Just because an opportunity presents itself, and it looks attractive, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s from God. And in the same way, just because an open door seems a little uncertain, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go through it.
The key is knowing how to discern if an opportunity is really an open door from God. I don’t want to lose those open doors because I was afraid to walk through them. But I also don’t want to take every opportunity that comes along, assuming it’s the hand of God and has blessings attached to it.
In a recent conversation with a friend, we talked about faith and the courage to walk through a door that God holds open for us, even if we’re not sure what’s on the other side. But then the question arose: How can you know if God is the one who opens the door?
The Bible gives us some principles to help us discern if an “open door” is an opportunity is really from God:
1. The door that God opens will never contradict his word
Many Christians see opportunities to earn more money as an open door from God, although the opportunity means a job that prevents them from fellowship or regular service at their church. However, God’s Word tells us that we should not neglect coming together to worship God (Hebrews 10:25).
Some women have told me that they believe that God opened the door for them to a dating relationship.although that meant being in a situation where they are going to be “unequally united” with a nonbelieverand against what the Scriptures also warn (2 Corinthians 6:14).
God will not lead you into an opportunity that contradicts what he clearly says in his Word. Nor will it open a door that requires personal commitment or disobedience for you to enter. As sin-prone humans, we have a great way to completely flip God’s command and justify it based on our circumstances, but that’s not how God works.
If there is a compromise in any way, or we have to stretch Scripture to justify our “open door,” it is likely not a door that God is opening for us. I would call anything that contradicts his Word a temptation, rather than an open door from God. And the Word of God clearly says that God does not tempt us (James 1:13-14).
2. The door that God opens will be accompanied by confirmation
In Matthew 18:15-16, Jesus gave instructions for confronting sin among believers saying, “But if they won’t listen, bring one or two more, so that “every matter can be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” “I think the same applies when it comes to God confirm something in his Word. He will often confirm or establish a matter through “two or three witnesses,” whether it be verses from God’s Word, counsel from a pastor, or a well-respected person based on Scripture., or an uncompromising circumstance that keeps presenting itself. Through prayer, discernment, and seeking godly counsel, you should be able to know if that “open door” and its confirmations really come from God.
3. The door that God opens will require you to depend on him
God will not give us something that will take us away from him or make us believe that we no longer need it. He is a God of relationship and a God who insists on being first in our lives (Matthew 6:33). Therefore, If you find yourself saying that “I can’t do this unless God goes before me” or “I can do this, but only with God’s help and guidance,” I would say that, in my personal experience, it’s probably something be God.
We are called to do what Hebrews 11: 6 says: “And without faith it is impossible to please him, because he who draws near to God must believe that there is him…”. Many times An “open door” from God is one that allows our faith to be stretched and strengthened. After all, that is God’s goal for us: to grow in faith and in Christ.
Take your chance or “open the door” to God and ask for his confirmation, through his Word and the godly counsel of others, and his peace in the decision, and you can be sure that you are not choosing a door at random. , but you are carefully walking through the ones he wants you to enter.
Cindi McMenamin is a Bible teacher, national speaker, and author of 15 books, including When Women Walk Lonely, God’s Whispers Into a Woman’s Heart, and her most recent, 10 Secrets to Becoming a Carefree Mother.
Published in: –Cindi McMenamin She is a Bible teacher, national speaker, and author of 15 books, including: God’s Whispers to a Woman’s Heart and her most recent, 10 Secrets to Becoming a Carefree Mother. – Find out daily about all the evangelical Christian news.
Post Visitors:61