"A Few Tips For Spiritual Trips

“A Few Tips for Spiritual Trips”

3/4/2007

This time next week Julie will be in Italy. It’s gong to be a trip of a lifetime! She and her two friends are excited to be going. They are anticipating an exciting adventure. They have been preparing and planning for weeks now. They have worked hard to prepare and plan for every event. The trip is thought out, planned out and mapped out.

In the past, it has been my privilege to be the traveler of the family. I have had some exciting trips to Ecuador and Brazil on “Work and Witness” teams. I traveled to Korea and Japan when I was in the army. I grew up next to Canada so I’ve been there. I went to school in San Diego – so I’ve been to Mexico. I didn’t have to do all the planning and scheduling like Julie is doing on any of my trips – but I did learn a few things about traveling. And it occurred to me that each of us are on a trip to somewhere. We are all involved in this grand adventure we call life. So – I want to share a few tips for trips that may help you on your adventure.

1. Travel As Light As You Can

When I traveled on my trips, we were only allowed to take one large suitcase and one carry-on. I was always glad when I went light. In fact, I wished I had gone even lighter. You see, we had to take our luggage with us wherever we went and that meant lugging whatever we brought with us. At times it got pretty heavy.

In our journey of life we need to understand that excessive weight will slow us down and make us exhausted. We need to get rid of unnecessary burdens whatever they may be: sin, guilt, bitterness, fear, worry, and doubt. These things can’t be packed in our spiritual suitcase if we want to enjoy the trip!

Heb 12:1 says: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

One of the reasons we need to travel light is because it is only when we are free from carrying personal burdens, then we’ll have room to carry the burdens of others. There will always be people around you that need help. When you are weighed down with your own burdens you are only focused on yourself. You are only concerned for yourself. The Bible says that we are to carry one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. It is only when we travel light that we can do that.

Also when we are weighed down with our problems and sin – it takes the fun out of the trip; it takes the fun out of life. Some of you are making life a whole lot harder than it has to be. Life can be fun and full of adventure and excitement and discovery. But it is only when you travel light. The Bible says,

”Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (Living)

Give your heavy load to Jesus. He cares about you. He is always thinking about you. Jesus wants to make your life easier. He says,

“Come to me and I will give you rest--all of you who work so hard beneath a heavy yoke.”

Matt 11:28 (Living)

Jesus is there – waiting and wanting to share your load. It is only when you go to Him in prayer and tell Him your problems – and give them to Him that you find rest. And it is only when you take care of your burdens that you can begin to really help others. It frees you up to help others.

2. Don’t Forget Your Map

Did you ever start out on a trip and then realize that you forgot your map? You know- the one you had highlighted with a yellow or orange marking pen. The kind I used to make when I went backpacking in the wilderness. The Bible is our roadmap and our guidebook and compass all wrapped up into one.

Psalm 119:105: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”

Spurgeon said, “A Bible which is falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t”

This “roadmap” will:

❏ keep you from wandering where you don’t belong

❏ prevent you from getting lost

❏ wasting you time in unfamiliar territory

A mother of a five-year-old girl was surprised to find her going through a new Bible storybook and circling the word “God” wherever it appeared on the page. Stifling her first reaction to reprimand the child for defacing a book, she quietly asked, “Why are doing that, Honey?” The little girl’s matter-of-fact answer was, “So that I will know where to find God when I want Him.”