Category: Devotions

A No Carry-On Policy

 

"Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken."  Psalm 55:22

 

I had every intention of writing this on New Year's Eve, but I feel like this is still relevant, especially at the helm of the new year.  Many of you know that I traveled frequently for my work in the past.  I got to the point that I never checked my luggage, carrying all I needed in my carry-on luggage.  I'll tell you that I got stronger from all that heavy lifting, because if you know me, I always overpack…slightly lol!  Even now when I travel personally, I try to limit my bags to a carry-on to avoid paying that ridiculous fee.  Besides its much more convenient to travel light anyway.

 

But as I reflected on the things I desired for this new year of life, I decided that I would instead do the opposite.  I wrote a post on Facebook and let everyone know that I'm grateful to God that we do not have to carry things over into the new year.  In fact, you do not have to carry things over to the next week, next day, next hour, or the next moment.  God desires to carry our burdens and anxieties for us.  Life would have us think that we must carry the burdens of life all by ourselves and try to right the wrongs of life in our own power.  But if you do not know it already, it is IMPOSSIBLE.  We were not equipped to carry all that pressure.

 

Worrying and doubting are the products that cause us to believe the lie that we can fix things in our own power.  The world would have you to believe that all you need is a self-help book, a massage or spa day, and viola! life as you know it is fixed.  But those things, regardless of the temporary pleasure, cannot hold a candle to truly submitting your prayers, issues, and will to the leading of God.  God is the only one that has the power to alleviate that pressure by carrying you through the difficulty.  So for 2012, I suggest you adopt a no carry-on policy: no more carrying hurt, bitterness, defeat, unforgiveness, hatred, self-pity, doubt, worry, anxiety…anything that you have been holding on to, leave it at the gate as God prepares to take you to the next phase of blessings and favor in your life.

 

"Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established."  Proverbs 16:3

Rounding the Curb

 

No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. 1 John 3:9 ESV

 

I remember it like it was yesterday.  It was sometime in July of 2004, maybe the last weekend or so.  I was in the UC Davis Physics Dept's summer research program and one of our field trips was to the Lick Observatory outside of San Jose, CA.  I particularly remember the drive up to the observatory.  I must say it was one of the worst experiences in my life.  Don't get me wrong, my professor could drive very well, I was just petrified.  I tried going to sleep but I thought to myself if I was gonna die I wanted to see it coming smh.  Imagine making hairpin turns on the side of a mountain with no guard rails.  The link is below that shows the road and you can zoom in if you like.  Nothing but dirt, trees, grass and God knows what else would be on the roll down the hill.  I mean, think about this now, the turns on this gravel road up the mountain looked like hairpins.  We would go around the curves at only 20-30 mph.  Of course, when we finally got through to the top, we had beautiful sights of the moon and stars and other planets awaiting us.  (This within itself is another devotion, lol.)  Then we also had the drive back down the mountain…yeesh.

 

This calls you to action in the following ways:

1-identifying strongholds and ways you have that oppose your progress.  When God opens your eyes and shows you an area you need to submit to him, you need to pray for the strength to overcome it and for deliverance.

2-seek God's will for yourself.  This is something you must do on a daily basis.  It is easy to get off track and to want to do things your own way.  Its not usually a major detour that gets you way off course.  Instead its the side roads that you accidentally or sometimes intentionally turn down that lead you off track and away from God.

3-submit to God's leading on the journey.  The only way you'll get there is to let Him lead you.  You have to realize that God has already empowered and equipped you with everything you need to get to your destination.  You are already strong enough–you will experience situations that show you just how strong you really are when you are operating in the power of God (through faith).  You already have enough faith (Romans 12:3). 

 

Now you all may not have experienced the road I experienced physically, but God will call you to make that 180 and turn around and away from where you were going.  He will tell you to turn towards Him so that He can use your life as He desires ONLY if you are listening and willing to be used.  Is it time for you to round the curb and get on your straightway?

 

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Psalm 51:10 ESV

 

Satellite image of the ride lol:

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=san+jose+to+lick+observatory&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1280&bih=851&wrapid=tljp1324332733362026&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=x7bvTvT1Morf0QG8nKT0CQ&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=3&sqi=2&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAg
—
"No weapon formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of God and their righteousness is of me," says the Lord.  Isaiah 54:17
http://lifeinspiredbygod.blogspot.com/