Dropping Weight

Last season, Green Bay Packers’ running back, Eddie Lacy, posted career-low totals in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. He’s a talented runner, but after the season his coach, Mike McCarthy, raised concerns about Lacy’s conditioning by saying, “He cannot play at the weight he did this year.” Lacy listened and hired the fitness guru who created the P90X workout, Tony Horton, to help him out. Apparently, after two months of training and being diligent about his eating and workouts, Horton estimated Lacy lost between 15-20 pounds. He will have to drop some more weight before the season starts, but at least he’s made progress and is heading in the right direction. I’m sure most of us can relate to wanting to lose a few pounds, but I think the idea of dropping weight goes beyond the bulging gut. If we’re not careful, we can find ourselves carrying the weight of guilt, shame, pride, insecurity, and busyness. These things and other sins will drag us down and prevent us from living with lightness and freedom if not dealt with. The Bible addresses this in Hebrews 12:1 (NLT): “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.” Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins, and offer us grace and forgiveness as we let go and surrender the weight that holds us back. The more we rely on Jesus for strength to resist the sins that easily trip us up, the lighter we become for effectively accomplishing His purpose for our lives. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross for me. Please help me to continue to drop the weight that slows me down. Show me the sins that need to be surrendered, so I can experience lightness and freedom through Your grace. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.