REFERENCE: Acts 23:11 That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, "Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well."

 Observation: God shows His grace to Paul by speaking to him about the call on his life. God says Paul would be His witness in Rome at some point in the future. Things are looking anything but promising for Paul at the moment. He is being held as a prisoner, after being nearly torn to pieces by the Jewish council. A large group of the Jews were forming a plot to take his life.

Paul is reassured that he is in the Lord's will, and God's plan will come to pass. It is interesting that the next day, Paul doesn't announce to his captors,"God told me I'm going to Rome", nor in any of his future interactions with leaders deciding his fate does Paul specifically ask to be sent there. He has God's personal assurance, and he leaves it to Him to bring it to pass.

Application/Confession: How awesome to hear God's voice and know His call on your life! How many times do we get ahead of God, or maybe we know the Spirit is leading us to do something, but we try to make it happen in our way, in our time. I know I get nervous, at times, about a promise God made to me personally or in His word. I need to trust that if God said it it will happen, and not strive in my own strenth or through my own scheming to make it happen.  

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord for the promises in Your word. Thank You for the call You have on my life. Help me to trust You to be faithful to Your word, and to walk in confidence knowing none of Your plans for me will fail.