Day 36

With each day comes new challenges. Whether it is overcoming temptation, yourself, or a new test to see if things have really changed. I keep stumbling, but I am letting God carry me and I must continue to trust him with my life every day otherwise I will not be able to fulfill his plan for my life and continue to give him everything. When I worked out last night, I just blocked out everything and ran with no music. I was in the dark at the stadium, having a hard time trying to see the lines I was trying to follow, but God was with me. I even laid down for a good 5 minutes and stared at the stars giving him praise and thinking about how glorious he is. I wish I could just go up to the mountains or out into the country where there are no lights and just gaze at the stars and the meaning they bring to God's awesome power and greatness. The stars are a reminder to us of how great God is, he placed them perfectly so that we could see the brightest and the faintest of stars and I think that is a reflection of our walk with him. Sometimes we shine bright when we are "close" to him, and the "further" away we get, the harder it is to see him in us. As long as we hold to him, no matter what comes our way, there is hope and promise for us.

It is said in Joel 3:17-21, " 'Then you will know that I, the Lord your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her. In that day the mountains will drip a new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will flow out of the Lord's house and will water the valley of acacias. But Egypt will be desolate, Edom a desert waste, because of violence done to the people of Judah, in whose land they shed innocent blood.  Judah will be inhabited forever and Jerusalem through all generations. Their bloodguilt, which I have not pardoned, I will pardon.' The Lord dwells in Zion!"

What a great day that will be, when there is milk and an abundance of water. Though we will never be thirsty,  it is nice to know that all of our needs will be met. God is so generous to us and yet it is still hard for us to give back even a little to Him. I know there are times when I have distanced myself from him and for some reason I still do it even though I do not really want to. I let myself become vulnerable and cannot stand on my own. In order for me to be the best that I can in Christ, I have to walk with God for 24 hours a day otherwise there is a good chance that I will fall on my face. I think that this is something that just hit me today. I know that I have to live for Him everyday, but I cannot truly live for Him unless I keep him right by my side.  I still give Him empty prayers from time to time and what I mean by that is that I pray for Him to guide me but I am just doing it out of routine and not because I mean it. Every time I go to the Lord, I need to seek Him and give Him everything I am. When I pray for my friends and family, I cannot do it just because I need to. I need to do it because I want to. It is like the daily devotion. It should be something that I want to do and I truly feel that it is something I want to do instead of it just being a burden. God is not and should not be a burden in anyone's life. For it is said, "Cast all your cares on me, for I care for you" and it is said "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest." We should not think of God as a burden because we cannot get rest from someone who is a burden to us, if we carry the burden, then it is just weight on us.  Be watchful for the day and the hour are unknown and he will return soon to fulfill these promises. Do not get caught in sin when he returns, rather always be praising Him so that when he returns He will be pleased.

I think this verse can be applied to believers and non-believers as well. When He returns, I will be overflowing with praise for Him and I will no longer be in a struggle to enter his Kingdom. I will be protected forever and will praise him forever. Just as Jerusalem will no longer have foreigners invade her, we will no longer have Satan trying to tear us down. On the other hand, Those who do not believe will be desolate forever and will have to answer for all their wrong doing just as Egypt will have to pay for the blood it has shed. We will rain supreme with Him and rule over Judah and Jerusalem forever. Pure forever sounds good, being able to marvel in the glory and greatness of God. I cannot even express how excited I am for this day. Every time I think about what God is going to do or what he has done for me,  or what he is doing in me for that matter, I seem to always get a chill down my spine. I do not know how to explain it, but I am sure it is the Holy Spirit moving within me. I still have not gotten to the point where I can contain the Holy Spirit and have the Spirit pour out in me, but I know that I am learning how to harness that energy and let it dwell in me forever. Blessings have been promised to those who remain faithful and blessings will be given to those who do! I hope that everyone reading this will one day share in this with me. 

Continue to pray for me as I have one more class in which I have to take a midterm in on Tuesday and then I am headed back to Arizona. God is great and is going to move all across this nation VERY soon. Can you feel it? I hope so, because it gives me chills just thinking about it!

Post prayer requests or text them to me at (480)292-1754. I will not post anything about your prayer requests if you have them, and they will be confidential as only I will know that they are, unless you would like other people to pray for me (indicate that in your text). Believe me, I know how hard it is to post stuff for the world to see, and that is why you have my number.  Hope you all have a great and safe Friday night.

Joseph Robinson