Denied

In reading through the New Testament Challenge here at Northridge, I read through Acts 16 this morning.  In this chapter Luke writes of Paul and his companions and the journeys they went on.  In two instances it is noted that Paul and company attempted to do something and were stopped by the Holy Spirit.  It doesn't go into great detail, but those phrases jumped out at me this morning.  It certainly speaks to following the vision of God's leading, but it also speaks to being spiritually connected to God enough to hear His voice.  Paul's ambition (and what he perceived as vision) led him to two places, but they were not where God wanted Him to be.  Paul and his friends were obedient enough to the Holy Spirit that they could see that they were being led somewhere else. 

Is that true of us? Many of us have a vision of where we should be going and how we should be doing things, but are we in tune with the Holy Spirit enough that we can hear when it is time to change direction?  Are we faithful enough to His call to be willing to walk away from a place or to not do something that we have planned because God has something better for us?

It's only when we realize that it's not about us, but about Him is this possible.