Well, it's finally here--my first weekend off since February. Don't know what I'll do today, but at least I can start going back to church on Sundays.

Confronting Closed Doors
ACTS 16:6-10

God has the power to open any closed door—no circumstance is too difficult for Him to overcome. And yet He may decide to let things that seem important to us remain blocked. Why does the Lord allow doors to stay shut? Protection. Perhaps He is trying to keep us from making a mistake. On our own, we may not have adequate knowledge to make right choices.

Redirection. God could be sending us on a new path. His plan might include bigger opportunities for us, deeper satisfaction, a wider area of service, greater productivity, a season of suffering, or an opportunity to glorify His name. God closed doors in Asia so that the apostle Paul would minister on the continent of Europe. His obedience led to increased fruitfulness—the churches at Philippi, Thessalonica, and Corinth—and to more knowledge for us through his letters to them. Though Paul experienced much suffering, he also knew the joy of participating in God's work.

Testing. When God says "No," our faith is tested, and we discover what we really believe about Him and His plans.

Perseverance. In these roadblocks, we have opportunity to develop steadfastness, a vital quality for believers. (Romans 5:3-5)

Timing. Our Father places stop signs along our path in order to work out the correct timing for His will.

Disobedience. Past waywardness can affect future experiences and blessings.
When our way is stopped, we must look to God and seek His purpose for the interruption. How do you respond to "no"?

Scripture is God's primary means of communication. It is both complete and comprehensive in its content. Containing principles that address all areas of life, the Bible is the Father's instruction book for godly living. You cannot maintain the Christian life apart from a steady diet of Scripture. More than just a book to read, the Bible is God's primary way of speaking to His followers. Its purpose is to give us guidelines for living, and—through the influence of the Holy Spirit—the wisdom to apply them to our daily decisions. The more familiar we are with Scripture, the easier it will be to see the relevancy of its precepts to our lives. Not adhering to God's plan will result in missing out on the abundant spiritual life that Christ has promised; even more importantly, veering from God's way will mean failure to bring Him the glory that would result from following His plan.

If God's Word does not have a central place in our lives, we'll find it almost impossible to be certain we are in His will.

--Charles Stanley