“After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” – Acts 16:7-9

Sometimes, we “get serious” in life, and set out on a plan of action that we think will be the best. That plan of action may even be something that we are going to do “for God”. All too often, though, I think that we grow weary in doing good, or we are taken aback by obstacles in the course that we have envisioned for ourselves. We take a break to inwardly sulk before deciding what we might want to think about doing instead.

Paul and his companions set out to preach the Gospel to the Mediterranean world, with a fairly detailed itinerary. When they could not go into Bithynia, they continued on to Troas. When they arrived there, a vision directed them to essentially drop their immediate plans and head for Macedonia.

They still were able to preach the Gospel to the Mediterranean world, just not in the order that they had anticipated. Although the course was changed, the purpose was not affected. It makes me wonder if I am too often concerned with a particular plan of action rather than a particular purpose.

In Proverbs 16:9 we read “A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” Notice that it doesn’t say that if a man plans his steps, the Lord will direct his way, helping him move along the course that the man has determined for himself. This passage tells me two things:

1. We may start out in one direction, but God may redirect us, and we must be open and flexible to such leading.
2. Sitting and waiting for direction will get you nowhere. You must be moving (stepping) in order to receive the Lord’s direction.

May I be more committed to God’s purposes than to my plans.