MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - 23/07/2026

THURSDAY - 23RD JULY, 2026

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - Olusola & Oreoluwa ADEJUMO

THE BROTHER THAT ALMOST DID VAIN LABOUR - Escaping Vain Labour Series 005

Acts 16:6-7, KJV

"6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,  

7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not."

This is one of the greatest saves in the Bible. You may not know how great a save it is until you find yourself in the shoes of someone who has gone somewhere they shouldn't go. The regrets will know no end. 

Imagine the saves - not once but twice. Paul is a good Christian and you should learn from him. He's given to God's will. However, he's also careful and knows the importance of guidance or shepherding. He is a man who understands the voice/way of the Spirit. He knows when resistance is from the Lord and can tell when it's from the devil (I Cor. 16:9).

Being the head of this missionary band, it's his responsibility to discover where to go for the Lord's work. It's in his heart to go out for the Lord. In being consumed with doing God's work, they first made an attempt for Asia. The Bible says, "the Holy Spirit forbade them!" "Forbade" is a strong language as used there. It means the Holy Spirit said NO to them. It's a "no" in capital letters. It means he was restrained, hindered and prevented from going on that course. Why? It could have been a futile trip at that time. It may be casting where there'll be no fishes (souls) to catch or where his mission would have been hindered seriously (John 21:6).

Then, they made another attempt. They attempted to go into Bithynia but the Spirit didn't give them release. They felt another blockade. They had no approval at all. Rather, they were being checked and curtailed from further movement. Some of the people with Paul could have said in frustration, "what's really happening?" However, their breakthrough didn't come until verses 8-10.

Acts 16:8-10, KJV

"8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.  

9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.  

10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them."

Leading pays and persistence in surrender will eventually receive answers. You will choose which you want - to wait to be led or to have run and to be eventually redirected. One saves your time, energy, resources and investment. In the other experience, you'll have to gather new provisions because you might have spent halfway already. This is how the feet of Paul escaped vain labour. If you read that narrative forward, you'll see how souls gave heed on his Macedonia journey (Acts 16:14-15). He had a prosperous journey. May you not cross the wrong borders. May you not sail for the wrong country and more importantly, may you be bendable, yielding and submittable to God. I pray for you, God will banish and forbid you from journeys without profits. You won't go on a journey of no return. Rather, you'll be turned to cast your net to the right where you'll find. So shall it be (Acts 21:6).

PRAYER: I'm not a trespasser. Therefore, my path will not cross with the destroyer's. I'm in God's will and I'm protected in His will. I work where God works. I'm turned to where the water is stirred and where there's ready profit.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 

II Chronicles 8:11-10:19, Romans 8:9-25, Psalm 18:16-36, Proverbs 19:26

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