GET RID OF THE "BLANKEE"

Mackenzie and Madison spent the weekend with Grandpa and Grandma. We played, we pretended, had a snowball fight, and ate popcorn and ice cream. I don’t know about them, but I am exhausted and ready to do it all over again soon. As usual I learn so many things from my two granddaughters, including lessons in life that God has been trying to teach me.

Madison carried 3 little dolls with her to bed, to church, to the table, in the car; wherever she went. Mackenzie was never without Mickey and Minnie. It is comforting to have these stuffed “friends” with them at all times. It is okay because they are 1 ½ and 3 ½. Eventually they will outgrow these items just as they did pacifiers and bottles. I doubt very much if Mickey, Minnie, Sara Lynn, Sonja Lee and Eddie will be carried down the aisle during their graduation ceremony or be the attendants at their weddings.

Many of us have our own version of comforting items that we just cannot let go of for any reason. They jump on our backs when we go shopping, have dinner with friends or go to Sunday Service. They cuddle in our arms as we fall asleep. Sometimes they even wrap themselves around our ankles when we least expect them to appear. The Bible calls them weights and sins.

Hebrews 12:1
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

The key words in this passage of scripture are not weight and sin, they are lay aside. The weights and sins just seem to occur naturally. It is the “laying aside” that sometimes seems impossible. Many times I have prayed, “Lord take this sin or that weight away from me,” but I was not willing to lay it aside. I have learned that one of the most important words in the English language is NO. Sin will always be present and ready without notice to provide a temptation. There will always be a weight attaching itself around our neck if we are not on guard. The key is to say NO; lay it aside; turn away. Is it really that simple? Simple, yes; easy, no!!!

James 4:7 provides another clue on letting go of our comforting weights and sins.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

This verse contains two key principles. First you submit to God, and then resist the devil. In both verses we must be an active participant in ridding ourselves of those things which would weigh us down. It is time to get rid of the “blankee.” We must LAY ASIDE, SUBMIT TO GOD and RESIST THE DEVIL. After that, we will be able to rid ourselves of Satan’s control and free ourselves from anything that would prevent us from enjoying all that God has for us.