Watch How God Will Open Doors

A family bible study by Keith M. Craddock

Watch How God Will Open Doors

Have you ever felt like you're standing in front of a closed door, wondering if it will ever open? Maybe you've been praying for a new opportunity, a fresh start, or a breakthrough in a challenging situation.

As believers, we can trust that God is always working behind the scenes, opening doors and making a way for us. In this post, we'll explore what it means to watch how God will open doors, and how we can trust in His goodness and sovereignty.

The Faith to See the Unseen

Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." This verse reminds us that faith is not just about seeing the tangible, but also about trusting in the invisible.

When we face closed doors, it's easy to lose sight of God's plan. But Hebrews 11:1 encourages us to have faith in what we hope for, even when we can't see it. We must trust that God is working, even when the door seems shut.

God's Plan to Prosper

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." This verse reminds us that God's plan for us is always good.

When we face closed doors, it's tempting to doubt God's goodness. But Jeremiah 29:11 assures us that God's plan is to prosper us, not to harm us. We can trust that He is working everything out for our good, even when the door seems shut.

Watching for God's Open Doors

So, how can we watch for God's open doors? Here are a few practical steps:

Pray for guidance: Ask God to show you the way and to open doors that align with His plan.
Trust in God's sovereignty: Remember that God is in control, and He is working everything out for your good.
Look for opportunities: Keep your eyes open for opportunities that align with God's plan, and be willing to take steps of faith.
Wait patiently: Trust that God's timing is perfect, and wait patiently for Him to open doors.

Conclusion

Watching how God will open doors requires faith, trust, and patience. We must trust that God is working behind the scenes, opening doors and making a way for us.

As we wait for God to open doors, let's remember that His plan is always good, and He is working everything out for our good. May we have the faith to see the unseen, and may we trust in God's sovereignty as we watch for His open doors.

Reflection Questions:

What are some areas of your life where you're waiting for God to open doors?
How can you trust in God's sovereignty and goodness, even when the door seems shut?
What practical steps can you take to watch for God's open doors?

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to trust in Your sovereignty and goodness, even when the door seems shut. Give us the faith to see the unseen, and help us to watch for Your open doors. May we wait patiently, knowing that Your timing is perfect, and Your plan is always good. Amen

Lord, Help Me Do Better

 

A family bible study by Keith M. Craddock

"Lord, Help Me Do Better"

Have you ever felt like you're not living up to your full potential? Like you're stuck and can't seem to make progress? The truth is, we all struggle with feelings of inadequacy and frustration at times. But the good news is that God is always willing to help us do better.

Following Jesus Requires Sacrifice

In Luke 9:57-58, we read:

"As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, 'I will follow you wherever you go.' Jesus replied, 'Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.'"

This passage reminds us that following Jesus requires sacrifice. We can't just follow Him when it's convenient or easy; we have to be willing to give up our own desires and plans in order to follow Him.

Serving Two Masters

In Matthew 6:24, we read:

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

This verse reminds us that we can't serve two masters. We have to choose between serving God and serving our own desires and interests.

The World is Passing Away

In 1 John 2:17, we read:

"The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever."

This passage reminds us that the world and its desires are temporary, but doing the will of God is eternal. We should focus on living for God, rather than trying to fit in with the world.

Living as Foreigners

In 1 Peter 2:15-17, we read:

"For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor."

This passage reminds us that as Christians, we are living as foreigners in a world that is not our home. We should live in such a way that we honor God and show respect to everyone around us.

Taking Up Our Cross

In Matthew 16:24-25, we read:

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.'"

This passage reminds us that following Jesus requires us to take up our cross and deny ourselves. We have to be willing to give up our own desires and plans in order to follow Him.

Spiritual Warfare

In 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, we read:

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

This passage reminds us that as Christians, we are in a spiritual battle. We need to use the weapons of spiritual warfare, such as prayer and Scripture, to demolish strongholds and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Conclusion

Living for God is not always easy, but it's worth it. When we surrender our lives to Him and ask for His help, He will give us the strength and wisdom we need to do better. Let us pray, "Lord, help me do better."

Reflection Questions

What areas of your life do you feel like you're not doing well in?
How can you surrender those areas to God and ask for His help?
What does it mean to you to take up your cross and follow Jesus?

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to do better. Give us the strength and wisdom we need to live for You. Help us to surrender our lives to You and to follow You, no matter what the cost. In Jesus' name, Amen

Fear Doesn't Come from God

A family bible study by Keith M. Craddock

 "Fear Doesn't Come from God"

Fear is a universal human emotion that can be overwhelming and debilitating. It can creep into our lives and steal our peace, joy, and confidence. But as Christians, we need to remember that fear doesn't come from God.

God Has Not Given Us a Spirit of Fear

In 2 Timothy 1:7, we read:

"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."

This verse reminds us that God has not given us a spirit of fear. Instead, He has given us a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. We can face challenges and difficulties with confidence and courage, knowing that God is with us.

The Giants of Fear

In Numbers 13:33, we read:

"We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."

This verse reminds us of the story of the Israelites who were afraid to enter the Promised Land because of the giants they saw there. They allowed their fear to hold them back from experiencing God's promise.

Fear vs. Faith

Fear and faith are opposing forces. When we choose to fear, we are essentially saying that we don't trust God. But when we choose to have faith, we are saying that we trust God completely.

Overcoming Fear with Faith

So how can we overcome fear with faith? Here are a few practical tips:

Focus on God's promises: Instead of focusing on our fears, let's focus on God's promises. He has promised to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).
Practice prayer and worship: Prayer and worship are powerful tools for overcoming fear. When we pray and worship, we are reminded of God's presence and power in our lives.
Surround yourself with positive influences: The people we surround ourselves with and the media we consume can either fuel our fears or build our faith. Let's surround ourselves with positive influences that encourage us to trust God.

Conclusion

Fear doesn't come from God. He has given us a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. Let's choose to focus on God's promises, practice prayer and worship, and surround ourselves with positive influences. When we do, we'll find that our fears will begin to fade away, replaced by a confident faith in God.

Reflection Questions

What are some fears that are holding you back from experiencing God's promise?
How can you focus on God's promises instead of your fears?
What are some positive influences that you can surround yourself with to build your faith?

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to overcome our fears with faith. Remind us of Your promises and give us the power to trust You completely. In Jesus' name, Amen