Is Your Path to Where You Want to Be, Confusing or Chaotic?
Observations through Acts 25 will make sense of your confusing and chaotic route.
“Therefore, if I am guilty and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not try to escape death; but if there is nothing to the accusations which these men are bringing against me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar (Emperor Nero).” Then Festus, after conferring with [the men who formed] his council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go (Acts 25:11-12 AMP).”
In verses 1-10, the ravenous wolves, the religious leaders, wanted Paul to go to Jerusalem so they could ambush him and kill him. However, Paul, a Roman Citizen, exercised his citizenship to appeal to Caesar in Rome and was granted his appeal—remember, Rome was his destination and mission (Acts 23:11).
Observations and application:
Evil begets evil. The amount of time the religious leaders used to try and fail to kill Paul is egregious. This time could have been used to lead others and their communities. Evil is a creative spinning wheel of death, destroying you and others. Jesus's words are not bashful regarding sin or evil, “If your left arm causes you to sin, cut it off" (Mat. 5:30). What do you need to cut out of your life? What is negatively influencing you?
The route to the destina
tion is not always in Google Maps. God wanted Paul to go to Rome, the heart of the world (Acts 23:11), to preach the good news, and I’m sure Paul didn’t expect the route to be through an appeal. No matter the route, mission, or destination, it will ALWAYS happen if you trust God in the process. One caveat: His will will always take place with or without you. The route of your calling does not always fit in simple GPS coordinates. Be patient, trusting, and bold! He is molding you, guiding you, and often protecting you from life or death (I have driven on 285 in Atlanta enough times to understand and confirm His protection 😂 ; jokes aside, I am a combat vet who has experienced His supernatural protection).
Never Finished Challenge:
The only way trust grows is with time. As your roots grow deeper in the soil, the storms have less of an impact on damaging you. Grow deep roots by spending time with God daily. Ask God for help on what that looks like. For me, my schedule looks like this: 317a wake up, immediate scripture in my ears (the first 10 minutes of your day are very impressionable on your subconscious), three or more things I’m thankful for writing in my journal, confession of sins in my journal, a chapter in proverbs, then journal in Acts (what you are seeing), then running before my three girls get up. These habits took a minute to become a system. Because of this system, my trust is high, so the storms are not suffocating—still difficult and challenging but not suffocating. Ask God to help you with habits that will increase your trust and faith in Him. I did that; it has made all the difference in transformation.
What does this tell me about God?
The most powerful earthly authority in the world is pees and potatoes compared to the Authority of God. He is the King. He is the Sovereign Creator of the world with a heart to let everyone listen to the good news. What a privilege and indescribable honor to be heir to this throne.
