Open and closed doors is a popular and helpful way to discern the will of God.

This method is prominent in several passages of Scripture. The most prominent place for me is Acts 16:6-10. On his second missionary journey Paul and his missionary companions wanted go to two different areas to preach the gospel but he was “kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in Asia.” They later wanted to enter Bithynia, “but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.”

Because of these closed doors, Paul and his team went down to Troas. In Troas Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia. The open door and the vision confirmed for Paul the work he was to do. Paul and the others took the gospel to what we know as the continent of Europe. The gospel flourished as Paul walked through the open door for evangelism in Europe.

Five hundred years earlier Nehemiah had followed much of the same process. As he sought to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls of the city, he prayed, fasted, wept, and mourned. He also waited for God to give him the right time to talk to King Artaxerxes. When the door opened, Nehemiah prayed again and boldly moved forward.

The result was the favor of God and the favor of the king. Nehemiah received the blessing and the helping hand of the king to restore the city where his ancestors were buried.

The result of all this was the completion of the project because the “good hand of God” was on Nehemiah.

What can we learn from this?

We can learn to fast and pray and seek the guidance of God.

We can learn to wait on God to show the way.

We can learn to seek confirmation in open and closed doors.

We can learn to move boldly when God blesses our efforts.

Finally, we can learn to thank and praise God for amazing blessings.

The gates of heaven will open wide when we pray in the will of God.