YES/NO - STAY/GO

Page 4 Devotional Study Staci Pealock

Acts 16:6-10 (New International Version)

Paul's Vision of the Man of Macedonia

⁶Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. ⁷When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. ⁸So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. ⁹During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." ¹⁰After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

YES/NO – STAY/GO??

We don’t know how the Holy Spirit told Paul that he and his companions should not go into Asia. It may have been through a prophet, a vision, an inner conviction, or some other circumstance. To know God’s will does not mean we must hear his voice. He leads in different ways. When you are seeking God’s will, (1) make sure your plain is in harmony with God’s word, (2) ask mature Christians for their advice;(3) check your own motives- are you seeking to do what you want or what you think God wants? – and (4) pray for God to open and close the doors as he desires. 16:7-9 The “Spirit of Jesus” is another name for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had closed the door twice for Paul, so Paul must have wondered which geographical direction to take in spreading the Good News. Then in a vision (16:9), Paul was given definite direction, and he and his companions obediently traveled onto Macedonia. The Holy Spirit guides us away from the wrong places. As we seek God’s will, it is important to know what God wants us to do and where he wants us to go, but it is equally important to know what God does not want us to do and where he does not want us to go. (Life Application Commentary)

Many times we find ourselves in this sort of dilemma. Do we take the job and move our family out of town? Is this the person God wants me to marry? We all face issues in life where we must make decisions. When we are walking closely with the Lord, we will know His directives for our lives. God is always speaking to His children. It is His desire to be in close fellowship.

Stop and listen today, Hear what God has to Say He will show you the way, And make everything OK!

Where ever you are traveling, the word of God is your road map. Seek it for all your directions. I promise, you will never have to worry about being not be lost!