What’s Weighing You Down

“Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so EASILY entangles
us.” (Hebrews 12:1)

“The call to ‘lay aside every weight, and the sin which so EASILY
entangles us’ is indeed a call to the present-day saint. It comes
immediately following Hebrews 11’s long list of men and women in the
Hall of Faith.

We are told of the faith and the sufferings of the faithful, and then,
because we are surrounded as it were by these examples of faithful men
and women, we are exhorted to lay aside something.

First, let us lay aside every weight, not just some, every burden, every
impediment, every stumbling block. Whatever it may be, if it interferes
with our service to Christ, or cramps our prayer life, or is harmful to
our bodies, it is a weight. It should be dropped.

Second, let us lay aside the SIN that so EASILY ensnares us. Here the
writer to the Hebrews is primarily concerned with apostasy. He addresses
Jews who professed Christianity, but some of them gave up and returned
to their previous Jewish customs and manner of worship and beliefs.

The principle is applicable to this: We are to lay aside the sin the
CLINGS to us. It is as if each of us has a specific monkey on our backs
to shake loose. There is some particular sin that is bothering you with
the devil’s help. Its weight slows us up in the spiritual race of life.

God is saying, ‘Lay aside, put off,’ using the same word used for taking
off clothing. Life is a footrace, and we must strip down for it if we
are to run successfully. Through faith in the shed blood of Christ, we
are on God’s team. May it be that we will be able to say to our captain,
‘I have finished the race!’ (2 Timothy 4:7) from DAILY MANNA by Dr.
William Banks, published by CLC

Good words for today. Why not pass it on to a friend and encourage them
to sign up today for FREEDOM FIGHTERS!

Great quote: “The effort to repay God in the ordinary way we pay
creditors would nullify grace and turn it into a business transaction.
If we see acts of obedience as installment payments, we make grace into
a mortgage. Let us not say that grace creates debt; let us say that
grace pays debts. John Piper, Future Grace

DEALING WITH TEMPTATION

“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God
IS faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are
able, but with the temptation WILL provide a way of escape also, so that
you may be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

“Let’s talk about the wrongs that you allow yourself to fall into. I am
not talking about major sins – deliberate disobedience to God on major
issues is not usually a problem a committed Christian deals with on a
daily basis. I am talking about not stopping a sharp word, or being
deliberately quarrelsome. These things you have some control over, but
you let yourself do what you want.

The closer you get to God, the more miserable things you will find in
your heart. This is not a negative thing – God allows it to let you lose
confidence in yourself. You will have accomplished something when you
can look at your inner corruptness without anxiety or discouragement and
simply trust in God. But you should try to not let yourself fall into
temptation.

There are two resources against temptation. One, be faithful to God
within you. Avoid all that is better left avoided. Of course you are not
always able to avoid these situations, some are brought to you by God
and will do you no good to flee them.

The second resource is to turn to God when you are tempted. If you find
that you’ve consented to temptation, then head straight back to God.
Take the example of a child who hides his face in his mother’s bosom as
soon as he sees something that frightens him.

Practice staying in God’s presence so that you are able to respond to
His leading immediately. In a way, there is little to do in doing the
will of God. It is true that holding back nothing from God is doing
quite a bit. God’s love searches the secret places within, looking for
anything that resists Him.

On the other hand, Christianity is not found in a multitude of rules,
nor in holding yourself back from every pleasure. Just yield yourself to
Him without reserve. Live in the present moment. Let God do what He sees
fit without resisting Him, and agree with God without trying to justify
what you want to do. Temptation is a necessary part of a Christian’s
life. Don’t be upset by even the most shameful temptation. Look at God
and dwell continually in His presence – He will keep your feet from
falling.” From THE SEEKING HEART – by Fenelon

Great quote: “There are certain attitudes we should never dare to
indulge. If we do, we will find they have distracted us from faith in
God. Until we get back into a quiet mood before Him, our faith is of no
value, and our confidence in the flesh and in human ingenuity is what
rules our lives.” Oswald Chambers

Has Freedom Fighters been a blessing to you? Why not encourage a friend
to become of our growing family. You can sign them up right from our
website at http://www.americaskeswick.org.

GIVING GOD YOUR GRINS

“Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever.”
(1 Chronicles 16:34)

In church one Sunday a small boy was turning around smiling at
everyone. He wasn’t gurgling, spitting, talking, humming, tearing the
hymnals or rummaging through his mother’s purse. He was smiling, just
smiling. Suddenly his mother jerked him around and said in a loud
whisper, “Stop grinning. You’re in church.”
Is that the way you feel about spending time with God? Not a
very fun thing to do? How very different is the attitude of true
worshippers found in the Bible. When the ark was returned to Jerusalem,
David composed a song of thanksgiving. You can read it in 1 Chronicles
16:7-11. It’s something of ode to joy that presents a string of
suggestions designed to help us enjoy out time in worship of God. David
says:

* give thanks to the Lord
* call on his name
* make known among the nations what he has done
* sing to him
* sing praise to him
* tell of all his wonderful acts
* glory in his holy name
* let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice
* look to the Lord and his strength
* seek his face always
* remember the wonders he has done

Of all David’s counsel, perhaps the most difficult for us is to
seek God’s face always. That simply means to enjoy His presence, like
the grinning boy in church. True worship of God is often the simple act
of enjoying Him.
Missionary Jim Elliot wrote in his diary: “Oh, the fullness,
pleasure, sheer excitement of knowing God on Earth. I care not if I
never raise my voice again for Him, if only I may love Him, please Him.
Perhaps in mercy He shall give me a host of children that I may lead
them through the vast star fields to explore His delicacies whose finger
ends set them to burning. But if not, if only I may see Him, touch His
garments, smile into His eyes – ah then, not stars nor children shall
matter, only Himself.”
Take the time today to discover that there is no joy like that
of an intimate hour spent with God. Spent the time and enjoy Him.

Dr. Woodrow Kroll

Taken today from our Keswick devotional – Real Victory for Real Life –
365 daily meditations to help you live and walk in victory. You can
order today from the Keswick Bookstore – 732-350-1187 ext. 31. Check out
our ad in the current edition of World Magazine:
http://www.americaskeswick.org.

Great quote: There is one thing that keeps many from zealously improving
their lives, that is, dread of the difficulty, the toil of battle.
Certainly they who try bravely to overcome the most difficult and
unpleasant obstacles far outstrip others in the pursuit of virtue. A
person makes the most progress and merits the most grace precisely in
those matters wherein he gains the greatest victories over self and most
mortifies his will. True, each one has his own difficulties to meet and
conquer, but a diligent and sincere person will make greater progress
even though he have more passions than one who is more even-tempered but
less concerned about virtue. Thomas a Kempis

AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

“in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
for you.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:18)

It’s easy to be grateful when life flows along like we think it
should – when the sky is blue, the sun shines brightly, pleasant breezes
blow, and a surplus builds in our bank accounts. But what about those
times when health wanes and money is scarce? Even during such times of
need a spirit of thankfulness is important because it reminds us of the
trustworthy character of God.
The psalmist wrote, “Many … are Your wonderful works … and
Your thoughts which are toward us … they are more than can be
numbered” (Psalm 40:5). In response, we are challenged: “In everything
give thanks; for this is the will of God … for you” (1Thessalonians
5:18, italics added). The simple power of a grateful heart is
impossible to exaggerate.
An attitude of gratitude encourages a feeling of well-being.
Occasionally, I write down the things for which I’m thankful. For
example:

* Faith in a caring heavenly Father
* The comfort and direction I receive from reading the Bible
* The love of family and friends
* Health that is reasonably good
* The challenge and enjoyment of work
* The privilege of contributing to the lives of others
* The ability to meet my financial obligations
* A good night’s sleep
* Waking up to the smell of coffee and burnt toast (I like burnt
toast)
* More than my daily bread to eat
* The privilege of taking our thirteen grandchildren out to
breakfast one at a time, and learning their likes and dislikes
* Fellowship and inspiration with the people of our local church
* Finding a parking place, especially when I’m late
* Laughing enthusiastically until it hurts
* An occasional afternoon nap – “nature’s sweet restorative”
* Pruning roses in our garden or picking berries
* Reading a good book
* Listening to old songs … and remembering when …
* Watching the sun rise and then set at the close of day
* The sound of rain beating on the window pane
* Chatting with neighbors about small things

Especially, I’m thankful for the privilege and pleasure of
prayer. That, in all the experiences of life, I’m invited to, “by
prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let [my] requests be made
known to God” (Philippians 4:6).
Above and beyond everything else, I would join with Paul the
apostle in saying, “Thanks be to God” – for what? – “for His
indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15).
The worst moment for an unbeliever must be when he’s really
thankful and has no one to personally thank. But for believers, an
attitude of gratitude is a solid foundation on which to build our lives.

From Too Soon To Quit: Fifty Ways to Experience the Best that Life Has
to Offer, reprinted with permission of Dr. George Sweeting

Today’s devotional is from REAL VICTORY FOR REAL LIFE – published by
America’s KESWICK. Why not consider this as a Christmas present for your
family and friends. You can order right from our website or call the
Keswick Bookstore at 732-350-1187 ext 31.

Great quote: “The main thing we learn from a serious attempt to practice
the Christian virtues is that we fail. If there was any idea that God
had set us a sort of exam and that we might get good marks by deserving
them, that has to be wiped out. If there was any idea of a sort of
bargain-any idea that we could perform our side of the contract and thus
put God in our debt so that it was up to Him to perform His side-that
has to be wiped out.’ C S Lewis Mere Christianity

BE STILL AND KNOW

Thanksgiving has come and gone. Today is “Black Friday” – supposedly the
biggest shopping day of the year. I couldn’t believe that there were
stores that were open last night, let alone opening up at 3:00 AM this
morning to get ready for the Christmas season. The hustle and bustle has
begun.

As I thought about the craziness and fast-pace of the holidays, today’s
reading from STREAMS IN THE DESERT was so fitting …

“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

“Is there any note in all the music world as mighty as the grand pause?
Is there any word in the Psalms more eloquent than the word ‘Selah,’
meaning pause? Is there anything more thrilling and awe-inspiring than
the calm before the crashing of the storm, or the strange quiet that
seems to fall upon nature before some supernatural phenomenon or
disastrous upheaval? And is there anything that can touch our hearts
like the POWER OF STILLNESS?

For the hearts that will cease focusing on themselves, there is ‘the
peace of God, which transcends all understanding’ (Phil. 4:7),
‘quietness and trust (Isaiah 30:15), which is the source of all
strength; a ‘great peace’ that will never ‘make them stumble’ (Psalm
119:165); and a deep rest, which the world can never give or take away.
Deep within the center of the soul is a chamber of peace where God lives
and where, if we will enter it and quiet all other sounds, we can hear
His ‘gentle whisper’ (1 Kings 19:12).

Even in the fastest wheel that is turning, if you look at the center,
where the axle is found, there is no movement at all. And even in the
busiest life, there is a place where we may dwell alone with God in
eternal stillness.

There is only one way to know God: ‘Be still, and know.’ ‘The Lord is in
His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.’ (Hab. 2:20)

All-loving Father, sometimes we have walked under starless skies that
dripped darkness like drenching rain. We despaired from the lack of
light from the sun, moon, and stars. The gloomy darkness loomed above us
as if it would last forever. And from the dark, there spoke no soothing
voice to mend our broken hearts. We would gladly have welcomed even a
wild clap of thunder, if only to break the torturing stillness of that
mournfully depressing night.

Yet your soft whisper of eternal love spoke even more sweetly to our
bruised and bleeding souls than any winds that breathe across a wind
harp. It was Your ‘gentle whisper’ that spoke to us. We were listening
and we heard You, and then we looked and saw Your face, which was
radiant with the light of Your love. And when we heard Your voice and
saw Your face, new life returned to us, just as life returns to withered
blossoms that drink the summer rain.”

Good words for today.

Great quote: [God desires] not that He may say to them, “Look how mighty
I am, and go down upon your knees and worship,” for power alone was
never yet worthy of prayer; but that He may say thus: “Look, my
children, you will never be strong but with my strength. I have no other
to give you. And that you can get only by trusting in me. I cannot give
it you any other way. There is no other way.” George Macdonald

THANK GOD FOR FLEAS?

“In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:

“Corrie ten Boom in THE HIDING PLACE relates an incident that taught her
always to be thankful. She and her sister, Betsy, had just been
transferred to the worst German prison camp that they had seen yet,
Ravensbruck. On entering the barracks, they found them extremely
overcrowded and flea-infested.

That morning, their Scripture reading in 1 Thessalonians had reminded
them to give rejoice always, and give thanks in all circumstances. Betsy
told Corrie to stop and thank the Lord for their new living quarters.

Corrie at first flatly refused to give thanks for the fleas, but Betsy
persisted, and Corrie finally succumbed to her pleadings. During the
many months spent at the prison camp, they were surprised to find how
openly they could hold Bible studies and prayer meetings without guard
interference.

It was not until several months later that they learned the reason the
guards would never enter the barracks. Fleas!!!”

Has God brought ‘fleas” into your life this Thanksgiving? Maybe it’s
time to evaluate and thank God for the fleas He has brought into your
life.

I am thankful for the privilege of sharing with my Freedom Fighter
family and friends on this Thanksgiving Day. I trust that you and yours
will have a blessed day in Christ as you celebrate together. Have a
happy and blessed Thanksgiving.

Great quote: Among the many acts of gratitude we owe to God, it may be
accounted one to study and contemplate the perfections and beauties of
His work of creation. Every new discovery must necessarily raise in us a
fresh sense of the greatness, wisdom, and power of God.”
Jonathan Edwards

PRACTICAL WAYS TO THANK OTHERS

“A genuine spirit of thankfulness to God will also produce a practical
gratefulness to others. Here are some ways in which true gratefulness
can be expressed.

1. By telling them – Thank others for what they have done and for
the qualities demonstrated through their actions.
2. By writing to them – Letters should be prompt, neatly written,
and well thought out.
3. By public recognition – Tell others of the kind deeds done by
specific individuals and how your life has been benefited by those
deeds.
4. BY giving gifts to them – These gifts should be appropriate and
of value to the ones receiving them. The personal thoughtfulness behind
the gift is of greater importance than the actual gift.
5. By spending time with them – For the lonely or discouraged
quality time or a special outing would mean more than a letter or a
gift.
6. By informing them of your prayers for them – Paul routinely
began his letters by explaining how he thanked God for the believers to
whom he wrote. (See Ephesians 1:16; Colossians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:2;
and 2 Thessalonians 2:13)

So how grateful are you?

1. Do you begin each morning by thanking God for a new day?
2. Do you look for things you usually take for granted and thank
God for them?
3. Do you thank God for your health and strength?
4. Do you quickly express thanks to other people?
5. Do you rejoice in trials and tribulations?
6. Do you think of creative ways to express gratefulness to God and
others?
7. Do you look for benefits in the things that normally cause
murmuring?
8. Do you give public recognition to individuals who have helped
you?
9. Do you pray for those who have benefited you?
10. Do you thank God for your human authorities and pray for them?

Good things to consider on this day before Thanksgiving. Adapted from
THE POWER OF SUCCESS – How to Build Character in Your Life – by Bill
Gothard

Great quote: A proud man is seldom a grateful man; he never thinks he
gets as much as he deserves. – Henry Ward Beecher

WHEN SHOULD I BE MOTIVATED TO BE THANKFUL

1. When we remember His name – “It is a good thing to give thanks to the
Lord, and to sing praises to His name, O most High.” (Psalm 92:1) “By
him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually,
that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.” (Hebrews
13:15)

2. When we remember His holiness – “Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of
his, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.” (Psalm 30:4)

3. In a special time of worship during the night – “At midnight I will
rise to give thanks to You because of Your righteous judgments.” (Psalm
119:62)

4. During gatherings with other believers – “I will give You thanks in
the great congregation: I will praise You among much people.” (Psalm
35:18) “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom,
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual
songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever you
do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
to God and the Father by Him.” (Colossians 3:16-17)

5. When surrounded by evil – “Therefore I will give thanks to You, O
Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises to Your name.” (2
Samuel 22:50)

6.When your faith is put to the test – “Now when Daniel knew that the
writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open
in his chamber towards Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times
a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before His God, as he did aforetime.”
(Daniel 6:10)

7. When in need of a miracle – “Jesus took the seven loaves and fishes,
and gave thanks, and broke them, and gave them to His disciples, and the
disciples gave them to the multitude.” (Matthew 15:36)

8. When eating a meal – “And when He had spoken, he took bread, and gave
thanks to God in the presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he
began to eat.” (Acts 27:35)

9. When we see growth in another believer – “Thanks be to God, which put
the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.” (2 Corinthians
8:16)

10. When remembering the saints in prayer – “We give thanks to God
always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers.” (1
Thessalonians 1:2)

Adapted from THE POWER OF TRUE SUCCESS – HOW TO BUILD CHARACTER IN YOUR
LIFE by Bill Gothard

Great quote: Thank God for what you DO have instead of murmuring about
what you DON’T have.”

Check out today’s THINK VICTORY! Memory verse on the KESWICK website:
http://www.americaskeswick.org

GRATITUDE

” …having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and
established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing
with gratitude.” (Colossians 2:7)

“The modern world has had far too little understanding of the art of
keeping young. Its notion of progress has been to pile one thing on top
of another, without caring if each thing was crushed in turn. People
forgot that the human soul can enjoy a thing most when there is time to
think about it and be thankful for it.” G. K. Chesterton

“In everyone’s life there is much to be unhappy about, and there is much
to be grateful for. Realistically acknowledging both ends of the
spectrum is appropriate.

When we turn to look at our problems, we assess them and make a plan –
no matter how small or grand – to work on them. This plan we formulate
with our MIND and motivate with our WILL. Then we look in the other
direction at our blessings, finding our obligation for gratitude. Here
we may fully engage our EMOTIONS.

Often we send our emotions to do battle with our problems, and despair
results. Then we send our will to express our gratitude, lacking any
confirming passion whatsoever.

Of course our emotions ought to be informed about our problems; of
course our mind and our will ought to express gratitude. But we should
send out that warrior best suited for the duty. And I think there can be
little debate concerning the most appropriate assignments here.

If we can adopt such a balanced approach, we will combine a realistic
and objective involvement in working on problems with a simultaneous
assurance that there is much good in life. We’ll recognize that the
world is full of beauty, that most people are worthy of our respect and
trust, and that the affairs of suffering humans are replete with acts of
love, kindness, nobility, and sacrifice. And we’ll remember that
overseeing it all is a God who knows us well, who loves us anyway, and
who is very, very, good.

We all have within our grasp much to be thankful for. Gratitude fills.
Discontent drains. The choice is ours.

Prescription: Every day write down a specific reason you have to be
thankful and post it somewhere visible. If you wrote a different reason
each day, how long would it take before you ran out of reasons to be
grateful? Personally, I am grateful that grass is green, that we have
vision, that our vision is in color, that four-year-olds laugh once
every four minutes, that we can have an appreciation of beauty …
Furthermore I am grateful for Handel’s Messiah, for oboes, for sunsets,
for my wood burning stove, for fishing, for birds, for our capacity to
love the Scriptures … When you give thanks to God, He turns it around
and gives it to you!” from A MINUTE OF MARGIN – RESTORING BALANCE TO
BUSY LIVES by Dr. Richard Swenson

Check out today’s THINK VICTORY! Memory verse at
http://www.americaskeswick.org.

THE LUXURY OF FRUSTRATION

“Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the
nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)

“As a disciple of Jesus Christ I cannot afford the luxury of
frustration. If I lie down at the end of the day and feel at loose ends,
I am not up to my commitment. Why didn’t that letter come? Why didn’t I
telephone so-and-so? Why did I leave some things out of the interview?
Why did my talk before the group flop? And so on. In such a state I feel
cheated, robbed, dissatisfied. And there is no peace whatever.

That condition is both UNBELIEF and REBELLION. Unbelief, because if all
things are mine, as Paul said (1 Corinthians 3:21), why do I not simply
believe it and rest? And rebellion because I have quarreled with God’s
portion for me today! I must learn that I cannot gain any more than what
God has planned to give me in a given day. All the striving, yearning,
and even praying will not yield one sliver more of the blessing God has
decreed for me. My attitude ought to be: Thy will, not my will; let Your
portion come, not, give me the portion I demand. I must learn to yield,
not resist.

Nothing in heaven or earth can stop or delay the blessing that God has
reserved for YOU today. There is no ‘Delayed Blessings Office’ in God’s
economy. The word DELAY does not even appear in His vocabulary. Anything
that is delayed is simply not HIS will for me at the particular moment.
Therefore, why fret? My days may not always be characterized by
pleasureful delight, but they will always be characterized by His
specially chosen portion, which will never fail to arrive. So why should
I fear?

Yet I always seem to fear God – fearing that He will refuse to give me
what I ought to have. The result? I live miserably rather than joyfully.
God, give me a heart to accept Your portion – with JOY! I rest in this:
‘NO GOOD HING DOES HE WITHHOLD FROM THOSE WHO WALK UPRIGHTLY.’
(Psalm 84:11)” From DAILY WITH THE KING published by Moody Press

Good word for today. I know I needed it, and my guess is that someone
reading it today needed it too. Have a blessed Lord’s Day.

Great Quote: To the individual believer indwelt by the Holy Spirit there
is granted the direct impression of the Spirit of God on the spirit of
man, imparting the knowledge of His will in matters of the smallest and
greatest importance. This has to be sought and waited for. G. Campbell
Morgan