Lay Aside Every Weight

Hebrews 12:1-4
  "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.  In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood."


Dearest Lord,

We are a fitness crazed society now days.  Clothing, shoes and boots are lighter in weight but more effective for the purpose for which they are made. There are 5K, 10K, and even kids races being hosted all the time. Folks are striving to lose pounds and lay aside the weight.  No one in their right mind would take a sled of large boulders and strap it to their back and pull another chained to both legs, and carry another 100 pounder in their arms to run a race.
Liberty's own Bubba Wade is a wonderful example.  Bubba weighed over 500 pounds.  Then he decided that with God's help, he would lose 300.  It has taken him awhile, but surprisingly not that long, and he is almost at his goal.  He moves more easily, can engage in more activities, and is much happier than he had been, and even walked his first long race and finished in less time than he had supposed possible!

Lord, there seem to be more young people than ever now that struggle with depression and anxiety that in some cases can be crippling.  In my own life, when I lay aside my "weights": disappointments, discouragements, discontentment, regrets, resentments, bitterness, unforgiveness, selfishness, idols of every kind I can run this Spiritual race with ease as I am free of those burdens.  Your race, Lord, was not a walk in the park.  You suffered greatly here, but this says, "who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

All kinds of people are watching me, Lord.  My family, students, faculty and staff at school, folks at church, neighbors.  Yes, I have "so great a cloud of witnesses".  Lord I want to run this race with joy as a good witness.  I know there are rocky roads and steep inclines, briar bushes and predators along the trails who would love nothing else than to see me defeated and having not finished.  It up to me to "shed the weight" of all of the things I hold onto and release them to You...all the burdens, sins seen and unseen so many will be drawn to You that they see in me.  Lord, Help ME!