Next Steps

Acts 16:6-10

'6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.'

When I read the above section of verses, I noticed four things; perseverance, problems, process and promise.

We are all on a journey, this journey of life, and like any good journey there will be ups and downs. 

The guys making the journey above certainly hit problems. Initially, everywhere they tried to go the door shut. Do you ever feel like that? No matter how hard you try things don't work out? Problems! 

Yet these men, they didn't give up - they persevered. The places they'd tried to go to must of taken months to travel between if not longer, but they kept going. That must of been hard, frustrating, disappointing, yet they persevered through the process. 

How did they do it? 

I don't know that there's any easy answer here, but they must of had faith. If you read before this chapter, you'd soon realise these men were faith-filled, spirit-filled men of God who knew their mission. I'm sure they got grumpy and despondent along the way, who wouldn't? But they kept going, they persevered through the problems. 

These men knew they had been called to preach the gospel, they knew that was their mission, so, they stepped out and did it. They took logical, practical steps towards this purpose. God had called them to do something and they faithfully took their next steps. I admire the fact that they didn't give up. 

God may of called you to something and it seems really hard work, well, you're in good company! I'd encourage you to keep persevering, if God has called you, whatever He has promised will come to pass.

When God speaks, His promises will be fulfilled. It might take time, it might cost, it might mean hardship, but it will happen. I still have promises that are yet to be fulfilled, but I'm certain they will happen because God says so. The question is, what am I doing about it in the mean time? Am I taking steps of faith towards these promises?

So, today as you read this, consider your journey of life. Where are you heading? What is the next step in your process to reach the promises of God?