TODAYS JOURNEY ... Have you ever walked around with too much baggage? Not the kind of baggage you stow in the overhead compartment or squash under the seat in front of you while traveling. NO! This is the kind of baggage that weighs your heart down and that, if carried around, leaves you emotionally and spiritually exhausted. It could be an unexpected attack from a trusted friend, spouse or a dear family member that will leave you deeply upset and really confused about how to respond. Feeling betrayed and unjustly wronged, we can make up a long list of possible responses ... the kind that seem very natural to our fallen heart. BUT... they were the types of choices that were wrapped in the old revenge, self-protection, and “I don’t get mad, I just get even” kind of stuff. So as the get even possibility quickly turns in to hurt, then we run to our Heavenly Father for His expert opinion and ask Him for His Wisdom ... knowing He brought this into your life for a purpose, but not knowing what to do next. Our natural thoughts and desires to fight back and demand our rights were replaced with Jesus’ instruction to “turn the other cheek,” to “go the extra mile,” to “bless those who curse me” (Matthew 5:38-48). Of course, our human nature will continue to argue for a while. “But, God, I’ll feel so weak. I’ll feel like a pushover, a weakling. I need to fight for myself.” The reality is, our pride wants to keep the baggage. Our ego wants to hang on to the situation and try to deal with it through human, natural, flawed means. Trusting the Lord’s wisdom would mean that we no longer had control of the situation. But God in His grace reminds us of the surrender of Christ on the cross. He draws us to the fact that, for Jesus, the path to glory was the path of surrender and letting go. The One who is the Lion of Judah is also the Lamb that was slain. And God draws us to that point of decision once again. Are we going to manage this situation to our advantage or are we going to release it, in trust and obedience, to Him? As Isaiah 40:28 reminds us, God never grows weary. His wisdom never runs out. His power, His might, and His truth are available and accessible to His children. You don’t need to walk another step with that load of fear, guilt, anger, bitterness, or confusion. Check your carry-on baggage. Surrender it to Him and then seek His wisdom to strengthen and direct you. It makes the journey so much more enjoyable! Make a quick list of some of the problems and conflicts that have surfaced in your life. How much of your time and energy is spent in dealing with these issues? How has your emotional and spiritual health been affected by the weight of these issues? How about your physical health? What fears surface when you think about giving up control of those situations? Why is it tempting to hang on to them? Take a few minutes in prayer to release those situations, one by one, to God’s control. Then humbly ask the Lord to fill you with His truth and wisdom. As you move through the rest of your day, wait on the Lord. Instead of rushing ahead to your own solutions for each situation, practice the skill of waiting for Him to give you direction. Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV 1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Posted on: Mon, 07 Apr 2014 14:38:15 +0000
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