How might the detours and delays in your own story be forming the character and faith you will need for what God has ahead?

"I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well." - 2 Timothy 1:5

Trusting God's plan for your life won't always be comfortable or convenient but it will shape the character you need to sustain every calling He has for your life.

Looking back at a season of closed doors in your own life, can you see any ways that God was redirecting you rather than simply saying no?

"And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia." - Acts 16:6

The Holy Spirit will disrupt our plans, but they are not deterrents to our destiny. They are the divine means by which God will get us there.

How has worship impacted your relationship with God, and what might change if you approached it with greater expectancy?

'While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."' - Acts 13:2

When we worship, we're breaking ground in the spiritual realm. Worship is when and where spiritual movements begin.

Result: Great joy came to the entire city (Acts 8:8)

Purpose: Scattered Christians carried God's Word wherever they went. He proclaimed the Messiah and performed signs and wonders (Acts 8:4)

Pressure: Persecution scattered early Christians throughout Judea and Samaria. Philip went to Samaria - a region despised by Jews (Acts 8:1)

When life applies pressure, God has a purpose

Money can't buy respect. Money can't buy trust. Money can't buy forgiveness. Money can't buy integrity.

Human power expresses itself too often through placing unjust burdens on others. God's power is one of inspiration. It lifts us up.

You don't see a person's character just by the adversity they go through. You see a person's character when you give them power.

“For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.” - Acts 4:34

In a city and in a culture where everything is about building monuments to self, we're invited into something different.

What the enemy uses to destroy, God uses to multiply. Are we mature enough in our faith that some of the intensity that we're facing that we would consider it a privilege from the Lord?

“They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. ‘Go, stand in the temple courts,’ he said, ‘and tell the people all about this new life.’” - Acts 5:18-20