Stepping Stones
Therefore, they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. Acts 14:3
I never understood perseverance when I was a young person. I thought that if there was an open door to go through, I would just make the decision about going through that door when the time came. I often let the circumstances determine my decision. How was I feeling at the time? Did the open door look like it was going to make my life better or be more work for me? Were there going to be any obstacles to overcome as I stepped into that decision and mostly was it going to be to my advantage to take that step instead of staying right where I was?
I didn’t realize that I could take each step in faith. Not blind faith but knowing God’s plan and then going through the doors that He opened for me, step by step to walk out that plan. I never recognized that struggles and obstacles were just a part of growing into that new position and I didn’t know that I was passing up many of the opportunities and missions God was opening up in front of me.
Then I started learning how to hear and know when the Holy Spirit was putting something in my heart and path. I learned to tune in, get the plan, recognize the next steps, ask for the strength and faith to take that step and then hold on to Him and what He had shown me while going through the storms that may blow as I took the step.
This is how the apostles operated. In today’s reading, Paul and Barnabas continued to preach boldly even though they were facing challenges every step of the way. At first, their message was heard, believed and received, but then unbelieving Jews began to stir up the crowds and poison the thoughts of the people there to make trouble for Paul and Barnabas. Verse 3 is simply staggering that says that even though they were facing a lot of kick back and multitudes against their message of faith, Paul and Barnabas stayed even longer. (I would have taken that as a sign that it was time to leave and God must be done here because we are no longer welcome.) However, because Paul and Barnabas knew what their mission was and that the Holy Spirit was going to be successful as they persevered, so they stayed until the power of God’s Word produced a victory.
Each phase of life we go through is a crucial stage and the choices we make now will shape our future. The sooner you begin to press in and hear where God’s Spirit is leading you, the sooner you will have an anchor to hold on to when the storms come. Begin to set time aside each day to listen, talk with and praise your Father in heaven and start asking Him to make His plan for your day to be plain and clear each step of the way. Position yourself to regularly connect with godly people who will inspire you and empower you to fill up with the wisdom of God. Get counsel from those who have gone through similar experience and who know how to live out the assignments from God on their life.
Today I want to encourage you to release the power of God in your life by approaching each day with a purpose mindset. Know that His strength and empowerment to overcome any challenge is for you when you walk with the Spirit of God step by step. Even when your journey seems to take a lot of twists and turns, make the determination to walk by faith in what your Father has led you to and the directions He softly speaks to your heart. When you do, He will give you the boldness to embrace each circumstance as an opportunity for growth and it will be a steppingstone to success for you and the Kingdom of heaven.
Today’s scripture reading: Acts 14:1-7
1 Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed.
2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren.
3 Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
4 But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
5 And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them,
6 they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region.
7 And they were preaching the gospel there.
The Daily Dose 