Who's Opening Doors for You?

One of my cousins was talking about selling books in Kentucky in the 60’s. One summer he went out there to walk door to door and sell Bibles, reference books and more. He talked about one particular town where every single door he knocked on refused to greet him. On the sidewalks of the small town, every merchant cussed him and tried to run him out of town. Eventually he decided there would be no selling books there, so he left for the next town. He had been warmly greeted in the previous town and greeted kindly again at the next town but that town was completely closed to him.


Have you ever had a door closed in your face? Maybe you weren’t selling anything, you were in a relationship with a friend or loved one and it all went south. You didn’t do anything and yet they shut the door and walked away. Maybe you did something wrong and tried to make amends but the door remains shut.

Oh beloved, I’m here to encourage you today! Rejoice! God is with you no matter what! He is with you when you are greeted warmly and He is with you when you are given the cold shoulder. He’s with you when men speak highly of you, He’s with you when you’re cursed and pushed away. He’s with you when things are going wonderfully and He’s with you when it all goes bad. He is with you!

Today, regardless of your circumstances, you can rejoice, for God is your Sovereign Father and He has appointed the right place for you to be. If He has allowed a relationship to be broken, He is certainly able to restore heal and make it new. If He has allowed a door to be closed, whether it’s a job or a ministry or a friend or family member, He is going to work it all for His good because you are called according to His purpose. You may do your best to open doors or make things right, but ultimately it is God who does the work. His appointment for you is solid and you do not have to be concerned for He goes before you all the way.

It may be hard, I truly understand, for there have been times I have felt the cold winds blow as relationships falter, but I also know that God and only God is the restorer of everything. And as you look to Him and only Him you will never be disappointed, for He is your maker, your husband, your friend and your guide forever! Never despair for God is the One Who is the Door Opener and the Door Closer. No one can do a thing without His sovereign purpose being fulfilled in your life. You can be assured of this because He loves you and He’s for you and that’s all that really matters.

Revelation 3:8 I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed My word and did not deny Me.

Isaiah 43:616 I AM the LORD, who opened a way through the waters, making a dry path through the sea.

Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Isaiah 48:17 This is what the LORD says--your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I AM the LORD your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.

Psalm 23:3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name.

He says to you and me "I AM your Rest and Peace"

I find that I am losing ground daily. Once I had a huge realm. All that my eye could see was mine, mine, mine. My husband was mine. My family was mine. My home was mine. My land was mine. My job, my hobbies, my habits, my future and more. All mine. I was a very influential woman as the scope of my realm was huge! Slowly but slowly I’ve been losing ground. First I lost my rights. Then I lost my desires. I found, through a series of events, better known as life, that even my family no longer belonged to me.  Now I have very little to call mine. Some of it I lost the hard way – by hanging on too tightly. Other personal effects I lost by realization.  The more I tried to keep things under control, the more bound I was to it. Like owning the cell of the prison you’re captive of.  

Now that I own nothing I find that there is complete freedom. Now that I have lost myself I find that I am a rich woman indeed. I have found and am still finding out that loss of everything means gain of the best. I have no realm, not even myself. It all belongs to another.  It is his to do whatever he wants to with. I cannot control one person, one thing or one idea. But as I relinquish my realm more and more to the One Who is worthy I find that peace, love, joy and overcoming victory are totally mine. I have exchanged my crown for the olive wreath and it fits so much better. I have exchanged my pack of possessions for a yoke and it is soothing and reassuring.

Perhaps you have tried to control problems, personalities, and things. Maybe you just want peace in your home and joy in your entire family. You’ve tried and tried. You’ve prayed, begged, insisted and soothed, but still the other subjects of the land are determined to do their own thing. Maybe you were charged by lions and you saw no helper near you to come to your aid. You must find rest from the toil and a soft pillow for your weary head.

Oh beloved, run to the Lord! Bury your face in all that He is! He calls out in loving, soothing words – “Everything, I mean everything in all creation is Mine, including you, all of your loved ones and all of your heart’s desires. In all the expanse of heaven and earth there is nothing I cannot take care of. I AM the Lord and there is no other. I AM your rest and your peace. Relax your hold on other things and take hold of Me and My Promises which follow after all who trust Me. I have all your hurts and hopes and desires in My hand. I AM going to take you with Me all the days of your life. Keep seeking Me and My favor, keep relinquishing your control of both the hard things and the good and rest, just rest in Me.  I love you and I’m for you. Is there anything else you really need?”

Daniel 4:34 After this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the One who lives forever. His rule is everlasting, and His kingdom is eternal.

John 18:36  Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep Me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”

Isaiah 30:15  This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to Me and resting in Me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength…”

Lamentations 3:24  I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in Him!”

Matthew 11:29  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Psalm 56:9  My enemies will retreat when I call to You for help. This I know: God is on my side!

Deuteronomy 3:24  ‘O Sovereign LORD, You have only begun to show Your greatness and the strength of Your hand to me, your servant. Is there any god in heaven or on earth who can perform such great and mighty deeds as You do?

It is In the Heights that We Really Learn to Know Him

As I was looking at the photos taken of our recent ride to Petit Jean I was reminded of what a daring man I married! Several photos were taken, not only by me, but others that showed him on top of boulders, out on the cliffs and overlooking chasms. All these years I’ve watched him launch out to places I don’t dare go.  He has always asked me to go along with him, but most times I declined. On the rare occasions where I mustered up enough courage to go with him it turned out to be so worth it! The view would be so wonderful, the scene exhilarating and the realization that I had the courage to go with him was great!  I find that my husband has taught me a lot about life, about taking chances and about looking at the scenery rather than concentrating on the fear and I’m thankful again that He’s mine.  

Oh beloved!  Our walk with God is like this. We love to stroll with Him in the meadows where there’s not much trouble, few decisions and no stress.  Yet it is in the heights of the unfamiliar that we really begin to know Him and to trust Him and thus to follow Him. While it may seem safer to reside in the valley, it is up on the mountain that real change takes place - the mountains where we’re out of our comfort zones, loose from our earthly bonds and clinging only to Him. Why don’t you take His Hand this morning and say yes. Yes to the unknown, yes to the higher calling, yes to the place where you will live with “less of me and more of Thee”.  His marvelous plan is out of this world for you.  Not only that, the view is astounding and the air is fresher. You can trust His plan, you can climb up and be full of courage as together you and the Lord walk the walk He has planned for you.  Take a chance today and watch how your life lets go of the fear holding you to the meadow.  He loves you and He’s for you and that’s all that really matters.

 

Habakkuk 3:19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.

Mark 8:34  Then, calling the crowd to join His disciples, He said, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow Me.

Psalm 94:18-19 “I cried out, “I am slipping!” but Your unfailing love, O LORD, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, Your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.”

Psalm 143:10  Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.