Starting Fresh for the New Year
What hinders you?
What prevents you from running well?
Hebrews 12:1-2 English Standard Version (ESV)
12 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,
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Lay Aside Every Weight (anything that hinders… creates difficulties, slows you down, obstructs)
- Lay Aside Sin
- Run with Endurance
- Eyes on Jesus
Galatians 5:7-9 The Passion Translation (TPT)
7 Before you were led astray, you were so faithful to Messiah. Why have you now turned away from what is right and true? Who has deceived you?
8 The One who enfolded you into his grace is not behind this false teaching that you’ve embraced. Not at all! 9 Don’t you know that when you allow even a little lie into your heart, it can permeate your entire belief system?
[[Listen to Truth]]
1 Peter 2:1-12 The Passion Translation (TPT)
1 So abandon every form of evil, deceit, hypocrisy, feelings of jealousy and slander.
[[CRAVE MILK]]… Sanctify by the Truth – Your word is truth – John 17:19
2 In the same way that nursing infants cry for milk, you must intensely crave the pure spiritual milk of God’s Word. For this “milk” will cause you to grow into maturity, fully nourished and strong for life— 3 especially now that you have had a taste of the goodness of the Lord Jehovah and have experienced his kindness.
[[KEEP COMING TO THE ROCK]]
4 So keep coming to him who is the Living Stone—though he was rejected and discarded by men but chosen by God and is priceless in God’s sight.
5 Come and be his “living stones” who are continually being assembled into a sanctuary for God. For now you serve as holy priests, offering up spiritual sacrifices that he readily accepts through Jesus Christ.
6 For it says in Scripture: Look! I lay a cornerstone in Zion, a chosen and priceless stone! And whoever believes in him will certainly not be disappointed.
7 As believers you know his great worth—indeed, his preciousness is imparted to you. But for those who do not believe: The stone that the builders rejected and discarded has now become the cornerstone
8 And a stone that makes them stumble and a rock to trip over. They keep stumbling over the message because they refuse to believe it. And this they were destined to do.
[[EXPERIENCE HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT]]
[[SHARE HIS GLORIOUS WONDERS]]
9 But you are God’s chosen treasure—priests who are kings, a spiritual “nation” set apart as God’s devoted ones. He called you out of darkness to experience his marvelous light, and now he claims you as his very own. He did this so that you would broadcast his glorious wonders throughout the world.
10 For at one time you were not God’s people, but now you are. At one time you knew nothing of God’s mercy, because you hadn’t received it yet, but now you are drenched with it!
11 My divinely loved friends, since you are resident aliens and foreigners in this world, I appeal to you to divorce yourselves from the evil desires that wage war within you.
12 Live honorable lives as you mix with unbelievers, even though they accuse you of being evildoers. For they will see your beautiful works and have a reason to glorify God in the day he visits us.
Tania Gutekunst 