Please enjoy these short devotionals. May we both continue to grow in love, knowledge, and living the Truth of Jesus. To God be the glory!
CARRY-ON LUGGAGE
I am always envious of those who glide through an airport with only one small carry-on bag. They make traveling look extraordinarily easy and effortless. Their shoulders don’t sag or ache from schlepping heavy computer bags, purses, duffel bags, golf bags, or guitars. They aren’t fighting a straying, sticky wheel on an overflowing, teetering luggage cart. Their airport footprint is small.
How I use to travel . . .
How I want to travel . . .
Travelers with only a small carry-on can easily store the lightweight bag in an overhead compartment of a crowded plane with no pushing, pulling, or praying it will fit. They don’t have to fear that flight attendants will reject and flag their luggage sending it to the baggage area to fly anywhere besides their destination. The idea of extra baggage fees don’t even exist to these carefree fliers.
I imagine what is in those passenger’s miniature suitcases and what is not. I’m confident they didn’t pack five pairs of shoes to match five different outfits. I am sure they didn’t pack a flashlight, extra coat, towels, books, first aid kit, or coffee maker. I visualize them packing only the essentials, minimizing their well-thought-out selections.
I am inspired by these uncluttered travelers. They give me goals.
I want to declutter my spiritual life, as well. I want to leave burdensome, unnecessary trunks of wrong decisions, wrong thinking, worry, stress, and anxiety behind. I no longer want to travel through life with recurring memories that are already forgiven. I want to leave behind names I’ve been called, what others have spoken negatively over me. They only weigh me down, tire me out, exhaust me and leave me sore, aching for relief. They are nonessential for my journey in Jesus.
I have found in my travels, it’s not what I bring with me or what souvenirs I bring home. It’s not about what I have forgotten or left behind. It’s about who I have traveled with that makes all the difference. The best traveling companion by far is our loving Lord.
He takes those heavy, burdensome bags from us. He paid their extra fees at the cross. He replaces them with forgiveness, joy, peace, love, encouragement and strength. Most importantly, He is available.
Give your burdens to the LORD, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. – Psalm 55:2 NLT
Father God, show us the unnecessary baggage we carry in our minds and hearts that we can travel through life lighter, unburdened in You. Amen.