Scriptures: Ephesians 4:31-32, Colossians 2:14, Jeremiah 31:34

Baggage is the stress and bitterness we carry around through our unresolved conflicts and relationships. As Christ-followers, we are called to a higher standard. The good news is that we can lose this baggage through the Person of Jesus Christ. Ephesians instructs is how to rid ourselves of bitterness and anger so that we can become more effective with our lives.

"Forgiveness doesn’t come naturally, because it very rarely comes easily. The reason why is because of what the word means. The word 'forgiveness' literally means, 'to let go' or 'to send away.' It refers to the cancellation of a debt. In essence, when somebody does you wrong they are in your debt. Forgiveness is your willingness, on your own, to simply write off the debt. It is a decision to cancel the debt. It is the willingness to simply say to a person who has done you wrong and owes you, 'From now on you don’t owe me anymore.'" --Dr. Merritt

Keywords: forgiveness, compassion, bitterness, anger, difficult, motivation, Easter, debt, cancel, payment, sin, Christ, Jesus, cross, freedom, refuse, military, soldier, story, airplane, flight, experience, hurt, tears, fury