Pack Your Baggage, HoneySample

And David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and may the LORD be with you” (1 Sam. 17:37). 

Somewhere along the way, I wrote down these words on the inside flap of my Bible: “This book is the owner’s manual of my life.” I don’t know who originally said it, but it was said by someone who knew the value of God’s Word in the day-to-day grind of doing life. I have realized we can live life swallowed up by our baggage, or we can choose real life and live with richness, fullness, and fruitfulness. We can take God’s Word and make it the owner’s manual for our lives. 

We attempt to use a multitude of manuals for life. But there is only one manual we can trust explicitly, and that is God’s Word. He created us, and He is the One who knows how to do life. An owner’s manual is a powerful tool when it is used. It saves so much time, speculation, and heartache. Using God’s Word as our owner’s manual is a powerful tool for the believer. 

David knew the power of speaking truth. He stood before King Saul as just a young boy and spoke the truth that God was the One Who would deliver him. He had a Holy Spirit-given, inward assurance that he would be delivered. Without benefit of armor or professional training, David was trusting God for his deliverance. Not only did he speak the truth to himself and King Saul, but he spoke the truth to the enemy Goliath, as well. He said to the giant, “This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands” (1 Sam. 17:46). 

I am not sure who wrote these words, but they are true: “What is central to our thinking will set the course of our lives.” So many things can take the central focus of our lives.  For the woman who is seeking freedom from baggage-hauling, God’s Word needs to be central to her thinking. Our lives will be affected by what takes priority in our thoughts. Spending time listening to the Lord is not just a nice thing to do; it is the game-changer.