Powerlifting is certainly my favourite activity at the moment. I really enjoy challenging my body to lift more and more. I particularly enjoy the dead lift (this is where you lift the bar from the ground to your waist in one fluid motion and then put it back down again). This exercise places a huge strain on the lower back, core muscles and the shoulders therefore at heavier weights I need to wear a large thick leather belt around my waist to prevent serious injury. Recently I achieved my best lift ever at 290 kilo (638 lbs or 45 and a half stone in old money for my Irish readers). It sounds like a lot (because it is) but the world record is currently (for my age and weight group) 305 kilo – so I have a way to go yet!

Interestingly although I can physically lift a lot of weight I cannot bear the burden of my sins. My sins are more than I could ever hope to lift. Indeed if I even begin to contemplate the sinfulness in my life, the burden of it pulls me down into despair. Are you burdened by sin? Is despair seeking to drag you down? Remember this beautiful verse:

1Pe 2:24  Christ carried the burden of our sins. He was nailed to the cross, so that we would stop sinning and start living right. By his cuts and bruises you are healed.

Not one of us can carry his own sin burden, it is simply beyond our human capabilities – Christ our Saviour is the only one strong enough to lift that burden!