Chapter 16:6-10 - Led By the Spirit

Being led by God does not always entail an absolutely clear and mapped out plan. Depending on your personality, that might be a blessing or it might be a difficult thing to hear. The early disciples are doing the work of witness as the church itself is being established and growing and as they do that work, it is described with such terms as “being forbidden by the Spirit” to speak in a certain place. They try another place, but again we are told that “the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go”. Then they simply go somewhere else. After that, one of them (Paul) has a dream about a person from another place (Macedonia) asking them to come to where he is to help. The section ends with the disciples, having been told Paul’s dream going to Macedonia to preach the gospel.  

This is no strategic plan. They have not surveyed the neighbourhood, they have not done demographic studies. As far as we can tell they have not struck a committee and held lengthy prayer meetings. They clearly have had in mind some things that God has prevented them from doing and now they have taken direction from a dream of one person in the group. And God is with them.  
Yielding to the Spirit does not always mean that you will know exactly what happens next. 
Underneath all of this lack of clarity is a strength of trust. 
God is going with them. As we trust God and yield to the Spirit, we will be guided, even when it may all appear rather haphazard.  

Dear God, 
Help me even today to trust in your presence and in your guidance. Let me see where it is that you are preventing me from going and bless me with an awareness of your presence in the decisions that I make. Thank you for your guiding hand and for your abiding love. 
In Jesus’ name; 
Amen.