..be transformed by the renewing of your mind

” The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” Psalms 19:1

*I was feeling very sick, giddy and moody today. So sick, went to GP this morning got 2 days of mc. Missed church. This night at about 9pm, after reading 2 chapters from Jeremiah, and one from a daily bible study guide of the Luke Gospel, I prayed to God to help me in my situation. I told him all my feelings and everything. Then I intended to take a book that was stacked on my table on the side to keep it away, the book called “Your Best Life Now” by Joel Osteen.  I was planning to put it away. Then I just opened to this page, where the chapter is on “Baggage Draggers”. I read it, and it is so very appropriate for my situation now, that I’m amazed. I think this can be God’s way of telling me something. But I guess I should just share this chapter here. After reading it, I’m amazed that it really speaks to me so closely. Then when I closed the book, I couldn’t find that particular chapter anymore as the book doesn’t have a contents page. It took me a while to find back the page by flipping it through slowly.*

Thanks, Joel Osteen…

Name of book : Your Best Life Now

Title of the chapter: Baggage Draggers

Scripture reading: Hebrews 12:1 -15

Hebrews 12

God Disciplines His Sons

 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

 4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
   ”My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
      and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
 6because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
      and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”^[a]

 7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

 12Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13“Make level paths for your feet,”^[b] so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

Warning Against Refusing God

 14Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

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Joel’s words:

Many people wonder why they’re not happy. Often, it’s because they are dragging around all sorts of baggage from the past. Somebody offended them last week, so they have packed that pain in their bag. A month ago they lost their temper, said some things they shouldn’t have, and they have that stuffed in their bag, too. Ten years ago, a loved one died and they just don’t understand why. They’ve got that anger and doubt stashed in still another bag. Growing up, they weren’t treated right. They’ve got that suitcase full of junk, too. They’ve been carrying these heavy bags for years; they are loaded down by their collection of burdens, and then they wonder why they can’t live a rich, full life!

 Worse yet, they drag their baggage with them everywhere they go. Not only do they hold on to their baggage, but they like to unpack it every once in a while, just to make sure it’s all still there. They take some things out and look at them, and relive all that hurt and pain. Then they pack it up again and drag it someplace else!

………………………………………………….. If you hold on to the hurts and pains of the past, they will poison you wherever you go. You may think that other people are the problem, but I want to encourage you to examine your own heart. Look on the inside, because you may very well find out that you  are the problem. Maybe you’ve been a baggage dragger. And you can’t drag around baggage from the past and expect to have good, healthy relationships.

God didn’t create us to carry around all the baggage from the past. In fact, He says,” Lay aside every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangle us.” In other words, let it go. You do not have to live depressed and discouraged because of what you’ve gone through. Maybe you’ve been holding on to painful memories or attitudes that have been keeping you bitter, discouraged, emotionally worn out, physically run down, depleted of energy and enthusiasm, and living in self-pity. Sadly, your situation will not change until you put your foot down and make a decision to do something about it. Say, ” No, I’m not going to be a prisoner of my past anymore. I have had enough. I’m going to get rid of all this baggage. I’m going to stop focusing on my disappointments. I’m moving on with my life, knowing that God has good things in store.” If you’ll develop that kind of attitude, God will give you a new beginning. You’ll see things improve.

If somebody hurt you, give that to God and He’ll pay you back. He will make it up to you. Quit dwelling on your disappointments. Quit mourning over something that’s over and done. Don’t make the mistake of dragging the pains of yesterday over into today. Stop sitting around feeling sorry for yourself. If you continue to wallow in despair, not only will you stay stuck in the past, but you will sink deeper and deeper.

Friend, God is bigger than your past. He’s bigger than your disappointments. He’s bigger than your problems. You may have made a lot of mistakes, but God can turn those things all around. People may have hurt you and done you wrong, but if you’ll leave it up to God, He’ll pay you back. He’ll make your wrongs right. Get rid of that baggage and start focusing on your possibilities. Let hope fill your heart. Your future can start today. No matter what you’ve been through, no matter how difficult it was, God is saying there are great days ahead for you. He still has good things in store.

Today’s prayer for Your Best Life Now

God, I’m dropping my baggage from the past right here. I’m letting go of it and giving it to You. I don’t want to drag it along with me any longer. Thank you for taking this heavy load off my heart.

*Though, I’ve not told any friends about my this problem, but God is my best friend. He is always able to comfort and counsel me in the way that is right, to turn my crooked mind straight.  Right now, I’m still a little stubborn of holding on to something, but just like what God says, leave aside every encumbrance and sin that so easily entangles…… Sometimes it just feel good to wallow in despair, but I need to learn to leave it aside… I wonder how long it’ll take…..  I really don’t want to be a hypocrite. I want to be real. *