A Lifestyle

   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. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”-Matthew 11:28-30


One thing I've learned through my on-going struggle with weight loss is this:  You can't just eat healthy and exercise for a certain time frame - healthy living must become a lifestyle.  You can't just "eat healthy," you must BE a "healthy eater."  You can't just do some exercise - you must BE an active person.  I am the first to admit, this is much easier said than done, but it is the only way to lasting weight loss and good physical health.


It is the cure for world-weariness as well.  So often we lay our burdens at the foot of the cross, only to pick them up and carry them with us as we leave.  What good has that accomplished other than a 20 minute rest?  Or perhaps we pick and choose which burdens to leave and which to carry.  Or maybe you think you really put those burdens down, only to find them weighing you down again.


Leaving our burdens at the foot of the cross must become a lifestyle.  As Christians, it should be a part of who we are.  It should be as much a part of us as daily workouts and a healthy diet is for the athlete.  If we only do it on occasion, it will never be our lifestyle, only an exercise in futility.  


But like exercise and eating well, it takes practice for it to become a lifestyle.  At the beginning we can expect to fail.  But we will begin to notice when we drop off that burden and pick it up before we go.  We will start to search ourselves more carefully for the entire burden that needs to be released.  And we will begin to be more honest with ourselves about whether we really have given over the burden to Christ.  After much trial and error, we will improve to the point where we don't have to think about it as much anymore.  And one day, we will hardly think about it at all.  We will set those worries down and never look back... it will BE who we are.  It will be part of our Christian lifestyle.


THAT, dear friends, is when we will be free indeed.


Lord Jesus,
Help us to not just live "like" Christians but for Christianity to be our lifestyle...including giving our burdens to you.  Amen.


Joys:  family cookout this evening; Independence Day celebrations; having Richard home this summer