01-26-10

Praise the LORD!!!
  
   Yesterday when I'd finished editing my post for today I added the little note about not thinking it had anything to do with the referenced verse and putting the matter to prayer and as led posted it! Well I now know why, it wasn't finished. Today I will go on where the LORD had me leave off.

   After covering the area of our online time and how it can either be used as a blessing for GOD, or distract our attentions away from GOD. I'll go into other areas of our lives where the adversary can and will use our lives and surroundings to keep our eyes focused somewhere other then GOD and HIS wonder working power over all creation.

   In this day and age we have many problems which distract our attentions away from GOD. With the current state of the economic systems around the world being a mess, this is a very potent weapon against us. For our money has a direct influence on the manor in which we live. Whether we are thriving or just surviving, both can be used against GOD's influence within our daily existence. When people have amassed large fortunes they tend to focus their attentions on maintaining their wealth. This in itself isn't wrong, what is though is worrying about it and placing it before our duty to the LORD. In doing this, we've placed our focus on the money and not GOD. Plainly put, we are worshiping an idol, something our very own hands, though with the blessings of GOD, have acquired and built up. No difference between this and making an idol out of wood or precious metals. It is that which we've formed and shaped and placed before GOD as our source of provision and protection!

   This also goes for those that are just barely surviving due to financial woes. They will tend to focus their thoughts and actions on seeking out their livelihood on their own, even though there may be a lot of prayers, and taking their focus of HE that has promised to provide all of our needs. Now working to make a living isn't wrong, but when we focus more on the work we do to make a living then we do on the GOD whom has given us the abilities to work and make it, then we've lost sight of what GOD wants from us. Our devotion and dependence upon HIM, also our faith that in no matter what is happening around us, or to us, we know that GOD is the ultimate source of it all. Not ourselves and the little works of our hands.. It is GOD and all that HE's blessed us with being able to do through HIS grace!!!

   Now we come to our health. Where does our good health come from? All that is good comes from GOD! When our health isn't as we think it should be, we begin praying for the LORD to heal us and when we've not received instant healing we begin to moan and grumble about all our aches and pains. Now GOD has promised to heal us 'by the stripes of JESUS' and HE has, for that verse reads 'were healed', not will be or might be, but 'were.' Now you say you know this, but you're still not received the healing, because you still have the problem. Well, where are your eyes focused? On the healer or on being healed? If you are focusing on being healed, your eyes are looking in the wrong place! The HEALER has said you were healed already and you should be thanking HIM for allowing you to receive it and see it. Not on the facts that you see, but on the facts that you KNOW GOD has healed you. Every little bit that you doubt in GOD and HIS ability to do exactly what HE has promised hinders your ability to receive that which you seek!!! Take for instance breathing. Do you doubt that when you take your next breath that there will be air there to inhale? Most likely not! You have not doubt at all that it will be there and you receive it into your lungs really not even thinking twice about it, its a natural, or a given. This is the same manor we need to realize GOD has given us all the blessed promises, they are ours we just need to grab hold of them and not think twice about it.Just remember to be thankful when it happens!!!

   We need to learn to take our eyes off the act of getting our needs met and focus on the fact that GOD says they've already been met and even this to a greater extent then we can imagine. Trusting in GOD is most likely our biggest problem in life. We need to seek HIM out in everything we do, no matter how trivial it may seem and be thankful for the fact that it has already been considered by HIM and provided for us. This is faith in GOD and all that HE is and does in this thing we call life!!!   



Other verses to read: there were no verses to feed this entry, for it came off of yesterday's, so you can go back over those if you wish. Personally I love reading scripture numerous times, because GOD always seem to open them up in some new way. This is why we call it the " Living WORD," it isn't static, though the words themselves never change, it is how GOD's HOLY SPIRIT moves upon them within our lives giving us a fresh revelation of them.


Use these verses, but don't stop with them, cross reference and seek out GOD from within HIS WORD!!!

   Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org 


GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
Vine Ministerial Network International