GOD’S CLOSED DOORS

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful – Colossians 3:15.

It is easy to be presumptuous, and to assume that God will always open doors or never close doors! From the Biblical accounts of those who walked with God, the God of Open Doors could also be the God of Closed Doors! What is important is where the door would have led to. The God who knows the end from the beginning also knows what door leads to where – deliverance or destruction. It is not sufficient to experience open doors. The vital questions are: who opened the door; and where does the ‘open door’ lead into?

Details and timing are important when it comes to knowing God's will. The door that seems shut today may be opened in a short while. Walking with the Lord requires learning to WAIT until He opens the door, because what He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open (Rev. 3:7). A closed door is as important as an open door when God is in control. He who sets the ‘green light’ may in His infinite Wisdom also set the ‘red light’ as part of divine strategy; it could be disastrous to forcefully ‘jump’ it. God demands your obedience, not your opinion. Impatience or acting in defiance of His agenda is dangerous. The Lord closed the doors to Paul at Asia and Bithynia; then opened the door for him at Macedonia (Acts 16:6-10).

This is where the Ministry of the Holy Spirit comes in. The Spirit of God turns your guesswork into guidance: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Rom.8:14). Jesus said: “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come” (Jh.16:13). The Holy Spirit alone knows God's mind, as it is written: “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God” (1 Cor.2:11). It takes intimacy with the Holy Spirit to discern divine timing and appreciate God’s closed doors.

When you develop a keen sensitivity to the promptings of God’s Spirit, you’ll learn to consult and trust Him on ALL issues – the visibly significant as well as the seemingly trivial. The Holy Spirit is the divine Umpire. He uses the instrument of PEACE in helping us to discern the Father’s Will. Colossians 3:15 admonishes: “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts…” the Amplified version says: “Let the peace...from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds].” The Divine Umpire imprints a deep peace to your heart once you are aligned to the divine Will.

Isaiah 30:21 prophesied the Ministry of the Holy Spirit: “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, this is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” His is described as the “still small voice” (1 Kg.19:12). Guided by the divine Umpire, you'll never go wrong. Learn to listen to the “still small voice” so that you can discern God’s open doors, avoid false doors, and wait for Him to open the closed ones, or to lead you away from doors that could lead to defeat or destruction.