"Let go of the 'baggage' of your past & be set free to start anew this new season!" I heard these words recently, and it has everything to do with your destiny!
The 'baggage' can be a certain person (or a group of persons), work, memory, backlog, etc of your past. Some of you may even need to be set free to enter into a new 'environment'. There'll be new friendships. There'll be new 'doors'. There'll be new 'opportunities'. Be open and flexible before the Lord. This is His time of re-positioning. This is His time of bringing you into a new season. And His ways are always higher than yours! (Isaiah 55:8-9) Have a 'hearing' & 'listening' heart. My prayer for you is you'll not miss your timing & season.
The 'baggage' may even be something good that you've had in the past season. Some may say, "But pastor, you don't understand, I can't let go!", or "But pastor, it's easier said than done!" But do you know there are people who may be in a new season, but not set free (from the past 'baggage') yet? This may hinder God's destiny for you to come to pass in the new season! The decision is yours. No doubt 'letting go' can be painful at times, and may not be easy. But if God says 'let go', you'd better 'let go'! There may even be some 'soul-ties' or 'emotional ties' that you need to 'let go of' as you enter a new season.
Let's learn a little from Abraham in the Bible. In Genesis 12:1, God clearly asked Abram (his name then) to 'let go' of certain things in order to step into His blessings & His destiny for him (see Genesis 12:2-3). What was it that he had to 'let go'? God said, "Get out of your country, from your family, and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you". But Genesis 12:4 shows he didn't fully heed what God has said. Instead, he brought Lot (his nephew) along. This eventually caused lots of problems to Abraham (see Genesis 13:7, see Genesis 19:37-38 with 2 Chronicles 20:1), and you see, all those loads of problems could have been averted in the first place! He should only have brought along his wife (Sarai), and none other! "But, pastor, doesn't that sound cruel? Look, wasn't Abram doing the right thing by bringing along his nephew (Lot) whose father was already dead? He's just being a nice 'uncle'. After all, Abram's wife was barren and they were childless!". Sounds noble isn't it? But the big question is: "Did God say so?"
By the way, interestingly, the word 'Lot' actually means 'veil, or something that hinders', i.e. something that hinders/delays God's destiny/vision for your life. Someone with 'veiled eyes' is someone 'who can't see what God sees'. Look now at Genesis 13. There was a strife between Abram & Lot (over the issue of land & possession). A fatherly heart as Abram was, he even allowed Lot to choose the better place (a well-watered place) in order to end the strife (Genesis 13:7-12). And right after Abram had separated from Lot, God broke His silence and began speaking to Abram further about His destiny for him (Genesis 13:14-17). The 'veil' was 'lifted', the 'hindrance' was gone, and he was now 'set free' to walk in God's destiny/vision for him again. You know what? Not until Abram separated from Lot (let go of Lot) did God speak His destiny/vision to him again!
People of God, this is your time to 'let go' of your 'Lot' too (whatever that 'Lot' may be) if you want to hear further (or clearly) from Him & walk in His destiny again!
After you have entered a new season, don't look back! Move on as the Lord leads you. Don't be like Lot's wife. She looked back to her 'Sodom & Gomorrah', and as a consequence, became a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26). A 'pillar of salt' is like a 'statue'. It is 'stagnant'. It has no more 'movement'. It is 'not moving anymore'. Beloved, you've got to start looking forward & keep on moving! Leave the 'Sodom & Gomorrah' of your past behind. The word 'Sodom' actually means 'burnt/scorched, or volcanic (or some other turbulent) activities' in Hebrew, while the word 'Gomorrah' means 'a ruined heap'. In other words, don't look back to your past ruins, shame, 'volcanic activities', turbulence, etc. Look to Jesus. The 'veil' has already been 'torn' when Jesus died on the cross for you.
For every 'inch' of your 'Sodom & Gomorrah' that you let go, is every 'inch' of God's newness (& goodness) added to you!
Step into His blessings!
