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God Opens and Shuts Doors of Opportunity Part 1

We all need to hear from God each day, about many different issues, but there are critical times in our lives when we especially need to know that we are hearing clearly from Him. God wants to speak to us, but we have to be careful that we don’t develop a closed mindset about how He has to speak to us. God has many ways through which He may choose to speak, but whichever way He chooses, he does promise to direct our paths.
It’s not always easy to know if we are hearing from God or if we are hearing from our own emotional reasoning. Some people say it took them years to learn how to hear from God but I believe that’s because there hasn’t been enough clear teaching on how He communicates to His people. God wants us to know He is willing to lead us and guide us as a good shepherd leads His sheep. He will speak directly to our hearts, but if we are deaf to His voice, He will find other ways to lead us.
Sometimes God speaks by opening or closing a door to something we want to do. Paul and Silas tried to go into Bithynia to preach the gospel and minister to the people there, yet the Spirit of Jesus prevented them (see Acts 16:6-7) we do not know exactly how that occurred; it is possible they simply lost their peace. I sense they actually tried to go into that province in Asia Minor, and God somehow kept them from doing so… Elmo and I know from experience that God can open doors of opportunity that no one else can close, and He can also close doors that we simply cannot open. I pray that god will open only doors through which He wants me to pass… I may sincerely think something is right to do, when it may be wrong; therefore, I depend on God to close doors I am trying to walk through if I am in fact making a mistake: “A man’s mind plans his way, but the lord directs his steps and makes them sure’ –Proverbs 16:9I spent many years of my life trying to organize things that I wanted to do. The result was frustration and disappointment. I know now to depend on god to open doors for me that agree with His perfect plan. God will give us favor and make things easy for us when we seek His will and His perfect timing!
In writing to the church of Philadelphia, the apostle John, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said, “ These are the words of the Holy One, the True One, He Who has the key of David, Who opens and no one shall shut, Who shuts and no one shall open”—Rev. 3:7
Sometimes the only way to discover God’s will is to practice what I call “stepping out and finding out.” If I have prayed about a situation and don’t seem to know what I should do, I take a step of faith. God has showed me that trusting Him is like standing before the automatic door to a supermarket. We can stand and look at the door all day, but it won’t open until we take a step forward and trigger the mechanism that opens the door.
There are times in life when we must take a step forward in order to find out, one way or the other, what we should do. Some doors will never open unless we take a step toward them. At other times we may take a step and find that God will not open the door. If we trust Him for guidance, and the door opens easily, we can trust that He is leading us to enter into the opportunity before us. In 1 Cor. 16:9 Paul stated that God had opened a wide door of opportunity for him and his companions. He also mentioned that there were many adversaries, so we must not mistakes opposition for a closed door!
Paul and his co-workers Silas and Barnabus did not sit and wait for an angel to appear or a vision to be given to them while praying for direction. They took steps in the direction they felt was correct. Many times God did open the door, but there were times when He closed the door. This did not discourage them. They were not afraid of ‘missing God”. They were men of faith and action! They also knew to back off quickly when it became evident that God was not permitting them to follow their own plan.
I remember six years ago.. when I lost my job, when all my businesses went down and I had my newly born Aaron Clark, my youngest son... what I want that time was to be out of the country. I don’t care if I’ll accept as Domestic Helper as long as what I want was to be out of the country! One of my reasons for doing that plan was my worries about my teens’ education, years from now they will be in colleges and during that time Elmo still no work, though God provided us a good man, Mr. Raymond O’Donnell (deceased), who support us since Elmo and I got married…yes.. I already found an employer then, but the problem was producing its placement fees! I still need 30,000pesos ( for during the time I had business and job it was just a petty cash for me! ) out of 30 persons I approached to borrow that amount… gee!!!!! No one … nobody… was able to lend me that amount! Then I ask God.. why He let not open His door of opportunity for me?
Few years later… I am here…. Telling everyone my testimonies.. that God opens and shuts door of opportunity!!! Every time I’m telling this my heart is over joy praising God and thanking Him for all the things He has done for me!
God has a very good reason why He shuts the door of opportunity for me, because He knows the very best for me!
Now, I ‘m still with my family, my two daughters, Aecy Mohleen and Machie Elleen, are both in colleges, while Japhet Moel is in high school, Karl Dave is in grade 2 and Aaron Clark is in Kinder… and of course some friends and brethren know our statues in life today…. Now.. I understand God’s ways for me…

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Comment by ALCEDES JONES on September 12, 2009 at 4:35am: KATHLEEN may you continue to obey the voice of our heavenly father for this should enlighten a lot of our sisters and brothers in CHRIST JESUS TO GIVE THEM UNDERSTANDING HOW THE WILL OF GOD IS,HIS DELAY IS NOT A DENIAL MAY BLESSING AND DEEPER UNDERSTANDING COMES TO ALL THAT READ IT AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO USE AND GET ALL THE GLORY LOVE YOU THROUGH THE LOVE OF CHRIST JESUS PEACE

Comment by sharina jones on September 11, 2009 at 10:42pm: remain blessed

Comment by The pilgrim on September 10, 2009 at 11:51am: I thank God for the doors He opens and for the doors He shuts.......... thank you dear sis, kathleen for sharing this it speaks to my heart ..... after all "God’s answers are wiser than our prayers".

You are truly blessed and a blessing.
Remain blessed

God Opens and Shuts Doors of Opportunity Part 1

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