Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. . . Hebrews 12:1
Yesterday morning as I was drinking my morning cup of coffee and talking with my mom on the phone, I looked out the front window only to see my one dog going over to the Landscaping business next door. I put my coffee down and went to run out to call him back. But that’s when it happened, I literally hit the front door running. I flew head first into the door, hitting it with my forehead right above my eye, jammed my fingers and landed on my knee. I was stunned for a moment. Then when I tried to open the door but the force of my body got it stuck. Finally I got it open, but by that time, he was down the embankment so I yelled as loud as I could and he came back down into the field.
When I started to talk, my mom asked what happened. When I told her I hit my forehead and I thought I was going to have a black eye, and that I needed ice, she prayed for me and said to go take care of it. I immediately began to pray thank him that I didn’t have my glasses on and that I was ok, because the way I hit the door, I really could have been hurt bad. As I put the ice on my forehead and hand I began to pray in the Spirit and thanking Jesus for the provision He made for my healing and protection and I was receiving it as I was speaking. A half hour later as I checked my head I also noticed I split my nose open, so I also iced that. And within a few minutes there was no pain, no swelling, no discolor of any kind. And once again I was praising and thanking God.
When I called my mom to tell her I was ok, she asked what happened. I had on one of my favorite cozy pair of pajamas. But they had gotten too big for me and as I was running to the door they were slipping down and my left foot got caught in my right pants leg and I went airborne. It made me think of today’s scripture about becoming encumbered and entangled in the the things of this world and sin. Just like me yesterday, we get comfortable and we don’t want to give some things up, even though we may have “outgrown” them. We can’t see the harm or destruction they hold. But then, something happens and find they tripped us up and we get disappointed, betrayed, and hurt. When that happens, Jesus is waiting to meet us where we are, to pick us up and help, heal and restore us. Even though it all could have been avoided by keeping ourselves from being encumbered and entangled in the first place.
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