Take it Off !!!
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2
Sister.... Have you ever gotten dressed to go somewhere special and before you could walk out the door, it started to rain. So, you had to turn to the closet next to the door and pull out your raincoat, umbrella and rainboots. You figured that you would change your shoes, stuff everything in a bag and check your things at the front once you get there. Hoping that it will stop raining and you'll meet up with your colleagues, you get there and there's nowhere close to park. You make a mad dash inside with all your rain gear on ruining your fashionable entrance to this grand affair and there is no coat check. Your next stop is the ladies room where all the stalles are filled. You don't recognize a soul, so you slip into the corner to take off your protective gear and something is stuck. The boots are off, the umbrella is down but you can't get out of this raincoat. You are wrestling with the part in the back that's locked onto your gorgeous outfit. How awkward it feels to have on this amazing outfit but dragging around this wet shiny fuschia raincoat that's taking away from the beauty of your dress. That raincoat is going to weigh you down. You can't move around or socialize without the strange looks. You can imagine them saying "Why does she still have on that coat, it's not raining in here". It would and could be the biggest hindrance. What I once used as a temporary shield to protect my prize outfit has become the weight that I needed to take off if I was going to function well, look great and take full advantage of this opportunity.
Sometimes our lives are just like that very situation. We have things that are hanging on to us... STUCk! Hindering our progress or stopping us from functioning well. Hebrews tells us to take it off along with the sin that is hindering our lives in Christ. At times those weights feel like they are stuck. Will we ever break free from them? However, the Bible tells us to take them off, lay it to the side and get rid of it. If the Word of God tells us to do it then Christ has already provided a way to get rid of them. One crucial way is found in verse 2 of Hebrews. Looking to Jesus.... Sister, when you keep your focus on Jesus everything else seems insignificant. So as we strive to break loose from things that are sinful and prevent us from moving forward, let's keep our eyes on Jesus who initiated and finishes our Faith.
Prayer Focus:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you that I can look to you when I am weighed down or in sin and you rescue me. Help me recognize the areas in my life that I need to take off so that my walk with You is not hindered. I want our relationship to grow fervently. Forgive me for my sins and make me anew.
In Jesus' Name
Amen
Application Exercise
Sister, I want you to get a hanger, tie a jacket or sweater to the hanger. Make sure the item is dragging so that it is touching the floor. Now, I want you to hook the hanger to the bottom of your top or from the top of your pants. The jacket should be dragging on the floor and you should hear it following you. Walk around with that attached to you for about an hour and see how that contraption hinders you from getting things done. For a moment, think of the entire contraption as sin or something that should not be present in your life. It's stopping your progress. Every time you allow something in your life that hinders your walk with the Lord I want you to think about how that jacket hindered your life. With the help of Jesus, Sister, you can take it off. We will be praying for you. God's Grace.
The Team of Push Pause & Pray