I have been struggling for months with a frustration that just doesn't seem to get any better.  In fact, it only seems to be getting worse and I have just had to walk away so many times and put it out of my mind.  This morning, it really hit me hard, and I found my frustration beginning to turn to anger.  And of course, the anger only made the frustration worse.

 

Shortly after the anger began to rise up in me, I sat down at my desk to do my daily devotion.  And God, in His nuturing Fatherly way, wrapped me in His arms and began to speak to me in discipline and love through His word.  The scripture with my devotion for the day was Ephesians 4:26  "In your anger do not sin.  Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."  That is so God!  Meeting me right at my point of need when I go to His Word. 

 

Then, as I began to read out of my devotion book, the words that God intended to be just for me at just that moment, jumped off the page and right into my heart........"The way to strangle fleshly thoughts and attitudes is to pour Scripture into the mind regularly and frequently.", it said, followed by the scripture reference Psalm 119:11.   As I turned to Psalm 119 and began to read verse 11, I realized that I needed to read more of that passage, so I began at verse 9 which says, "How can a young man keep his way pure?  By living according to your word.  I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.  I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.  Praise be to you, O Lord; teach me your decrees.  With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth   I rejoice in following your statues as one rejoices in great riches.  I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.  I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word." 

 

It was at that moment that I recognized I was giving the devil a foothold by allowing my frustration to turn to anger.  Instead of being angry, I needed to be giving all praise to God the Father for His word and I should be delighting in the riches that His Word is in my life.   Nope, the frustration isn't gone, but my attitude is sure different.  God used my devotion this morning to take my focus off my frustration and put it back on Him.........where it should have been all along.  When my focus is on Him..........the frustration dims and I am much better equipped to keep my ways pure and live according to His word so as to not stray from His commands.   To God Be The Glory!