DROP THE WEIGHT!

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us..." (Hebrews 12:1)

This morning I woke up excited about my appointment. I knew I would be welcomed with open arms because I knew they missed me standing in their presence. I must admit, I missed it too. But, I wondered how I would be received…..after all it’s been a few months since I allowed myself to be transparent before them. The mere thought of that made me nervous. Then I remembered the last time we visited. I thought to myself “I hope I’m not treated the way I was treated the last time I visited because I didn’t deserve the reception I received.”

So here I am – I arrive at my destination. I walked in – I hear my name as I am greeted with a genuine smile. I thought to myself “this is going to be good!” I was excited at this point because of the welcome I received. I felt like I was walking on a cloud. Then it happened – the betrayal! I was lied to. I was made to feel like a complete fool. I thought since it was standing in the corner waiting for me that things would be different. But sadly, it wasn’t. And here I stand again…all out in the open…waiting for an apology for the lies that were being told about me – but I got nothing. Oh the pain – the hurt – the disappointment….Once again, I was a victim of lies from the SCALE! Or was I. Perhaps I just didn’t want to face the fact that I really was carrying around too much weight.

The weight of the weight has side effects. The heaviness debilitates us. The strain paralyzes us. The weight we unnecessarily carry smothers us and leaves us with little to no air to breathe – eventually asphyxiating us robbing us from living life abundantly. Weight: It is a force that holds us down without our permission but with our participation because we carry it around unnecessarily not realizing the damage it is causing. We wear it like a backpack accompanying us on a long desert trip loaded with unnecessary items we won’t even need for the journey. Instead of eliminating some of the items along the way, we adjust our straps so that we can continue to carry it all because we believe we need it. But we don’t.

God is saying so clearly to us today “Let go of the weight.” God did not intend for His people to live a life of bondage. He did not send His Son to die for our sins for us to remain slave chained to dead weight on a plantation that harvests brokenness, and pain. In order to rid ourselves of this weight, we must put a daily exercise plan in place:

1. Exercise your right to Worship – (Psalm 59:16-17 – But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength; Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning, For You have been my stronghold And a refuge in the day of my distress. O my strength, I will sing praises to You; For God is my stronghold, the God who shows me lovingkindness).

2. Exercise your right to Pray – (I Thessalonians 5:17 – pray without ceasing)

3. Exercise your right to Praise – (Psalm 86:12 - I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And will glorify Your name forever.)

"Don’t let the pain of your past dictate your life. Choose to let go of that weight – Be intentional about freeing yourself from those things, people and habits of sin that you have allowed to weigh you down." - Terrie Thomas

Yes, it hurt – Yes, you were wronged – Yes you made mistakes – Yes, you should have waited….Don’t let this journey represent only footprints of missteps. Let it go. Drop the weight. Lay it at His feet. He stands ready to receive the weight you’ve been carrying; all you have to do is release it to Him.

It’s not too much – It’s not too heavy… after all, He walked many steps carrying a heavy rugged cross up to Calvary’s hill. That hill where He would shed his clothes of humanity never to wear them again – that hill that was home to the cross He bore for our sins – that hill that represented the birthing place of man’s salvation. As we approach the Resurrection season, with his death, burial and resurrection in mind, why not surrender the dead weight to Him.

I recall visiting an orthopedic after I had been involved in a horrible car accident. The first thing the doctor did after he introduced himself to me was pick up my purse. Then he said “this is too heavy”. I was a little offended by his comment and I began to explain to him what I had in my purse to justify my need for it all. Sounds familiar? We don’t need to carry it all at all. Make a decision today to lighten your load. Make a decision to forgive. Make a decision to let “it” go.

"Make a decision to move forward and begin to live a life God designed especially for you (Jeremiah 29:11). Move from a life of bondage to a life of freedom! Do not let the enemy steal another day by tricking you to continue carrying around all of this weight." - Terrie Thomas

Today I don’t mind stepping on a scale. You see, I’ve learned something from it. I’ve learned that it’s an indicator and it informs me of the facts. Whether it leans to the right or in my favor, leans to the left, its results prompt me to act accordingly. I know when I need to shed some weight. I know when I’ve gotten a little heavy. I know when I need to let some things (like sweets) go.

So, today I encourage you to go ahead and step on the “scale”. Take the necessary steps: Remove yourself from it. Reclaim your joy! Rest in His peace, Read God’s Word and Remember the Cross – the place where Jesus Christ gave His life so that we could live…so why not live it without the weight.

Giving you my best...

Terrie Thomas, A NEW ME Blog Contributor

Get ready to embrace “A NEW ME: Transparently, Abundantly.”

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