Paul, Silas, and Timothy continued to travel to the region of Phrygia and Galatia, but when they tried to preach the gospel in the province of Asia and to the region of Bithynia, the Holy Spirit prevented them from going there. Instead, they went to Mysia to the seaport of Troas. When Paul was in Troas, God gave him a vision about a man from Macedonia in northern Greece. So they left immediately, concluding that God was calling them to preach the gospel there. All of these regions and provinces are all part of Turkey today. The region of Galatia is where the book of Galatians is written for. God prevented Paul from staying in the Asian and Bithynian regions because God wanted them to introduce the gospel into Europe. (Acts 16:6-10). (Second Missionary Journey Map).
We must understand that God has a way of fulfilling His mission in preaching the gospel to the ends of the earth. He directs us on how we can fulfill it. It means that He is the one who calls us to go wherever He wants us to go. When God prevented Paul from staying in Asia and going to Bithynia, Paul obeyed and went to where God wanted him to go. We need to be like Paul to follow the leading of our God and not be guided by our own ambitions. When we try to go our own way and are unwilling to follow God's guidance, we hurt ourselves and miss our opportunity to be where God wants us to be. The best place to be is where God wants us to be. Paul did not complain when God closed the door for him to stay in Asia and go to the region of Bithynia because He knew that God had a better plan.
Let us follow God wherever He is leading us. Let us not be fearful or disappointed but be excited to be where God wants us to be. Satan and the ways of this world want us to pursue our own way and disregard God's way. However, Satan and this world's way only leads to despair and destruction, but God's way leads to life. Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death."
Ask yourself these questions for application: (Think through carefully and meditate on the questions while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you) Do I believe that God's way is better than mine? Am I willing to give up my way and follow God's way? Do I completely trust God with my life?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, I acknowledge that your ways are better than mine because you know everything, and nothing is impossible to you. You created the universe with your wisdom and power. You are the one that sustains the earth. In you, I breathe and exist. Please help me to trust your ways and not mine. To follow you and not my will. I trust your love and faithfulness in my life. You are a giver of blessing, not a taker. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.