What a long week it has been, the start of baseball practice, working a few basketball games, the semester is headed for the busy period, and another week with no vehicle. It is easy for me to get down on myself and let this world tear me apart. I was reading a post from about a month ago dealing with love and not getting upset with people as much. I have not made much progress but I am recognizing the need for change and I want to take the necessary steps to achieve that change. A few weeks ago we moved stuff around and I was hoping for my mindset to change at that point but it had not clicked in my head just yet. I tried to motivate myself last week to make some changes and yet again just could not quite figure it out in my decision making. I let my mind take over and that is when I find myself in a moment of fear. Relaxation of my mind and letting my heart control what I do is the only thing I do can do right when I actually let it happen. When my heart is in something and my mind has been suppressed, then I can achieve the goals I have set before me. When I hit in the cages, listening to music helps me hit better because it allows my mind to be taken off of the idea of taking a bad swing and just allows my body to do what it knows how to do. Thinking too much can sometimes have its downsides, we tend to find ways to justify our actions or find an easier road when we think about something too much. We take risk out of the equation over time because the reward (good or bad) makes its way to the forefront and then we act based on emotion, not on our initial mindset which is usually the correct one. I think that we do need to assess all the options in most cases. The Spirit gives you direction but be careful when something else tries to pull you in another direction. Typically the direction of the Spirit is pretty obvious but when it comes to justifying little things, the right decision might not always be very clear. Prayer and being in the word will greatly increase your chances of listening to the Spirit. Allow time and room for God to move in your life and just see what he is capable of doing for you. I can say that more often than not, you will be blessed and surprised by the power and greatness of God.
Do not be discouraged when you fail, you are going to feel bad and it may seem like you are just a screw up and cannot do anything right but this is far from the truth. We are all sinners and I believe that everyone struggles with the temptation of sin. We see in Romans 7:21-25, "So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God -- through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin." Just as I said last week, overcoming the flesh and the mind is one of the toughest things we will do in life. When we try to do what is righteous, the evil one has something or someone trying to penetrate our heart's desires. That subtle gesture or word from someone might be enough to make you listen to what your flesh is telling you and then you feel like you are right back where you started. Making progress in your faith and being able to show God that you are dedicated to his will are two of the greatest feelings that you will experience. Overcoming the attacks of the devil shows that God is in control and that you can submit yourself to God. It is a daily submission though and if you do not allow God to have control over your life everyday, you will fall down and Satan will have the opportunity to tell you that you cannot do it. Allow God to speak into your life everyday and tell you that you can make it and that you are loved, He will show you more than you could ever imagine, do not ever forget that.
Maybe I can get back on a regular schedule of posting, I keep wanting to but I still have other things that want to get in the way. My motivation is to allow God to work in me and at the same time help people. I hope these are as encouraging to you reading them as they are to me writing them. I hope you are doing well, please keep me in your prayers!
God Bless,
Joseph Robinson
