The Right Vein

The last time I went to give blood, the lady taking it made a. "jab" at it and hit what she called the wrong vein. I still got the pain of the prick, but the blood didn't flow from that vein because she hit a vein that was not pumping much at the time. Regrettably, she pulled the needle out and proceeded to take another "stab" at it. She slapped my arm and a grin came over her face, like a vampire discovering a new source of life, and then she stuck the needle in and exclaimed, "That's the one I was looking for." I just kind of nodded and said a whispered "Praise the Lord" as the blood flowed. And then it was over.

Over the past few months, I have been praying for something that seemed so right for God to do, and I was trusting Him to come through on it, but to my disgust, it didn't pan out. I was super disappointed, as I always am, when it did not work out, but I had prayed for God's will in the matter. After much introspection, I succumbed to the fact "this is not God's will." I guess you could say I was in the wrong vein and needed to pull back and go another direction, and praise God He comforted my hurt feelings. So I am "wide open" and looking for the right vein, because it is my desire to follow Him and not me. He will provide. I will soon get the same look on my face as that nurse when I see the right thing to do, except my look will be of a person of faith seeing their faith become sight.

James writes in James 4: ¹³ Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.”¹⁴ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. ¹⁵ What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil. I agree with James, and it is a point of growth and submitting to God when we "trust" His ways more than our ways, because our perspective is different than the Creator of the universe, and the creator of my salvation. He is looking out for my "best," and the following verse begins to really come into focus in accordance with this great truth found in Philippians 4:¹⁹ And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰ Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen

Man's best is the wrong vein to be seeking, because it will always be lacking and finite. God's best is the right vein every time, and our growth in trusting Him will be satisfied with the result of tapping into the vein, because it is never-ending and abundant. Jesus spoke of the two different directions and different intent of those supplying direction for each of us and here is the difference between the two. Satan's offer: John 10:¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. God's offer: John 10:10b I came so that they would have life, and ^have it abundantly.

The basic need for each of us is power and direction, so who we come TO is very important. You might think a born-again believer would never follow the promptings of Satan, but it is possible, except when we listen to the Holy Spirit. Remember, Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness with the intent of causing the Son of God to follow His ways, but Jesus knew the right vein. In fact, Jesus IS the right vein, and we can trust His Will. Proverbs 18: ²¹ Many plans are in a person’s heart, but the advice of the Lord will stand.

We can be confident in the will of the Lord, and He is watching and listening, and working for our best, so give in to His will and see just how good this abundant life can get. 1 John 5: ¹⁴ This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. ¹⁵ And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests ^that we have asked Him. God's will is perfect, and we must get connected to that vein if we want to see His abundance.

Today's Message,

David Warren