Backpack

Last week, I had a meditation on being an overcover. One thing that really stuck out at me, I am going to write about today. 

How many of us have baggage that we carry around daily? These can range from anxiety to depression, financial concerns, jobs, and so much more. 

Towards the end of the meditation, they were talking about backpacks and books. Imagine you are carrying a backpack with lots of books. Now I want you to title the books with the things you are carry daily. For example, if you deal with anxiety- title one of your books "Anxiety." If you have health issues, title one of the books "Health Issues." Whatever you are facing, make a title for it! After you have done this, imagine giving that backpack to Jesus. It will be hard and tempting to not take the backpack from Him but do your best and know that even if you do snatch it back, He will love you anyway and is willing to take it back from you again and again. Just because you take it back, it doesn't mean you have to carry it again. You can keep handing the backpack to Him as often as you need. To be honest, this is something we must practice daily. It is a daily act of surrender.                         

Now, I took this exercise to another level by drawing a backpack in my journal. I titled it "Backpack to Jesus" and drew books, titling that books with the things I carry daily. This helped me really drive the point into my mind. When I find myself batting with the "books", I remember what I drew, and it stops me in my tracks, and I remember I gave it to Jesus. So far, I have noticed a considerable difference. 

We were not meant to shoulder the burdens that we carry. It isn't ours to begin with. It belongs to God. The battle is not ours’s to fight. We live in a society where it is all about self-help. There are so many self-help books that tell you how to "fix things." While some of these books may be helpful, they are only really a band-aid fix to the bigger problem. The thing is we can’t fix things on our owns. The bigger problem is our need to be in control. It is in this control, that we think we find what we are looking for, but it will only lead to a dead-end each time. 

My application for you is to draw your backpack. Draw books in your backpack of things that you carry. On the top of your backpack, write "Backpack to Jesus." When you catch yourself carrying the things in your backpack, remind yourself that you gave the backpack to Jesus. Remember, it is not going to be a one and done decision but is one you will make daily. The more you practice, the easier it will be and the less you must think about doing it!