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Scripture
Acts 16:6-7 (NIV) 6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.

Observation
So here are Paul and Silas. They are on fire, preaching the Gospel like crazy, carrying out the mission that Jesus gave us to "go make disciples." One day they say, "hey, let's go take Asia for Jesus!" What could be wrong with that, right? Yet the Holy Spirit gave them a very clear "NO." They regroup and say, "OK, no sweat... we'll find another unreached people group." So they head to Mysia to the city of Bithynia, and once again the Spirit says "NOPE, not here."

By this time these guys (if they were like you and me) would be saying, "uh, Jesus... you did want us to go make disciples, right?" They had to be wondering why so many doors were closing. God finally speaks to Paul in a dream and lets him know that he and Silas are to go to Macedonia to preach the gospel there. Paul says "OK, cool" and off they go.

How many times to we feel like we are doing all we can to serve God, to do what He has asked us to do, only to be given what seems like a "no" at every turn? We don't know a lot about why this happened to these guys. Perhaps in their zeal they forgot to ask God where HE wanted them to go preach and set out to the first two locations on their own. Perhaps God was teaching them something we don't have insight into. Or perhaps there was a timing issue that made it necessary to delay their entry into Macedonia until just the right moment. Regardless of the reasoning, there is a good lesson to be learned here...

Application
The first thing I get from this passage is that I always have to check my plans with God first before charging off in any direction. It is very easy to fall into the trap of feeling like I have the answers on my own, and don't need God's help. When it seems like I'm getting a lot of "no" answers from God, the first question I need to ask is did I consult with God first? The next thing I learn from this is that these guys were so in tune to God that when He said "no", they heard his voice clearly. Is my life so in tune to God that if He vetoes my plans I will actually hear and recognize His voice? The third thing I see here is that these guys didn't argue with God. They could have made a case for why their plan was a "really good idea." Instead they obeyed without question. They didn't even complain about having their plans aborted twice (if they did, Dr. Luke didn't record it). I have to approach God with open hands, palms up, my plans and my life laid out freely before God, holding on to nothing. He must always be the author and director of everything I do. When I get it wrong and He has a different plan, my response needs to be "as you wish" with joy in my heart that He would love me enough to invite me to join Him where He is at work, and that He loves me enough to speak to me in such an intimate way.

Prayer
God, as I face every day... the small decisions as well as the large ones, I approach every day with my hands wide open, all my plans