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Matthew 11:28 CSB Context

These comforting words from Jesus, along with verses 29 and 30, are part of a passage in Matthew’s Gospel known as the Great Invitation.

Jesus was speaking to crowds of people in Galilee, and just before this passage, he denounced “the towns where most of his miracles were done, because they did not repent” (11:20).

His strong words shifted to praising his Father in heaven and then addressing the burdens people felt trying to live by the Pharisees’ rules.

Today, we might not be weighed down by widespread legalism like in ancient days, but Christ extends his invitation to us—to come to him and find relief from the burden of sin and the pressures of life.

Matthew 11:28 CSB Meaning

Rather than an impersonal invitation, notice that Christ says, “Come to me.” He is not inviting you to a program or a religion. He desires a personal relationship.

He already knows everything about you, and now he invites you to believe and trust in him.

Jesus calls out to everyone who feels “weary and burdened.” For most of us, that brings to mind physical exhaustion.

And certainly, in our desire to maximize the twenty-four hours each day holds, it’s common to feel tired.

But Jesus also wants to help those of us who are tired mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—the kind of weariness that can linger no matter how much rest and sleep we try to get.

Notice too that Christ promises to give you rest. He won’t simply show or tell you how to rest. Again, he makes it personal and says, “I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28 CSB Application

Life is complex. It’s not always possible to pinpoint why we feel weary or under pressure. Other times, the source is clear, we just don’t know how to fix it.
That’s the beauty of Christ’s Great Invitation.

We don’t need to know what’s weighing us down; we just need to respond to his three simple yet powerful words: “Come to me. . . .”

Tells us, “The Lord made the heavens and the earth . . . then he rested on the seventh day” (CSB). So clearly, God values rest. Turn to him for the deep, lasting rest your body and soul need.

“But he said to me,‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 Context

Second Corinthians is a letter written by Paul the apostle to the church at Corinth, which is in modern-day Greece. The themes of the letter include suffering, forgiveness, and generosity.

2 Corinthians 12:9 Meaning

In his second letter to the church of Corinth, Paul has a lot of hard things to say—hard both in the sense that they are difficult to understand as well as sometimes being unpleasant to hear.

An example of the latter is that he admonishes the disciples for their divisiveness and defends himself as an apostle of Christ.

An example of the former type of “hard thing” is that in this chapter, he talks about “a man” who was “caught up into the third heaven.”

What does this mean? There is much debate, but most believe he is talking about a special revelation he himself had.

From there, perhaps even more confusingly, he says that God gave him a “thorn in the flesh” so he wouldn’t be conceited. What was that thorn? Again, there is much debate.

But regardless of what that thorn was, he goes on to say that he prayed for it to be taken away, but God refused. Instead, God said that his own strength was made perfect in weakness.

This sounds discouraging at first, but in fact it’s good news of God’s power and grace. He may not answer our prayers the way we expect or even want, but he always turns bad things on their heads.

He redeems things, making weaknesses strengths and overcoming evil with good. For this, we can be thankful.

2 Corinthians 12:9 Application

Do you have a thorn in the flesh? Something that makes you feel weak or embarrassed? If so, take it to God and ask him to remove it. He may or he may not, but know that he will turn it around for your good and his glory.

“The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”

Psalm 23:1 Context

The Psalms are a collection of prayers and hymns written by David, Solomon, and several other ancient Israelites.

Psalm 23, written by David, comes out of his experience as a shepherd in his youth. It is one of the most well-known passages in all of Scripture.

Psalm 23:1 Meaning

This entire psalm paints a picture of you as a sheep and God as your good and loving shepherd. The Lord provides food and water and also protects you from harm.

There is a kind of harm that comes from our own ignorance or willfulness, like falling from a cliff or into deep water, but there’s also the kind that comes from an enemy attack.

God protects us from both of these, using his “rod and staff” to guide our steps as well as to ward off predators.

Seeing God as our shepherd is common in both the New and Old Testaments. And it makes sense.

We are vulnerable and often simple-minded creatures, and we desperately need his watchful eye on us at all times. Jesus called himself the Good Shepherd and promised that he would give his life for his sheep.

This first verse of Psalm 23 sets the stage with a short but powerful two-part statement. First, “the Lord is my shepherd.” He’s not just our shepherd.

It’s personal. We can often fall into the trap of thinking God loves us in general terms and forget that he loves each of us as individuals.

As Jesus taught in a parable, he would leave the ninety-nine sheep for just one who was lost.

Next, the psalmist says, “I lack nothing.” There is nothing you need that God hasn’t provided. The same shepherd who would put himself in harm’s way to protect you will also make sure you have exactly what you need to thrive.

Psalm 23:1 Application

This psalm is often used to comfort the bereaved and with good reason. It promises that God will be with us as we pass through the shadow of death.

But we also need to consider what this psalm says to those worried about everyday things as well. You lack nothing! God will provide and protect.

If he promises to be with us even in death—and showed it through the sacrifice of his own Son—he will also be with us in this life, leading you to the pastures and water you need to sustain and nourish you.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27 Context

Jesus speaks these words to his disciples during his farewell discourse at the Last Supper. He is comforting his eleven remaining disciples and preparing them for his impending departure.

Jesus announces his gift of peace just after promising the coming presence of the Holy Spirit in verse 26.

John 14:27 Meaning

Jesus tells his disciples what he is leaving them, or bestowing upon them, letting them know ahead of time the inheritance that lay in store: peace—more specifically, his peace.

It is an assured, foundational, and eternal peace that only Jesus could give because only he was able to accomplish it: “But he was pierced for our transgressions.

He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds.

It is not the peace of the world.

While it was common for people of Jesus’ day to speak or wish peace to one another in greeting and in farewell—sincerely or not—any peace given in the world is conditional and temporary.

In contrast, not only did Jesus provide our peace, he is our peace.

Finally, knowing he will shortly finish the work of reconciling man to God, Jesus tells the disciples not to worry about or fear the earthly trials he knows will be coming their way.

John 14:27 Application

Jesus has given us his perfect peace. The world didn’t give it to us, and the world can’t take it away. It is ours.

But we make choices every day about whether we “let the peace of Christ rule” in our hearts (Colossians 3:15) or give in to worry or fear.

But how do we avoid sliding into anxiety, especially when someone or something in our world seems to be in danger?

Perhaps we should remind ourselves of the price Jesus paid for our peace.

And because we do have the peace of being reconciled to God, we can follow this directive found in Philippians 4:6–7: “Do not be anxious about anything.

But in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

“But if we confess our sins to God, he will keep his promise and do what is right: he will forgive us our sins and purify us from all our wrongdoing.”

1 John 1:9 GNT Context

The book of 1 John was written to encourage and assure people of the church after some began to drift from God’s truth.

Some leaders became false teachers who tried to convert others to their way of thinking. John wrote his letters to speak the truth about who Jesus is and why he came.

1 John 1:9 GNT Meaning

In this portion of 1 John, John is talking about living in the light.

Notice how he says, “live in the light”; he doesn’t say, “live perfectly.” We tend to believe that it is our responsibility to make ourselves righteous before we can ever approach God.

Unfortunately, there are still many today who teach this message; they use fear as a way to gain followers. This kind of thinking may come from a place of shame, a desire for control, or maybe a misunderstood view of God.

Either way, John corrects this thinking by instructing us to live in fellowship with one another, pursuing righteousness not through works alone, but by the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

He is the only one who is righteous, and it is only through him that we are made righteous.

1 John 1:9 GNT Application

Walking in God’s forgiveness and knowing that he holds you in his hands is one of the greatest weapons that you have against fear and worry. When we are living in the light, God provides for our every need.

If our every need is already taken care of by our Father, what need is there for fear or worry? I encourage you today, step into the light. Humbly recognize your sin and your need for Jesus.

Confess your doubt and take him at his word. Begin to live a life where you don’t have to spend your days hiding parts of yourself from God.

God wants to forgive you, and he wants to lead you. He wants to shift your focus from fear to faith, and from worry to wonder. Will you trust him today?

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 6:23 Context

The Book of Romans is a letter written by the apostle Paul to the Christians living in Rome. Scholars believe he wrote it from Corinth and had never visited Rome up to that point.

The main reason for the letter was to give the new believers there a clear understanding of the basics of the Christian faith, the gospel, and the Christian’s identity and responsibilities in Christ.

Romans 6:23 Meaning

Romans chapter 6 is an explanation of how the Christian is dead to sin through Christ’s death on the cross; therefore, we shouldn’t let sin continue to rule over us.

Now, in Christ, we are set free from sin and are instead servants of God! In other words, we used to work for sin and received the “wages,” or payment, for our labors. This payment was death.

But now we are free of our old slavery to sin. We have a new master, and now we serve God instead. But working for God isn’t just like swapping out one boss for another.

We no longer have to earn our wages, as if we’re paying for our salvation through the good things we do for him. No, we could never pay him back for what he’s done for us.

He bought our freedom and salvation through the death of his beloved Son, which is of infinite value.

No, our salvation is not a result of earned wages. When God freed us from sin, he gave us a free gift—eternal life. This would have been impossible without Jesus Christ, who paid for our sins, clearing us of all debt.

We no longer have to live in shame and fear. We were bought by God and will live eternally with him! No matter what happens in this world, our future is secure.

Romans 6:23 Application

It’s hard to think past this present life sometimes. Things weigh us down—finances, difficult relationships, health concerns. But all these things are temporary. We will outlive any and all of those problems, and through faith in Christ, we have been given a free gift that overshadows any darkness or uncertainty we feel.

You are an eternally loved, eternally living being. Remind yourself of that every day!

“Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”

Matthew 6:26 NLT Context

In this passage, Jesus was seated on a mountainside with his disciples around him.

The crowds were large, and the people came from all over: Galilee, the Ten Towns, Jerusalem, all over Judea, and from the east of the Jordan River.

Jesus taught them about many topics, which later collectively became known as the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 6:26 NLT Meaning

It’s important to recognize that Jesus wasn’t just talking to one people group, all of whom knew one another and had the same problems and experiences.

The people in the crowds were from different towns and walks of life. We can only assume they were also from different social standings and levels of faith.

Yet Jesus did not make exceptions as he taught. What he taught was, and still is, true for each individual person, regardless of gender, race, income level, or marital status. That means that his words are also true for us today.

The wonderful truth here is that God sees every little bird, including the one you see outside your window. And even more wonderful is that you are far more important to him than they are.

Jesus explained to the crowd that no problem is too small for God. Jesus even asked the bold question, “Why worry at all?” Compared to the trials of human life, the needs of a bird are trivial.

Jesus invites us to trust that our heavenly Father knows, sees, and is capable of providing for us.

Matthew 6:26 NLT Application

Focus today on God’s love for you and his miraculous provision. Dare to believe that he cares for you that deeply—and not only for your physical needs but for your emotional and relational needs as well.

So take your eyes off your circumstances and place them on God. Remember that he wants you to depend on him. He delights in taking care of your every need. While we can come up with a thousand reasons to worry, Jesus dares us to believe.

“Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”

Isaiah 43:1 Context

In Isaiah 43, God speaks to his people, the Israelites, who are living in captivity on enemy soil. He encourages them—the day is coming when they will be set free and restored to their own land.

He hasn’t forgotten them and promises to be with them no matter what danger they may face.

Isaiah 43:1 Meaning

Here, God calls the Israelites, but he calls to us today too. For God—who knows every mountain, star, and blade of grass—to call us by name, we must be precious to him.

When someone is precious to you, you care about every part of their life—even their worries.

Not only does God care about our worries, but he offers us peace in their place. When God says, “You are mine,” it harkens to the Israelites’ covenant with him.

We who believe in Jesus are also in a covenant with him. That means all that’s ours is his, and all that’s his is ours.

So he goes with us, even into the most troubled times and places, and we are secure in his love. We can even ask him to exchange our worries for his peace and confidence.

In this powerful verse, God reminds us that we’re precious to him and that he made us.

Who else would know us more intimately than the one who made us? He already knows our anxious thoughts and isn’t surprised by them. He loves for us to ask for his help.

Isaiah 43:1 Application

Take a few minutes to consider what it means to be part of God’s family and to belong to him. Some benefits of belonging to a healthy family are shared resources, unconditional love, and a safe place to talk about anything.

Because God is our safe place, we can bring all our worries and anxieties to him. Try setting aside a few minutes every day to tell God about your worries.

It may be difficult, but imagine yourself physically handing your concerns over to God and entrusting them to him. Then watch how he takes care of you. He will bring resolution in his perfect timing.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Romans 8:34 Context

In this incredibly hopeful chapter of the Bible—Paul delivers the jaw-dropping news that Christian believers simply cannot be condemned.

He reminds us that, because we belong to Christ, we are showered with grace-filled blessings.

Including true freedom, privileges as children of God, and assistance from the Spirit in our prayers. That last point is where we’ll focus today.

Romans 8:34 Meaning

Paul tells us that something mysterious happens when we don’t know what to pray. “Christ Jesus . . . is also interceding for us.”

Interceding is a fancy word for praying. And Paul thought this sort of divine intercession was important enough that he mentioned it not once but twice.

Think about it: All three members of the Trinity are working on our behalf. The Spirit is praying for us (v. 26). Jesus is praying for us (v. 34).

And God is always listening. The Triune God is assisting you in the work of prayer when you are tongue-tied and troubled.

Romans 8:34 Application

What is weighing on your heart today? Maybe the figures aren’t adding up when you’re paying the bills.

Or, if you’re a parent, maybe it feels like you’re failing to really get through to the young people entrusted to your care. Maybe you’re waiting for a diagnosis as you’re reading these words today.

Life can be pretty overwhelming and anxiety-inducing, and sometimes it’s hard to know how to pray and express our hearts fully and honestly.

Even if you can’t find the right words to summon divine help, you are not left alone.

God is with you, and he is in you. He joins you every day, in your everyday work and relationships, not only to equip you but to pray for you.

The Lord sees your clenched jaw, hears your sighs, and responds to your whispered plea, “Help me out here, Jesus, because I don’t know what to do.”

In his letter to the Romans, Paul says that Jesus not only listens, he is interceding for us! Is it hard for you to believe that Jesus prays for us? How might you take one step today toward believing that is true for you?

Try this: Call out to Jesus and ask him to do the heavy lifting in prayer, to turn your worries into prayers, in accordance with his will.

“I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”

Psalm 55:22 ESV Context

David wrote Psalm 55 after he had been betrayed by his son, his counselor, and most of Israel. While he laments his difficult situation, he also calls out to God, knowing he is the Judge and the Father who sustains him fully.

Psalm 55:22 ESV Meaning

David is experiencing a lot of pain after being betrayed by his own son, Absalom. After learning that his counselor Ahithophel has sided with Absalom, David flees Jerusalem for fear of what Absalom may do to him and his servants.

So much of David’s life has been a chase. He’s had to prove himself repeatedly to the people of Israel, and still, David probably feels like he’s coming up short.

It seems like life would be easier if David crossed the Jordan, stayed out of Israel, and just let Absalom take over.

After all, Absalom is next in line right now, so it seems like David could rest easy knowing he didn’t have to be responsible for Israel anymore.

Of course, David doesn’t take this route. He’s devastated, yes. His fear does drive him out of Israel temporarily, but David cries out to God in Psalm 55.

He reminds himself, and us, to cast our burdens on the Lord. God knows who is righteous, and he sustains the righteous.

When God chose David to be king, he knew what lay ahead for him. Being chosen by God doesn’t guarantee simplicity or ease. Throughout the Bible, we are shown that it actually guarantees the opposite.

But the good news is this: You have full access to our savior. When you cast your burdens on him, he will be there to save you. The righteous will not be moved.

Psalm 55:22 ESV Application

Now that you know the context, reread Psalm 55. You probably haven’t been betrayed as deeply as David, yet I’m sure you can relate to his pains.

Commit verse 22 to memory over the next few days. When you feel your anxiety rising, repeat this verse to yourself, and let it bring you stillness.

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”