“One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. “Take nothing for your journey,” he instructed them. “Don’t take a walking stick, a traveler’s bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes.”
Luke 9:1-3 NLT
LEARNING TO TRAVEL LIGHT
A couple of months ago we took a well-needed vacation. I’m travelling all the time for speaking engagements but it’s just not the same as taking a vacation.
No matter how hard I try, I never have enough room in my luggage for everything I want to bring. As usual, my suitcase was overfull so I had to put stuff in Todd’s suitcase and in Brandon’s. On our mission’s trip to Guatemala it was no different. I had stuff in Todd’s suitcase. If there’s a course on Learning to Travel Light I need to sign up!
The gospels record how Jesus told the disciples to pack for their mission trip. Jesus sends the disciples out without luggage, “not even a change of clothes” Luke says! I’m not sure I would cut it on one of Jesus’ mission’s trips??? All joking aside, I don’t think Jesus really cares about how stuffed our suitcases are.
In this Scripture, He’s trying to teach the disciples and us that we don’t need anything more than his authority and power when we go out to reach people for Him.
I think the best way to travel light is to unpack the baggage in our lives and let God heal our hearts. When we do that our ‘bags’ are lighter and we are freer. Light enough to run after God’s plan for our destiny.
[tweetthis]The best way 2 travel light is 2 unpack the baggage in our lives & let God heal our hearts[/tweetthis]
As you plan out this week, ask the Father if there’s anything in your overstuffed suitcase that He wants to free you from along the journey of Learning to Travel Light.
Prayer
Father…I thank You for being so patient with me and not getting frustrated with the junk in my suitcase. Help me to open it up to You and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal what needs to go. Let me be diligent in getting rid of whatever You know is hindering me from following hard after You. In Jesus Name…Amen
YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP WITH:
MONDAY Monday Meditations – Laura J. Davis,
TUESDAY Cheerleaders of Faith #RARaLinkup – Kelly Balarie,
WEDNESDAY Coffee For Your Heart – Holley Gerth, Word Nerd Wednesdays — Liz Giertz
THURSDAY Heart Encouragement Thursday – Crystal Storms, Chasing Community – Barbara Bradford Ottinger
FRIDAY Dance With Jesus Linkup – Susan B. Mead, Grace and Truth Linkup – Arabah Joy, Counting My Blessings – Deb Wolf, Fresh Market Friday – Crystal Twaddell
Thank you so much for this post. I really needed to read this. I know I still have some ‘baggage’ that God needs to sort through and I was reminded of that last week when something someone said stung me. I’ve been seeking God on this issue all day today and crying out to Him and then I read this post. Thank you for all write and your faithfulness in posting it for others to be encouraged and at times prodded by the Holy Spirit. God bless you.
Betty,
I’m so glad to hear that he Soul H2O Devos are being used by God in your life. His timing is incredible! Keep unpacking so you can run with Him!
Much love,
~Sherry
xoxo
Me, too!!! When the whole family travels together, I get to take advantage of the extra room in my boys’ carry ons right now, but I suppose that won’t be the case for too much longer! But, yes, carrying around extra heart baggage can weigh you down and wear you out, too! Blessings, friend!
Lucky Liz:) Praying God blesses you with your move. We move next month.
Much love,
~Sherry
xoxo
Sherry, are you familiar with Anne LaMott? She writes beautifully (in spite of a potty mouth), and in one of her fiction works, she has a character lamenting the amount of baggage she brings to a relationship. She wants to appear as if she has a cute carry-on, but realizes that she has body bags that require special handling. I think of that line whenever I hear “baggage” discussed, because it ‘s so honest. Apart from grace, we’re all in the business of trying to make our baggage look cute and portable, when we really need the God of the universe to “check it” for us and give us permission to fly free.
Michele,
I love that “a body bag”, it’s so descriptive. I wish I had a neat little carry-on bag too. I was more like this Anne LaMott before God did his healing work. I’m not saying I’m down to a carry on yet, but I’ve downsized from the body-bag. 🙂
Praying my wordsmith friend knows what words her heavenly Father speaks about her.
Much love,
~Sherry
xoxo
Me too! I’m forever over-packing things I never even take out when I get there. I’m slowly learning that if I need more, I can always get more wherever I am. (Well, perhaps not on third-world missions trips…) Good point about God caring less about our stuff and more about surrendering to His authority and His plans for our lives. Thanks for sharing, Sherry. ((xoxo))
Brenda, glad to hear I’m not the only one…Ha! We belong to a very BIG tribe 🙂 Praying you continue to let God use you as a conduit for community!
Much love,
~Sherry
xoxo
Hello Sherry, your neighbor from faith n friends(CMB) travelling light is so important especially when we fly to God in our prayers. God wants us to give all the extra burdens ,so we can be light.
It is HOLY SPIRIT driven post because just a while ago ,I too had written an article on the emotional baggage we tend to carry.
Blessed by visiting here
Diana
Diana,
So glad you stopped by so glad you were blessed! Praying you have a blessed day!
~Sherry
xoxo
Love this, Sherry. I used to joke that “no bags” was why Jesus asked men instead of women. 😉 Praying for you and your ministry, friend. 🙂
Kelly,
Too funny 🙂
~Sherry
xoxo
Hi Sherry! Glad to connect with you via the Faith and Friends Link Party. Your post reminds me of a song by Tenth Avenue North, “Empty My Hands”. Jesus gave that advice to travel light for good reasons: to avoid distractions, to gain speed, etc. Thanks for reminding us of it again. I laughed when I read the earlier portion where you spoke of packing too much when you travel. I do that all the time but then I end up not needing or using most of what I packed for those trips. That is quite instructive, I must say. I pray more grace on all your endeavours in Jesus’ name.
Edith,
Well, that’s a Tenth Avenue North song I’ve never hear before. I love the chorus.
“Empty my Hands, Fill Up my Heart, Capture My Mind with You”
Thanks for your prayer at the end 🙂 May God bless you too!
~Sherry
xoxo
There is such wisdom and truth to this Sherry, and I find the older I get the more important this process becomes to me…in relationships and circumstances. Thank you for this reminder to press toward peaceful and restful!
Crystal,
Our hearts are like homes, they collect stuff and need to be decluttered. I’m keenly aware of this as we prepare to move!
~Sherry
xoxo
It’s all just so amazing, so many incredible blessings and such.
Rex,
Thanks for stopping by. Praying you sense God’s blessings and such in your life.
~Sherry
xoxo