If you ever travel by train, no doubt you will have come across ‘See it. Say it. Sorted’, the strapline of a campaign started by National Rail in 2016 to encourage travellers to be aware of, and report, any suspicious activity, such as baggage that has been left unattended.
Hearing this phrase being repeated over the loud speaker throughout my journey one day got me thinking about the times in my life when I had left personal baggage (sin issues, character stuff) unattended and the damage that caused me emotionally, mentally and spiritually. How it weighed me down so much I swear it even affected my walk. It got me thinking about the times I allow ‘suspicious’ activity to go on in my thought life.
The other repeated announcement that ‘any baggage left unattended will be destroyed’ led my thoughts to ‘that’s exactly what needs to happen to the baggage in our lives – it needs to be destroyed’. And the amazing thing is God wants to help us with this. The Bible is clear that through the freedom that Christ purchased for us with His sacrifice on the cross, we don’t have to be weighed down any longer. He already carries our sins and invites us to cast ‘all’ of our burdens (baggage) onto him because He cares for us. But we have to do the casting ourselves; we have to See it, Say it and believe through faith that it is Sorted.
Recently, I had the privilege of praying with someone who had carried the baggage of bitterness for 30 years, and I helped her See that unforgiveness was the cause. After this, she was able to Say it (forgive the people who had hurt her), and almost instantly it was Sorted. Her whole countenance changed – she couldn’t stop smiling. Her baggage was destroyed. ‘I wish I had done this sooner,’ she said.
What unattended baggage in your life needs to be destroyed?
What suspicious activity is going on in your thought life?
Here is some advice:
See it: Identify and acknowledge the baggage in your life that needs to be destroyed. Ask God to show you. Sometime it’s also helpful to ask someone you’re close to and can trust. They may see something that you don’t – The wounds from a friend can be trusted (Proverbs 27:6). These things are called blind spots (my wife seems to have a gift for pointing out mine).
Say it: Confess your baggage to God. Speak it. Forgive in your heart those who have hurt you. Talk to the same person who pointed out your blind spots – Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed (James 5:16)
Sorted: Through faith, trust that the Lord has sorted it, that your baggage has been destroyed and you are weighed down no longer.
Rod
Rod Williams is the Evangelism Lead at CAP UK. And he is a one of our Trustees.