Many of us made new year resolutions in January. We may not call it that, but we all make decisions that amount to resolutions.

• Pray more
• Be more consistent with our quiet time
• Spend more time with family
• Exercise more

The list goes on. The point to consider though, is that it’s a lot easier to eat junk food than to exercise off the extra calories we put on. It’s easier to put something off and delay doing it, than to be prompt and decisive. Perhaps it’s also easier for us to decide what we’re not going to do this year, instead of adding to the list of to-dos.

But here’s what will really change our lives this year: Deciding to get rid of that bad habit which has been chipping away at our time, resources and productivity since God knows when.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1)

I want to give a short commentary on this verse. The first component for us to consider is the “weights” that hold or slow us down from following the Lord.

When I was a very young believer, I was told that every believer grows at a different rate and that we should accept this because we’re created differently. If there’s some truth in this – I’ve not had the revelation to see it.

What baggage do we need to let go of this year?

Instead, I’m convinced that the rate at which we grow in the Lord is primarily self-determined; this involves us getting rid of the weights that hold us back.
 

What baggage do we need to let go of this year? Is it a pain, hurt or misunderstanding? Do we have attitudes, prejudices or mindsets that need to be renewed? For some of us, it’s time to get rid of the extra credit cards, the unnecessary financial commitments or some “toys” that don’t really get us anywhere.

It’s time to examine the relationships we’re keeping – perhaps it’s also time to get rid of some relationships that weigh us down from God’s best for us.

The second component to look at is the “sin which so easily ensnares us”.

The Old King James version calls it a “besetting sin”. Have you grown up with some negative moniker throughout your life? Do people point out the same flaw in you all the time? Do your kids and spouse point out some aspect of your bad conduct repeatedly?

If you can be totally honest with yourself (better still – ask the people close to you), you’ll quickly identify some besetting sin that needs to be gotten rid of.

Do people point out the same flaw in you all the time?

Growing up, my parents would always correct me for procrastinating.

I’d often leave school work to the last minute before I did it. I left things undone until they absolutely had to be done. The rubbish bin had to overflow before I emptied it. My toes would have to peek out from my socks before I’d bother to get new ones.

The Christmas tree would stay up till 31st December. My wife, Wendy, would have to deliver an icy ultimatum before I finally dragged myself to pack the tree back into its box – you get the idea.

Paul exhorts us to loosen ourselves from these shackles so that we may press forward in this spiritual race that we’ve all been called to, so I want to suggest something a little different for us in this new year.

Think of what to get rid of before you think about what to add to your life.

This article was first published on Cornerstone Community Church’s website and is republished with permission.