Closed doors prevent mistakes. Just because a path is clear doesn’t mean it’s the one God intends for us to follow. Sometimes we won’t have the information we need to make a wise decision, so He blocks the way. The Holy Spirit knows the whole road map for our life, so we should follow Him.
Closed doors redirect our walk. God won’t leave a willing servant with nothing to do. Closed doors can result in better fruit, more satisfaction, and greater glory for Him.
Closed doors test faith and build perseverance. Waiting for the Lord is hard, but it’s a means by which we can learn wisdom, patience, and trust.
Closed doors buy us time. We aren’t always as prepared as we’d like to think. God may temporarily hold shut an opportunity for service until we’re ready.
These 4 reasons were written by Dr. Charles Stanley for our encouragement. Going through a challenge? Reflect on them and be encouraged while you wait.
God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind
2 Timothy 1:7
It’s natural during times of change that we feel worried about our future. We feel Concerned when we can’t see our way. Take courage. Know that the lord is our God. He will lead, guide and protect us.
Here are 13 verses to comfort an strengthen you in times of need.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows
You shall not fear them, for it is the LORD your God who fights for you
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling
For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.
Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident
So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.
You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear!’
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the LORD has done great things
Which do you lean on most in times of anxiety and stress? Any missing that you would like to share?
May we experience Peace
Peace in the midst of chaos
Peace in the midst of struggle
Peace when things get out of hand
Peace during mayhem
Peace during lack
Peace in courage
Peace in times of Fear
Peace in times of confusion
Peace in sickness
Peace in health
Peace in quiet time
Peace in ease
May we always experience peace. A peace that only our Lord can provide. He is my peace. Hope he’s yours too.
A little prayer for you May the lord wrap his loving arms around you. May he take away your pain and discomfort. May he provide joy deep within May he grant you more good days than bad May he grant you quiet solace. May he always bless and keep you.
There’s a craze going around with thoughts such as be you; be your best self; and you name it, it’s yours. These are all centered on the “me craze.” Everything is about being me, me, me. Live your best life! And yes ….I often subscribe to these.
But…
And yes there’s always a but… there’s a balance. Use caution. Be yourself but be careful of your intake. This means be careful of what you put inside your head. It goes to your heart. Undesirables create feelings of negativity, apathy and sadness when your desire to please goes astray. Desirables create feelings of positivity, purity and optimism. Make sure you follow the right crowd.
Yes, be you but remain humble. Be Christ-centered, not self-centered. Be confident in who you were made to be but make sure you walk circumspectly as being wise. It’s a thin line and you can fall off easily if you go astray.
Oh How I Long For Red Lights. Its funny as I embark on a new project, I am working at an opportunity that as I leave home takes me straight to the highway…non-stop. This goes on for approximately 60 miles. I found myself saying how I long for Red Lights. This has hit home as I am writing about RedLight When God says No.
In my previous book titled GreenLight: When God Says Go, I used to pray for non-stop green lights as I made it all the way East. When red lights caught me I was mad. Impatiently I’d declare how much I needed to go.
But now I long for a time to stop. To stop to change the audio-book to another. To stop to acknowledge something quickly. To stop to safely sip that delicious cup of tea to soothe the early morning’s drive. I just long to stop to breathe.
The Lord’s Patience
I don’t know how the Lord deals with us. We are never satisfied. He gives us Green Lights and we complain because we want to stop. He gives us Red lights and we want to go, go, go. He tells us to slow down to his Safe Place and we say we have no time to stop. Oh how does he patiently waits on us? Oh why does he never leave us.
We conquer by faith. This is a common verse yet as I read it today it jumped out at me. Faith is all we need. When we pray, the Lord doesn’t always answer giving us the details of his quest. He may give us the Goal as when you feel led to do something but he doesn’t include in that calling a step by step guide.
The Righteous will live by Faith
Romans 1:17
The righteous will live by faith means we have to trust him when we don’t understand. Trust him when the way seems foggy. Trust him when our career goes asunder. Trust him when a loved one gets hurt, or even passes. An old hymn says we will understand it in the by and by. Understanding comes with:
Praying for Guidance
Reading the Word
Quiet Reflection
Listening for Directions
Looking back over your life and the evolution of its path
Connecting the dots to see where it’s leading
Sealing the time with Prayer
Trust God. Trust his leadership and guidance. Because his words says the righteous will live by faith not worry
Those were the words I saw on a list of things to do written by my little one. She was in Grad school and as most of us know, moving becomes a part of college life. As she packed to move she had a list of things to do. A trait taught by her mom to ensure everything or most things are captured as part of planning life’s journey. As I went to help clear an area in the kitchen, I pounced on a post-it list of things to do for the packing. On the list I read the words “ask the Lord’s guidance“. Wow! As a mom I was happy see her giving the lord the place she needs in her life. My goal was to discreetly capture a picture of the list but my phone was some place else. Later, I left and forgot to capture the treasured list.
Commit to Memory
I think of Sergio’s family who lived in the building that came crashing down in Miami. A building labeled as a catastrophe (unknown to residents). It claimed the lives of over one hundred people while they slept. Immediately people of faith prayed and prayed, pleading with God for the safe survival of those affected. Sadly it was too much and after 14 days searchers resorted to a rescue mission instead to retrieve the remains of fatalities. This was a national crisis acknowledged by community leaders up to the President. Such catastrophes we may not easily forget as we remain on our knees.
I reflect also on Hailey’s mom who had a degenerative condition. Similarly, Ken’s brother was admitted in the hospital for prolonged treatment while Laila felt discouraged as she couldn’t find a job.
Common to these scenarios is that all asked asked friends, colleagues and the church to pray. Many joined in prayer at the outset but as time progressed forgot to pray and only remember intermittently. Life’s daily priorities often overshadow even the most devastating catastrophes as they linger.
Prayer Checklist
That’s where a prayer checklist comes in. It serves as a basis for times when there’s too much to remember. Though we mean well, our fickle minds forget to pray for the sick, those in relationship turmoil, the jobless, the discouraged, and our daily needs. Let’s not forget to mention how often we forget to give thanks for answered prayers.
A prayer list is invaluable. To satisfy your curiosity, here are five reasons:
It helps us remember what and who to pray for.
It serves as a testament for Praise and Thanksgivingwhen prayers are answered.
It provides a medium for reflection when we look back at what the Lord has done.
It serves as a means for acknowledgement of our journey with God. Sometimes he had to carry us. Sometimes he comforted. At other times we look back unable to understand how we made it through. That’s when he strengthened us in our weakness.
Most importantly, it serves as a yearend dialogue with family and friends when we reflect.
Start capturing those prayer requests today. An e-notepad (smartphone) or a simple sheet of paper will do, but a prayer journal will help to keep them more organized. You can get them at most pharmacies, grocery or convenience stores. But here’s GreenLight Journal that will definitely help.
Now it’s your turn. What are your thoughts about a Prayer checklist? Do you use them? Please share. We would love to hear.
When God Says Go, obey Even when it doesn’t make sense. Often as he did with Abraham, he doesn’t tell us how, when and where. He just provides the GreenLight and the nudge. If we are in tune, we will recognize his leading.
Years ago I felt his quiet guidance to write what I see (Habakkuk). I obeyed and have been writing His words of encouragement to Quiet the hearts of those discouraged, sick, needing reassurance and just prayers for guidance.
Furthermore he has led aspiring authors who need help to me for my assistance to help them to do the same. Indeed I am humbled and will hold firmly onto him.
Today, I encourage you to follow his lead even when you’re afraid to step out as I was. But one thing I’ve always encouraged is for you to do it afraid. Don’t trust your fear… it will only hold you back.
GREENLiGHT 