A Place for Prayer

Acts 16:13  On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate by the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women gathered there.”

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World history is literally going to change because of what Paul is now doing. 

Acts 16 describes many important events. It starts by introducing Timothy, a young man who would be instrumental for the growth of the New Testament church. Then there is an account of Paul’s redirection several times until he and his companions found themselves on the coast of the Aegean Sea at a seaport named Troas. It was there that Paul had a vision of a man pleading for them to “cross over to Macedonia and help us!” As visions go in the Bible, this one was quite simple, yet it was also one of the most important, because this brought about Paul’s directional change from Asia to Europe. 

In our minds, it would seem that having been led by the Holy Spirit to this country, they would hit the ground running. Yet staying in Philippi for several days, it appears nothing was happening.                                    Then came the Sabbath. Paul and the others went outside the city gate by the river. Why there? 

They were obedient to the ‘Macedonia call.’ But just showing up was not enough. They were looking for a place to pray. In fact, the Scripture says they “expected” to find a place of prayer — they needed a quiet, still place that they could get on their knees and seek the will and direction from the Lord for the work they had been divinely called to do.  

PRAYER STARTER… 

Precious Father in Heaven, forgive us for taking matters into our own hands without seeking your guidance, your wisdom, your direction in our  life’s decisions and actions. May we be like Paul and his companions, and find that ‘place of prayer’ and seek you diligently.  

(Continue this prayer as the Holy Spirit directs you personally.  Seek to find a place that place of privacy where you can pour out your heart to God. “But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6, CSB)