In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus gives us one of the greatest invitations ever, saying: “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me… Walk with Me and work with Me …  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace…. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

This year at EN London we believe that our focus is summed up in this, that “2008 is a year to learn to get into the “Stride” of the unforced rhythms of His grace.” 

A “stride” is running with a rhythm which you can maintain all the way to the finish. Its a pace that allows for surges when needed, without blowing a fuse. Its a “walk with Me and work with Me” rhythm.  One of the greatest runners of our generation, Forrest Gump, ran for 3 years, 2 months, 14 days, and 16 hours, and then he stopped. God doesn’t want you to stop. He is into a “run and not grow tired” pace, all the way to the finish.

Jesus invites us to come to Him and to “take My yoke on you.” There is no “no-yoke” option in life. We must choose who & what we will be yoked (joined/connected/united) to. Either we are yoked top all sorts of stuff which makes us tired & weary, or we yoke with Christ, His Church, and His Cause to make disciples. (We do this by Reaching, Connecting, Empowering, Reproducing, Transforming – which are our EN London core values)

To stride like this with Jesus, we have to be free from all other yokes. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free,(Gal 5:1) and the prohet Isaiah, seeing ahead hundreds of years, sees the Christ (The “Anointed One”) releasing His anointing through His death and resurrection, and declares “In that day the burden will be removed from your shoulders…the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing.” (Is 10:27) This is that day, a day for your & my freedom. Declare it over your life this year and be free to RUN with a new STRIDE…and see what God will do.

(For more, listen to the full message on downloads on our newly updated website)