Monday, 13th November 2023: It pays to to recognise and follow what the Holy Spirit says.

Scripture Reading: Act 27:10
And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.

Reflections: Paul was being transported under guard with other passengers to Rome to stand trial. As they set sail, he had a spiritual intuition that a shipwreck was imminent and that it would endanger everyone’s lives. Paul knew that the best course of action would be to delay the trip so that they would avoid the upcoming turbulent winds. He tried to convince the centurion and the crew to follow his plan, but they refused to listen because there was no physical evidence or indication that the weather conditions would change. Consequently, they set sail as planned. However, as they journeyed on, a strong and unexpected wind started to blow in the opposite direction, causing the shipwreck that Paul had foreseen. Paul indeed perceived rightly. The word translated as ‘perceive’ in Greek is ‘theōreō ‘. It means to discern. It pays to to recognise and follow what the Holy Spirit says.

Prayer: Oh Lord, give me the ability to recognise and follow what your Spirit says.

Confession: I am persuaded by what I discern in the Spirit.