I was pondering this week about an upcoming trip and what items, what clothing and so forth I would need to take with me.  My mind runs over the thoughts of how many suitcases I will take and I instantly wander back to the trips I have taken in the past that I was required to fly.  

Now, I generally only take one large suitcase that houses all of my clothing and shoes, a smaller bag that carries my essentials, and occasionally I will take a carry on bag.   Pretty simple, right? Wrong..the problem is not the number of bags, it’s deciding on the specifics of what I’m going to put in those bags. 

I have at times packed my case only to unpack and repack because I didn’t like my initial choices and eventually I would have a new wardrobe packed. Even when I think I am done, I decide I don’t need to take something but instead choose something else in its place. 

 I’m sure you can probably guess where I am going with this, as I was maneuvering through my mind process over this upcoming trip I imagined this is how we are about surrendering our sins, worries, cares, decisions, choices over to the Lord. 

We pick and choose, we give it over but then take it back. 

This is hard to do and leave with the Lord but I believe it is even harder for someone who is held captive by the behavior of being someone who must always be in control. 

In 1 Peter 5:6-8 it reads: 

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

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How do we give our daily woes, our uncertainties, our fears, our control over to the Lord and not take them back?  The key word here is “Humble” and it is said to be : modest or meek in spirit or manner : not proud or bold. humble apology. 2. : low in rank or status. a humble position.

Hum, we try to surrender certain areas of our lives through a picking and choosing process, I think I’ll give this to you Lord but the very next day we take it back. We decide it’s more important for us to hold onto it, more important for us to control it. Pride becomes the motive. We set ourselves up to think we can handle the situation or we can fix the problem. 

Just like when I am packing, it’s a frustrating battle to just pack simple, why do I want to overpack, why do I want to carry something I will most likely not even wear. I pick and choose, I pack and unpack..

       It’s ridiculous…

As I continue to ponder over this, I am forced to evaluate my motives, my intentions, my reasonings, and with these thoughts in mind I feel pretty confidant to say this morning that I will be packing as simply as I possibly can for this trip.   

We may not always know how God will resolve a situation for us, we may not understand His reasonings but we can trust that in time He will raise us up, our peace will be restored and clarity will form. 

So I ask the questions today: 

What things are you picking and choosing to cast over to the Lord? What things are you packing deep within?