Pacifiers. 

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I have a daycare and one little girl in my care is quite fond of her “nook.” On a typical busy morning, I sat her in her high chair. I took out her nook and gave her the finger foods she loves while I prepared breakfast for the other children. A few minutes later I heard frustrated whining from her. I looked at her plate expecting it to be empty due to the sound of the whine, but it hadn’t been touched. I looked at her and realized she had stuck her pacifier back in her mouth. And while usually the pacifier provided comfort, what she really needed was food so she was in an uncomfortable predicament.

I chuckled to myself because although it was a silly thing for her to do I thought about how often I do the same. In the natural that sweet baby was getting frustrated because she needed and wanted the food, but was unwilling to give up her pacifier. In the spiritual it is the same story. We need and want a move of God in our lives or desire to be closer to Him, yet we still hold on to the things that pacify us.

If we want to run the race that is before us effectively we must lay aside any weight. Not just sins, but also the weights that slow us down. It is easy to cling to the things that pacify and lull us, but when we do we stunt our own spiritual growth and slow our own pace.

Lord, today open my eyes to the things that are hindering my race in any way. Give me the strength to lay them down and continue the race you have set before me.