It can become an atmosphere drenched in confusion when one is subject to being pulled or pushed in either one direction or another. How is one to know in which way to proceed? Even if everyone chipping in on the directives seeks nothing but the best for you, there seems to be no sense of purpose or peace in these matters.

Paul experienced this same turmoil during his ministry as we read in Acts 21.4-6: ‘Finding the disciples there, we stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.’ These beloved fellow servants spoke in the words of the Holy Spirit and what we find therein seems to bring confusion.

The word continues: ‘But when our time was up, we left and continued on our way. All the disciples and their wives and children accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray.’ I believe that the purpose of this time of prayer was so that those loved ones could find that peace of Christ about his plan for them.

Paul and Luke continued on their journey to Jerusalem, and the local church went on with the business of living the Christian life: ‘After saying good-by to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.’ Ultimately the one who has to have that sense of peace is the one committed to the perfect plan of God for his or her life. Others rarely have the same awareness of God’s will as does the one on the journey. Each of us needs to BE COMMITTED TO GOD’S PERFECT PLAN FOR MY LIFE!