God's Holy Fire: 'Stop Signs!'

Saturday, June 14, 2025

[Paul and his companions on the second missionary journey] went to Phrygia, and then on through the region of Galatia. Their plan was to turn west into Asia province, but the Holy Spirit blocked that route. So they went to Mysia and tried to go north to Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn't let them go there either.
— Acts 16:6-7 MSG

Key Thought

I am not sure how "the Holy Spirit blocked that route" or how "the Spirit of Jesus wouldn't let them go" in another direction. I do know, however, that so many of our decisions, our ventures, our endeavors are just that - OUR choices. We go through the process of deciding what we think best or what we want to do, and then we ask God to bless it. We can quickly dismiss the doors closing to an opportunity or the Spirit directing us to go a different way. Discerning the will of God in these times is hard. What is Satan seeking to do to deter us? What stop sign did the Holy Spirit give us to keep us from disaster?

Two convictions come over me as I consider this quandary. First, I don't seek to walk each day being led by the Spirit as I should. Being led by the Spirit must be my passion and my yearning as I draw my first waking breath each day. Second, I must learn to present my challenges and problems to the Lord in prayer ... both individually and together with other Christians. I am convinced that doing these things would be beneficial for all of us. We must work together to discern the Lord's will for our lives.

Today's Prayer

O Father, help us hear your warnings and heed the stop signs of the Spirit. At the same time, dear God, help us not give up when we face challenges and difficulties with something you are leading us to do. Help us to know, O Lord, the way we should go so that in all things your mission will be done and your name will be glorified. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

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Illustration

Illustration of Acts 16:6-7 MSG — So they went to Mysia and tried to go north to Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn't let them go there either.

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About This Devotional

God's Holy Fire is a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

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