Luggage in Our Lives

We all can look around in our closets, garages or attics and find that we may many or few pieces of luggage for various trips we may take overnight or lengthy as they might be. They are stored somewhere in our possessions, not always accessed but we have them and continue to move them from place to place wherever we may go. I once shared the story of “bringing luggage to a marriage” like past relationships or even mishaps in our lives that we would rather not bring back up. Visualizations of looking down the isle seeing our mate and having to take each step down the alter toting our “bags of the past” whatever they may be. Once, in my Sunday School Class, I was presented a whole new visualization of how we can have other types of “luggage” in our lives that can prevent us from having the relationship with God that He actually wants each of us to share. Potential luggage that we may harbor that affects our relationship with our Heavenly Father are such as: A Suitcase of Guilt A Duffle Bag of Weariness A Backpack of Doubts A Sack of Discontent A Bag of Grief An Overnight Bag of Loneliness Or we may be pushing a Trunk of Fears All of the above “Bags” that we may harbor are all addressed in Psalms 23. The Lord is my shepherd (Relationship with Him) I shall not want (He will Supply). He makes me to lie down in green pastures (Rest). He leads me besides the still waters (Refreshment)He restores my soul (Healing). He leads me in the paths of righteousness (Guidance) For His name’s sake (Purpose). Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (Testing) I will fear no evil (His Protection). For you are with me (His Faithfulness) Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me (Discipline). You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies (Hope). You anoint my head with oil (Consecration/) My cup runs over (Abundance) and surely goodness and mercy shall follow me (Blessings) all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord (Security) Forever (Eternity.) So does He not make all the promises in Psalms 23 to cover us not carry around all the “labeled” luggage in our life? So why do we carry around all this luggage when God has made us His promises to carry our load? Why are we not traveling more lightly? Why is it that it take Airlines to begin charging us $25 - $50 for checking luggage to get us to “travel lite” but we seem to not “get the message” from the MESSAGE in the luggage in our lives? I don’t know about you, but I must continue to make an effort in reminding myself…TRAVEL LITE! May each of you never look at your luggage the same way again! (( hugs until next time!!!))