Barriers

Holding up barriers is hard & painful.

I imagine a person standing there trying to hold up a really heavy fence to protect himself but all they are really doing is hurting themselves. They're making their life so much harder by holding up that fence.

Because of Jesus and what he gives us (love, grace, mercy, acceptance, etc.), we don't have to do that. You don't have to be afraid of letting people in and getting hurt. We can trust that the Lord will protect us when we are doing His perfect will. 

I was riding in the car the other day & I heard the song "Suitcases" by Dara Maclean.

"How can you move when they're weighing you down?
What can you do when you're tied to the ground, yeah?
You carry your burdens heavy like gravity
Just let them go now, there's freedom in release

You can't run when you're holding suitcases
Yes, it's a new day, throw away your mistakes
And open up your heart, lay down your guard
You don't have to be afraid

Just breathe, your load can be lifted
There's a better way when you know you're forgiven
Open up your heart, lay down your guard
You don't have to be afraid"

Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/dara-maclean/suitcases-lyrics/#1VlhrfBiviRWi5DM.99

This song reminds me that I don't have to be afraid. I can let those barriers down/drop those suitcases and live like the Lord has called me to. 

There are people in my life that have upset me. I don't have to be afraid of letting them in. I don't have to hold it that barrier because I know that the Lord will take care of me. He will give me what I need to be able to reach out to them. If I rely on Him as I go through the situation and listen to what He tells me, I will be fine.

On the other hand, if I choose to trust in myself and hold those barriers up and carry those suitcases, I will be exhausted. I will not be able to carry the load that the Lord has called me to and help the people that He has put into my life. I won't be able to do the good that He has called me to do. I won't be able to live out my faith.

Instead of holding onto those suitcases of hurt and anger and holding up those barriers to protect myself, I need to give them to Jesus. Let him carry them and take on his leading, which is easy and light (Matthew 11:28-30).

Give up the ghost

There's a new song out called "Ghost" by Ella Henderson. 

The lyrics that really stood out to me were: 

"I keep going to the river to pray

Cause I need something that can wash out the pain
And at most
I'm sleeping all these demons away
But your ghost, the ghost of you
It keeps me awake

Each time that I think you go
I turn around and you're creeping in
And I let you under my skin
Cause I love living in the sin

Give up the ghost

Give up the ghost

Give us the ghost

Stop the haunting baby" 

I was listening to it the other day on the way to work. As I was listening... and singing like a crazy woman (anyone else do that?), it reminded men how we let things haunt us. I had a situation happen last year at work that bothers me to this day. Every time I think I'm over it, it pops back up in my mind. I think about it over and over again. And let those emotions just bubble up and over every time I think about it. In a sense, I am letting this situation continue to haunt me.

This song is about "someone or something that just has a hold over you, tormenting you, you're trying to run away from it, but you just can't. And I think a lot of people can relate in so many different ways." I love how God uses the everyday things, like a random song on the radio, to speak to us. It just goes to show how powerful and amazing He is! Anyways, I'm getting sidetracked here! Hearing this song made me realize that instead of letting this event that happened forever ago continue to haunt me, I should give this burden to the Lord and let him handle it. Just like in the song, I can't change any of the events that have already happened; all I can do is choose to give it up and move on. 

In Galatians 5:1 it says, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." As Galatians says, Christ came to set us free! Instead of being burdened and haunted by things that have happened in the past, we can stand firm in our belief in Him and the fact that our sins have been taken care of when we accept him into our hearts. We don't have to worry about the comment that was made at dinner last week or the coworker that irritated us today. We can rely on Him to take care of those issues and live in that freedom, knowing that He's already taken care of everything! 

If you want to post this in your house or office, you can find it here.

Lyrics and quote from Songfacts.