Unpacking My Suitcase
Okay, I’ll admit it. I’m still not fully unpacked from a weekend at the She Speaks Conference in North Carolina. Sometimes it’s a real pain. I did unpack my clothes to wash them and put my bags of toiletries in the bathroom. But it’s the little things that litter the bottom; pencils notebooks, band-aids and chapstick. Even in my toiletry bags, cotton rounds, dental floss, and toothpaste still lay inside.
That made me wonder…are there little things in my “suitcase” I don’t want to get rid of that God wants me to give up to Him? I get rid of all the big stuff that everyone can see, but it’s the little stuff no one knows about that I don’t want to unpack. I zip up my suitcase and drag it behind me so no one can see the shameful little things I’m carrying with me.
In Luke 14:33, Jesus tells us, “Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” Everything. For me, it’s my dreams that are so hard to give up to God. I feel like if I give them up, I’ll never accomplish anything. Last weekend at She Speaks, we had the opportunity to go in the prayer room and look for our names on a sheet of paper. My name was written on a slip of paper carefully laid on the words, “Jehovah-Jireh”. The Lord will provide.
I didn’t think anything of it at first, but when I came home, I clearly felt the Lord telling me that I must give up one of my dearest dreams to Him before he allows it to happen. Give it up to Him and He will provide. Jehovah-Jireh. I know His plans are bigger and better than any of my dreams.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
That made me wonder…are there little things in my “suitcase” I don’t want to get rid of that God wants me to give up to Him? I get rid of all the big stuff that everyone can see, but it’s the little stuff no one knows about that I don’t want to unpack. I zip up my suitcase and drag it behind me so no one can see the shameful little things I’m carrying with me.
In Luke 14:33, Jesus tells us, “Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” Everything. For me, it’s my dreams that are so hard to give up to God. I feel like if I give them up, I’ll never accomplish anything. Last weekend at She Speaks, we had the opportunity to go in the prayer room and look for our names on a sheet of paper. My name was written on a slip of paper carefully laid on the words, “Jehovah-Jireh”. The Lord will provide.
I didn’t think anything of it at first, but when I came home, I clearly felt the Lord telling me that I must give up one of my dearest dreams to Him before he allows it to happen. Give it up to Him and He will provide. Jehovah-Jireh. I know His plans are bigger and better than any of my dreams.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Nice to meet you Sarah! I saw you on Twitter and wanted to stop by to your bloggy home to say hello. I loved this analogy. I too have many things in my "suitcase" that are old and cluttered and not necessary....
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah,
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog today! I heard so much about the She Speaks conference through cyberspace. It sounded like a really uplifting conference. Hope to chat with you more and get to know you!