Throw the bags from the train!

This week's memory verse:
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens." Psalm 68:19

You are going on a trip on a train. It is supposed to be a relaxing, therapeutical journey...the only vacation you've taken in years. But...you overpacked and are hulking around a HUGE suitcase and several other smaller bags, making it difficult to move through the narrow hallways of the train. When you find your compartment, you find there is not enough room for you and you bags to sit comfortably together, so you spend your whole "relaxing" train ride squished between your bags and the window. NOT the way to enjoy your restful vacation, is it?

But...unfortunately, this is the way we spend most our days, and it's one of the reasons there are so many unhappy people in the world...BAGGAGE! Many times those bags are packed with guilt, anger and shame...both for our own sins and mistakes and for the mistakes and sins of others that we can't let go of.

King David really messed up...this "man after God's own heart" committed adultery, got her pregnant, and then had her husband killed. In Psalm 51, we learn why David is so close to God...he turns to him for forgiveness and for salvation.

In verses 1-2, he asks God to:
* Have mercy on me
* Blot out my transgressions (sins)
* Wash away my iniquity  (sins)
* Cleanse me from my sin

David recognized that what he did was wrong and he asked God to forgive him and make him clean again. Why? Because he knew God is THAT powerful and good and loving!

In verses 7-15, David says some very beautiful words...create in me a clean heart and create a right spirit within me.

David knew God's desire to forgive and make us knew. God knew and still knows that we do and will mess up. We have to realize that too and go to him and do as David did.

David also knew that he needed to forgive himself in order to begin again. He told God in verses 13-17 that he planned to tell others what God had done for him, so others may know to turn to God as well. He knew that he needed to let the past go in order to move on. That is one step I think we forget too often.

When we confess to God...he forgets our sins. "And compassion is on its way to us. You'll stamp out our wrongdoing. You'll sink our sins to the bottom of the ocean." (Micah 7:19 MSG)

If God can forgive us and forget...shouldn't we forgive ourselves and forget? Shouldn't we be able to forgive others and forget as well? If we did that...we wouldn't have such heavy bags to carry around!

So, my advice to you today...have a talk with God...ask him to forgive you...forgive yourself and forgive others for things you have been holding on to for years. THROW THE BAGS OFF THE TRAIN and enjoy the ride!