Dead Weight

HEBREWS 12:1
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.

There comes a time that as Christ Followers we will have to realize that some of the things that "weigh" us down are self inflicted. Don't get me wrong we all are flesh and have issues, sin nature, and all that other "church lingo" stuff, but alot of times we hold on to "things" or "people" like a child with a blanket. It seems to bring some form of security for us. Even at times when we know we shouldnt dwell on it, hang on to eat, or allow it to control us - it has became a part of our life, our nature, and begins to control how we act, talk, live, and function.

When we are surrounded by the right people - (people of faith), we can begin the process of laying down or aside some things that literally have been weighing us down. This process for some can be "cold turkey", but for others it is a process of time, where little by little we begin to lay down some things, leave them there, never to return to pick them back up. Realize that when you begin to live a life for Christ, while he has changed our hearts - our minds still need alot of work......we have years possibly of thought patterns, lifestyles, languages, activities, etc that have become part of the "weight" we carry.....

ROMANS 12:2
Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Listen, regardless of how long, which way we choose to get rid of some weight --- we have to begin to lay it aside - not only so we can experience more of the freedom of Christ, but so the time we spend clinging on to the "dead" weight in our lives - can be exchanged in reaching others with the love and compassion of Jesus.

You, I, all of us have some weight to lose, probably both physically and in our walk with Christ. Today lets make it a point to realize the stuff that has been dragging us down - and causing us to walk - not run in our pursuit of the things of God.

There is too much in you - to be burdened down with the things of the past, things that we have no CONTROL over - SHOULD NOT CONTROL US.

"WHATEVER IT TAKES"