It is not just the airport security staff who take an interest in the baggage that we are carrying.  I believe that our Heavenly Father is also interested in the baggage that we carry through life.  The word baggage is often used as a synonym for issues, hang-ups, or fixed ways of thinking that are past their sell-by date.


You may want to look at your own life, and patterns of living, and ask yourself a few routine security questions at this point:  Is this your baggage?  Did you pack it yourself?  Does it contain your ‘issues,’ or someone else’s?  Are you carrying anything for anyone else?

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I am the Prophet Margin, and life hasn’t always been easy for me.  At an early age, I was packed off to the School for Prophets, which would have been fine, except that I just don’t do prophecy!  Prayer ministry, yes.  Preaching, yes.  Worship leading, definitely, but prophecy has never been my gifting.  I protested to my father, the Prophet After Tax, but he wouldn’t listen:  “We’re a family of prophets lad.  I am a prophet.  Your Granddad, was the Prophet Before Tax, and his father was the very celebrated Prophet After Exceptional Items.  One day you will make us all proud with your prophesying.”

My brother and sister, Gross and Net, were both Prophets, and even my mother, Trading was a Prophet.  How could I tell them that I really wanted to be a worship leader, and that I wasn’t actually very good at prophecy?

So I went to the School For Prophets, but had a miserable time.  I was always bottom of the class, and no matter how hard I tried, I just could not prophecy.  I used to dread the end of morning lessons, when our teacher, Adjusted Prophet would go round the class, making each boy prophecy what was for lunch.  One day, in desperation, I took a flyer on Chocolate Soufflé.  I stayed with this prediction every day, for several months.  It has to come round again, sooner or later, I reasoned.  I am bound to be right one day.  Unfortunately, the supplier of soufflé to the school had gone out of business, due to insufficient profit, and there was no soufflé for six months.

The bigger boys used to kick hymn books in my face, and I was constantly teased about my complete inability to prophecy.  “Give us a word of knowledge about something that happened yesterday!” they would shout.

One day I was called in to see the head master.  “Do you know why I have summoned you?” he asked.  “Rub it in why don’t you!” I thought, but said, “No sir.  If it’s about the midnight feast last week, I would say that I wasn’t the only boy involved, and I will help to re-build the bicycle shed.”

I was expelled for having the worst academic performance in the history of the School For Prophets, and as if that wasn’t enough, someone prophesied that there would never again be a pupil with less talent than I had.  Facing my Dad when I got home was a difficult moment.  I tactfully avoided pointing out that if he was such a good prophet, he should really have seen this coming.

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That was all years ago.  Thankfully, I am now happily preaching, and leading worship.  I have always loved the sound of the acoustic guitar, and sometimes when I play, I feel so close to God.  I have moments when I can’t pray, but I can worship.  Often I sing songs to God.  I believe that the Holy Spirit inhabits my praises, and draws me closer to God when I worship.  Sometimes when I play, I shake with the presence of the Holy Spirit. 

I am happy and fulfilled in my life now, but this only became possible once I stopped trying to live the dreams that my Dad, the Prophet After Tax, had for me, and started living the dreams that my Heavenly Father has for me.  Shaking off the hopes and expectations of others is sometimes harder than you might think.  Sometimes it is very obvious that someone is pushing you towards a career that is their choice and not your own.  Sometimes we internalise the hopes and expectations of others, and end up carrying their baggage, without even realising it. 

Have you ever found yourself carrying a load of baggage that just doesn’t belong to you?  Whose value system do you live by?  Yours?  Your friends, or parents?  God’s values?  Are you living the life of freedom and abundance that God has for you, or are you living out the dreams and plans of someone else?  Are you using the gifts that God gave you, to glorify him, or are you trying to use the gifts that other people want you to use, to glorify them?

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The bible says:

Matthew 11:28-30  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”


Jesus is referring particularly to the heavy burden of an overly legalistic approach to religion and inviting people to put down this baggage of rules and expectations, taking up instead his own yoke, which is based more on gentleness and grace.  I know that I need to learn more about applying that gentleness and grace in my own life, in order to prepare me for sharing it with others.

Matthew 6:21  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.


I would suggest that where your baggage is, there your heart will be also.

Exodus 15:26  …. for I am the Lord, who heals you. 


God declares that his name is Yahweh The One Who Heals You.  The healing that we receive from God is not limited to physical healing, but also includes the healing of emotions, issues and unhelpful patterns in our lives.  If you feel the need for this healing, ask God, who will generously supply what you need.
It is not just airport security staff who would like us to travel light, at this time.  I believe that God would have us examine carefully some of the baggage that we are carrying, just to make sure it really is ours, and that we really do need to carry it.  The cares of this world can be so insidious in the way that they come into our lives, becoming indispensable before we even realise it, and yet providing so much distraction from the matters of God. 

God loves you just the way that you are.  You don’t have to win anything, or achieve anything, or own anything or control anything.  God loves you.  You can put the baggage down, if you want to.  He will still love you.

I must go.  I’m off to play my guitar.  Just don’t tell Dad………