GOD HAS GREATER THINGS IN STORE FOR YOU!
“He who is holy and true, who holds the key of David, what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.” (Revelation 3:7)
When God closes a door, don't be mad! Rejoice! What's on the other side is far greater than what we leave behind. The Bible says in Jeremiah 29:11, “ For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God knows the reason why something is happening to us, and for what purpose He created us for. People that are in our lives mean well, but they don't know our purpose because they didn't create us. If we aren't careful, Man will put us in a box, and Man’s box for us is usually very small. Isaiah 55:8 says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. When we have a call from God on our lives, or a special task to do, we have to disconnect from Man's idea and plan for us. Let me help you out with this fundamental truth that the Holy Spirit chided in my spirit. He said, "You don't need Man’s approval on God’s assignment." You see, I was waiting for someone to give me an opportunity and waiting for approval from Man. Then I realized I already have God's stamp of approval. I got free real quick when I had a conversation with a dear friend from Bible College. She said, "Paula, you got to get free from fear of what people will say. When you stand before God, you will be by yourself. None of these people will be with you." My focus had to shift to pleasing God and not Man. That made me really think and realize I want God to say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” I want to stand before Him with no excuses having fully completed my assignments on this Earth. Now, don't get me wrong, we have to operate in an orderly manner according to what God tells us to do. We need to make sure we aren’t doing things for the sake of saying we are doing things for the Kingdom when really we are just trying to put “Kingdom notches” on our belts!
A longtime family friend, Ophelia Wellington, was laid off her teaching job. A door was shut in her face, but as she told me, “ When God closes a door, He opens a window.” There is life after the closed door. Most of the time life is just beginning. While she was laid off, she opened up her Bible to the Old Testament and asked God what to do. He gave her the vision for Freetown Village. Freetown Village, Inc. is a living history museum located in Indianapolis, IN. The trials, triumphs, and daily life of African Americans are presented through theater, storytelling, folk crafts, heritage workshops, music, day camp, and special events. If she had not been laid off, she probably would have never sought God for His purpose in her life at that time, and Freetown Village would never have been birthed!
I heard it said best, A setback is only a set up for a COMEBACK! We’ve got to make a comeback! Maybe you have had a door closed in your face- a divorce, fired, laid off from a job, passing of a loved one, put out of church. At first, I know it hurts, but when we remember what Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” All things mean the good, the bad, and the ugly. God uses and allows it all. Nothing is wasted. So let’s get ourselves together because God has greater things in store for us! And that means you!
Meditate on these scriptures:
Jeremiah 29:11
Isaiah 55:8
Romans 8:28
“He who is holy and true, who holds the key of David, what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.” (Revelation 3:7)
When God closes a door, don't be mad! Rejoice! What's on the other side is far greater than what we leave behind. The Bible says in Jeremiah 29:11, “ For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God knows the reason why something is happening to us, and for what purpose He created us for. People that are in our lives mean well, but they don't know our purpose because they didn't create us. If we aren't careful, Man will put us in a box, and Man’s box for us is usually very small. Isaiah 55:8 says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. When we have a call from God on our lives, or a special task to do, we have to disconnect from Man's idea and plan for us. Let me help you out with this fundamental truth that the Holy Spirit chided in my spirit. He said, "You don't need Man’s approval on God’s assignment." You see, I was waiting for someone to give me an opportunity and waiting for approval from Man. Then I realized I already have God's stamp of approval. I got free real quick when I had a conversation with a dear friend from Bible College. She said, "Paula, you got to get free from fear of what people will say. When you stand before God, you will be by yourself. None of these people will be with you." My focus had to shift to pleasing God and not Man. That made me really think and realize I want God to say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” I want to stand before Him with no excuses having fully completed my assignments on this Earth. Now, don't get me wrong, we have to operate in an orderly manner according to what God tells us to do. We need to make sure we aren’t doing things for the sake of saying we are doing things for the Kingdom when really we are just trying to put “Kingdom notches” on our belts!
A longtime family friend, Ophelia Wellington, was laid off her teaching job. A door was shut in her face, but as she told me, “ When God closes a door, He opens a window.” There is life after the closed door. Most of the time life is just beginning. While she was laid off, she opened up her Bible to the Old Testament and asked God what to do. He gave her the vision for Freetown Village. Freetown Village, Inc. is a living history museum located in Indianapolis, IN. The trials, triumphs, and daily life of African Americans are presented through theater, storytelling, folk crafts, heritage workshops, music, day camp, and special events. If she had not been laid off, she probably would have never sought God for His purpose in her life at that time, and Freetown Village would never have been birthed!
I heard it said best, A setback is only a set up for a COMEBACK! We’ve got to make a comeback! Maybe you have had a door closed in your face- a divorce, fired, laid off from a job, passing of a loved one, put out of church. At first, I know it hurts, but when we remember what Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” All things mean the good, the bad, and the ugly. God uses and allows it all. Nothing is wasted. So let’s get ourselves together because God has greater things in store for us! And that means you!
Meditate on these scriptures:
Jeremiah 29:11
Isaiah 55:8
Romans 8:28