Lay It Aside

Let us lay aside every weight, and... run with endurance... Hebrews 12:1 NKJV

The Bible says, 'Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it' (1Corinthians 9:24 NKJV). In life you only get to run once, so run to win. To avoid stumbling or losing your place, don't look back. You can't change the past, but thank God you can learn from it and leave it behind.
Don't be anxious about the next lap, focus only on the next step. If you miss that you may fall and not get up again. Before you know it you'll soon have more laps behind you than ahead of you, so make every lap count: 'Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.'

Many of us carry the weight and worry of burdens that older and wiser people understand are of no real importance. We spend our strength extinguishing fires that, if left alone, would burn out on their own. Time is your most valuable resource. Save it and you've increased your assets and decreased your liabilities.

Get rid of the baggage of old relationships, pointless fears, and false indebtedness to those who seek to manipulate you. There are enough painful trials in life; why endure the ones you can lay aside?

When blind Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was within reach he threw off his coat lest it trip him up, and ran toward Him. And his faith paid off: '… Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus… ' (Mark 10:52 NKJV). Today, 'lay it aside' and run!


Note: The article above is taken from daily devotion email from The Word for Today brought by TheVine in association with The Rhema Broadcasting Group Inc, New Zealand and UCB International Ltd