Friends, as we end this first month of 2024 I wanted to take a moment to encourage you… and challenge you.

Please know that my heart is always, always to point you to Jesus, and back to the TRUTH in His Word. So if what I say upsets you, don’t get mad at me, read God’s Word and see the truth for yourself. As the days get longer (& closer to Christ’s return) this is getting more important to do. And if there is any burden on my heart in this New Year it is this!

This year I’m not doing anything fancy, no “word for the year,” no big theme throughout… I just want to continue to encourage you in this:

There IS rest for your weary soul.

Listen to Jesus speak in Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Why is this beautiful invitation from God so important to remember?

Because the enemy wants you to forget it, ignore it or replace it with lots of lies.

As I’m starting to write the devotional we’ll be going through at our retreats this year, I’m digging deep into the ways in which the enemy tries to keep us preoccupied, busy with SELF, and weary to the bone.

So… I hope to encourage you through this study and explain in detail why I believe it’s so important to talk about rest.

And remind our hearts that:

1. We were never meant to carry the burdens of this life on our own.

2. We were never meant to think that we can do it all, be all or have it all.

3. And God certainly never said that this life was going to be easy, (quite the opposite) so why are we trying so hard to attain this “best life now?”

I want us to note here: If we look deeper into these three truths above, we’ll notice they coincide with the ways the enemy has tried to take us away from God.

1. God can’t help you with your problems. — thus creating fear, anxiety and depression (the opposite of trust and rest)

2. I can live my life however I want — thus creating pride and selfishness (the opposite of a humble and meek heart that wants the yoke of Christ)

3. God’s not in control, I’m in control of my own destiny — thus creating a god-like (or little gods) theology that doesn’t need God (the opposite of the truth of the Gospel and our Sovereign God)

These are the main ways in which we don’t find true rest friends.

So over the next few months I will be sharing some claims (I would call them false teachings as well) that we’ve been hearing on social media, or from famous “Christian” authors/speakers/teachers, and unfortunately it’s prevalent in just about every “evangelical” corner of Christian-dome these days.

I hope you’ll follow along… And remind your heart of the words of Jesus, who loves you and is calling you to Him:

“Come unto me… and I will give you rest.”

Have a great Wednesday!

Hugs,

Laura McCollough

P.S. I posted my favorite verse on IG yesterday, and thought I’d share a great message on these verses if you want to go deeper and be blessed by it.

https://media.faith-bible.net/scripture/proverbs/will-you-trust-god/

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
    and nourishment to your bones.”

Proverbs 3:5-8