Devotion

“Use me, God. Show me how to take who I am, who I want to be, and what I can do, and use it for a purpose greater than myself.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (African American Minister and Civil Rights Activist) 1929-1968

Unload the Baggage
(Romans 8:28) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

I recently did a self-improvement exercise that required me to write about a painful experience from my past. After putting it down on paper, I had to take out everything that had no direct connection to the cause and effect of my pain. Next, seeing the specifics of my experience more clearly, I had to write about what God did for me through the pain. Lastly, I had to reflect on what I had written and answer this question: “Why, after all this time, the memory of my pain is more vivid than the blessings God provided me through the pain?” My answer was one that most of us can relate to if we are honest with ourselves. That is, we choose to hold on to the pain in our experiences versus holding onto the victory of Christ that delivered us through the pain. That’s how we accumulate emotional baggage. We need to unload it so we can see the good things God has done and is doing in our lives. The good we own is meant for us to use for even greater purposes beyond ourselves. If we desire God to use us, let’s unload our baggage and free up room, so we can provide effective Kingdom service to the world.