Shedding Your Load

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 12:1–2
“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,” Hebrews 12:1.

Shedding Your Load

Father God, in your mercy give us the grace to agree with your plan for our lives, that we would have dominion over all the earth. Help us to lay aside every unnecessary weight that burdens us.

We need to be conscious of our years, months, and days because we are divinely ordained to accomplish certain goals for our living God who made us. God has made it clear that He wants us to be the dominator, not the dominated. In Genesis, He says that He made us to be fruitful spiritually, physically, and financially, and to multiply. We are to subdue the earth and have dominion over it and that is why He has blessed us with salvation.

Oppression is hindering some of God’s people from dominating. Are you feeling oppressed? Some of us have been so absorbed with the sin of alcoholism and drug addiction that the alcohol and drugs do not allow us to dominate. We are in a perpetual stupor. Others are addicted to pornography, whereby they are perpetually distracted. For some, eating too much is the issue. For others, it is the enjoyment of seeing people suffer. Are you being dominated by your sin or circumstances? Then take the first step towards having dominion: shed your load. Lay aside every weight and the sin that besets you.

Some of us are carrying such physical, spiritual, or psychological loads that we are overburdened. How are you going to lay aside your load? This can be accomplished by “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God,” Hebrews 12:2. In order for Jesus to have dominion when He was taking this first step of shedding His load, the sins of mankind, He endured the cross. He endured the process that would make Him the dominator, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Ancient of Days, the Lily of the Valley, the Great Redeemer, the Saviour of the lost, and the Justifier of the condemned. O living God, give us the grace to follow the example of Christ.

When you begin to shed your load, you must be determined to endure the process; to endure the cross. Jesus had to endure the cross so that now He is seated at the right hand of the throne of God making intercession for you and me. Today, Jesus is praying and saying, “My daughter and my son, endure the process of the cross. Endure the pruning of the Holy Spirit.” May God give us the grace to lay aside every weight and the sin that easily besets us.

The Bible says He endured the cross, despising the shame. Just as Jesus was ridiculed on the cross, we will also endure humiliation during the process of the pruning of the Holy Spirit. What will people say when they hear we are not doing the things we used to do? People may jeer or mock us, but Father God, give us the grace to despise the shame and endure the cross.

Prayer Points:

Shedding one’s load is impossible without salvation. Lord, I ask in the name of Jesus that you will save the soul of everyone who prays, “Dear Lord Jesus, I surrender my life to you. I confess and forsake my sins. Cleanse me from my sins with your blood. In your mercy, write my name in the book of life.”

Father God, deliver your children from oppression and domination so that your Word may be a reality in our lives. May dominion, blessing, fruitfulness, and multiplication manifest in our lives. Lord, you know us inside and out and you know the sins that easily beset us, from pornography to pride, to excessive eating, to adultery, to alcoholism. Whatever it is Lord, give us the grace to examine ourselves and drop this excess baggage. Give us the grace to endure the process of shedding our load. Give us the grace to despise the shame. In the name of Jesus, help us so we may enjoy the priviledge of becoming dominators according to your Word.