Christian life involves focus and training, it requires us to give up what hinders our relationship with God and run with stamina and commitment in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 12 tells us to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that easily entangles and to run with perserverance by fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of faith. What does that look like for us?
We should be running solely for Christ, not in our own glory or success and we must always keep him in sight. Think about long distance runners and the how they work hard to build endurance and strength. On race day their clothes are lightweight and their bodies are lean.
To run the race that God has set before us, we must also strip off the excess weight that slows us down. How do we do that?
Choose friends who are also committed to the race. Nonbelieving friends will have values and activitites that may deter you from the course
Drop or curtail activitites, such as checking messages, spending hours a day watching shows, playing video games, or scrolling facebook, they may be adding unnecessary weight, try dropping them for a while, then check your results and see where you are.
Get help for any addictions you may have that can disable you. If you have secret "weight" such as pornography, gambling, food, painkillers, lottery tickets, or alcohol admit your need and get help today.
When you face these hardships and discouragements it is easy to lose sight of the big picture. But you are not alone, you can get help and many others are going through or have already been through the same thing. Suffering provides grounds for Christian maturity, it develops our patience, makes us realize our need for Christ strengthens our resolve, encourages humilty and ensures our final victory.
Remember we love you and are here if you need us. God Bless and have a great week.
Resource used: Life Application Study Bible NIV
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