Is Something Weighing You Down? (Part II)
We read in last month’s newsletter that God instructed us to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily (with little discomfort) beset (derail) us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1). The biggest weight that I see bogging down good-willed Christians is worry, anxiety, fear, and depression. Doctors are prescribing more anti-depressants than one can imagine. What directs our thoughts to oppression? …What we see, hear, feel, touch, smell, and/or taste. So, my natural senses are the avenue to thoughts, and thoughts cause feelings. If my thoughts are good, I feel good; but if my thoughts are negative, I have negative feelings. I have to choose to think not on my problems, but on what God’s Word says about my problems. My checkbook may say that I do not have enough money to pay my TV bill. I can choose to believe that and the feelings of fear, worry, anxiety, and depression may try to overwhelm me. I must choose to think on God’s promise. “Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it” (1 Thes. 5:24). “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). “Thank you, Jesus, that You are my shepherd, and I shall not want” (Ps. 23:1).
There are many promises that I could speak that combat lack. The Word spoken or meditated directs my thoughts to positive feelings. “Father, I thank you. …Because I am obeying Your call to TV ministry, You are doing what I can’t do. You meet our needs.”
We run our race of life, and we see in Hebrews 12:1&2 that we can be free of the weights and sins if we are looking unto Jesus. Jesus is the Word; and if I keep my focus on the promises of the Word, my thoughts will minister peace, comfort, and hope. My race will not be weighed down. It’s when I turn my eyes away from the Lord and look into the face of my problems that I become weighted down. Demons are assigned by satan against us and they attempt to point out all of the things in life that are not right. The thoughts that the enemy presents floods us with the negative feelings that can once again weigh us down, “easily besetting us.”
The Scriptures in Hebrews 12 use the analogy of the Grecian games to explain the race of life. For example, there was one who stood before those who would run in the race. He had previously carried away every palm of victory. He had always been triumphant, and with whom there was no one who could be compared. The racers looked at him as the example of victory. Well, guess what? Verse two reminds us to “look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” Jesus is the perfect example of victorious faith. Jesus endured the cross, despising the shame by looking unto the joy of one day being seated at the right hand of the throne of God having received all authority and all the victory. Well, He attained. He did not focus on the cross and the shame, but on the joy. Jesus said, “…If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Mt. 16:24). We must not allow flesh to rule our lives. Flesh may want to sit down and quit, but we are to follow Jesus. So amidst all of your trials to which you are exposed, patiently endure all, my friend – for the glorious rewards, the happiness and triumph of heaven are before you! We are running to Jesus, and He has reserved an incorruptible crown just for us. Let us run that we may attain.