I spend a lot of time in airports and people watching is definitely one of my favourite pastimes. One of the perks I have of flying often is gold frequent flyer status and the benefits like priority queues and check in. Oh how grateful I am for priority check-in!!!You also get additional baggage allowance, but you know what? The thing I notice most about frequent flyers, they travel light. They don’t pack for the “in case”, they know what they will and wont need and only take with them the bare essentials usually only having carry on luggage with them. The thing about the priority line is it also moves quicker than the standard check-in lines as everyone is familiar with the process.
I’ve been on 10 flights this last month and I’ve felt God directing my attention to all these day to day processes that actually are an external reflection of our internal heart position.
When you don’t fly often, or never have, the airport can be quite a daunting place. You don’t know the process, you don’t know the tips, tricks and hacks the frequent flyers do. The amount of people that get slugged with excess baggage fees as they aren’t familiar with the guidelines is astounding and this causes all types of stress and anxiety for these travellers.
Recently I got off a flight from Cairns, and as I entered the baggage claim area God started speaking to me. As I looked around at the other hundred odd passengers standing around the not yet moving carousels deeply engrossed in their mobile devices (because heaven forbid we disconnect from the world for an hour or two – but that’s a whole other message) waiting for their baggage to arrive God started asking me questions.
Why take with you more than you can carry?
Why are they waiting for “stuff” they aren’t capable of carrying?
How much “stuff” do we really need?
Is this “stuff” a help or a hinderance?
I then felt God say “if only people would let go of their attachment to their stuff, give it over to me, their travels would be some much easier, lighter and stress free. They are trying to carry stuff, that is not theirs to carry and this is slowing them down. While they are waiting in lines to check their “baggage” and waiting at the carousel to pick up their “baggage” they could have been relaxing in the lounge, or already out of the arrivals hall on the road to the next thing I am calling them to. But instead they are so fixated with taking all this “excess baggage” with them everywhere they go, they don’t understand the hinderance it is to them.
We are called to “Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you” Psalms 55:22 NKJV
If we would only lay our burdens, our hurts, our brokenness, our unforgiveness, our resentments, our worries, our bitterness, down at the foot of the cross and repent from continually picking them up and dragging it around with us, then we would be freed up to do and be who God has called us to be!
If we would let go of the excess baggage we can change lanes, skip the queue and travel light the process is so much more fun and stress free. Does it mean there wont be flight delays or cancellations? Nope! But the peace you have in the waiting is so worth it.
Jesus paid the price on the cross, there is nothing that has been done or is to come that HIS blood hasn’t paid the price for. Why carry stuff you aren’t meant to carry when you have someone else willing to do it for you?
What is your excess baggage costing you?
What are you being robbed of? Peace? Joy? Relationships? Blessings? Ordained destinies? Forgiveness?
Let today be the day that you finally lay it all down at the cross and leave it there, never to be picked up again.
““Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.”” Matt 11:28-30 TPT
Call upon the only name that sets us free. Jesus.
Amanda Hendry 
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