Monday Morning Encouragement - September 19, 2005

Good morning! If you are like me, many of you started off your Monday morning by looking at your calendar, day planner or Outlook™ to formulate your game plan for the day and possibly even the week. Depending on your personality type you may be so detailed that nearly every minute of your day is charted out before you, with little room for flexibility.

Today I want to talk about divine interruptions to your schedule. When we choose to walk daily with God, we need to understand that our priorities are not always His priorities. We may have one agenda, while God has a completely different purpose for our time, talents and energies. This morning’s encouragement comes from the 16th chapter of Acts:

Acts 16:6-10 (NLT)
Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had told them not to go into the province of Asia at that time. [7] Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not let them go. [8] So instead, they went on through Mysia to the city of Troas.
[9] That night Paul had a vision. He saw a man from Macedonia in northern Greece, pleading with him, "Come over here and help us." [10] So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, for we could only conclude that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.

In this account we see that as Paul and Silas were traveling the Holy Spirit was directing their path. There were some areas that Paul and Silas wanted to go and yet God was preventing them from entering those areas. Ultimately, God had an entirely different destination in mind for Paul and Silas, but the destination was not revealed until the time was right. When it was all said and done, God had narrowed down the choices for Paul and Silas and there was only one direction they could go.

Many times we set out on a particular course for our day, week or even our life. We are so committed to following that course of action that we become inflexible. At these times, God often closes doors in our lives or puts detours and barriers in our way to redirect us to the place that He is leading. For example you may get caught up in a meeting and end up going to lunch at a different time. During this altered lunch time you have the opportunity to encourage someone you might not normally see. What started out as an inconvenience now has become a “divine” appointment.

On a larger scale there may be times that you experience the death of a dream or goal, because God wants to take you in a different direction. I started life as a Police Officer. It was my goal to put in my 25 years and retire at age 46. God however changed my course and redirected me. To be obedient to God’s leading, I had to let my dreams and my goals die. I had to be willing to sacrifice my pursuits, noble as they were, so that God’s best could be a part of my life. During times like these, I have watched God close many doors, so that His leading was undeniable.

Today you may find yourself moving in direction different form what you had planned. Don’t let this be a point of stress, but instead look for the divine moments in your day. Who are the people God is bringing across your path? What are the circumstances that are changing before your very eyes?

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl