Following God's Direction

You are listening to the My Morning Devotional podcast, episode 1532. Today's Devo is called Following God's Direction. Hey there. We're the Alessies, a ministry family working together in our church in Miami, Florida. And if you're like us, when days get busy and to do lists get longer, it can be hard to find devotional time. That's why we've partnered with our friend Allison to produce a five minute daily dose of heaven. This is the My Morning Devotional Podcast. Hello, everyone, My name is Lauren Alessi and I am your host for this week. That literally sounded like the nightly news, like I was announcing the nightly news. But we're going to stick with it. I'm going to try to act more fun. But I am your host for this week and we are talking out of the Book of Acts. I really love the Book of Acts. I remember the first time I fully read through the Book of Acts and I was like, why didn't I dedicate more time in this book? Because it's kind of really wild and fun. And if you haven't read the full book in its entirety and spent time in it, like 10 out of 10, I recommend it's really fun. Kind of wild? Yeah. Cause like, Peter's kind of wild. The apostles are wild. And then Paul comes in and you're like, this is just a roller coaster ride. So. So that's where we're spending time in the Book of Acts. Yesterday we talked on a little bit of chapter 15. Now we are talking in chapter 16. And we're just going to jump straight into the word Acts, chapter 16, 9, 10. It says this during the night Paul. So now we're jumping into Paul. During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, come over to Macedonia and help us. After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. Few crazy things going on here. So Paul goes to sleep and he has a vision, I'm guessing like a dream during the night of a man in Macedonia. A city which is still a country, by the way, but it was probably like a bigger region, I don't know historical geography, but of a man in Macedonia begging Paul, Paul, please come over to Macedonia, help us. We need your help. So after Paul had seen the vision right away in the middle of the night, I'm guessing this is what it says. Maybe in the morning, Paul gets up and gets his stuff ready and immediately leaves to Macedonia. So Wherever he is in this moment, preaching, traveling, spreading the word, spreading the gospel. He decides because of this vision God gave him. God's calling us to go to Macedonia. We need to be there. God has a plan for us there. I wish I had this kind of faith. That's like, God spoke to me. I'm going, no questions, no if, ands. What is it? No if or buts, what whatever about it. I'm not good at those sayings. Paul's like, we're going. No questions about it. So they get up knowing that God had called them to preach the gospel there. And I kept reading besides this verse, and here's what pops up. On their way to Macedonia, like, right after Paul, Timothy, and Silas, because they all got up and went together, like, right after. On their way, they baptized Lydia, who was the first recorded Christian to be baptized, by the way, in, like, Europe. But she's the first Christian baptism recorded in the Bible. That was the first thing they did on the way. Then they were encountered by a female slave who was. That was the slave who was basically overcome by a demon. And they led the demon and the evil spirit out of her. So that was the second thing they did on their way. And then that was the slave who was possessed by a demon. That. That encounter led them to be in prison where. Where they sang up all night, and then the chains fell off of the prisons. And they experienced a miracle in prison and led people to Christ while in prison because of a miracle that they had because they were praising God in prison. So what we see here is that because of their obedience, because of Paul, Timothy, and silence, Silas, their obedience to God, when God gave them a dream and they said, God's calling us, we're going to. They see three miracles immediately. What does that tell us when we follow God immediately? He writes our stories and he does miracles through us, not because of our talents, but simply because of our obedience. So here's what I want to challenge you with today. Wherever God is telling you to go, don't ask him. Don't get nervous. Go. You never know who needs your help along the way. And you never know what miracles are waiting for you along the way. You never know who you can inspire along the way and what stories are waiting for you along the way. So just like Paul, Timothy, and Silas, when God speaks to you, get up and go and follow in God's direction. Let's pray. Dear Lord, we thank you so much for the examples found in your word, God, especially someone like Paul, God, who just helps us see it straight to the point. God give us that kind of faith, God give us that kind of just boldness and courage, Lord, that when you speak to us we just get up and go. We don't ask questions, we just follow your lead. And Lord, give us wisdom to discern what is your voice and what isn't your voice. Give us discernment to understand what is your direction and what is not your direction and give us wisdom for the path, God that awaits us. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. So there you have it. Your 5 minute daily dose of heaven. Thank you so much for tuning in today. We pray these devotionals empower you to take on your day. If you found value in this devotional, share it with a friend, leave a comment or review for us on the app you're using right now. Until tomorrow. We pray that your latte is strong, but your love for Jesus is stronger.