Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today we will seek wisdom regarding laying down our burdens.

Hebrews 12:1‭-‬3 (ERV) exhorts us…
We have all these great people around us as examples. Their lives tell us what faith means. So we, too, should run the race that is before us and never quit. We should remove from our lives anything that would slow us down and the sin that so often makes us fall. We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy he could see waiting for him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne. Think about Jesus. He patiently endured the angry insults that sinful people were shouting at him. Think about him so that you won’t get discouraged and stop trying.

Consider…
A synonym for burden is an encumbrance. Encumbrance is the word that comes to mind when I read, “We should remove from our lives anything that would slow us down and the sin that so often makes us fall”, from today’s verse.

Notice two different encumbrances are referred to…

• Anything that would slow us down
• Sin that makes us fall

Let’s dive deeper into each of these.

First, the Hebrews author implies there are things other than sin that can impede our spiritual growth. I couldn’t think of anything, so I asked some friends for ideas. Here’s some of the feedback I received…

• Too busy
• Relationships or interactions with non like-minded people
• Inadequacy or doubt
• Fear
• Failure
• Religion (a form of godliness), over relationship
• Distractions of life
• Career or ambition
• Complacency or contentment
• Filling our minds with wordly/secular influences (TV shows/movies, music, books, etc)

These impediments lead my mind to 1 Corinthians 10:23 (AMP), which says…
All things are lawful [that is, morally legitimate, permissible], but not all things are beneficial or advantageous. All things are lawful, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life].

The Holy Spirit is impressing upon us the need to stay alert, as exhorted in 1 Peter 5:8 (AMP)…
Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.

Next, notice the Hebrews author referred to the “sin that makes us fall.” When I ask the Holy Spirit for understanding of “sin that makes us fall”, He led my mind to the word stronghold. According to the Tony Evans Bible Commentary, strongholds are destructive patterns of thought that lead people astray and hold them hostage to sinful, harmful and addictive behavior. That definition makes me think of James 1:14‭-‬15 (AMP), which says…
But each one is tempted when he is dragged away, enticed and baited [to commit sin] by his own [worldly] desire (lust, passion). Then when the illicit desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin has run its course, it gives birth to death.

1 John 2:16 (AMP) breaks down the spiritual strongholds of lust down further…
For all that is in the world—the lust and sensual craving of the flesh and the lust and longing of the eyes and the boastful pride of life [pretentious confidence in one’s resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father, but are from the world.

Notice, I said the spiritual strongholds of lust, that’s because the only way to overcome a spiritual stronghold is by God’s power. 2 Corinthians 10:3‭-‬5 (ERV) says…
We live in this world, but we don’t fight our battles in the same way the world does. The weapons we use are not human ones. Our weapons have power from God and can destroy the enemy’s strong places. We destroy people’s arguments, and we tear down every proud idea that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We also capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.

As I write this, it’s becoming abundantly clear that the Holy Spirit wants us to exercise the fruit of self control He has produced in us, to “remove from our lives anything that would slow us down and the sin that so often makes us fall.” Yet, the key element of self control that He’s emphasizing that we should utilize is focus. Specifically, the author of Hebrews tells us “We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete.”

I really like the way the Amplified translation renders that verse…
[looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work]. – Hebrews 12:2 AMP

The way we remove distractions is, by focusing on the main attraction, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

When Peter focused on Jesus, he was able to walk on water in the midst of the storm. However, when he took his eyes off of Jesus, he succumbed to the distractions going on around him.

How do we lay our burdens down? Set and keep our eyes on Jesus 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

Today’s song is…
Set My Eyes
https://youtu.be/vaWs10I0lE0?si=CW7UWC8RNn-zIKcY

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)