God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. ~Job 37:5

Several years ago I was presented with an opportunity to do something I was certain would be fun, exciting, and profitable. A win-win, so to speak. Things were clicking along just as they should until I came to the very last thing needing to be done before signing on the infamous dotted line.

It was at that point that the proverbial curve ball came my way. I wasn’t willing to compromise or comply with the new expectations so I killed the deal. It wasn’t easy to do. I’d prayed and prayed throughout the whole process and felt it was definitely what God wanted me to do, so I have to admit I was a bit confused and upset. Why would God slam a door—the one He’d opened—in my face like that?

Within a few months after turning my back on the project I found out what I thought was my dream come true would have been my biggest nightmare. Had I gone through with ‘it’, I wouldn’t have had a minute’s peace. But wait—it gets better…

In the process of giving up the project I was introduced to someone who just happened to mention something that opened the door for my writing career to really take off. Had I not given up on the project, I would never have met this person.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Door opening!

God says, “Detour Ahead”

It’s not a matter of whether God opens doors. It’s a matter of what doors he opens and whether or not you are willing to walk through them.

When it comes to opening doors for me (and for you), it is important to remember that His ways are not our ways. The doors He opens are oftentimes doors to detours or pit stops on the way to the place He ultimately wants to bring you to.

When you leave the house each morning you don’t automatically arrive at your destination without taking a few turns and stopping at a few stoplights or stop signs. The same is true in living out our life’s purpose in and for God.

How to walk through the open doors

When you are presented with opportunities or have a desire to do something with your life, approach them with an attitude of prayerful flexibility and one that sees each door as just another phase of your life’s purpose.

Preacher and Bible college professor, Mark Moore, once said, “The journey we call Christianity doesn’t end until the hearse pulls up to the door.” That being said, if you are questioning whether God is opening a door or you are barging through one, ask yourself these questions:

• Have you prayed about it?
• Do you feel at peace in your heart about what you are doing?
• Is there anything about what you are doing that will be displeasing to God?
• Will your actions take you farther from God or bring you closer to Him?
• Can you honor God in all you are doing (ethically, morally, etc.)?

When you answer these questions honestly, you’ll know whether the door you are walking through is one God put there… or not.

~ By Darla Noble

Bible Verses About God Opening Doors

The Bible contains many examples of God opening doors for people, and when we study the scripture we can gain a much deeper understanding of how and why God opens and closes doors.

Here are some of Bible verses about God opening and closing doors.

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
– Colossians 4:2-4

Like many verses about opening doors, Colossians 4:2-4 tells us that prayer is the way to get God to open doors for us.

Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
– Acts 14:27

God can open the door of faith to anyone.

The key of the house of David
I will lay on his shoulder;
So he shall open, and no one shall shut;
And he shall shut, and no one shall open.
– Isaiah 22:22

When God opens doors, no one can close them. Likewise, when God closes a door, no one has the power to open it. Revelation 3:8 repeats this theme: “I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it”.

When I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me.
– 2 Corinthians 2:12 (English Standard Version)

God opens doors of opportunity.

Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there.
– Acts 16:6-7

This verse shows how the Holy Spirit can let us know when a door was not opened by God.

Continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the door will open for you. Yes, whoever continues to ask will receive. Whoever continues to look will find. And whoever continues to knock will have the door opened for them.
Matthew 7:7-8

This verse explains how when we knock, God will open a door for us. We must be persistent and not give up, even when it feels like God isn’t listening.

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.
– Acts 16:25-26

This verse shows how powerful prayer can be. When we pray with power, doors of opportunity will open.
 

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