Before we rejoin Peter and John in old Jerusalem, let's finish our look at rucksacks. Most folks know of them from the military, like G.I. Joe Tom (last Morning Briefing-rucksacks--what is and what isn't meant to be in yours? https://conta.cc/44V2fLt), who had a rucksack from his army days. Constructed of a sturdy khaki green canvas, I can recall it yet today on the beach in Alameda - yeah, of course, that thing could hold 75 pounds dragging through the sand, it was meant to carry a lot of weight!
The Marine too carries on his/her back what is needed for the duration of the mission--things they need to survive. However, while these well-packed rucksacks serve a great function carrying the essentials for Marines and soldiers, you and I are not meant to carry the weight of life around with us. Weight? Yes, things like worry, shame, regret, bitterness, un-forgiveness, cynicism and all the other things we have stuffed inside.
Enough! We must figure this thing out, so we can flourish in our lives. Speaking the other day to a young businessman about his battle with shame and regret, he said, 'It really helps me when I try to remember to be grateful.' For sure! So how can we lead with thankfulness rather than trade the anxiety that floats to the surface? This will require intentionality. As negative thoughts, emotions and fears begin to assail us, we must have a weapon to defeat them, one by one; the only essential weapon you and I ought carry in our rucksack on a daily basis is TRUTH.
You see,
->getting God's perspective on life's issues...
->looking for what his response might be to my challenge...
->seeing how godly individuals handled failure, fear and heartache inspires me.
Over many decades of life, the Bible is the one sure thing in my life -- I trust it, and it speaks to everything that concerns me, and gives me a way forward.
Friend, you told me you gave God the contents of your rucksack...I believe you!
But today, the old thoughts came knocking at your door. What to do? Get out your weapon: counter those thoughts with truth, the truth from God's Word.
Loneliness clawing at your heart? "I am with you, [God says]. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up... God is with you, my friend; look for him, and then you--be with him.1
Worry? God's instruction: "Do not worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything, and the God of peace will guard your hearts and mind, and keep them quiet and at rest in Christ Jesus."2
Guilt creeping back into your rucksack?Stop it. How life-giving is this: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins, and cleanse us
from all unrighteousness."3 So, do it: confess and let it go. What a gift!
Unrealized dreams? These words of David have been dear to me for a very long time: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."4 You have life left to live, delights yet to enjoy!
Feeling far from God? He does not hide himself from us, but says, "Then you will call upon me, and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.5
Broken-hearted? God is not far off; in fact, "The Lord is near the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."6 So just hang on. He will comfort you.
Crippled by pain from your past/from your childhood? Jesus came to bring freedom to captives like me, like you.7 Look what he said, in fulfillment of a 700-year-old prophecy: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free..."
And so we look to Him. Item by item, we apprehend truth for our rucksacks--we grab ahold of truth to make it our reality, rather than the heartaches and disappointments in life. We let God take even the broken pieces in our lives and make something good of them--he specializes in that.
ode to a well-packed rucksack
by Christine
Jul 23
Listen along here: https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1e609c63/ode-to-a-well-packed-rucksack
Before we rejoin Peter and John in old Jerusalem, let's finish our look at rucksacks. Most folks know of them from the military, like G.I. Joe Tom (last Morning Briefing-rucksacks--what is and what isn't meant to be in yours? https://conta.cc/44V2fLt), who had a rucksack from his army days. Constructed of a sturdy khaki green canvas, I can recall it yet today on the beach in Alameda - yeah, of course, that thing could hold 75 pounds dragging through the sand, it was meant to carry a lot of weight!
The Marine too carries on his/her back what is needed for the duration of the mission--things they need to survive. However, while these well-packed rucksacks serve a great function carrying the essentials for Marines and soldiers, you and I are not meant to carry the weight of life around with us. Weight? Yes, things like worry, shame, regret, bitterness, un-forgiveness, cynicism and all the other things we have stuffed inside.
Enough! We must figure this thing out, so we can flourish in our lives. Speaking the other day to a young businessman about his battle with shame and regret, he said, 'It really helps me when I try to remember to be grateful.' For sure! So how can we lead with thankfulness rather than trade the anxiety that floats to the surface? This will require intentionality. As negative thoughts, emotions and fears begin to assail us, we must have a weapon to defeat them, one by one; the only essential weapon you and I ought carry in our rucksack on a daily basis is TRUTH.
You see,
->getting God's perspective on life's issues...
->looking for what his response might be to my challenge...
->seeing how godly individuals handled failure, fear and heartache inspires me.
Over many decades of life, the Bible is the one sure thing in my life -- I trust it, and it speaks to everything that concerns me, and gives me a way forward.
Friend, you told me you gave God the contents of your rucksack...I believe you!
But today, the old thoughts came knocking at your door. What to do? Get out your weapon: counter those thoughts with truth, the truth from God's Word.
Loneliness clawing at your heart? "I am with you, [God says]. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up... God is with you, my friend; look for him, and then you--be with him.1
Worry? God's instruction: "Do not worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything, and the God of peace will guard your hearts and mind, and keep them quiet and at rest in Christ Jesus."2
Guilt creeping back into your rucksack? Stop it. How life-giving is this: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins, and cleanse us
from all unrighteousness."3 So, do it: confess and let it go. What a gift!
Unrealized dreams? These words of David have been dear to me for a very long time: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."4 You have life left to live, delights yet to enjoy!
Feeling far from God? He does not hide himself from us, but says, "Then you will call upon me, and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.5
Broken-hearted? God is not far off; in fact, "The Lord is near the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."6 So just hang on. He will comfort you.
Crippled by pain from your past/from your childhood? Jesus came to bring freedom to captives like me, like you.7 Look what he said, in fulfillment of a 700-year-old prophecy: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free..."
And so we look to Him. Item by item, we apprehend truth for our rucksacks--we grab ahold of truth to make it our reality, rather than the heartaches and disappointments in life. We let God take even the broken pieces in our lives and make something good of them--he specializes in that.
Bless the Broken Road: so good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MEffMDvf8I&list=RD3MEffMDvf8I&start_radio=1
here's to light rucksacks and truth!
Christine
PastorWoman.net
1 Isaiah 41.10, NLT, abbreviated
2 Philippians 4.6-7
3 1 John 1.9
4 Psalm 37.4
5 Jeremiah 29.12-13
6 Psalm 34.18
7 Luke 4.18