Not Weighed Down

This past Saturday my girls and I, along with my mom, were part of the Salisbury marathon! No, we didn't run!! ;) But rather we were out on the course as cheer leaders, encouraging the runners as they passed us by!

This year we even made signs and had pom poms to help aide on our cheering!
And what a fun time we had!

I have to tell you, this is my 2nd year participating in this and it's such an encouragement to me to watch these runners.

Their strength.
Physically.
Mentally.

These runners give it their all.

And you want to know one of the things that stand out, that's obvious with the runners?!
.
.
.
They aren't weighted down.

They may be carrying a hand water bottle thingy, but other than that, nothing.

And I'm reminded of this scripture:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneerand perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  - Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)

[[...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles...]]

Did you catch that?!

Friends, not everything that is weighing us down is for us to carry!!!

Does anyone else need that reminder today?!

You need to throw it off!
You need to be free of anything hindering you on your course to run with perseverance, to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus!

The Message version reads, Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

I don't know about you but I want to be first in the race that is marked for me with Jesus!

I don't want anything weighing me down, holding me back.

I want to give it my all!

Now, I may not be able to physically or mentally (current day status, you know - just keeping it real) run any path or course set before me, BUT I am confident I can run with perseverance the path set before me spiritually.

Why?!
Because as scripture says, I will keep my eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. I will study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever.

And I want to be like Jesus!
And I want to have people on the sidelines cheering me on, saying, "RUN, Jenny, RUN!!!"

Who wants to join THIS race with me?!🏃‍♀️

💛
Jenny

#shouldertoshoulder #notweigheddown #runwithperseverance