Breaking Free from Spiritual Baggage: A Path to Christian Liberty and Transformation

Spiritual baggage—those unseen weights of shame, guilt, unforgiveness, and negative mindsets—can hinder our walk with Christ. Like unnecessary cargo, these burdens drain our spiritual energy and prevent us from experiencing the fullness of freedom Christ offers. This article explores how to identify, confront, and overcome these hindrances through biblical truth and intentional discipleship.

Understanding Spiritual Baggage and Its Impact

"Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles…" (Heb 12:1). Sins are to be confessed, and we receive forgiveness (1 Jn 1:9). Hindrances are like unnecessary or surplus baggage hindering our progress and wasting energy as we labour along under this needless burden. Some of the things that impede our progress are feelings of shame, guilt, poor self-esteem, unforgiveness, resentment, complaining, fear of man, and insecurity.

Then there are attitudes, beliefs, mindsets, experiences, and patterns of behaviour that also need to be addressed. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Rom 12:2). With the Lord's help, we are to bring every thought into obedience to Christ (2 Cor 10:5). The wrong mental messages we play in our minds must be replaced by the truth of God's Word for us to break free of the power of these hindrances.

The Call to Active Spiritual Discipleship

"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" (Gal 5:1). This slavery includes wrong negative thoughts. As none of this baggage will fall off by itself, we must actively be involved in overcoming and removing its crippling influence in our lives to be all we are designed to be – to walk free of the weights that hold down, delay, prevent, or detract from us living in the liberty that Christ died to purchase for us.

We must be disciplined to "put off the old self and put on the new" (Eph 4:22,24). Once dealt with, do not revisit the matter as rehearsing it will keep its hold over you alive. The words of Jesus are, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Mt 11:28).

Overcoming the Roots of Negative Influences

"I can do all things [that God wants me to do] through Christ" (Phil 4:13). Our eyes are to be on Him who is in us, rather than what would come against us (1 Jn 4:4). Don't let the devil cheat you out of your inheritance in Christ, render your life ineffective for the Lord, or weigh you down with his junk.

Negative influences that we routinely take on board that adversely affect us include ungodly childhood experiences and verbal messages received from parents and authority figures. These are compounded by wrong decisions and unwise choices we have made while growing up and living in a world opposed to good and right.

Unless you are brave enough to address the unfavourable issues of the past (including those passed down through your family line) that have damaged your heart, they will torment you till the day you die, after having kept you in bondage to the degree that you continually make excuses why you haven't progressed in your effectiveness in the Kingdom of God.

See also: bondage, burdens, freedom, guard, negative, slave, transformation.