There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.
C. S. Lewis
Are You Chasing Your Tail?
My cat Sassy is obsessed with chasing her own tail. She goes in circles, gnaws on it, and bats it. While quite often entertaining, sometimes it makes me wonder if I’m chasing my own tail.
Baggage or Ballast?
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
Hebrews 12:1
I was watching a movie about a girl trying to hold onto the past, and she finally concluded that she needed to decide what was baggage and what was ballast. Baggage is something that holds you down, while ballast keeps you grounded. Share on X
Baggage is being held prisoner to the past. We have to let go of things that keep us from moving forward, like mistakes and hurts from the past. Sin and shame also hold us back. When we seek forgiveness, both for ourselves and to others, then we can move forward and leave shame and hurt behind.
Ballast is being grounded in Christ. Remembering our history is good when it points us toward gratitude of what God has done in our lives. Remembering who we are in Christ reminds us that we aren’t working in our own strength or power but the power of the Holy Spirit within.
Behind or Before?
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, Philippians 3:13 Share on X
Where are you looking? If you are running a race, you can’t keep looking behind you because it slows you down and takes your eyes off of the finish line. Our focus should be on Christ and His will for our lives. His Will operates in the present and not the past.
What Will You Choose?
And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Luke 9:62
So, are you going to keep chasing your tail this year, or are you going to run the race in front of you? The temptation to look back is strong. I know it from personal experience, but I want to strive this year to look forward, keep my eyes on Christ, and run the race before me. Lord, help me to keep my hand on the plow and my eyes on You because there is no going back.
(3) I Have Decided to Follow Jesus – Lydia Walker (Lyric Video) – YouTube
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Turtles and Grace for the Moment – The End Of My Yarn (lindalyle.com)
Thank you for this message! I needed to hear this because it made me realize I’m carrying a lot of baggage that I need to let go of and focus on what God has before me.
Keep looking forward my friend. That dream you’re chasing is straight ahead and growing larger with each step you take. I’ll be cheering you on as you near the finish line. Pretty certain I won’t be the only one. God’s blessings ma’am.
Thank you, J. D. You are one of the best cheerleaders I know. 🙂
I’m so glad I stopped by your blog today, Linda. What a wonderful message! I think most of us have some baggage from the past that we struggle to let go of. Your message reminds us of who our ballast is. Our Lord keeps us grounded. He is our foundation, our rock, our anchor. He’s with us through the storms. Thank you for this message of assurance.