This morning as I was reading my Bible (I just read through the Bible, Genesis – Revelations, which takes 2 or so years for me and right now I am in Acts.)
Act 16:6 …having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
Acts 16:7 …they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.
In these two verses in Acts we see something interesting in the fact that Paul wanted to take the good news of Jesus into all the world, but was forbidden to go to Asia and then Paul and his crew were forbidden to go into Bithynia. The Lord closed the door to Paul and his team twice, directing them away from these certain areas for the reason… only the Lord Jesus knows. The Bible does not tell us why, but Paul submitted to the will of the Lord and later took the good news to the people in Macedonia.
Lynda and I experienced a type of this leading when I found out a little over 3 months ago that I had an aneurysm. When the Dr. Brennan announced to us that I had this aneurysm, we had no idea where to go. Although we knew that progress would not continue till this issue was addressed, we set out to find a surgeon. So we knew no one in NYC. We did know my brother-in-law (Grady) would have a lead. When calling him in TN, we were given a name of a specialist that Grady thought would be a good choice. We pursued the lead but led into a dead end. We then were given a Doctor in AZ (after we returned to AZ) and that led to a dead end. Lynda called a dear nurse (Jennifer) and asked if we could visit one of the doctors also recommended to us by our Humana and a dear friend (Jacob) and Jennifer said to Lynda, “those will not do for your case, but I know the right doctor for your husband and his certain condition.”
The next day we found ourselves at the AZ Heart Institute and visiting with Dr. Diethrich. Dr. Edward Diethrich was the founder of the AZHI and had trained countless surgeons and was so happy to recommend the course of action.
Through the various closed doors to several doctors, the Lord seemingly forbade us to visit certain doctors. Why? That is His reason and we did not have to understand or even have His reason, we just trusted Him that He was leading us as He always has.
What is the Lord forbidding you to do today? What is the Lord directing you to do today? Can you trust Him without having all the details? Can you find the same kind of rejoicing in your soul for his forbidding as for his permitting? The Lord sees my heart and it is my desire to thank Him for whatever the position of the door may be (opened or closed).
“Thank you Jesus for your forbidding hand and for your permitting hand in our lives. Your gracious hand leads us along in the day to day affairs. Your will be done and we rejoice in You, the One whose will we desire to do with all our being.
Amen.”
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