“We are told that we are to daily pick up our crosses and follow the Lord (Matthew 16:24). And as well, we are told to lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets us, that we are to run with patience the race that is set before us looking unto Jesus, who is the Author and the Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1–2). Amen.

To lay aside every sin that so easily besets us is, in and of itself, a very hard thing to endure. Each of us has something we deal with something that just doesn’t seem to want to let go of us. The very thing that keeps presenting itself to us, and we know it’s not for us, that we need to lay it down and leave it at the Father’s feet. Yet somehow, we catch ourselves picking up the very thing we once laid down. Amen.

But this is a daily picking up of our crosses and a daily following of the Lord letting go of yesterday and starting again today. Amen. For we are told that we should be without spot or wrinkle (Ephesians 5:27), that we should be holy, pure, and righteous as our Father King Jesus is. We are told that we should live an excellent life, that we should be looking for a more excellent way of living and doing things, that we should be growing and learning in the Lord.

We are also told that we should never despise God and His chastening and correction over us, because whom He loves, He corrects (Hebrews 12:5–6). Amen. And when our Father comes back for us, that He will find us to be wise and faithful servants. Amen. For it says, “Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when He comes, finds him doing” (Matthew 24:45–46). Praise the Lord.

In other words, we are striving daily to run our race to live a life without sin and without spot or wrinkle, doing the right things in our lives, truly laying aside every sin and weight that so easily besets us. Amen.

Because life is going to hand us everything that looks appealing and catches our eyes. Amen. Life is always going to cause us to second-guess what we know is right and wrong. Life will give every reason to live however we want and will speak lies saying, “It doesn’t matter you’re good; you can do whatever you want; God loves you.” Amen.

But when we give in to those lies, do what is wrong, and compromise truth and righteousness, then we are not running our race well. We are merely staying at the starting line instead of running to endure and reach the finish line.

So let us lay aside every weight whatever that weight may look like for you and truly deny ourselves and fully surrender to the Lord for His kingdom, His calling, His anointing, and His power. Let us run well in this life, so that at the end of it all we can stand unashamed before our Father. And He can look at us and say, “Enter into the joy of the Lord. for you were faithful over little; I will make you ruler over much” (Matthew 25:21). Hallelujah!”

“For it is in His name, Jesus’ name, that I do ask and pray..Amen and Amen..Be blessed today my dear sweet friends and remember wherever you go and whatever you do, Be a light for our Father, Much love to you all, Mandi ❤️