Have you ever had a strong sense of direction from the Holy Spirit as to what to do? I suspect that we get these prompts more often than we know and simply “miss” them because of the business and noise of life.  When we are told to be still and know that I am God in Psalms we are reminded of the skill of listening to the Spirit.  Let’s look at Paul’s experience of this from Acts 16. 

Paul 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. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After 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. 11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. 13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

I love this passage that might be easy to miss the significance of.  Paul wanted to go to Bithynia.  We are told that he tried to go there but the Spirit would not allow him to.  To be listening well enough to God that he was physically not able to go somewhere is pretty impressive.  Paul then has a dream which ultimately leads him in another direction.  It leads him to Philippi which ends up becoming one of the most important and significant early churches.  It’s amazing how God often orchestrates plans to do amazing things that we might never dream of ourselves.  Today and every day make it a point to listen you just might be amazed at the places God leads you.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave