Who doesn't love the majestic look of vintage keys? There's such detail in the face of the key. Beautiful scrolling...intricate work that was so thoughtfully and purposefully handled with such care. I'm sure it had to go through such molding and shaping, having had some heat exposed to it (probably at length so that it was malleable.) It had to be gently yet firmly stretched and bent, turned and cradled to create its beauty. The neck of the key is long and outstretched, smooth and solid until it reaches the simplicity yet very important aspect of the key...the locking and unlocking mechanism. Nothing significant at first glance, but absolutely the center of importance to the key itself. At a deeper glance, the prongs itself are like puzzle pieces that need to be placed precisely in its proper place in order for it to fulfill its purpose.
Through life we have opportunities that present themselves - an open door - and opportunities 'that just don't work out' - a closed door. Every door that we encounter gives us choices. Open doors don't always mean that it is completely free for us to walk through its threshold...just as a closed door doesn't always mean that we are to turn right around in search of an opened door to walk through. We need to ask ourselves when we're found at the entrance of any doorway in our life; "Does my key fit in its door lock?" If it does, what steps does God want me to take now?" If it does not, "Am I using the wrong key or did I not place the key completely into the lock?" Again, what steps does God want me to take?
Friends, as many of you are aware, there are several steps into opening a door. First, it's a must to have the correct key that is made for that specific lock, insert that key completely and thoroughly into the lock, turn the key, then grasp the door knob...twist, turn and push forward. Ta Da!! There you have it...unlocked and opened door!
The same is true for us when we find ourselves in doorways of opportunities. Know this truth...God has the Power and the ability to open ANY door in your life for you to freely walk through. He can and will do this but, there are times that we must take the several action steps ourselves...partnered with God...to open doors. It is vital for us to remember to seek Him at every opportunity for guidance as we approach any "door-frame"...door being opened or not.
Think of this...how many times have you walked through automatic opening doors, hand-held opened doors or even just push opened a partially opened door without giving any thought to its frame...leaving Point A to enter into Point B, from one element to a different element? Let's face it, it doesn't take a genius to pass through an opened door. We do it physically hundreds of times without even thinking about it! There's not much thought into walking through a already opened doorway! Or, approached a closed door and didn't even attempt to open it because of its closure?
Now, let's think about this in our life's journey...our opportunities that are before us. We approach an opened door in life: Why is it opened? Have we been praying specifically for this particular door to be opened? If so, have I fully given God complete control of this or am I manipulating it a bit to go my way? Has this door been opened for someone else and I happened to be along and so I'm going to enter as well? Not all opened doors in our lives are meant to be passed through by us!
On the flip-side, doors of opportunities that we come to are often times closed. This doesn't always mean for us to see the closed door and then turn high-tailing it out of there. Or even sometimes we take all the action steps of faith in opening the door but then...No...Ta Da, not even happening!! A closed door isn't always a LOCKED door. There will be times that it is vital for us to put some 'elbow-grease' because it's a 'sticky' door, grasping the doorknob of humility turning it to open. Not all the time when we do this will it open right away or even easily, but we are called to take action in our faith. Trusting God and being obedient to what God has for us to do even if it doesn't quite make sense or if it's difficult for us. I'm reminded of old doors that get stuck. I'd have to fidget with the key as I attempted to insert it into the lock...several times...jiggling it to turn, twisting the doorknob and then giving it a good bump with my shoulder in order for it to open! Sometimes it would take two or three good bumps to get it out of it's comfortable place of rest to let me enter through it's opening...it wasn't a graceful entrance either - stumbling, disheveled and irritated, but glad in the long run that I accomplished the task of entrance!
Mark 12:29-30 (NLT), " The most important commandment is this...you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, [passionately], all your soul, [willfully], all your mind, [thoughtfully], and all your strength [practically--live like you love him]." This scripture is a perfect example of what our actions should reflect. We are all capable of passion...willfulness...thoughtfulness and practicality. It's our choice whether or not we will use them and take action in our faith.
In our times of hesitation or fear because we can't quite see and/or don't understand what God is doing and why He is doing it, let James 1:3-4 speak truth into our hearts...
"For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow for when our endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready in anything."
If we feel tempted, pressured or fearful to walk across an open door threshold or turn away too quickly from a closed door, it's important that we stop...wait a moment and then REFOCUS. Where are we focused? Part of having our key is to know where to look...to God. Keep our eyes focused on God, let our words that come form our mouths and the thoughts of our mind be completely centered on Him. Looking to Him and knowing that even in our weakness, His Strength is always, always....ENOUGH!
We are not able to do anything on our own with our own strength...however, WITH God...'We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.' Philippians 4:13 I love the Amplified version of this verse...listen to what it says...
"I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].
Our weakness is the key to unlock and open a divine door to experience God's Strength.
2 Corinthians 12:9 (AMP) says, "...My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness."
WOW!! We don't have to be strong on our own...Christ does it for us with His absolutely perfect, unwavering Strength!
Our confidence...or the lack of it...will always find its grip in just how we use our key in life.
Our weakness will stay magnified and unused as long as we are focused on our weakness itself, instead of the strength of God being used in our weakness knowing and believing what our weakness unleashes as we keep our focus in God's Strength. Opportunity of choice is presented here... What will we choose when we are at our personal doorways of opportunity - whether it be opened or closed before us?
You hold the key in your hand and God is just waiting for you to use it. Will you?
Be Blessed,
Christy Krezman
Rosette Ministry
