Recognize What Holds You Back

Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

Hebrews 12:1 ESV

In recent years, I have passionately pursued becoming free from anything that holds me back. I’ve spent hundreds of hours in the Word and in prayer working through issues with God’s help. I’ve also gone to many inner healing sessions that get to the root of problems quickly. In the past I had gone to counseling, but it never seemed to get to the root of what held me back.

I am committed to continuing to grow and find wholeness. Every time another hurt from the past rears its ugly head, I’m learning to immediately seek God for healing and wholeness. I don’t want anything to hold me back from all God has for me. What about you?

Before we go into spiritual warfare, it is important to know what is holding us back from being fully effective. Hebrews 12:1, above, is a great place to start. Let’s look at what it says. We are told to do three actions:

• “Let us also lay aside every weight.” The New Living Translation says, “Let us strip off every weight that slows us down.” J.B. Phillips says, “Let us strip off everything that hinders us.”
• What weights are holding you back? They might be burdens you are carrying, issues from your past that have never been resolved, unforgiveness and a myriad of other things.
• This verse says, “Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…” How might others help us do that? Who could help you lay them aside?
• Take some time to ask God to reveal anything that holds you back.
• Second, we are told to throw off “the sin that so easily entangles” (NIV). The New Living Bible says, “the sin that so easily trips us up.”
• What sins trip you and get you stuck in them? They could be addictions, thoughts, actions, words, attitudes and so on. The enemy loves to ensnare us, because when he does, then he effectively hinders us in our warfare and our lives.
• Ask God to reveal them to you. Many you may be aware of; however, sometimes the enemy blinds us to our own sins. It is easy to make excuses rather than confessing and repenting for our wrongs. I know someone who was blinded for decades to a habitual sin. It has only recently come to light so it can be repented of and healed.
• Finally, we are told to “run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
• If we are held back by anything, including sins, we won’t be able to run with endurance. Imagine trying to run a marathon wearing a huge backpack full of heavy rocks. How successful would you be? In the same way, when we carry around issues from our past or present or we are actively sinning, it is as if we are trying to run a race with that rock-filled backpack.
• What is the race set before you? Part of it is similar for all us us—living for the Lord until He returns. Part of it is different for each one of us. Ask God to show you what your race is like.
• Do you have anyone running with you? How might having people in the race with you encourage and spur you on?

Excerpted from Battlefield Strategies for Every Believer, a practical guide to spiritual warfare

Gaylyn Williams, author of The Surprising Joy of Exploring God’s Heart

A Daily Adventure with 365 of His Names

Co-author of Never Do Fundraising Again: A Paradigm Shift from Donors to Lifelong Partners.   This is a great resource for any missionaries, short-term or long-term, who has to raise their support.

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