Friday Fight 174: Enduring the Door
Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF174.
Many have heard phrases referencing a door being opened or closed and what that means for our lives. As a praying Christian, a closed door would be an area where God potentially redirects us for His purposes. For this post, let's focus on when God closes a door.
Enduring the Door:
When we hear phrases like 'God opened a door' or 'God closed a door,' what is our immediate thought? Not seeing the bigger picture can leave us unsure about things, which is a perfect time to pray. In these moments, bringing our questions, anger, gratitude, or shock to God is okay. This is a time for us to be reassured of His unwavering presence and continued guidance, a comforting thought in times of uncertainty. Whatever the circumstances, let's apply Scripture to this and assume momentarily that a door in our life is closing unexpectedly. Romans 8:15 directs us to rely on our relationship with God through the leading of the Holy Spirit. There is no reason to fear knowing our Heavenly Father will always be with us.
There are two ways to endure a door closing like this. To illustrate, imagine God is calling us to live in another area for reasons beyond our understanding. We covered it in prayer, received numerous confirmations, and felt the continuous leading of the Holy Spirit. We can walk in faith and begin packing without a new perceivable door or focus on all the unknowns. Concentrating on the Holy Spirit's leading means remaining focused on God's goodness. We must recognize all the doors He has closed in our lives, followed by the glorious ones He has also opened. When we are uncertain, it is important to remind ourselves how incredibly God has moved in our lives.
Keeping ourselves in check when these situations arise can be a real fight. Imagine finding out that you are about to lose your job. Instead of celebrating God's goodness, our fear and uncertainty cause us to focus on the size of the closing door, its potential impact, and the overall loss of something in our lives. We can either remain paralyzed by fear and focus on everything we will no longer have or move in faith, knowing that God is already there and will lead us to an area specifically created for us. Envision a door with our name on the front, with more than we can imagine on the other side!
Please apply this post by taking time to meditate on all the doors God has opened or closed in our lives and the blessings received through each. These doors could include relational, geographical, occupational, or spiritual shifts that redirected our lives, exceeding what we could ever fathom. Thank God for every opportunity and His perfect timing, a reminder to be patient and trust in His plan. Celebrate His grace by welcoming a newfound joy through reflecting, particularly in areas you could not understand until now. Remember to memorialize His goodness, repent when convicted, and share these impactful spiritual endeavors with others. In doing so, we can build a supportive community that learns to exalt God's glory and then displays this celebration to future generations, fostering a sense of connection and support.
Pastor Shannon
New Life River Church