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It can be hard to move forward in life if you are constantly carrying around your past. The weight of your past mistakes, misspoken words, pain of disappointment and even regret can become overwhelming.
Why is it so hard to leave it all behind?
Do we enjoy carrying the pain around?
Do you think you deserve to be reminded of your past mistakes?
When my son was almost four years old he began to ask about having a relationship with Jesus. It was around Easter time and his preschool was talking a lot about the real meaning of Easter not the bunny. I was hesitant to walk him through the steps of accepting Christ because I worried he was too young. I did not want him to miss the impact due to his age.
Thanks to Google and so help from a few children’s pastors we ended up staging two cups of water to represent life before and after inviting Jesus into your heart. The first cup had dirt in it and the second was clean. Before we accept Christ we are covered in sin (or dirt) and after we accept Him we are washed clean. To this day my almost eleven year old remembers the day he prayed the prayer.
I am still amazed at how quickly he let’s go of things when he messes up or when he gets in trouble. He is quick to ask for forgiveness and even quicker to accept it when we have misstepped as parents. He reminds me daily what it is to let things go and move forward with no record of wrong.
So, why is it so hard for me (and maybe you) to leave our baggage at the foot of the cross?
Why do we struggle to fully embrace His love and forgiveness for us and our lives?
Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders— he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out. -Psalm 55:22 The Message
God never intended us to carry our baggage around with us everyday. Instead He continually tells us He can handle the burden and pressure. He is BIG enough to take away the sin and pain. But, we must be willing to leave it with Him. We must be brave enough to accept His love and forgiveness for our lives. Then we must be braver to forgive ourselves and move forward NEVER looking back.
God, you did everything you promised, and I’m thanking you with all my heart. You pulled me from the brink of death, my feet from the cliff-edge of doom. Now I stroll at leisure with God in the sunlit fields of life. -Psalm 56:12-12 The Message
Don’t you want to stroll at leisure with God in the sunlight?
Don’t you want to fully embrace His love and forgiveness?
Drop your bags and leave them at the foot of the cross. Allow God to deal with your past mistakes, sin and pain. Let Him shoulder it all for you.
Do you trust Him with it?
Are you ready to move forward never looking back?
Father God we thank You that You are strong enough and love us enough to take on our sin and pain. Give us the strength and courage to leave all our baggage at the foot of the cross. Help us to walk away and move boldly through our day with You. Help us to shine bright for those still struggling to move past the weight that is bogging them down in life. May we be able to bring them closer to You and closer to the freedom relationship with You will bring them today and forever. Amen.
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