That's what they say, isn't it? It's another new year, time to lose weight. Personally, no matter my size or the time of year, I like "weight loss" according to God's Word.
Hebrews 12:1b Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
"Lay aside every weight;" now that is some weight loss I can use any time of year! Every weight refers to every burden or hindrance. What's weighing you down in life? God says you can simply lay it aside, along with any sin or broken fellowship. These are things that can "easily beset us," it says.
God truly wants us to lay aside all those weights, and when we are humble, we do so.
I Peter 5:6,7 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Our cares are anything that causes anxiety or stresses us out, distracting us from God. He cares so much for us! He promises He will never leave us nor forsake us and that He will supply all our need. So why not cast all our care on Him?
Perhaps we're burdened or hindered by old habits we haven't yet overcome. God has provided for that as well. He's given us Christ in us, and we truly can be transformed by renewing our minds, putting off the old man and putting on the new.
Ephesians 4:22-24 That ye put off concerning the former conversation [behavior] the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
God will even strengthen us with might by His spirit in the inner man, according to Ephesians 3:16. So what have we got to lose? Just that lousy weight that so easily besets us!
I love the rest of Hebrews 12:1: "and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."
What a great description of life--the race that is set before us. I don't want to just sit down on the sidelines! Nobody really wants to be so easily beset! And just as I wouldn't carry a big heavy backpack to run a long race, I don't want to carry along a pack of burdens in this race of life that God has set before me.
God is so gracious! This sounds like a plan to me! I think I'll go with His weight loss plan and run with patience the race that is set before me.
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