"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." Acts 16:10
Jake Sitler, a 28-year-old athlete from York County, Pa., says he went from being on the track team at Shippensburg University to being a professional cyclist after he sustained an injury to his hip that left him unable to run. "I wasn't quite ready to accept that I was injured...I kept thinking `I can still come back and run the final end of our season`and my coach just sat me down and said, hey man, we did everything we could. He was like...'you know...it's just time to move onto the next stage of your life. So I started mountain biking." And because of his decision to “move on” in a new direction, Sitler now holds a professional contract for a different style of cycling and spends his days training for major events (like the Olympics).
You know, whether we like it or not, things will happen to us in life that will uproot our plans and cause us to change direction. The apostle Paul experienced that when he and his companions were kept by the Holy Spirit from visiting Asia and then Bithynia (v.6-9). And while they may have wondered why their plans had been thwarted twice, God soon revealed the direction He would have them take instead. And so they "got ready at once to leave for Macedonia.. to preach the gospel to them." And Paul’s decision to heed the call, according to some historians, was credited with the spread of Christianity into Europe and the Western world.
You know, when God is working to lead us in a new direction, He will use many ways to get our attention. It may be through the promptings of a friend, the voice of the Holy Spirit or a disruption in our lives. But when this happens, you can be sure of one thing... what God is leading you to will always be better than anything you ever left behind.
Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us so much that you would care to guide us in the direction that is best for our lives. Help us to trust your plan especially when we don't understand it and to follow you no matter how it looks. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!!!
I will follow - Chris Tomlin
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