The purpose of this message is to provoke you to think about the things around you whether spiritual or natural. Everyone is on a different journey and the vehicle in which you use to take your journey may be different. The world in which we live offers different experiences based on choices, beliefs, and systems. The way you see life is shaped mainly by what you believe.
The Yoked
Over the years you hear much talk about being equally yoked. So many different viewpoints and revelations about it. Oxen were yoked by wooden beams at the head or neck to carry a load together; any difference in strength could interfere with the journey. Yoked has many meanings but today think of it in terms of humanity. Two humans attached or joined together is more of a spiritual term in the written word. Do you have the picture? When two find themselves on different pages; it can cause an imbalance. It could also create friction between the two because of the imbalance. The written word gives a strong reference to being yoked to another and how important it is.
Yoke of Bondage
Yokes can also be a form of control in anyone’s life. Like the oxen, a yoke around the neck or head was used to control or place under bondage. You could experience this yoke in the mind or spirit. Some think of slavery as something that happened in history but slavery can also be mental or spiritual. Slavery means subjugation, bondage, control, and domination. It takes away your freedom to move freely. This could be one dominating another for personal gain based on economic, ethnicity, class, or spirituality in order to conquer or control. Yokes can be authoritative, habits, mindset, deception, etc. Regardless of the yoke, you were created to be free.
Remove it
Whether it’s a yoke between two or a yoke of bondage to control or enslave the mind or spirit for domination. It makes a difference in your ability to move and navigate in life freely and in synch. A pair unequally yoked causes areas of imbalance while the yoke of bondage causes stagnation. Either way, you have the power to remove the yoke and walk in total freedom.
Spiritual Standpoint
It’s obvious that yokes were made for oxen to join in sharing the weight and loads bestowed upon them. Yokes were used to enslave humanity during a time in history while in the field. The written word speaks of a spiritual yoke when two join together in life and the importance of being balanced or in agreement. Then there are yokes of bondage that others will place upon you if not careful to control and manipulate you for personal gain and satisfaction. The yokes you put on yourself by mindset, habits, and personal choices. Regardless of the yoke, the word says you are here to walk in freedom and not allow yourselves to be entangled again.
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father there’s a lesson to be learned from the oxen and the importance of being equally yoked in strength to carry the weight of life when connecting. It’s important to love everyone, but connections are important. We ask that if there’s anyone or anything that has enslaved or placed a yoke around the mind, body, or spirit to restrict freedom, control and manipulate the mind, reveal it, and point us to freedom.
By Faith
( give credit to an unknown artist of the silhouette picture on my podcast cover )