“This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while” (Romans 15:22–24).

Have you ever wanted to know how some of the most Spirit-led people make decisions? What does it look like for the ultra-godly to choose where to go and what to do?

When Paul closed out the letter to the Roman church, he explained to them his tentative plan to come visit them. In writing on this subject, he declared some of the reasons he wanted to go to them. He gave them five reasons he wanted to visit them.

1. His work was done.

He wrote: “I no longer have any room for work in these regions.”

It wasn’t that there was no Christian ministry for him in his current region (Corinth). It's just there was no more of his brand of Christian ministry. He was a pioneer and always sought to go regions Christ had not yet been named. That work was finished, so Paul felt it was time to move on.

2. He’d always wanted to.

He wrote: “I have longed for many years.”

This had been a simple desire of Paul’s heart. We know he did eventually make it to Rome, although as a prisoner, not a freeman, but he made it nonetheless. But his reason is simple; he just wanted to.

3. He could visit them and Spain in the same journey.

He wrote: “In passing as I go to Spain.”

Spain qualified as a pioneer work for Paul, so going there made sense to him. Rome was on the way. To Paul, Rome was a logical visiting point along the way.

4. They could financially support his work.

He wrote: “To be helped on my journey there by you.”

He suspected the church in Rome would aid him in his journey and ministry to Spain. They would provide emotional and spiritual support, to be sure, but also financial support.

5. He wanted to enjoy the Roman church a bit.

He wrote: “Once I have enjoyed your company for a while.”

He thought a visit to the Roman church, unlike some church visits, would be enjoyable. It would not be a confrontational trip, but an enjoyable one.

It ought to be mentioned that Paul, elsewhere, was led by dreams and visions. But his decision making process here was straightforward. Logic pervaded this man’s mind. He thought it time to go to Rome.

Perhaps a glimpse into one of the greatest Christian lives ever will serve us as we make our decisions in life.