ONE DOOR CLOSES ANOTHER CAN OPEN

East Week #20 ~ “WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES IN LIFE, ANOTHER DOOR WILL OPEN”

Helen Keller the famous American writer once said, “When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.”

This quote could not be more true in my life, and I’m sure many others. As I’ve had time to reflect upon my life these past days, I’m happy to see where I’ve been, yet I am more happy to see where I am going. In the past, I used to always focus on what didn’t happen in my life, what should have been, or what could have been, thus leaving me discouraged. A lot of us, like me before, put so much of our focus everyday on pass failures. It could be failures in our relationships, our decisions, our career choices, or mistakes we have made which are we are not able to fix. Even though we know that we can’t change the past, we still dwell on it, letting it plague us like a virus that never leaves our mind and emotions. But, if we always focus on the past doors that have closed, we will become blind to the open doors and opportunities that may come our way.

During this last trip to Asia I’ve been having a lot of time of reflection. I’ve been able to visit many nations where I’ve had a deep history, certain memories and cherished relationships. At the same time, I’m realizing the Jaeson Ma who entered into the ministry nearly 10 years ago, is definitely not the same Jaeson Ma today. I’ve learned a lot through successes, failures, victories and many mistakes. Through it all, I’m grateful and I feel I’ve become a better man. I still have a lot to learn for sure, but one thing I’m learning is that although many doors I have felt closed on my life, new ones are beginning to open. In the past I used to focus so much on what could have been, what should have been or what didn’t happen, yet today I have the mentality that I simply need to trust God that He has the best in store. I don’t need to dwell on the past, I simply need to trust God with my future. None of us have all the answers, but that is why “faith” is a necessity in our lives. We have to stop looking at the past, we have to stop looking at what is not, we have to stop focusing on our disappointments, or focusing on the closed doors and BELIEVE in the hope that God doesn’t just have something good for us, but He has the BEST for us. I can look back at every good and bad thing that has happened in my life thus far and be thankful for it. Yet, I don’t want to dwell on the past, I want to be present to the joys I have to relish in right now. I am optimistic about the future. I can’t explain it, but I feel like I’ve matured in many ways and that I am coming into a manhood that God has prepared for me… the door is open and I’m going to walk through it. The possibilities of what could be will never be known unless I let go of the old and take a chance with the new… I’m willing, I’m open and I’m ready Lord… take me there!

1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Being a Christian is not about being saved, that is just the beginning. The purpose of Christianity is that we may know Christ. My passion and goal in this life is to know God more each and every day. My prayer is that by the time my life on this earth is over that I would be more in love with Jesus then, then when I began.

Everything in this life is meaningless if it is done without Christ. All that I do is meaningless unless what I do draws me closer to Him. What we do for God is not as important as our relationship with God. Many people do things for God, but forget to do life with Him. What God wants more than anything else is not our hands, but our hearts. He is not a God of rules and regulations, but He is a God of spirit and truth. We must worship Him with our hearts, not our forms or traditions. When we truly seek Him, then God is able to mold us, shape us and make us more like His Son.  Read more...

Stop doubting, stop looking at your inabilities, stop looking at yourself and look up to God. He is the author and perfecter of our faith. What are you daring to dream for God?