Unfortunately, you probably know the kind of things I'm talking about. The customer service representative promises, "We'll have someone there between Noon and 2:00 PM." They show up at 3:30 PM and do not have time to complete the job. Or, "We'll get it taken care of on Monday between Noon and 3:00 PM." Again, they show up late and fail to finish the job.

I was tired of moving, emptying boxes, and hearing empty promises. So, I wrote the following in my journal:

Father, let me see You in this day. Unfortunately, yesterday — whether by choice or circumstance — I saw mostly frustration and aggravation. I'm ready not to focus on those things and get beyond them. I have allowed these things to consume most of my energy. I pray today will be better.

I turned to the psalm chosen for today and read these words:

I will sing of your love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will sing praise. I will be careful to lead a blameless life — when will you come to me? I will walk in my house with blameless heart. I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me. Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil. Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure. My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me. No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence. Every morning I will put to silence all the wicked in the land; I will cut off every evildoer from the city of the LORD (Psalm 101 NIV).

There was my answer! There in verse 3, I recognized the main object of my irritation and what should be my desire for the day: "The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me." "The New Live Version" says it this way: "I hate the work of those who are not faithful. It will not get hold of me." I wanted to get above and beyond the "faithless" deeds of men. I did not want them to "cling to me" or "get hold of me" any longer.

As I pondered this psalm, I realized that God was answering my prayer. It was as if He was saying, "You want to have a better day? Fine with me. It's your choice." (Ouch!) These are the instructions He gave me:

Sing about the love and justice of God. Praise Him for it.

How's your day looking?

Be careful to lead a blameless life today. That way you will have nothing to fear when I come.

Make every effort to come home at the end of the day with a blameless heart.

Keep your eyes, your mind, and your heart focused on things that are pure, true, honest, and faithful. And, stay away from people who might pull you in another direction.

Keep my word. Be trustworthy. Do not listen to or dwell upon words, no matter who is speaking, that consists of lies, gossip, rumors, or evil. Do not give audience to anyone who is inclined to do evil or who is involved in wickedness.

The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language by Eugene H. Peterson Many have awaited the day Eugene Peterson would complete the entire Bible in his unique translational-paraphrase. Well, the wait is over!

Tom Norvell is the author of "A Norvell Note." He ministers at the Hermitage Church of Christ in Hermitage, Tennessee.

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