Laying Aside Every Weight
Day 1, Week 1 | Divest
Hebrews 12:1-3 (ESV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (ESV)
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV)
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
The race of faith is not about adding, but subtracting. We are carrying things—good things, perhaps—but things that aren’t meant for the journey we’re on. Hebrews 12 gives us a vivid image of a runner stripping down, getting rid of every unnecessary weight. This isn’t just about avoiding sin. It’s about being honest with what’s holding us back, even if it’s something that seems harmless or good.
Often, the greatest hindrances to our faith are not evil, but distractions. Think about the pursuits that consume your time: career ambitions, family responsibilities, hobbies, and even ministry work. These aren’t bad things in themselves. They can be blessings. But when they become the focal point of our lives, when they take up more space in your mind and heart than God, they weigh you down. They pull you away from the true goal, and instead of running freely, you find yourself struggling to move forward.
God knows that our hearts are prone to wander, even toward good things. It’s easy to justify these distractions because they seem necessary. “I need to work hard to provide,” “I need to invest in my hobbies to recharge,” or “I need to keep up with my commitments.” But the question is: are these things helping you run the race of faith, or are they slowing you down? The writer of Hebrews invites us to take an honest inventory of our lives and lay aside every weight. It’s not just about obvious sins. It’s about identifying anything that subtly pulls your heart away from God’s best.
Psalm 139:23-24 is a powerful prayer for this process: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!” The process of laying aside weights requires us to come before God with open hands and a willingness to surrender. Sometimes, the things we hold onto the tightest are the very things that keep us from running the race of faith with freedom.
The invitation from God isn’t just to notice these weights but to lay them aside. This is where trust comes in. Jesus calls us to trust Him with what we release. He assures us that when we seek His kingdom first, everything else falls into place (Matthew 6:33). It’s about believing that God knows what we need and that His plan is better than anything we could pursue on our own.
This isn’t a one-time action. Laying aside weights is a daily discipline, a choice to surrender and trust. Each day, we must ask ourselves: “What am I carrying today that isn’t meant for this journey?” We are to live a lifestyle of surrender, where we allow God to reshape our hearts and priorities so that we can run with endurance.
REFLECT: What are the things that have slowly taken priority over your relationship with Jesus? How can you begin to shift your focus back to Him?
PRAY: Father, show me the weights that I am carrying. Help me to lay them at Your feet, trusting that You are enough for every need.
ACT: Write down one weight you feel God revealing to you. This week, take a practical step to reduce its influence—whether it’s setting limits on your time, re-evaluating your commitments, or praying for the strength to release control.
