The Burden of Spiritual Heavy Weights

The Burden of Spiritual Heavy Weights

Put that down!

Yes, I just said it. Put that down and don’t pick it back up. It’s causing you pain and hardship that you don’t need. I’m talking about this spiritual weight that has you burdened down. You look at that heavy weight and just because it’s not classified as a “sin” in the Bible, you continue to carry it.

All the while, it is weighing you down so badly that you aren’t able to perform the task that God has called you to perform. You aren’t capable of running the race that is set before you. You aren’t able to think clearly, walk straight, or even talk plainly.

Sometimes it isn’t Sin

I do believe that at times we can all get in a rut. Just because something isn’t clearly spoken, or a step-by-step guideline isn’t written, we automatically assume it’s okay…and off we go! But if you live long enough, you begin to learn where to draw those personal boundaries. Hebrews 12:1 “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.”

The Bible says to lay aside every weight and sin. So, with the wording of this particular scripture, we can assume that even though there is not a blazing sign around the activity that says SIN, we should still be careful. It may not be blatant sin in the beginning, but if you continue to pick up weights along the way, it will weigh you down to the point where you will commit the very sin that God is trying to keep you from.

Understanding Your Boundaries

You may look at another person that you admire and think of as a godly person in your life and see that they are doing a certain activity, but it could be the very activity that will cause you to stumble and fall. Stop the comparison game, and listen to what God is trying to tell you.

I am going to be careful in saying this next sentence, and I hope that you will understand what I am talking about. Just because one person does a certain activity, does not mean the one standing next to them will be able to do it. Obviously, if the Bible plainly states something as sin, then we all know not to fall into that trap.

The person standing next to you may be able to understand where their boundaries are and be able to handle certain activities that they do. You, on the other hand, may try to do the same thing but once you do it, it could cause you to be weighed down, and therefore, fall deeper until you are living in sin. There is no longer a boundary.

I may be able to eat one chocolate candy bar and be perfectly fine with the one I just ate. But, if I offer you a candy bar and you know that can’t just eat one, and it will cause you to glutton and overeat, then stay away from the candy bar. I may be able to watch a certain movie and be perfectly fine. But if that same movie has an actor in it that causes you to lust and think thoughts that you shouldn’t, then you need to stay away from it.

You may enjoy listening to a certain song by one of your favorite artists. Although the song itself may not be sinful, the thoughts it causes you to have, and possible actions from those thoughts can be sinful. I know these are simple examples and you may not deal with them personally, but there is something in your life that is a heavy weight. Identify it and lay it down.

Submit and Stay Humble

The Bible says in Hebrews 13:17 “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”

I want to warn you to not get angry or upset with your pastor when he comes to you about something you may be doing. If he has heard from the Lord that something is causing you to stumble and he tries to reach out to you about it, you should be forever grateful. In this scripture, it tells us that we should submit (meaning: accept or yield to a superior force or to the authority or will of another person) ourselves to those that have rule over us. Yield to what the pastor has to say. It also instructs us to obey. We can listen to the pastor all day long and understand what he has to say. If we do not obey, then we are still headed down the road of distraction and destruction.

Being the shepherd of our souls, our pastor must give an account one day. Accept what he has to say, be grateful, pray about it, put that particular weight down, and move on to better things. The pastor is not trying to pick you apart; he is trying to bring awareness to your spirit and mind of the weight that is causing you to stumble.

Sometimes we go through life and pick things up without realizing it. It could be the very thing that he brings attention to that you realize has been a distraction in your life.

When you hear a sermon from the pulpit that steps on your toes a little, then examine your life. Examine why you feel that way and what it is the Lord is trying to tell you through the words of your pastor. Thank God that He cares enough about us to bring attention to us when we are not walking as freely as we should.

Tips to Stay Aware

Throughout our walk with God, there will be times when we feel weighed down. It’s during these times when we must pull back and look at where we can place our boundaries. Ask God for forgiveness and ask Him to help you stay aware. Reach out to a friend that will help you pray and keep you accountable for your actions.

• Stay aware of your daily activities
• Put boundaries in your life
• Become aware of weights throughout your walk with God
• Stay focused.

By identifying just what activities burden us down, we are able to conquer it and continue on with our lives. We can all live a life that is free of chains! So put that weight down and keep running this race, my friend.

Much Love,

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