Day 23

It is pretty ironic and somewhat weak-minded for me to read something one night and then not apply the warning to my life the next day. Today I slipped up but in no way did I take a step back from where I am heading. I think of it more as a warning that my work is not done as I grow in God. If I feel that I am complacent where I am at right now, I will fall back and be at ground zero again. Fortifying the structure and solidifying my stance is the only way that I am going to be able continue on.  Another thing is that my heart has to be 100% in it, there is no well I want to run from this temptation but I am not going to put forth my best effort. When I put forth my best effort, I am able to overcome; but when I think that I can just say that I do not want to give in, it is simply not enough and I fall more times than not. Think about that.

Today I read Romans 9:18-27 and meditated on it so that I could take it in and apply it instead of feeling sorry for myself. I am not going to go through the whole passage but I am going to highlight the key points that I feel are the most important for me to apply. Verse 18 states, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope, that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. " What I gather from this is that when I sin, I get frustrated not only with myself but with the sin itself and my job is to grow in God and find out how to eliminate that foothold that Satan has in my life. By becoming frustrated with sin, I should strive to grow and one day, God's glory will be revealed through me. Many Biblical people had to suffer and overcome sin before God's glory was revealed through them. David committed adultery but God still used him, Saul/Paul persecuted Christians and he later went on to write a good portion of the New Testament, and Sampson had to learn from his mistakes with Delilah. Though we make mistakes and we sin, we have the hope of Christ and his return and when he comes back, we will know that His glory reigns supreme and there will be no more suffering or frustration.

Verses 26-28 state, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we out to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the minds of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." As we stand strong in the Spirit, we will be guided and will have the strength to overcome everything that comes against us. I know that an area that I need to grow in is living in the Spirit because as the verse says, I need the Spirit to intercede for me and to work through me and in me.

In closing, do not feel like a failure when you make a mistake or sin. This is how Satan wants you too feel because he wants you to feel like you are not good enough. Sure you are going to be frustrated, but let that build you up and increase your commitment to Christ. Learn from mistakes so that they do not become habits and when you are confronted with the same temptation again, ask God and the Holy Spirit to guide you and run away from that temptation. God is waiting to reveal His glory through you, continue to seek his love and plan for your life and direct you as much as you let him.

I am still praying for all who read this and hope that some of you take me up on the offer to discuss some of these posts. Hope you all have a great afternoon, and God bless.

Joseph Robinson