Look at the life of a runner. The runner must be slim and fit to run well. The exhortation of laying aside every weight means for the runner to get rid of flesh or excess weight.
When one stands still in a race there is not any apparent problem known to adversely affect the runner. However when the runner begins to run, he or she can see what negatively affects his or her activity.
The sins that will negatively effect the race of your life are inattention, sluggishness, and impatience. Resisting the hindering sins by repentance and cultivating qualities of focus, active discipline and patience determines that a faith runner will achieve the goal of faith.
Faith, like running, requires effort. True faith produces good works. "And make straight paths for your feet, least that which is lame become turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed" (Heb. 12:13).
Dedicate a lot of your leisure time to be in an environment of Christian spiritual disciplines for teaching, fellowship, and entertainment, because this will nurture you to develop faith and obedience for healing and deliverance.
You can find through subjecting yourself to the environment of Christian disciplines required by God's Word a freedom to promote the deliverance and healing object of God's promise.
If a runner neglects the disciplines of mind and body, he or she will not win the race. "For you have need of patience, that after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise" (Heb.10:36).
Active patience is necessary with submission to the disciplines of God so that you will be prepared for blessing. "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him" (Heb. 10:38).
Paul encourages actions of faith to receive the promise. The consequence of lacking persistence in well doing is being overcome by the problem. We are encouraged to endure unto the end in order to overcome difficulty. If you shrink back, you can miss the good things that belong to you according to God's will.
"Looking unto Jesus the author and 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" (Heb. 12:2).
Men and women need perseverance to finish the race that is set before them. Many people start the race with devotion, but the running slows down when we allow ourselves to squander energies in diversions.
A person in a race needs to use all his or her capacities and energy to achieve the goal. "You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?" (Gal. 5:7).
The truth of the grace of God through Christ that is the unconditional love of God is the justification basis of the reward of faith. You are to choose to be persistent by Grace with the means of the goals of faith until it is achieved in your life.
Jesus finished the race for the joy of the goal, man's salvation. Christ endured the cross in order to bring atonement for man, and thereby many sons, into the presence of God. He, in spite of the shame of the cross, persevered by doing his Father's will unto the end to finish the work of Salvation.
How much more should we fulfill with patient endurance our calling, which has not called for shedding of blood? Use the qualities of focus, spiritual disciplines and active patience to renew your mind with the Word of God.
Excerpt permission granted by Publish America