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You know how it is to have your mind set on going a certain way? You’ve worked out in your mind how you are going to accomplish something or where you’re going. You’re set on it. Then all of a sudden it doesn’t work out. You can’t do it, or you can’t have it, or you can’t go someplace.
Now depending on what type of personality you are, either you stay calm and just go with the flow or you get frustrated and try to force conditions to be what you planned. I’m the second kind of personality. I like to plan and I like the plan to go the way I planned it! So I have to watch myself when events don’t work out and not get frustrated. I know I must go before God and find out what He wants to happen.
Sometimes He wants us to take an alternate way. Try again a different way. We may not know why, but if we will submit our idea or plan to God and take the alternate way, we’ll be much more satisfied and productive and happier. That’s because we will be doing it the way God desires, and that produces so much more than our own way.
I believe God put a special story in His Word just to show us this whole concept. How when something doesn’t go the way we perceive it should, we try again. Take an alternate way as He shows it to us. This is the story of the man Paul. He and a group of ministers had just finished touring some new churches to see how they were doing and to strengthen the congregations. After this, they planned to turn west into the Asia province, but as they started making their way, they were blocked from going that route by the Holy Spirit. So they tried another way, and again they were blocked.
By this time, I’m sure they’re scratching their heads wondering what in the world? I mean, they’re trying to do the will of God, but the way is blocked. I’m certain you’ve been there. You felt you were doing what made sense for you to accomplish, then it didn’t come about. It felt as if you were walking into brick walls. You weren’t sure why.
Well, Paul knew better than to try to force things when the Holy Spirit wasn’t in it, so the team stayed put in the seaport of Troas. It was there that God gave Paul a dream of a man who was standing on the shore of the sea calling out to him, Come over to Macedonia and help us! (Ref. Acts 16:9 MSG.) Now Paul knew! It was an alternate way that God had for them and it would be the best way. Because they obeyed and went to Macedonia, everything came together. There were great miracles and powerful events. Lives were changed and people were encouraged and strengthened. In other words, they saw results!
So when we are blocked as Paul and his group were, we have to ask God, “What’s my Macedonia?” God had shown those men that Macedonia was the alternate way to go, not the direction they were taking. So sometimes we just need to find out what our Macedonia is. What is the way God wants us to go for small decisions of life and big ones?
I remember when we were trying to get the Word of Power broadcast on a certain radio station, but before we could, someone else stepped in and got the spot. We were blocked. About that time, I read again this story of Paul in the Book of Acts and how he and his team were sent to an alternate place. That’s when I knew God must have an alternate radio station where He wanted His message to be. He had a Macedonia for us. So I just started going around the house saying, “God, what’s my Macedonia? Where do you want us to be?” John and I prayed and we believed God would show it to us.
Soon we received communication about another radio station that was available and they wanted our program on it. We knew right away that was our Macedonia. After we researched it and got all the information, we signed a contract. See, we didn’t give up and walk away disappointed. That’s what I wanted to do at first. But then John reminded me that God had a better place for us. It was an alternate way but that’s okay, because it was the best way.
Hey, we don’t want to be where we shouldn’t be. We don’t want to take action that isn’t the best. So don’t be discouraged if something isn’t working out. God will make a path for you; He’ll open the way somehow. Just rest in your spirit and try again. Believe for God to give you wonderful results as you take His way. It always turns out to be the best way.
Spiritual Powerline to say out loud:
“I TAKE GOD’S WAY AND GET GREAT RESULTS!”
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