Adam Williams |
Is the closed door a lazy way to seek God?
Submitted by adam on Tue, 2007-11-06 14:24
Well, we still haven't heard anything. Subconsciously we have given up on going to India, though I know that God can work it out still. We realized that we haven't been praying about it much, we havn't been restling with God over it. We have kind of taken the approach that whatever happens God is in control and that must be his will. . . that we have surrenderd it to him. We have a couple of other mission opportunites that have presented themselves recently. We are trying to decide how long to wait in the India visa and when we need to move on to another option.
Crissy was reading through the book "Experiencing God" that someone loaned us. She came upon an idea that I need to think and pray about more. Here are my thoughts about it . . .
We have been trying to discern what God's will is by the "open door or shut door" approach. We persue something till the door closes or try different things and see what doors remain open. I don't think this is completely invalid, but perhaps it is a lazy way to seek God's will. I do believe that God does use providence sometimes to help us make decisions. But circumstances are not always a good way to make decisions. Really we need to know God. Do we use the open or closed door because it is easier than really getting to know God? It's easier than actively seeking him with everything. It's easier than fasting and praying.
There has always been a problem that I have had with the open door idea that I have not been ablto to figure out. How do you know when it is God closing a door or Satan closing a door? Can't satan work through "Providence" just as God can? How do you know when to persevere through a difficulty or turn around and look for another direction? Often when things happen that we did not plan or expect we say that "it must have been God's will". I don't think this is neccesarily true. Often I think it is our own carelessnes and sinfulnes that brings things on. It may not have been God's plan. But I believe that if we truely seek him where we are, He will work it out to still glorify Him.
I do believe that God works through circumstances, but I belive that satan does also. The only way that we can truely know God's will is to know God Himself. And that is not a quick and easy task. It is just like any other relationship. It is never complete, it is always growing, it always requires time, sacrifice and commitment. A relationship with God requires everything, your time, your stuff and your life.
I would love to hear some feedback about these ideas. How do you know God's will? What do you think about the open/closed door method?
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salaam says:
Thanks for this post, Adam. I think it was good timing because I also feel myself practicing the "lazy" approach to knowing God's will. I think you're right that we cannot rely on circumstances to guide us.
Just think of all the pillars of faith in the past! Quite the contrary, it seems the more often went contrary to circumstances and miracles followed. We read these folks and say, "Wow, she had an amazing faith" but we rarely make the connection that they DIDN'T know it would work out beforehand. I can think of several examples in God's Smuggler or the Bio of Hudson Taylor that show they clearly had a true connection with God.
So I'm just wondering if you have considered just going on a tourist visa for "a month" and plan to extend that when you get there? When it comes down to it, we can always follow what we believe God is leading us to do, despite the obstacles.
I'm still praying for you both daily on this.
christopher says:
Good point on the tourist visa. I second that.
christopher says:
We must each determine how we will determine God's will in our life. And it's important that we determine the right method of determination. Here's how I do it. I'm not saying it's correct, but it is the best I know at this point in life.
I believe that God is fully capable of closing and opening doors. I believe that God opens doors to allow us to pass into things He wants us to be in. I believe that God closes doors to keep us from things that He does not want us to be in. I believe that if we follow our own will, we can pass into things that God does not want us to be in.
The opening and closing of doors does not determine God's direction; God determines it. He gives me the bible, with which I can:
rule out a large number of thing because they are immoral, and
find direct answers to a limited set of life's dilemma's
But, what to do about all the unhandled cases? What to do when it is not immoral, and not clearly specified in scripture?
Enter Holy Spirit.
Through prayer God impresses on me what I should do. By asking Him to show me the way, He sets in my heart the way to go. Sometimes I spiritually discern this guidance; other times I do not. But it is after seeking God with my whole hearts, and handing the situation to Him -- complete surrender – that I can trust that God will use circumstances or direct intervention to keep me in the path. God is trustworthy! He will not let me stray while following Him.
Sometimes I am tempted to become discourage when I over analyze the specific ways God leads me. It seems that God often directs me to destinations He does not intend for me to reach. Perhaps this is because I am motivated by the thought of reaching these goals, but what God is doing by giving me these goals, is giving me direction.
I imagine God looking down from his almighty vantage point and giving me direction through a terrain I cannot comprehend. “Do you see that high mountain?” God asks me, “Head toward it.”
At this point I become excited thinking that God is taking me to that tall mountain. Then I come to a impassible point, I stop and cry out to God, “How will I get through?” and He redirects me.
“Do you see that lake in the valley? Head to that!”
At this point, I could easily begin to think that the voice guiding me is random, perhaps my own thoughts, but what God is doing, is guiding me on a path that I cannot comprehend or see from my position. But if I trust Him, I will arrive at the true goal that He has planned for me... Himself!
When the concern that I am following my own will arises in my heart, I do not ignore it. I make it an opportunity to pray again, to search my heart again, and to recommit to God. Then I continue on, even if it seems impossible, trusting. (Well, that last statement may be a bit idealistic... but God's getting me there.)