by David Brenneman
"and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;" Acts 16:7.
What a strange thing for the Lord to prohibit, for they were going into Bithynia to do Christ's work! And the door was shut before them by Christ's own Spirit.
There have been times when I have experienced the same thing.
Sometimes I have been interrupted in what seemed to be quite productive work. And at times, opposition came and forced me to go back, or sickness came and forced me to rest in some isolated place.
During such times, it was difficult for me to leave my work unfinished when I believed it was service done in the power of His Spirit. But I finally remembered that the Spirit requires not only a service of work but also a service of waiting. I came to see that in the kingdom of Christ, there are not only times for action but times to refrain from action. And I also came to learn that a place of isolation is often the most useful place of all in this diverse world. Its harvest is more rich than the seasons when the corn and wine were the most abundant. So I have learned to thank the blessed Holy Spirit that many a beautiful Bithynia had to be left without
a visit from me.
Dear Holy Spirit, my desire is still to be led by You. Nevertheless, my
opportunities for usefulness seem to be disappointed, for today the door appears open into a life of service for You but tomorrow it closes before me just as I am about to enter. 'Teach me to see another door even in the midst of the inaction of this time. Help me to find, even in the area of service
where You have closed a door, a new entrance into Your service. Inspire me with the knowledge that a person may sometimes be called to serve by doing nothing, by staying still, or by waiting. And when I remember the
power of Your "gentle whisper" (1 Kings 19:12), I will not complain that sometimes the Spirit allows me not to go. George Matheson
When I cannot understand my Father's leading,
And it seems to be but hard and cruel fate,
Still I hear that gentle whisper ever pleading,
God is working, God is faithful, only wait.
Streams in the Desert
Perhaps you too have experienced this. I know that I have. I had thought things were going a certain way, all seemed good, then all the sudden God changed the direction of life. The life I was living I had thought was going to go on for many years more but alas it wasn't to be.
In the midst of my waiting on the Lord other things came to be that likely wouldn't have been done the same as with my being in the right place and right time to do them for others.
In the midst of my waiting on the Lord physically things came up that would have been more than a bit stressful had i been also working full time at the time.
in the midst of waiting on the Lord we aren't to just stand idle, there is always something for us to be doing in order to not become lazy.
There is a time to rest and a time to work. Rest time is often what most look forward to over the work time.
Some take to daydreaming while working of what they might do or wish to do when not working.
Focus on the task at hand is the most prudent advice. In Colossians 3 we are told to do whatever we do as unto the Lord for it is the Lord whom we serve.
Generations now have been spending countless billions of dollars on selfish desires that honestly ended up in a landfill somewhere. All the while the needy of this world continue to be in need.
Excitement for all the wrong things is taught at an early age and we wonder why the grown up life is never fulfilling.
We take our eyes off the Lord when waiting and then wrong decisions are made.
Look to see if these changes in plans are for our benefit or the benefit of others because we don't know the whole picture. We don't know what the Lord knows of a need that we are the adequate one to help fulfill. When we acknowledge that our life is not ours that we were bought with a price, the precious blood of Jesus Christ, it should change our perspectives on living life.
The Spirit changes the directions of lives in order to fulfill the plan and purpose of God in the lives of people. First and foremost of that is the desire than nobody perish but that all come to the knowledge of salvation in Jesus Christ alone.
While our plans might not be what we desire them to be...the point of our lives ought to yet still be "Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven" and or "Not my will but yours be done".
We may not like nor understand but we must trust the one whom we entrusted our very soul to for salvation.
Are you in 'limbo'? Don't look for earthly things to fill that limbo. Seek the Lord in prayer. Find out through your much needed heart-to-heart conversations with Him what might be understood by you.
We who are in Christ are only here still for two purposes. To grow in Christ, to be a light to those who aren't in Christ yet that they too might find what we have. Everything that the world says is important has nothing to do with that. The purpose of how the world does things is to keep Believers from fulfilling their calling in Christ. It's how Satan's crafted this world.
Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.
Life might not make sense because of what God had allowed but that should only make us trust Him more.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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