Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

—Hebrews 12:1

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

With the example of all the great heroes of the Bible, both big and small, we can do God's work with confidence. But for us to boldly go where he wants us to go, we must first let go of "the sin that so easily entangles", our lives, distorts our vision, enlarges our doubts, and robs us of our spiritual vitality and stamina. As we put those things away from our lives, we can then look "to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith" and we can "not grow weary" or "lose heart" (Hebrews 12:2-3). We can join the apostle Paul when he said he had fought the good fight, had finished his race, and could trust that God's bountiful grace had great things in store for him (2 Timothy 4:6-8). Let's help each other to keep running the race by putting off the sin and looking to Jesus!

My Prayer...

Holy Father, please forgive me for my sins. Not just my blatant sins, but my willingness to dabble in things that are not holy, to flirt with spiritually dangerous things, and to expose myself to unholy things that leave a residue of evil one's corruption in my heart. Please, give me the strength to say "NO!" to the things that distract me from you and to embrace with passion those things that make me more like you as I pursue Jesus as my example, Savior, and LORD. In the name of Christ Jesus, I pray this. Amen.