Closed Doors and Open Windows

There is an old saying that goes like this, “Whenever God closes a door, somewhere He opens a window.”  This ideas opens us up to new ideas and new possibilities when everything seems to be going badly.

Mostly, it is a matter of perspective and our perspective can change everything.  Most of us think that our struggles, problems, issues, and enemies are closed doors.  The closed door is there to hold us back so we do not even try to force the door open. 

The real truth is that it is not our circumstances that hold us back, it is the decisions we make in response to our circumstances that tie our hands. 

The closed doors of our lives are there to direct us to the open window.  That window can be the next level in our relationship with God.  They may be a necessary path to get to where God wants us to go.

We can see this in many of the stories of the Bible.  Joseph had to experience slavery and prison in order to be a blessing for the many.  David had to overcome Goliath before he could be king.

The cross was a means of death but enabled Jesus to save the world.

Imagine if Joseph, David, or Jesus had only seen the closed door and not the open window.  Millions would have starved in Egypt, David would not have been the greatest king of Israel, and we would still be in our sins.

Whatever closed door we face whether it is a circumstance, or struggle, God has something better for you through the open window.  And it is something you will never experience until you breath the fresh air and see the other side.

Blessed To Be a Success

Everyone wants to be successful and they want their family, children, and friends to be successful.  It is universal desire.

In one sense it is good, since the desire for success get us out of bed in the mornings, motivates us to study long and hard, and overcome the obstacles of life.  However, if our lives are defined by success we will never feel good about ourselves if we do not become successful.  Success is like chasing a constantly moving ball that we will never catch.  The bar is always set higher and higher.

There will always be those around us that are more successful to make us feel insecure and there will always be those to whom we can feel superior (prideful).  For each of us, no matter how successful we are, there will always be more to achieve, greater rewards and higher mountains.

I read once where Matthew Barnett of the Los Angeles Dream Center said, “Stop trying to be a success and start trying to be a blessing.”

If you really think about this, it will change the way you approach your work.  Instead of always trying to be first in everything, do the things that will bless the greatest number of people.  By having your priorities right and being a blessing first, success will naturally come.

When we only try to be successful, we will usually not have either.  When we try to be a blessing, we will usually get both.

We can spend all our energy and time trying to reach goals that are just beyond us or we can spend our lifetime trying to bless those around us.

Being a blessing can bring true happiness. Be a blessing and success will come.

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