An Open Door

"I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." - John 10:9

So many times you hear people talking about open doors or praying for God to open doors for them as a means of God revealing His will to them.  Have ever stopped and considered that we might be looking at this thing of "open doors" all wrong?

Here is what Henry Blackaby said about this: "What we are asking God to do is engineer our circumstances to match what we think would be best.  The problem is that we misunderstand what the door is."  That is so true, Jesus said He is the door!  Blackaby goes on to say, "If you have substituted activity for your relationship with Christ, then circumstances can disrupt your activity.  When the activity is hindered, you may assume the door has been closed.  Yet, if Christ is the door in your life, He will guide you into every experience of Him that He wants, and there will be nothing that people can do to stop Him."

I know that I have been completely guilty of this in the past.  I did not have a proper understanding of what the door was.  The door is not opportunities or circumstances, the door is Jesus Christ Himself!  I'm afraid that there are many today in our churches who do not have the proper understanding of what the door is and Who the door is.  So many times from a human perspective we look around us at the circumstances and think that the door is closed for us; however, from God's perspective, we are exactly where God wants us to be.

So many times when people oppose us we become discouraged or we worry about what others are doing to us.  We are also guilty, many times, of trying to take matters into our own hands and accomplish what we think is the will of God.  Notice what Blackaby says about taking matters into our own hands: "This reveals that we do not really believe Jesus is the door for our lives.  If we did, we would be assured that through Christ we have access to everything He wants us to do in and through us."

Are you guilty of asking God to engineer circumstances in your life to match what you think is best?  We all have been guilty of this at some point, especially me.  Do you really believe that Jesus Christ is the door for your life?  If He is, then you can be assured that Christ will guide you into every experience of Him that He wants.

Prayer For Today:

Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times when I have asked you to engineer circumstances in my life to match what I want or what I think is best.  Help me to realize that Christ is the door for my life and that You will lead me into every experience of You and put me exactly where I need to be at the exact time I need to be there.  In Jesus name, Amen!

Victory Through Christ

"But thanks be unto God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." - 1 Corinthians 15:57-58


Do you experience disappointments, detours, false starts, and failures in your life?  If you are honest, you will answer yes.  Even in our Christian life and walk with Christ there are going to be times when we feel like failures, times when we are disappointed, and times when we are discouraged.  However, you can be encouraged because God's Word tells you that you can have victory in your life through Jesus Christ!

God's Word goes on to tell us that because of the victory we have through Jesus Christ that we are to be steadfast, unmovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord.  You can stand firm in your faith today because you already have victory in the Person of Jesus Christ.

There are going to be times when you feel discouraged, disappointed, and feel like giving up.  However, you must not give up because God is not finished with you yet.  The Lord walks with you every step of the way on your journey through this life.  He never tires and will never fail you!  Pray as if everything depends on God (because it does) and work for Him as if everything depends on you (even though everything doesn't depend on you).  Then simply trust Jesus Christ to give you the victory in your life!

"Stand still and refuse to retreat.  Look at it as God looks at it and draw upon His power to hold up under the blast." - Charles Swindoll


Prayer For Today:

Heavenly Father, when I am discouraged, disappointed, and when I feel like a failure, may I be reminded that You have promised me victory through Jesus Christ.  Help me to live a victorious life through the Person of Jesus Christ being steadfast, unmovable, and always abounding in You work.  Thank You for the precious promise of victory.  In Jesus name, Amen!

Directing Our Thoughts

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." - Philippians 4:8


How will you direct your thoughts today?  Will you think on the things mentioned in Philippians 4:8 or will you think on the things that are the opposite?  Are you so weighed down by the cares of this world that you do not praise God for who He is or praise Him for your salvation?  Are you discouraged, pessimistic, or even bitter?  If so, the Lord wants to talk to you.

The Lord Jesus Christ wants us to experience an abundance of joy and peace in our spiritual walk with Him.  Today, focus your thoughts on the things that are true, things that are honest, things that are just, things that are pure, things that are lovely, and things that are of good report.  If you have been born again, Christ has done far too much for you to be discouraged, negative, pessimistic, or even bitter.  Today, thank the Giver of all things good, Jesus Christ, for all of your blessings that are just too many to count!

Prayer For Today:

Heavenly Father, help me today and everyday to have an attitude that is pleasing and honoring to You.  Help me to count my blessings and not focus on the negative today, tomorrow, and everyday.  In Jesus name, Amen!