It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for.  Ephesians 1:11 MSG

Exec. Dir, Kathy Weckwerth.

Prayer & the Closed Doors                                

Pastor Lewie

  

By: Pastor Lewie Schultz 

As I write this article I am reminded that those who know me best have consistently and righteously caught me in the trap of always seeing the silver linings of this life in Christ. I am unashamed of the fact that I have found my mental and physical health has been much better when I focus on what scripture says in Philippians 4:8, whatever things that are true and lovely and pure and virtuous, think on these things. So, please forgive me in advance for asking you to discover the benefits of our common experience of closed doors.

Benefit number 1:  Closed doors reveal a lot about our prayer life. We discover more about ourselves and our prayers when we fail to receive our desires, or when they seem delayed. Because we know God answers every prayer, we know that when we perceive God not wanting what we want, we experience a closed door.

James challenges us to be aware that we do not have what we do not ask for; or at times, God withholds what we ask for because of our motives (James 2). It is actually a blessing in disguise to become aware of something God said  'no' to, as it teaches us how to pray. This is not to say that every closed door is a direct 'No!' or even a delayed response from God. But these are times that tend to stress our understanding of prayer.

Jesus clearly taught us to pray to the Father asking that His will would be done, and His kingdom advanced in and around us. Not always, but sometimes, we may do well to ask God to search us and to reveal to us our true motives so that we might be realigned with His heart and purposes.  

If we believe that everything we ask for in His name, we will have, we would be grateful for those times when we prayed with impatience or lack of trust in God. Otherwise, we would never learn exactly what it is that God wants for us and for those around us.

The Bible gives clear instruction in James 4:14 that we are to pray asking if it is the Lord's will we will live or do this or that. I think this can help us to understand our capacity to declare things presumptuously, and to forget that the Sovereign God of the Universe is lovingly in charge of the affairs of mankind.

I can't help but remember the many times that God's choice servants were denied their prayer requests. Joseph is a stellar example of someone who lived with a clear conscience and always obeyed the Lord. Yet, his life is full of closed doors and many opportunities to doubt God's goodness and love.

So, dear friends, we see that sometimes closed doors in our vocational pursuits, relational desires, and even our seemingly innocent dreams, really do become an opportunity to grow in our conversations with our Creator.

Benefit Number 2: Closed doors also provide a keen and focused opportunity to experience a FAITH CHECK. In those times when we are sure that God is intentionally silent or stubbornly stingy for whatever reasons we imagine, we are posed with the challenging question, 'Can I trust God?'

Since it is impossible to please God without an ever deepening confidence in Him and His purposes(Hebrews 11:6), the times God appears distant or silent, provides great training ground for exercising our faith muscles.

Benefit Number 3: Closed doors sometimes cause us to deal directly and honestly with our human struggle in being disappointed with God.

The songwriting of David often included songs about how he thought God had messed up. He challenged God with the statistics about evil people attaining more wealth than many God-fearing folks. This feeling is exacerbated by the fact that we know God can do anything. When He apparently chooses not to fulfill our desires, we are caught in a quandary.

The truth is, if we used these circumstances to compel us into His presence where we could honestly express our hearts to Him, we would find ourselves even more intimately acquainted with Him. I love the song that I learned as a boy that states, Christ is not a disappointment every longing in my breast finds in Him complete fulfillment He has brought me into rest, I have tested Him and proved Him more than all I dreamed He'd be, Christ is not a disappointment He is all in all to me.

So, fellow climbing companions, join me in allowing the experience of a closed door to teach us everything we need to know about prayer, and to reveal to us our need for deeper faith. Let us be compelled into His loving presence where we can openly declare our heart's honest struggles with the One who loves us more than we can imagine.

photo by Alexis Iskierka

Homemade Crescent Roll Recipe
2 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup Crisco
1 cup warm water
2 1/4 teaspoons yeast
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups flour

Beat eggs and sugar until well combined. Add sugar, Crisco, water, yeast, salt, and 2 cups flour. Gradually add remaining 2 cups of flour. Turn out onto a well floured surface and knead in enough additional flour so the dough is no longer sticky. Divide the dough in half. Each half will make one broccoli chicken braid.
 

Directions: Let dough rise in a warm place for about 1 hour. Flatten dough onto a cookie sheet to make the braid.  

Broccoli Chicken Braid Filling

2 cups chicken, cooked and chunked - (can use canned chicken)

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (I like to grate my own)

2 cups chopped frozen broccoli, thawed

1 egg yolk (reserve egg white for wash)

1/2 cup mayonnaise (I use Helmanns)

rosemary (fresh chopped finely)

crescent roll recipe (above) 
 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine chopped chicken, cheese, broccoli, egg yolk, mayo, and rosemary in a bowl. Spread crescent roll dough onto a large cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Add the chicken mixture to the middle of the dough. Using kitchen shears or a knife, cut strips along each side of the chicken. Start from one end and alternate sides, pulling a strip of dough across to the opposite side. When the whole braid is finished, add about 1 Tablespoon of water to the reserved egg white and brush the top of the braid with the wash. This gives it a nice shiny finish. Sprinkle additional cheese if desired.

Bake for 30 minutes until golden brown.