One of the most popular New Year’s resolutions is shedding weight. Almost everyone wants to get into shape, be healthier, and eat clean. We resolve to control our food intake and refrain from consuming fatty and processed food. We get into a fitness routine, and vow to do all means to stay committed to it.
As followers of Jesus, there are other things that we also need to shed. We need to lose the weight of anger, unforgiveness, sins and the shame and guilt that it brings, as well as the pettiness and the need for control.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” Hebrews 12:1
But how do we shed these things, when we are clueless as to how to remove its saddle in our lives? How do we let go of hatred and resentment when we get triggered every now and then? How do we forgive when those who have hurt us are not asking for our forgiveness, and instead continue to hurt us? How do we sever the chains of our addiction to our favorite sins, and the shame and guilt that comes with it? How do we live life without getting obsessed with controlling everything in our purview?
The answer is simple. Bring all these heavy loads to Jesus, as He offers to carry it all.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
In the above passage, which is one of the most quoted verses in the Bible, our Lord Jesus Christ invites us to learn from Him because He is gentle and humble in heart. Humble as we know is the opposite of being proud, and as we know pride is the instrument of the devil.
“For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” 1 John 2:16
Pride is the enemy’s weapon of choice because it keeps us from humbling ourselves before Jesus, and asking Him to forgive our sins and take control of our lives. It is the devil’s instrument of destroying and distracting us because with it, we build walls instead of bridges. It prompts us to put ourselves on a pedestal. It fuels our anger and resentment, leading to unforgiveness.
“The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.” Proverbs 8:13
But when we surrender our lives to Christ and give Him everything that weighs us down, we get to shed our selfish ways, and live a new life. All we need to do is to make Jesus Christ the Lord of our lives, know and follow His teachings and commands, nurture our relationship with Him through daily prayer and regular worship, and live a life that honors Him. When we seek Him, we get to shed off the divider that keeps us from coming into His presence.
“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.” Jeremiah 29:12-14
So in this New Year, let us not just work on shedding unwanted pounds. Let us also shed the heavy weight of sin, anger, unforgiveness, resentment, and pettiness that weighs us down. We have the best spiritual fitness coach after all — Jesus Christ.
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to
ponder on Psalm 25:4-18 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: Do you feel weighed down by the negative emotions that 2024 and the past years have saddled on you? What keeps you from giving up those burdens and offering them to Christ Jesus?
Conversation with the Lord: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for offering to take our burdens from us. I am weighed down by the things that I keep in my heart: pride, anger, resentment, unforgiveness, and the sins I fail to remove from my life. Please give me the confidence to surrender these all to you. Amen.
