HOW TO STOP USING "TIRED" AS AN EXCUSE IN LIFE [FAITH EPISODE]
PODCAST #336

Thought of the Week:
We live in a state of fatigue, and a tired life is not the type of life I want to live.

Striving detox.
Goodbye party to old thoughts.
Why we use tired as an excuse
Performance, making my own way, being my own source, having all the answers - it's exhausting and never-ending. And we weren't created for it to be like that.

Verse of the Week:
Matthew 11:28-30 New International Version (NIV)
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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”



 
Prayer of the Week: 
Father, thank you for your faithfulness. We praise you for pulling on our hearts, for whispering softly that we might draw near to you.  Please forgive us for the distraction in our lives and for the things that we have allowed to rob of us what you want for us. You are good and you have good plans for us. You offer an abundant life and one with deep joy and peace - no matter the circumstances or challenges that come our way. And yet, we turn away.

We confess that we are too worried about what other people think. We are unhealthily focused on striving, on achievement and on making ourselves great. We want to make You great Lord, not ourselves. Let our lives be transformed. Teach us how to slow down.  Deepen our trust in your providential provision in our lives.  Give us the courage to step into rest, into the sabbath, into peace.  Open our eyes to see ourselves for who we are - for how You love us - not for what we do, what we've done or what we hope to do.  We are weary of doing this on our own. We want more, and we yearn for your wisdom to help us change. Thank you for the power of our thoughts and for the free will You have given us ... embolden us to shift how we use these gifts in a powerful, life-giving, soul-changing and world-influencing way.

What a wonderful promise we have in you and in your rest. Thank you Lord! This week, today, this very minute, we find our rest in you. We cast our cares upon You. We delight in allowing You to carry us, like Father would carry their child. Thank you for opening our eyes to see the opportunity before us, to deepen our trust in You and to be brave enough to be in this world, but not of this world.  As we shift into a lifestyle of peace, we boldly ask for favor. May the changes we begin be completed by You and Lord use our small efforts to make a larger impact ... for turning our little into something large is your speciality.  We open our lives to You, that your light might reflect brightly into the darkness that surrounds us.

We love You, in Jesus' Name, Amen.
Bonus Verse to Think About: 
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 New International Version (NIV)
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.