5-Day Devotional - Day Four

A Storybook Christmas: Part Five Shannon Haltom Day 4: Laying Down the Weight Devotional Athletes know that extra weight slows them down. That's why runners train with lightweight gear and remove anything that might hinder their performance. The Christian life is similar. We're called to run a race, but many of us are trying to sprint while carrying unnecessary burdens. What's in your emotional backpack? Perhaps it's the weight of perfectionism, the burden of control, or the stress of trying to manage outcomes that belong to God. It could be the heaviness of comparison as you measure your life against others. Perhaps it's the load of past mistakes you've never truly released. The beautiful truth is that Jesus doesn't want you to carry these weights. He invites you to lay them down at His feet. This isn't becoming irresponsible or careless—it's about distinguishing what's yours to carry and what belongs to God. When you release these burdens, you'll discover a freedom that enables you to run your race with endurance and joy. Today is a perfect day to start unpacking. Bible Verse “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” –Hebrews 12:1 Reflection Question What specific burdens have you been carrying, that God is inviting you to lay down? What fears are keeping you from releasing them? Quote “Throw off those emotional backpacks. Don’t carry them from this season into the next.” Prayer Lord, help me identify what I need to release, and give me courage to lay these weights at Your feet. Teach me to run freely in the race You've set before me. In Jesus’s name, amen.