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Frustrate: to make ineffective;
bring to nothing; impede, obstruct.
Frustration: a deep chronic sense or state of
insecurity and dissatisfaction arising from
unresolved problems or unfulfilled needs.
Frustration is a
stumbling block.
Isaiah 62:10 Go through, go through the gates!
Prepare the way for the people; build up, build up
the highway! Take out the stones, lift up a banner
for the people.
So, there are all kinds of things in the realm of
the spirit that will obstruct our progress, impede
our growth, or keep us from moving forward
spiritually.
The enemy uses our
sin or flesh doors to set up a spiritual condition
that produces a stumbling block to frustrate our
efforts.
Then, we are left with a feeling of frustration. We
tend to justify our frustration because things just
aren’t working out, but it will never work out as
long as we allow our emotions to rule through
frustration.
We’ve been watching the Colorado Rockies play
baseball.
Ball players have good games and bad, good series
and bad, good seasons and bad.
When they get on a losing streak it is frustration
that keeps them there; they are neutralized.
When they are on a winning streak they move forward
with confidence and satisfaction, which fuels their
ability to win.
I’m remembering one player particularly who really
had a good season last year who has somehow been
neutralized; he personally is on a losing streak –
just can’t seem to hit the ball. So, someone has
been assigned to help him learn again how and where
to stand, how to hold the bat and position his feet,
shoulders and arms. They have analyzed his swing,
and still no breakthrough. Why? I’m thinking it at
least started with frustration.
He is a Major League Baseball player!! He was good
enough to make it to the big league! He’s no slouch;
he’s gifted and good. So what happened? I’m
wondering if he doesn’t just need to play the game
with his heart set on having fun.
I saw the first-baseman get frustrated in a recent
game when he didn’t perform as well as he expected,
and he was pretty well done for the rest of the
game.
I’m using this as an example in the natural to see
more clearly what the enemy intends for us.
Frustration is our
enemy and an opposing force to our victory. We need
to realize how destructive it can be.
I’m speaking to those of us who somewhere along the
line got on a losing streak and can’t seem to get
turned around again.
Lost your job?
Financial reversal?
Relationship disaster?
Lost your confidence?
We must not lose hope!
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think
toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not
of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Here’s a progression
that I think might help us avoid or get over
frustration:
1. Recognize that we will get into a slump from time
to time and have an off day.
2. When we make mistakes or don’t measure up, don’t
take it too seriously.
3. Forgive our shortcomings, forget about failure
quickly, and move on.
4. Remember--we have a Helper who will give us the
ability to do what we’re called to do.
5. Refuse to give up.
6. Trust God to bring us through
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ
who strengthens me.
A song that’s been in my spirit for a couple of
weeks is “His Eye Is On The Sparrow” (and I know
He’s watching me.)
“Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart feel lonely?
And long for heaven and home
When Jesus is my portion
A constant friend is He
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me.”
Matthew 6:
26 "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither
sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your
heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more
value than they?
27 "Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to
his stature?
28 "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the
lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither
toil nor spin;
29 "and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all
his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 "Now if God so clothes the grass of the field,
which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the
oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of
little faith?
How do we fix our faith?
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and
hearing by the word of God.
Psalm 18:
28 For You will light my lamp; the LORD my God will
enlighten my darkness.
29 For by You I can run against a troop, by my God I
can leap over a wall.
30 As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the
LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in
Him.
31 For who is God, except the LORD? And who is a
rock, except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my
way perfect.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets
me on my high places.
So what’s the
answer?
Get in the word; read God’s promises to us; feed
your faith instead of feeding fear.
Change of focus from ourselves and our weaknesses to
God and His strength in us.
In our prayer time, we discovered a 4-fold cord of:
1. Seducing spirit that seduces us into self-focus,
looking at our own faults, which keeps us from
seeing God.
2. Fear, which creates dread and a negative outlook.
3. Infirmity that manifests not only in body, but
soul and spirit as well causing us to feel disabled,
hopeless, helpless and frustrated.
4. Heaviness which causes us to feel overwhelmed.
James 3:16 For where envy and self–seeking exist,
confusion and every evil thing are there.
This is a demonic
attack against God’s people to keep us from being
victorious.
We need to close the door on our flesh responses;
repent for allowing frustration to rule.
Then, stop entertaining this demonic quartet and
cast the demons out.
Finally, begin to walk again in the Spirit so we can
see God again and respond to life’s circumstances in
the power of the Lord.
Amen!
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