We cannot help feeling disappointed when a door of opportunity closes. But our heavenly Father will often prevent us from going forward when He wants to redirect our steps toward a wiser pathway. What determines whether we partake of His greater blessing is our reaction: Will we beat against the barred door or look for a new opening?
Paul’s second missionary journey included a series of divine “no admittance signs.” The apostle set out to visit the churches he had started across Asia, but the Holy Spirit led him away from city after city. It must have felt quite frustrating to be prevented from carrying out the gospel commission (Matt. 28:19).
Paul kept traveling in search of fertile ground where he could plant a new church, and at last the Lord revealed an open door to Macedonia. The new route eventually led him into key cities of that day. Philippi, Corinth, and Ephesus were major commerce centers teeming with dignitaries and foreign traders who could carry the gospel farther and faster than Paul.
The apostle set out with a wise and rational plan, but human reasoning isn’t always reliable. The Bible tells us to trust in the Lord instead of our own understanding (Prov. 3:5). If we’re to follow God’s will for our life, we must live by the Spirit’s prompting. Consider that the Creator of the universe is taking a moment to nudge you in the right direction so that you may be fruitful and blessed. Follow Him, and He will direct your steps down the right paths and through the best doorways.
Bible in One Year: Ezekiel 23-25
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