The Bag Lady

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It's inevitable, living in a fallen world, that we end up lugging around "baggage," but after time those bags get heavy and burdensome. They cause severe physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental damage.

Release those bags!! How?

1. Forgive. We need to forgive our offenders and let them go. The inability to forgive will drag us down, cause health problems, and rob us of the freedom that God has so graciously given. The load is much too heavy for anyone to carry.

I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.' Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father." When their message came to him, Joseph wept. 

Genesis 50:17

2. Repent. Ask God to reveal sin that is holding you down. As the Holy Spirit reveals and convicts, confess, repent, and turn from the sin. It is liberating to expose oneself before God and it removes the enemy's firm grip on our lives.

"The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins," declares the LORD.

Isaiah 59:20

3. Pray. Sisters, we desperately need to stay low when affliction and pain threaten to overshadow God's divine plan in our lives. We see in the Psalms how David continually prayed for God's comfort and presence.

I'm always comforted by the fact that David didn't linger in despair, but poured out his petitions and supplications before the Lord ending with praise and a renewed spirit.

Why are you crushed down, O my soul? and why are you troubled in me? put your hope in God; for I will again give him praise who is my help and my God.

Psalm 42:5

4. Read and Study God's Word. There is life, revelation, healing, wisdom, and power in God's word. If your schedule is as busy as mine, there are wonderful Bible recordings you can easily download onto your iPod, MP3, or other device. Listen to the Word while washing dishes, cleaning, or taking a drive to the supermarket.

He sent his word and made them well, and kept them safe from the underworld.

Psalm 107:20

5. Music. I highly encourage you to listen to music that enhances your time with the Lord. Music with lyrics that honor and praise God is powerful. Meditate on the words and allow the Spirit of God to heal and renew areas that are broken. Enter into His presence with thanksgiving and praise. Lift up your hands and applaud the One who is able to do exceedingly more than you can ever imagine.

And Miriam, the woman prophet, the sister of Aaron, took an instrument of music in her hand; and all the women went after her with music and dances.

Exodus 15:20

6. Thanksgiving. There are books you read and then there are books that change your life. The stories within books inspire, quicken, and shape your perspective on politics, religion, parenting, money, marriage, and love.

Ann Voskamp's, "One Thousand Gifts," changed my life. Part of my devotional routine is jotting down three things I am grateful for in my gratitude journal. It's extremely difficult to stay angry and imprisoned when you are continually giving thanks.

What strategies have You used to release those bags? What good tips have you heard lately that you are willing to share to help ladies in need of healing?


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