…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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith… Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)
These verses give a simple blueprint for successful living – throw off everything that hinders, run with perseverance, and fix our eyes on Jesus. Let’s start with a simple question. What is hindering you in life or what is the specific sin that keeps entangling you? Whatever it is…DON’T GO BACK! If you know in advance where the enemy (satan) has been consistently tempting you, you can prepare a defense against his tactics. Don’t allow yourself to be lured back into the sin(s) that hindered you previously.
The verse then tells us two things…1) run and 2) have perseverance. Where have you been procrastinating in life? It’s time to start running! If you’ve been moving slowly related to any of your goals or anything God has instructed you to do…GET MOVING! It’s important that we finish strong and run the race with perseverance that is set before us.
Lastly, this verse tells us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. When we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus (or God’s Word), it prevents us from focusing on the problems around us. The key here is to have our eyes “fixed” on Jesus. That means you are intentionally (daily) taking time out of your schedule to read God’s Word (the Bible). Do you have a specific time/place where you read the Bible daily? It’s important to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.