Sin darkens the road, and takes away our light.
(Picture by Lisa R.)

Mmmmm… Ever noticed this phenomena? The one where you decide NOT to do something (because it is the right decision), and from the moment you make the determination to do good. ALL you can think about is that thing you decided NOT to do. In fact you begin to feel, like if you don’t do it you may die or even go crazy! I am in that predicament right now, and in all honesty, it is kind of humorous. Why? Because I have never thought about this one particular thing as much have I have since I decided that it would be in my best interest to refrain from doing it. It’s like those moments when I decide that I am going to fast, and give that time to the Lord. It never fails that on that day someone will call inviting me to my favorite restaurant, or my mom will make my favorite dish…and all I will think about is how hungry I am. Oddly, I can go hours and hours without eating and think nothing about it (on any day I am not fasting). But that’s how sin works, we don’t realize how attached we are to it, or how much of a hold it has over us until we try to irradiate it. The thing I am letting go of is not a sin in the dictionary definition of the word, but I have noticed little by little that it has been slowly drawing my focus and attention away from God’s will for my life. Yesterday after pastor Jerry’s message I decided to exam my life and my heart and what I saw made me realize that there were things that I needed to let go of. Areas in my life that were pulling me down instead of building me up. It’s a hard battle, but I know that victory means freedom from bondage and a closer walk with my Savior. Sounds like a win to me.

“Therefore, 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).

So what’s my plan of attack? Running with perseverance.