Open Doors

“I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close…”  Revelation 3:8 NLT
 
Now that things seem to be opening up, I recently had a young friend comment that her life went from being almost completely shut down one day, to back to the rush and noise of life before Covid. She, like most of us, are suffering from physical and emotional whiplash!

Our decisions are demanding to be made at light speed, it seems. Which way to go? Which activity to stop and which to go back to? How much time to spend on each of the things we want to do? What does balance look like now? It has been so long since we’ve had to even think about those things.

I found some peace, and an answer that helped me, when, in a study of the Holy Spirit, it pointed out that the Holy Spirit helps us in our decision-making. In the book of Acts (16:6-10) we read where Paul and Silas were blocked by the Holy Spirit from traveling into one region, then another, until, finally, in a vision Paul was told to go to Macedonia to preach.
 
I was so encouraged to find out that as I try to obey God and do what pleases him, if I am headed in the wrong direction, the Holy Spirit will close that door for me, and point me to the one he has opened. In fact, the Holy Spirit wants to guide us in all of our decision-making. (Acts 15:28) Which makes perfect sense if we believe that God has a specific plan and purpose for our lives. We find that truth in God’s Word, and are given repeated examples of it. (Ps.139:16)

So, if you, like many of us, are standing before open doors of possibility which will impact the form and content of our lives going forward, be encouraged. As believers, we have the ultimate solution, the Holy Spirit lives in us to guide, teach and equip us. We just seek him and believe what he is showing us. Let’s pray, asking the Holy Spirit to close the doors that are not for us in this time to walk through, and for him to guide us to and through the door that God has chosen for us and is, therefore, best for us and our loved ones.

We are not alone. Our help and guide is with us, and within us. Let’s trust and rely on God, setting aside the 10 to 15 minutes of soaking in his presence and listening for his voice to direct us. Once we discern it, we will wonder why we don’t do that every day!

Dear friends, be blessed with peace that passes all understanding as you keep focused on Jesus and keep seeking and listening to the Holy Spirit. Believe that God wants to direct you and keep you on the right path. You are not helpless or alone in deciding the next step in your life. Be blessed with joy as you discover how easy it is to truly live in the flow of the Holy Spirit, the life-giving Spirit. Amen.

Mary Sumner ~ June 16, 2021