Daily devotional, April 20, 2024 Exact Location
"And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us"
Acts 17:26-27
Every avid online shopper and digital merchant has mastered every bit of description he can give to direct a customer or courier towards his place. Every landmark is important, every street name a must.
As followers of Jesus we have to take heart that we are exactly where God wants us to be. That since He is sovereign, He chose where we will stay, where we will build our home, and live our lives. In the Book about the Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul addressed Athenians and explained to them Who God is, His power and divine plans for every being:
"And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,"
Acts 17:26-27
Sometimes, we may feel like we are not happy or at least thriving in one place. We wonder if there might be somewhere out there where life could be better for us. Where we could get the best out of life, and where we will be surrounded by more sensible people.
In times like these, we should remind ourselves that God is in control and that He has long planned out the blueprint of our life. Just like the above mentioned passage from the Acts of the Apostles, we have been planted where we are so that we could seek and find God. We just have to trust in His plan for us, and intentionally seek Him and build a relationship with Him.
"My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me,when as yet there was none of them."
Psalm 139:15-16
One of the proofs that God is in control of where we live our lives is the story of Philip the Evangelist. Philip was guided by the Angel of God as He preached and performed miracles in Samaria, Jerusalem and Gaza, even up to Caesarea. Upon baptizing an Ethiopian Eunuch, he suddenly found himself mysteriously on another place to preach the Good News.
"And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea."
Acts 8:39-40
If we will think about Philip’s story, then we can be sure that as long as we abide by the Lord and follow His will in our life, we will be exactly where He wants us to be. That we may experience persecution and challenges right where we are, but as long as He is with us, we do not have to worry because He will help us endure.
Now if we find ourselves still wondering about our purpose in life, and if we are indeed in the right place, then we should ask ourselves if we are living aligned to God’s purpose. Are we abiding in Him? Are we living out His mission for us?
Most of the time, we are at a loss because we do not seek out God’s guidance in our life. We head towards the direction that we think is best for us, without even considering which path the Lord wants us to take.
Let us take the time to seek Him by dutifully praying to Him daily. Intentionally allot time to read and reflect on His words. Be with other people who are seeking Him and studying the scriptures. Worship Him weekly alongside other believers.
It is by nourishing our relationship with the Lord where we will get to be in tune with His plans for us, and we get to fully trust and be confident of His love.
"The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken." Psalm 16:6-8
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Acts 8:26-40 and Psalm 139:7-18 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: Do you believe that you are exactly where God wants you to be?
Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, thank you for putting me in a place where I could fully maximize your plans for my life. Help me to follow you out of love and obedience, so that I could live a life that is glorifying to you. Amen.