James W. Goll: "Finding Rest for Your Souls"

From the Desks of Steve Shultz and Julie A. Smith:

This is a great weekend to enjoy with our families...and find some REST!

James Goll writes about finding rest from the busyness of life as he shares from this key Scripture:

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, 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."

In a world that demands constant productivity and celebrates busyness, these words hold immense value. They remind us that it is essential to take a step back, to acknowledge our fatigue, and to seek reprieve. Jesus offers a compassionate embrace, inviting us to lay down our burdens and find renewal in His grace.

When we wait on God, resting in His presence, we can also hear Him much more clearly and in greater measure!

As you read through this word, we pray it helps you take time to find rest in the Lord. (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)

In Christ,

Steve Shultz and Julie A. Smith, Co-Editors
Elijah List Publications

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In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 11, we find a timeless message of comfort and peace. These verses provide a source of inspiration for individuals seeking solace and rest amidst the challenges of life. Let's delve into the wisdom contained within the writings of Matthew 11:28-30 and explore its significance in our modern world:

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, 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."

Come to Me, All Who Are Weary

Life is replete with hardships, burdens, and weariness. In these verses, Jesus extends an invitation to all those who feel the weight of their struggles. It is an open call to find respite and comfort in His presence. Jesus assures us that He offers a unique refuge where we can find rest from the weariness that plagues us.

In a world that demands constant productivity and celebrates busyness, these words hold immense value. They remind us that it is essential to take a step back, to acknowledge our fatigue, and to seek reprieve. Jesus offers a compassionate embrace, inviting us to lay down our burdens and find renewal in His grace.

Sometimes we are so project-oriented instead of relational-oriented in our prayer ministries that they cease when the project is over. But what's really supposed to happen is that we pray without ceasing. It's because we have a relationship, and our machinery, or our life, is continuously oiled. It's called the "wisdom ways of God." Now, sometimes this is easier preached than lived, because we all live really busy lives. We each must contend to take time with Him.

You know, you really don't have the grace to pick up an assignment unless you first come to Him – no matter what it is. "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden..." If we don't come to Him, we will end up being weary and heavy laden. "...And I will give you rest. Take My yoke...." (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)

In this verse, Jesus speaks of taking His yoke upon ourselves. By taking on Jesus' yoke, we align ourselves with His teachings and follow in His footsteps. It is an invitation to learn from Him, to embrace His wisdom, and to model our lives after His example. "...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..." Your mind, your will, and your emotional capacity will find renewal and rest. Is there anybody out there who could use some renewal in your emotional capacity?

Yet, Jesus also emphasizes His nature – gentle and lowly in heart. Here, He reveals His compassionate and understanding character, assuring us that the burden He asks us to bear is light and accompanied by His loving presence.

Spirit of Grace for Supplication

To foster a place of rest, and to engage in a place of prayer, there is a measure of grace needed. We actually find that principle in Zechariah 12:10. It's called the "spirit of grace and supplication." I think that the order of those words is really important. It doesn't say the "spirit of supplication and grace," it says the "spirit of grace and supplication." So we need the grace of God to even be able to have a long-term, sustained prayer life.

It is about His strength. While I say that it is about divine cooperation, there is the parable about the ten virgins. They each had a lamp. Five wise recipients brought extra oil with them, while the remaining five foolishly didn't bring more oil for their lamps. Some say that the lamps represent ministries, or maybe they represent their lives and ministries both. The five foolishly waited until their oil ran out before going back for more oil. Sometimes that's the way we operate, isn't it – running on fumes or nearly on empty?

In the midst of birthing and maintaining your calling, don't neglect your personal, devotional intimacy with Jesus. If you do, you will run out of grace for your assignments. You will not be able to keep your "machine" going. With machinery, you have to keep it oiled, or it just cranks dry and stops. It's the same with your spiritual life; you have to keep the oil of intimacy flowing and covering all the parts of your life. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 reminds us to "pray without ceasing." Yes, our prayer machinery needs to be well oiled to be in good working order.

Lessons from the Life of Samuel

Let me give you the illustration from out of the life of Samuel. There's a phrase that gets tossed around that some today call "soaking in His presence." Samuel's mother, Hannah, was barren, but then she – out of a place of desperation – cried to the Lord and conceived. After this, she dedicated her prayer-child unto the Lord, and virtually gave the stewardship of her cherished child to the oversight of those in service to the temple.

Do you know where little Samuel slept? He slept close to the ark of the covenant.

1 Samuel 3:1-2 reads: "Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord before Eli. And word from the Lord was rare in those days, visions were infrequent. It happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place (now his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well)..." (Photo via Unsplash)

This passage introduces us to the setting – a moment when the elderly priest, Eli, serving in the tabernacle, was struggling with his diminishing sight. Additionally, it highlights the symbolic significance of the lamp of God, which represents divine presence and guidance. In this pivotal moment, a young Samuel, unaware of the profound role he was about to play, was lying down nearby.

The lamp of God had not yet gone out. It was about to, but it had not yet. Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord where the ark of God was.

In 1 Samuel 3, the Lord calls Samuel. Verse 4 says: "Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, 'Here I am.'" In this verse, we witness the divine call reaching out to Samuel. The voice of God breaks through the silence, beckoning the young boy.

It is crucial to note Samuel's readiness and willingness to respond. His simple yet profound words, "Here I am," demonstrated his receptiveness... Samuel heard God while lying next to the ark of the covenant. He was resting where God communed. He was soaking in the presence, and that is where he heard the voice of God.

Do you want to hear the voice of God? Then I would suggest to you, rest around the ark of God. Rest in the presence of God. Put on some soaking worship or an audio Bible. Put on some good instrumental or classical music. Get some oil in your lamp. Keep it burning, burning, burning. Be a wise steward for the days in which we live. Don't be a foolish one that lives in burnout, where your machinery runs really dry, and you're living in the smoke of yesterday's flame of revival.

Wait on God and soak in His presence. Just do it, and make sure you keep oil in your lamp. After all, Jesus said, "Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden."

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Dr. James W. Goll
Founder of God Encounters Ministries • God Encounters Training e-School • Prayer Storm

Email: info@godencounters.com
Website: godencounters.com

James W. Goll is the founder of God Encounters Ministries and has traveled around the world sharing the love of Jesus, imparting the power of intercession, prophetic ministry, and life in the Spirit. He has recorded numerous classes with corresponding study guides and is the author of more than fifty books, including The Seer, The Feeler, The Lost Art of Intercession, The Mystery of Israel and the Middle East, and Revival Breakthrough. James is the father of four wonderful, married, adult children, with a growing number of grandchildren. James continues to make his home in Franklin, Tennessee.

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