Living with Margin – part 7

Keeping Your Tank Filled, Instead of Running on Empty

Matthew 11:28-30

8 REASONS YOU RUN OUT OF GAS - All are parallels to your life

1. No margin: Being too busy to pause and refuel.

2. Unaware of hidden leaks that are draining me.

3. Ignoring the owners manual and pushing my car farther than it was created to go.

4. The faster I drive, the faster I run out of gas.

5. Being distracted and not watching my gauges. (Or not believing them!)

6. Being overloaded The more I carry, the sooner I run out of gas. Lying to myself -- “I can handle this!”

7. Pressure to do it now. Rapid acceleration wastes gas.

8. Pride: Thinking the limits of my tank don’t apply to me.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR TANK FILLED

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find

rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

1. Get fed up! (With how I’ve been living)

“all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens” Matthew 11:28a

2. Come to Jesus

“Come to me… and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28b

He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.   Even youths will become weak and tired, and

young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar

high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:29-31

3. Give up control.

“Take my yoke upon you” Matthew 11:29a

 The purpose of a “YOKE” is to share and lighten the load.

“For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:30

 When I’m “yoked” with Jesus, we move together in the same direction & the same pace.

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 (NIV)

4. Learn to trust.

“Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Matthew 11:29b

Humble & Gentle Antidotes to 2 Major Causes of Stress

Arrogance: We try to control everything

Aggression: We don’t wait, pause, or consider

When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn. Psalm 142:3a

5. Fill your tank every week.

Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary

work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in

your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female

servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens,

the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord

blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. Exodus 20:8-11

Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet

the requirements of the Sabbath.  Mark 2:27