this podcast, just to be so fruitful
440
:myself, um, and to pick an intention
to offer every mass for, , I usually.
441
:Pick something that I pray specifically
about during the consecration of the
442
:Eucharist and during communion, and
basically ask the Lord to, you know,
443
:to hear this prayer and offer up these
graces and this moment in the mass where
444
:I receive Jesus and where he's coming
down to meet us for a specific intention.
445
:And this is very effective.
446
:I think for us as humans, because it's
a physical thing we can do, I feel like,
447
:you know, we're both body and soul.
448
:And so the physical really is, is a
way that we're able to really engage
449
:with the Lord, which I think is why the
sacraments are so wonderful that the
450
:church gives us, because they all have
this physical component that allows us
451
:to engage the Lord in a way that we.
452
:Connect with so much as physical
human beings with physical bodies.
453
:So going to mass, receiving him and
being present and being able to offer
454
:up your burdens while receiving him in
the Eucharist is such a tangible way
455
:to feel like you're trusting in the
Lord and you're surrendering to him.
456
:And, um, yeah, just like giving,
giving everything over to him.
457
:And another very practical, uh, habit
to cultivate and thing to practice
458
:would be to keep Sundays holy and
to keep Sundays a day of rest.
459
:A true Sabbath.
460
:So many of us use Sundays as a catch
up day to finish work, to do some
461
:errands, to prepare for the week.
462
:But God designed this day for
worship, for rest, for renewal.
463
:And this is honestly,
really hard to live out.
464
:I mean, I struggle with this and I, I know
it's so hard for so many people, again,
465
:because we live in such a, you know, busy
life culture, productive culture, and,
466
:um, you know, Sundays are such, you know,
an easy day to be like, that's when I'm
467
:gonna do my catchup for the week, and
that's when I'm gonna, you know, do my
468
:errands and do work or whatever it is.
469
:But that inhibits us from living out
that day in the way the Lord actually
470
:calls us to, which is for worship and
rest and the times that you actually
471
:lean into that, just notice how you feel.
472
:Notice how your heart, how your spirit
feels, and how it feels going into
473
:the week versus the other way around.
474
:Um, now don't get me wrong, I
know that like prepping for the
475
:week is important and making sure
you have groceries and maybe a.
476
:A deep clean of the house or whatever
it is, but I encourage you to maybe
477
:do that on a Friday or a Saturday
instead of a Sunday, and just try and
478
:practice that for a couple weeks of like
taking care of those errands in that
479
:work before Sunday, and then starting
the day out with mass on a Sunday
480
:and then doing, you know, something,
life giving the rest of the day.
481
:Spending time with family, having like,
you know, no plan on the calendar.
482
:Just really enjoying the day with the
Lord and the people that you love.
483
:Well, friends, I hope this was a
fruitful conversation and I hope that
484
:you walked away just with a little
message of hope and encouragement, um,
485
:that the Lord wants to walk with you
in whatever you're walking through,
486
:and that the Lord wants to give you
rest and not just kind of like that.
487
:Fake rest that we're able to find when
we scroll or disconnect or watch a
488
:show or just, you know, whatever it is.
489
:But actual true rest of the soul, a
stillness and a peace in your heart.
490
:He wants to give you that and he's
waiting for you to give him all your
491
:burdens so he can do that for you.
492
:So know that I'll be praying for you this
week and praying for you as you learn to
493
:trust and surrender and rest in the Lord.
494
:Thanks for doing Bible
study with me today.
495
:You guys.
496
:I hope that you were encouraged by it.
497
:And if you feel like there's a person,
a friend in your life that needs to hear
498
:this message today, go ahead and share
this episode with them and just continue
499
:to spread this message of faith and hope.