An observer recounts, "Yesterday I saw a little kid who kept refusing to go home for a nap. He was resisting a rest." What about you? Are you resisting a rest? No, I am not referring to taking a nap. I am referring to rest for your soul. Jesus said, "Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). He also said, "and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:29d). Here are three things you need to do to find rest for your soul.

First, finding rest comes from yoking with Jesus. Jesus said, "Take My yoke upon you..." (Matthew 11:29a). Luke described the Pharisees as those, "who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others" (Luke 18:10). Paul, a former Pharisee, after his conversion confesses, "not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith" (Philippians 3:9b). Like Paul you need to be yoked with Jesus. Paul warns in 2 Corinthians 6:14, "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers." Jesus also said, "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:30).

Second, finding rest comes from yielding to Jesus. He adds, "and learn from Me..." (Matthew 11:29b). Matthew 10:24-25a reads, "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master." Romans 6:13 reads, "And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God." Robert G. Lee wrote the classic titled, Yielded Bodies based upon the words of Romans 12:1, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service."

Third, finding rest comes from yearning for Jesus. He further adds, "for I am meek and lowly in heart..." (Matthew 11:29c). Vance Havner recounts, "Long ago a man said to me, 'I don't like sermons on hell. Tell me more about the meek and lowly Jesus.' It is the meek and lowly Jesus who gave us most of our information about hell." 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 reads, "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption — that, as it is written, 'He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.'"

Jesus invites you to enjoy His rest if you will yoke with Him, yield to Him, and yearn for Him. When you follow this prescription from the Great Physician "you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:29d). Rest for your soul is a rest that is the best. Are you resisting a rest?

Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey, of Robertsdale, is the author of "Don't Miss the Revival! Messages for Revival and Spiritual Awakening from Isaiah.