Let Go Of Baggage

CONNECTIONJune 2020 I looked at my life and I began to do some soul searching. I looked at my relationship with God, family and friends. I looked at my job and career (was I happy), I looked at my my finances (what could I be doing better).

I thought about goals accomplished and future goals to set (where I wanted to be in 6 months, 1, 5, 10, 15, 20 years from now).

I thought about things I needed to let go in order to deepen my relationship with God. And things I was doing well that I should strengthen.

In other words what is essential and what should be eliminated.

How many can relate to holding onto things in our lives far too long for various reason only to have the baggage of those things affect us for years.

Let me give you a example of what I’m talking about.

In 1988 my world changed a good friend of mine who I consider to be my brutha was murdered. It took me a long time to get over that and let that go. I was angry, bitter, I wanted revenge, I was depressed, I began to have massive anxiety attacks because he was so young and that was really the first time that I thought about mortality just 23 years of age.

That experience caused me to be in a 16 year funk. I was sick physically, mentally and emotionally. I knew I needed to let it go and get help but I held onto it and it caused me a lot of pain. I carried around the baggage of all that went along with his death and it wasn’t until June 2004 that God completely healed me.

16 years later 2020 I experience what I an others have said was an attack of the enemy. The devil was trying to take me out. My character, name, etc was under assault and I didn’t know why and I didn’t know what was happening.

I was angry, I was bitter, there was a part of me (my flesh) that didn’t want to forgive and let go. And the other part of me (my spirit) wanted to do what was right and forgive and let go. There was a war going on inside me.

I started having massive anxiety attacks. Physical, Mentally and emotionally It felt like before.

The enemy was trying to get me to give up on everything.

1. My Faith

2. Job

3. Mission

4. Life itself

As hard as that was going through, this time I was determined not to let the baggage of that experience weigh me down.

The Scripture says the thief job to bring baggage and to weigh you down to take us out.

John 10:10 says ESV “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

”‭‭It definitely took spending a lot of time with God, family, friends and counseling.

From June 2020 until now I begin to Reset my life.

I knew I had to ask God to remove some things from my heart to let some baggage go to have the abundant life Jesus is talking about in John 10:10.

Ephesians 4:31 says31 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.

‭‭Far too many of us walk around carrying heavy baggage from years of offense, Mistakes, hurt, pain, bad choices, etc.

Some of the baggage we carry around spill over into our current and future relationships and cause collateral damage.

We have to let it go.

We have to choose forgiveness and repentance in order to be kind, tenderhearted, and loving towards others.

Ephesians 4:32 says Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” To let go of an issue or concern, we must first understand what the issue concern or problem is. In the passage of scripture we read in Ephesians Paul tells us 7 things believers need to get rid of.

Bitterness, Rage, Anger, Harsh Words, Slander, Every form of malice and Unforgiveness

So here are some step in helping you identify and remove the baggage you’re carrying around.

Recognize -  Label, say the name of and own what is bothering you. Ask The Holy Spirit what the root is, when was the first time this entered my life?  Picture the incident.  Who is in the picture?  What is the lie that I believed?  What other feelings are attached? Repent -  For agreeing with/partnering with the lies/labels of the enemy; for picking up the spirit of offense.  Between you and God.  I Jn 1:9.Forgive and bless anyone that was involved, release them and pray God’s blessing over them. Keep asking the Holy Spirit is there anyone else?  Include yourself and God.

Renounce -  Tear up the contract you made with the devil.  Focus on devil.  He no longer has a legal right to mess with you.Tell him out loud that he has no right to mess with you in Jesus’ name!Kick him out and Take back the keys to your “house”- your life

Remove - Feelings, memories, attitudes, behaviors, cut all strings and emotional ties.  Disengage the feelings from the memories associated with the identified issue.This is a supernatural surgical process.Check the margins for any residue or particles left overRemove all succeeding issues held in place by the original issue. Replace - Fill up with Holy Spirit.  “Out of your belly will flow rivers of living water.”Ask for joy to return.

Rejoice - Celebrate!  Praise/Worship God!Recognize how you feel.  Pay attention to your body, feelings, etc.  There will be a shift!

Reach out -  Tell others.Rev. 12:11 You overcome the enemy by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony.Hebrews 10:12-13 You get to put each enemy under Jesus’ feet as you gain victory and choose to release it.

Bring it to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to help reveal any areas holding you back.Talk to some trusted friends and ask them to help you identify any areas of concern or blind spots you may be missing.If you don’t already have professional counselors, advisers or mentors in your life then find one. The Bible is very much for trusted advisors and counselors in our lives.

Proverbs 11:14 says where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

Proverbs 19:20 says listen to advice and except instruction, and in the end you will be wise.

WHAT ARE SOME OTHER WAYS YOU CAN IDENTIFY BAGGAGE IN YOUR LIFE? BRING IT TO THE LIGHT

Once you’ve identified areas of baggage the next step is to do something about it to get rid of it to let it go.

But thank God that His planned for you and I is much bigger than just letting our baggage go and being done with it. He’s interested in healing, restoring, and seeing us walk in total freedom. Abundant Life. Listen to these words from the apostle John in1 John 1:6-9 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his son, purifies us from all sin. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. In Colossians the apostle Paul says that you have been rescued from the dominion of darkness that you and I share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. (Colossians 1:12-13 Things like bitterness, anger, malice, slander, unforgiveness are the fruit of this world or this world culture not God’s Kingdom or culture which is light. As believers, it’s important for us to regularly evaluate ourselves and consider the fruit we are producing. Psalm‬ ‭139:23-24‬ ‭ESV“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”‭‭When we identify and recognize rotten fruit a.k.a. baggage in our lives we should bring it to the light. Confess and ask forgiveness or in some cases extend forgiveness to others. And God who is faithful and just forgives and purifies. I know this all sounds amazing and wonderful. Who doesn’t want to walk in the freedom of the light, free frombaggage. So what do you do when the baggage is too big, too heavy, too difficult to work through. Think of some things from Pastor Debbie