Day 15~ " Avoid Excess Baggage"~ Time to Unpack your Bags!

Good afternoon! I have been excited to share this devotional with you today. We are gearing into day 15 with our devotional reading and reflection based on Joyce Meyer's "100 ways to simplify your life."

Day 15~ Avoid Excess Baggage

" Your body is the baggage you must carry through life. The more excess baggage, the shorter the trip." ~ Arnold H. Glasgow

Let's read 1 Peter 5:8, " Be well balanced [ temperate, sober of mind], be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [ in fierce hunger]seeking someone to seize upon and devour.

Carrying a Heavy Load

In 2009, I was feeling like I was going backwards in my spiritual life. You know that feeling of spinning your tires and going no where's. During my devotional time, I read through a devotional provided by Proverbs31 Ministry that stated that there are times God places us back into "tents."  He had taught me something long ago but I needed to relearn it. I sat there for a moment, I asked God, "Why am I going backwards?" He spoke these words:

1. To remember who He was and always will be

2.Protection

3.Guidance

4.Strip me to focus on Him

5.Reclaim His love again

6. Reflect on His blessings

7. Trusting Him in this new direction

8. Setting forth His will for my life

9. Full circle

After writing down this list, I asked God again, " How am I going to accomplish this?" I was beginning to move out of tents but my baggage was growing heavier and heavier. In 2010, God spoke to me, " Stop turn around." My eyes fell to Deut. 2:3" You have made your way around this hill country long enough; now turn north."Have you ever tried packing your bag for a trip with a child who keeps removing or throwing more in the suitcase? God whispered, " Time to unpack your baggage." Self-pity and opinions of others fell out first. There was more I didn't want to remove. 

Reflection ~God Provides

(Ex. 16:4), "Then the LORD said to Moses,'I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.'"

God provided manna for the Children of Israel. But they continued to whine, cry and complain. We fall easily in that trap that the devil likes to play. The unbalanced  life is his playground. I was allowing him a field day with every time I cried, complained or whined when things fell apart or wasn't feeling like it. God spoke, " I am providing you an oasis along this journey, but you need to stop being angry." One of those oasis, was a bible study, "One in a Million," with another church that showed I needed deliverance of being independent  and learning how to fully rely on God more. Looking back, God also provided another oasis in 2012 when I started college with University of Phoenix. God provided an oasis of a best friend and more friends like family. I still was carrying a heavy load called anger with a hurtful situation. I asked God, " Why now?" He whispered, "To take you to the promise land I have for you." I cried, " I can't forgive him." God said, " You must, because its keeping you from my blessings I have for you." (2 Peter 1:4) "Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."Today I ask that you to trust God and unpack your baggage. The lighter the load the easier the journey is.