"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." Hebrews 12:1 NLT
Ben Kassel, 36, said he struggled with his weight for years but managed to keep it under control until after college when he ballooned up to 300 pounds. "Because of this, I felt awful. The more overweight I got, the harder it was to do physical activity, which made me gain more weight. It was a cycle that I felt powerless against." But by changing his diet and adding in running, Ben lost 110 pounds over the course of three years and crossed the finish line of his first marathon in three hours and two minutes this past weekend. And you know, had Ben not shed the weight, he never would have been able to run those 26.2 miles as fast as he did.
Sadly though, extra pounds aren't the only thing that can slow us down and prevent you and me from running "the race God has set before us." The weight of sin, "especially the sin that so easily trips us up," will do it every time. And these sins that we stumble over time and again are usually the ones we do in secret - addictions, relationships and habits we can't seem to "strip off" that become like a cycle we feel powerless against.
But take heart knowing that you're not alone in your struggles my friend. This "huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith" struggled with the same sins you and I wrestle with and have run the race and won. May we look to them for encouragement and inspiration as we decide to "strip off every weight that slows us down" today... once and for all.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that we are not alone in this fight against sin nor are we the only ones who have ever wrestled with temptation. Help us to look at and follow the examples of the saints that have gone before us that we might be able to shed the things that keep us from running at full speed. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!!!
No more - Josh Wilson
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