Laying Aside All The Weights

 Thinking on how Paul wrote in Hebrews 12:1 on how necessary it is to lay aside all weights that bind or distract us [to strip off all those things that tend to slow us down], along with any sins [whatever it is that easily trips us up and causes us to stumble] so we could run with endurance the race God has set before us; and today Spirit continues to encourage you and I to do the same; to lay aside those things from our past that try to bind us and keep us from moving forward [we learn from our past but refuse to allow it to weigh us down] as we persevere running our race.

Jesus knew the course He had to run for our deliverance and never lost sight of where He was headed. By keeping His eyes fixed on the prize awaiting His finish, He was determined to put up with anything along His way: the lies, the scandal, the persecutions, the shame, the torture, the Cross; what ever came His way He never lost sight of the goal set before Him. Day by day He drew strength from His early morning talks with His Father, just as you and I are encouraged to continue today.

Each new day God gives fresh mercies to run our race; we don't have to save up from yesterday or borrow from tomorrow, because old things are passed away and all things are become new as He gives fresh mercies day by day. He encourages us that when we begin to feel our journey is too rough, to keep our eyes fixed on Him and look at all the things He endured along His way to declare from His cross, "It Is Finished!" By keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus as our example and staying focused so we can see where we are headed, we will finish our course and oh, what a prized welcome it will be when we hear Jesus say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

He finished His course with you and me on His mind, and now He sits in the place of honor at the right hand of the Father, cheering you and me on through our daily race, and He knows we can make it if we just don't quit! So whatever baggage we need to lay down to finish our race, let's throw it off and stay focused on that finish line where Jesus will be waiting to award our prize--Eternal life with Him forevermore!

Have a wonderfully Blessed, Happy, and Healthy New Year, dear friend, God loves you and so do I~~~.