Lighten Your Load

As I continue to journey in this current season of life, it has become apparent that there is a need to be more deliberate and specific in how I use both my time and energy. Days are literally flying by and I do not want to waste either on things that just aren't that important. For almost 40 years, I have been exercising in some form. Whether it be lifting weights, cardio, full body exercises or spending time outdoors, I have seen a shift from what I once was able to do to what I now can do. I am thankful that Jesus has helped me in the struggle to lighten my (exercise) load while still remembering the importance of working to stay physically fit and healthy regardless of my age. Too many times, people will simply give up when things become to challenging. If you cannot run a mile, walk it. If you cannot do ten push-ups, do one. Movement is life.

Eccelesiastes 3:1-11 talks about seasons. To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

Look closely where the writer talks about how to utilize your time, A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away. Could it be that the writer is talking about lightening our load? A time to lose what? Relationships? Jobs? Schedules? Perhaps it is a time to lose unnecessary things in our lives. Our calendars are full of them. Do days fly by because we are packing 26 hours of activity into a 24 hour day? God's Word continues on speaking about "trimming the fat", a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

We have a lot of stuff. Whether it be material things, social media presence, job responsibilities or plain old junk, it is easy to get caught up with keeping up. As you spend time with Jesus throughout your day, I encourage you to seek His guidance on how you can and should lighten your load...

Pastor Aaron