Listening

I have talked so much in the past about how we are on the brink of something that could change the world. We can sit around and think about what is going on in our world and the terror as well as turmoil that is present all over this planet yet we do nothing about it. I have talked about those times when we think about what we should do and yet we do what we would not do and neglect to do the things we would do. It is rather funny that we say how much our world is dying and yet we do not take action (myself included). We hold so much power with Christ on our side because with him anything is possible and he will guide us through his Spirit so that we can grow and successfully do the work he has called us to do. We have all the tools we need in order to act but I know that I simply just lack the discipline to do so. Whenever a decision in life or an opportunity comes up, I only think about what is best for me and what am I going to get out of it instead of really just jumping into prayer and fervently seeking God, essentially I just look for the easy way out. Let me tell you that when we look for the easy way out, it is usually not God's way and it leads to disaster in the end for us. We can give up so much for one decision but if it is not in God's plan then we end up shooting ourselves in the foot when it comes to living life. We find ourselves grinding at the very core of who we are feeling like there is no hope, no way out, every decision leads to destruction but in reality we just need to take time to slow down. Even when it seems like time is running out, God will take care of things for you because he ultimately controls the balance of the universe and he will create opportunities for you.

Sounds pretty typical right? We do things our way and it leads to destruction, we do things God's way and then we prosper. This goes much deeper though, not only does he give us instruction for what is best for us, but he listens to us, he knows what we desire and what we seek. Even when we think we can hind it from him, we have to remember that we are essentially made through him and in him and he knows everything about us because he created us. We see an example of this in Genesis 4:6-10 which states, "Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door, it desires to have you, but you must master it.' Now, Cain said to his brother Abel, 'Let's go out to the field.' And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.' Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Where is your brother Abel?' 'I do not know,' he replied. 'Am I my brother's keeper?' The Lord said, 'What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground.' " Here we see that even though Cain is trying to play off that nothing is wrong and that he is fine but God knows something is up and he confronts Cain but he just ignores God and commits an act that he is sure to regret forever. God listens and gives us advice but at the same time we have to listen to his advice because even though it seems like God is torturing us (as I joked yesterday), he really just wants what is best for us and sometimes it is hard for us to see that. When we feel like we are being tortured by God it is Satan trying to tell us that he is just trying to show us that he does not care about us and he does not want to meet the desires of our heart. This is far from the truth and it should be noted that God wants to give us everything we could hope or dream of in his time and within the parameters of his word and plan. The verse that really stuck out to me in regards to sin was verse 7 which began with "If you do what is right..." and the phrase that stuck out about sin was, "it desires to have you, but you must master it." Not only should we rid ourselves of sin and ask for forgiveness but we must be bigger than sin and master it so that it cannot harm us in the future. The past is the past and it only makes us stronger, we know what we need to do so let us listen and take action.

I hope you all have had a wonderful day and I hope that you are trusting God and following his guidance for your life. I am continuing to pray for all of you and I still ask that you do the same for me.

God Bless,

Joseph Robinson