The Purpose of the Baggage
How to let go of emotional baggage
Is the baggage of the residue of the old man, the old man has been crucified on the cross, from living here, is that baggage and residue Satan’s stronghold to keep you miserable or God’s stronghold to keep you near? Wouldn’t that bring peace?
Paul would have loved to have the baggage removed. The Lord had given Paul a new life. If the Lord had gotten rid of the baggage, then Paul would probably have thought we could serve the Lord perfectly.”
If the Lord removes our baggage, we will probably close the door to the Lord’s life. Then, the Lord cannot be expressed through us. We would not get miserable so that we would turn back to the Lord; we would become independent of our own abilities instead of dependent on the Lord.
We would have operated in our own strength instead of the Lord’s. So, some baggage is left there, so when we close the door (independent from the Lord, relying on our abilities and flesh habits), each day walking away from the Lord is like each day walking in more mud until we cannot take it anymore so we will turn around and come back to the Lord. Then, the Lord will open the door, and the Lord flows through me, and none of it (the baggage) bothers you. Then, I can boast about my weaknesses. Because of my weakness, I was drawn near to him every day.
What is your baggage? Is it insecurity, worthlessness, rejection, and sickness? Do you let those hold you back, or do you use these to step out and let God move through you?
Are you still trusting in the dead old man who was crucified on the cross, and is it giving you trouble? Is that why you are having anxiety in your life? You have been crucified in Christ and given a new nature. You cannot crucify yourself. The Lord did that, and now He says to take up the cross and deny yourself. Your flesh will never improve. When my focus is on His strongholds in my life, it gives me a moment-by-moment life.
Yes, the Lord can remove strongholds in our lives, but he leaves some to keep us dependent on Him. So that we can do ALL things through Him and He is exalted.
I Corinthians 12:5-10 “Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself, I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone think of me above what he sees or hears from me. 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
8Concerning this thing, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He told me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."
Therefore, I will gladly boast in my infirmities so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, reproaches, needs, persecutions, and distresses for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
We try to feed our souls on the things outside of him. Instead of the wisdom of God, my mind gets knowledge, instead of his will I get my will. Instead of peace from God, I end up with roller-coaster emotions.
Why was Jesus in the Wilderness? By going into the wilderness, the soul gets cut off from everything familiar from every outside source. There is no possibility of getting food out there. So, for 40 days and 40 nights, the soul feeds on the spirit of God. His mind was so full of the wisdom of God … After 40 days of feeding in the wilderness, Satan came to tempt him.
God has driven everyone into the wilderness so that we can have an opportunity to get stuffed.
The unholy trinity called sin and Satan and the world. There’s natural desire that lives in my body, there is sickness that lives in me. I have a mind full of emotions, full of things I wish were not full of. We have circumstances we cannot control.
by: Traci Morin
.jpg "Walking in Wisdom")
