6th Week of Easter
On the sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river where we thought there would be a place of prayer. (Acts 16:13)
A couple of years ago, a woman in Belgium set out in her car to pick up a friend from the train station ninety miles away. However, her GPS device led her astray. Surprisingly, she continued to follow it and ended up about nine hundred miles south of her intended destination.
Thank God this doesn’t have to be our fate in the spiritual life! Because the Holy Spirit lives in us, we can trust that God will never lead us astray.
As Paul and Silas continued their missionary journey, they made sure to ask the Spirit for direction and guidance, and the Spirit answered them. He prevented them from going to the province of Asia and to Bithynia. We don’t know exactly how this happened, but something made them change their plans. The Spirit also spoke to them in a dream, leading them to Philippi. Unlike the woman who followed her GPS device without question, Paul and Silas sought to discern the Spirit’s voice and cooperated with him. As a result, they met Lydia and her friends and brought them to conversion.
The Holy Spirit wants us to have the same confidence that Paul and Silas did. He wants us to seek his guidance, trusting that he will answer. Of course, there will be trial and error—perhaps even a lot of error at first—but that’s the best thing about the Holy Spirit. He is infinitely patient!
Don’t be surprised if the Spirit sets obstacles in your path, as he did for Paul and Silas. It doesn’t necessarily mean that he is upset with a choice you are about to make. Maybe he just wants to lead you along a more fruitful road. If this happens, rejoice that God is intervening. It means he is sharing his plans with you! Instead of complaining or growing frustrated, ask the Spirit if he is trying to redirect you. Whatever happens, know that the Lord loves you. He sees your heart. He will keep working with you long as you keep working with him.
“Holy Spirit, help me to detect your voice. I open my heart to you. Please come and guide me!” Amen!
Psalm 149:1 Halleluyah!
Sing to Adonai a new song,
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
2 Let Isra’el rejoice in their maker,
let Tziyon’s children take joy in their king.
3 Let them praise his name with dancing,
make melody to him with tambourine and lyre;
4 for Adonai takes delight in his people,
he crowns the humble with salvation.
5 Let the faithful exult gloriously,
let them sing for joy on their beds.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats,
but a two-edged sword in their hands
9 to execute the judgments decreed for them;
for this will glorify all his faithful.
Halleluyah!
John 15:26 “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send you from the Father — the Spirit of Truth, who keeps going out from the Father — he will testify on my behalf. 27 And you testify too, because you have been with me from the outset.
16:1 “I have told you these things so that you won’t be caught by surprise. 2 They will ban you from the synagogue; in fact, the time will come when anyone who kills you will think he is serving God! 3 They will do these things because they have understood neither the Father nor me. 4 But I have told you this, so that when the time comes for it to happen, you will remember that I told you. I didn’t tell you this at first, because I was with you.
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