The barrage began before I was completely awake.
No sooner had my feet touched the floor that morning than annoyance over something I read the night before slithered into my thoughts. Then I remembered the all-night wrestling match with my pillow, sheets, and quilt. My hip ached, which started another whole train of irritated feelings. Fifteen minutes later, I realized an old ploy from Satan.
Satan’s attempt to rile me in the morning has happened for years. His tactic once worked much better than it does now, but occasionally it still gets me annoyed. The end game is to get me off track for the day, week, or month, and to go about my business with an increasing undercurrent of anger. Thankfully, I have learned to recognize the signs and leave the annoyance behind.
When the age-old battle for my mind presents itself, the solution is always the same: renew my mind by ridding it of negative thoughts. Renewing involves repentance—telling the Lord I'm sorry and asking for forgiveness. Confession reveals any wrong thinking that has taken root and blossomed into words or actions. Once I've repented, I turn the negative thoughts into positive ones.
Instead of remaining annoyed about what I read the night before, I search for the root of anger. Usually it's a false belief on my part. I massage my hip and decide to talk to my massage-therapist daughter about remedies instead of continuing to think worst-case scenarios. Then I dismiss the all-night wrestling match with the bedding as no big deal.
Like a mist, the annoyance evaporates when I take charge of my thoughts. I’m free to go about my life with a can-do instead of a woe-is-me attitude. Bad thoughts can’t take me anywhere I don’t want to go. Christ gives me the authority to kick them out.
Make the choice to renew your mind when you’re annoyed.
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So,so,so good!