Day 7 - Breaking the Heavy Yoke
Monday July 30
by Kathi Pelton

Last week a young man came to one of our meetings in need of ministry. He had walked a very pure walk before the Lord but had recently made a decision that went against the counsel of the Lord and the counsel of those around him. He had begun to date a girl who didn’t walk in the same values and beliefs as he did. He believed that he was strong enough to withstand temptation and his hope was that this girl would come to know the Lord. After only a month of dating he was struggling with temptation (due to their different values) and she was no closer to knowing the Lord than when he first met her.

This young man was not only devastated by his wrong choices, but he was so burdened by the weight of this girl’s spiritual state that he couldn’t bring himself to break off their relationship. He was very confused and felt that he could not hear God anymore. He asked questions like, “If I break up with her will she ever have a chance of coming to know the Lord?” and “Will she hate God because a Christian caused her pain?”

Though these were all legitimate questions, they were not his burden to carry. He had gone from carrying a high school backpack on his shoulders to carrying the weight of this girl’s eternal destiny on his shoulders…and it was too much to carry! This is what God says in Matthew 11:28-30,

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

That night, as we ministered to this young man, one of the men in the room saw a vision of him carrying a very heavy pack on his back that left him walking with his head bowed low to the ground. The he saw the Lord come and remove this from his back and set him in “green pastures and beside still waters” (Psalm 23). We prayed for him, the burden was lifted and he was able to release his girlfriend to the loving arms of the Lord and allow himself to be set free to be aligned in obedience to what the Lord had asked of him.

Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.

Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Moses was one who understood all too well the dilemma of carrying burdens that seemed too heavy. The Lord asked Moses to care for his people who had just been delivered from their captivity in Egypt. Although Moses walked in obedience to the Lord, he found it too hard to carry the burden alone. In Numbers 11:10-18 Moses agonized because the Israelites were tired of manna and were crying out for the “meat of Egypt” once again,

Moses was troubled. He asked the LORD, "Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their forefathers? Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, 'Give us meat to eat!' I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now--if I have found favour in your eyes--and do not let me face my own ruin."

The LORD said to Moses: "Bring me seventy of Israel's elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the Tent of Meeting, that they may stand there with you. I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone.

Today some of you may be carrying burdens that the Lord did not ask you to carry. It is not too late to lay them down and ask the Lord to re-align you with His will. He will remove the heavy, burdensome yoke and give you His yoke which is well-fitted. Others of you may be carrying burdens in obedience to the Lord but still they are too heavy for you to carry alone. That is why we are a “body”. Just as Moses needed to gather others around him so that they could carry the burden together, the Lord may be asking you to do the same.

Burdens such as raising children, compassion for the lost, caring for orphans and widows, and even praying for the destiny of Canada (or any other nation) are all things that the Lord allows us to carry, but remember, His “yoke” (burden) is light. When He gives us something to carry He has already provided the victory for it. Therefore, what we are carrying is a finished work. It only becomes a heavy burden when we try to “master” the work, instead of trusting the true Master of the work. We are the recipients of His victory, but we can only access that victory by faith.

If you are carrying burdens that are too heavy for you, pray this prayer with me…

“Father, I have carried heavy burdens upon myself that I cannot bear. I have tried to become the master of these burdens and have taken them on as a heavy yoke. Please remove the heavy yoke that is upon my back and give me Your yoke which is light. I miss those green pastures and still waters! Take me there again. Restore my soul ! I thank you that You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies. I will eat from the table that you have set before me and then I will be strengthened. You are the Victorious One who allows me to partake in the prize set before me, even today. You alone are God and You will accomplish all that You have said that You will do…both in my life, in my nation and in Your Church. Thank You for rest today!”

Now breathe deeply!

Kathi Pelton and her husband Jeff live in Windsor, California with their 4 children. For 4 years they were directors of The War Room in Kelowna, British Columbia. She has a deep passion to see Canada fulfill its destiny and to be a resting place for the Lord. She is a frequent writer for The Elijah List and has a monthly prophetic mailing called, "Choose Life". Kathi and Jeff are also pastors and co-leaders of Light Streams Ministries in Northern California.

Kathi can be reached at Kathi@watchmen.org
 

Comments

Nancy
Wow! This word is extraordinary! You would not believe how it ministers to me in what I am going through. I recently sent an email to a dear, sweet sister likening our situation to finally getting ready to cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land. Could this be confirmation to me? I certainly hope so. God bless you sister and thank you for sharing this precious, precious message.

Beverly - Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia
I was very moved and blessed by what Kathi Pelton shared today for Day 7 of the Consecration. I too have struggled to stay yoked to the Lord as He places prayer burdens on my heart. Some time ago He gave me this poem which I feel speaks to what Kathi has written.

His Burden-

His burden comes
In many forms
A child in need
A family torn

The Lord's heart cry
He gives to thee
So you will come
On bended knee

The cry from souls
Surrendered there
In battle dress
Cry out in prayer

A Son in pain
Upon the cross
Bears all we bring
No prayer a loss

For He took all
Our sin and shame
In Him we rest
The blind and lame

Oh Jesus Lord
You are the Way
I bring my heart
To you today

For Your desire
On my heart placed
Prayed back to You
Releases grace

Judith - Stoney Creek, Ontario
This morning I had a dream and I was on 3 sports teams playing hockey, soccer and baseball. I was vigorously moving and fighting to score points for our team so we could win. At first I thought the Lord was showing me that I needed to get more active and join a sports team, but that didn't make sense because I am just getting back into shape and it would be too soon to join a team. Then I read the email of today and realized that the Lord was showing me that I am playing on a team and it is okay because I can share the burden with other Christian friends who are on my team who will help carry the burden with me through prayer. What a relief, I don't have to do it alone. The battle is the Lords and I will continue to do as He shows me and rest in him.

Vicki - Spencerville, Ontario
A friend and I were called to pray for a neighbour this past Saturday who has been given a terminal diagnosis of esophagus cancer. He shared his life - how he was raised in the Pentecostal church but turned away from the church at 20 years of age - how he has turned back now to the Lord - now that his burden is too heavy to bear. He spoke also of the burden on his soul because of a wife who is an atheist - a woman he loves and has shared his life with. How he longs for her to walk in faith with him during this journey battling cancer. We were called to pray Psalm 23 over him, and to wash and anoint his feet to walk this journey as a disciple of Christ in Christ's footsteps. "Come all you who are heavy laden" is the scripture that describes what happened in our prayer time for this sweet man who had a heavy load lessened as we were invited to pray scripture into the hurts of a lifetime. We get called to pray for healing of the sick. All too often we are unaware of what the true sickness is. His heartsickness has been more of a threat to his life than the cancer ever dreamt of being. Thank you for clarifying what happened that day.

Frances - Kelowna, British Columbia
Thank you so much, Kathi, your message on "burdens" is a real blessing. Now to put it into action,- that is the test! God Bless you in your ministry.

Vicki - Spencerville, Ontario
A friend and I were called to pray for a neighbour this past Saturday who has been given a terminal diagnosis of esophagus cancer. He shared his life - how he was raised in the Pentecostal church but turned away from the church at 20 years of age - how he has turned back now to the Lord - now that his burden is too heavy to bear. He spoke also of the burden on his soul because of a wife who is an atheist - a woman he loves and has shared his life with. How he longs for her to walk in faith with him during this journey battling cancer. We were called to pray Psalm 23 over him, and to wash and anoint his feet to walk this journey as a disciple of Christ in Christ's footsteps. "Come all you who are heavy laden" is the scripture that describes what happened in our prayer time for this sweet man who had a heavy load lessened as we were invited to pray scripture into the hurts of a lifetime. We get called to pray for healing of the sick. All too often we are unaware of what the true sickness is. His heartsickness has been more of a threat to his life than the cancer ever dreamt of being. Thank you for clarifying what happened that day.

Frances - Kelowna, British Columbia
Thank you so much, Kathi, your message on "burdens" is a real blessing. Now to put it into action,- that is the test! God Bless you in your ministry.

Dottie
Thank you for today's message about heavy burdens. I really need to hear it over and over because I attempt to take the burdens of my daughter and try to take the whole burden of a marriage which needs counseling upon myself. Thank you for your message.

Carol - Stratford, Ontario
Great meditation! thank you. I needed that! I prayed the prayer. Yes, Jesus help me to rest in you. Help me to meditate on your words of life and peace!