Travel Light, Run Strong

Well, land sakes, friend, ease yourself right up onto this ol’ front porch before that ol’ rockin’ chair starts to thinkin’ it plum belongs to the ol’ raccoon hidin’ up under the steps. Today we’re gonna be talkin’ about excess baggage, and most of us have enough of it to make an ol’ onery pack mule request early retirement. We sho’-nuff’ collect worries, habits, grudges, distractions, and downright foolishness until our souls are loaded heavier than a lil’ ol’ squirrel tryin’ to haul a whole ear of corn up an ol’ oak tree.

Hebrews 12:1 tells us, “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that lies before us.” Notice that not everything that’s plum weighin’ us down is necessarily sinful. Some things are simply just takin’ up too much room.

A concert violinist once described her secret as “planned neglect.” She intentionally neglected anything that kept her from practicin’ well. That may sound mighty strict, but she sho’-nuff’ understood somethin’ real important: sayin’ yes to what matters often requires sayin’ no to what don’t.

We could use some of that kind of spiritually.

Paul said in Philippians 3:13–14 that he was “forgetting those things which are behind” and plum pressin’ on toward the goal. You can’t run forward efficiently while draggin’ yesterday behind you like an ol’ plow through a briar patch.

Ask yourself: Is this ol’ habit helpin’ me to be followin’ Christ? Is this ol’ worry strengthenin’ my faith? Is this ol’ resentment nourishin’ my soul, or is it just plum sittin’ there like a lil’ ol’ possum in the henhouse sho’-nuff’ causin’ trouble?

David prayed in Psalm 139:23–24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart...and lead me in the way everlasting.” That there’s a mighty brave prayer because God might point toward somethin’ we’d plum rather keep.

Father, search my heart and show me what is slowing my walk with You. Give me courage to release every sin, distraction, fear, and burden that keeps me from running faithfully. Help me fix my eyes on Your purpose and travel lightly with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Now, skedaddle on right on off into your day, friend, but you gotta be leavin’ some of your baggage behind. Don’t go around haulin’ a wagonload of yesterday’s clutter down a road God meant you to travelin’ on for free. An ol’ fox runs mighty poorly if he’s tryin’ to be carryin’ a washtub, and so do we when our hearts are plum overloaded. Travel light, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, and run your race sho’-nuff’ ready for whatever stretch of road God puts ahead of you.

With joy,

Gwen