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God is close

“If God Allows One Door To Close, He Got A Better One,” Says Steve Harvey

by Le-Jovale Vallejo February 1, 2023

written by Le-Jovale Vallejo

In a recent upload on his YouTube channel, Steve Harvey shared how “God allows one door to be shut in your face.”

God Allows One Door to Close

He is known as a Hollywood comedian and TV host. Steve, even though he grew up in difficult circumstances, rose to stardom because of his faith. He never forgot how God opens a door when someone shuts it in his face.

“When someone closes a door in your face, all you have to remember is that God allows them to close the door in your face. All God wants you to do is walk up the hall. You’ve just got to walk down the hall, because I can promise you, He’s got a better door that He wants you to go to than the one that got shut in your face,” Steve said.

Steve Harvey

Steve’s leap of faith into comedy was risky. In 1985, he was urged to participate in a comic open-mic night. The following day, though, he left his job to pursue his passion. To soar, as he puts it, “You have to jump and take a leap of faith.”

Steve Harvey’s Show with Steve Harvey [The Official Steve Harvey]. YouTube, 11 January 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bft-AHwfKbU

The path to success was not smooth. Steve was left without a home and forced to live in his car while touring the nation for gigs. He won a national comedy competition in 1990, and Showtime at the Apollo gave him his big break. Steve’s career immediately took off after that point.

“You can never lose faith, that’s the key. You have to believe in something you can’t see. And when you don’t see how, you have to buckle down and keep believing. God is always coming,” he said.

God’s Package

Steve Harvey likened God’s blessings to a package. It’s like a gift that was already shipped and is just waiting for someone to receive it. But the key is that you have to wait and have faith.

“Here’s the problem with the package. He never gives you the date that the package is going to arrive. Yes, it’s going to come; He just doesn’t tell you when,” Steve said.

Rejection, impatience, and unbelief are the adversaries. When rejection comes, it’s easy to get disappointed and throw in the towel. When impatience takes the lead, it’s convenient to settle on what’s available rather than what is God’s best. And when unbelief takes over, God’s package with your name on it will never reach you.

But like what Steve said, “God is the Creator of all doors, man. Just walk down the hall because He got something bigger. Renew your faith. Keep praying. God is always coming. And your package has already been shipped.”

If God allows one door to close...

Watch this video on YouTube

Header image: Steve Harvey’s Show with Steve Harvey [The Official Steve Harvey]. YouTube, 11 January 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bft-AHwfKbU

Reference: Steve Harvey

February 1, 2023 0 comments

Faith Featured

You Are The Apple Of God’s Eye

by GOD TV April 2, 2022

written by GOD TV

In Psalm 17:8 we get a glimpse into God’s heart for us. Let me read it for you. It says, “Keep me as the apple of your eye, hide me under the shadow of your wings.” So I said to the Lord, one day, “Lord, what does it mean to be the apple of your eye?” And He showed me a picture of Him with His nose on my nose, and He was holding my face in His hands, and He was that close. I said, look, that’s just the most beautiful picture. So imagine right where you are, just close your eyes for a moment and imagine God holding your face in His hands, adoring you so much that He wants to be that close to you. He loves to be in your space like that. I said, “Lord, okay. There’s no issues with personal space. I love that you’re so close to me.”

So know that wherever you are today, God is not judging you. He’s not shouting at you. He’s not telling you that you’ve done something wrong. God is your loving heavenly Father, and He’s holding your face in His hands, because He loves you. He sees you, He champions you, He knows all the gold that is in you, and He wants to walk with you to bring that out today.

So you are loved and beloved. Lord, thank you that today, you’ll show whoever’s watching this video, how precious they are to you, how much you love them, how much you see in them, how much you want to bring out all the uniqueness that is in them, and that you absolutely delight to do so. Thank you so much, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

________

Leave The Cave Of Despair

by The Shulammite April 18, 2020

written by The Shulammite

Despair: What Is It?

The Greek word used for despair is exaporeō (see 2 Corinthians 4:8). It means to be utterly at a loss, and destitute of measures or resources. It characterizes a person who has renounced all hope and cannot perceive any escape from their circumstances.

Despair also paints the picture of someone immensely frustrated because of a lack of positive changes. Ultimately, it results in the birth of an entirely negative mindset.

OCD and despair work together. Incessant intrusive thoughts force one to take actions, even if irrational, to appease the anxiety. At first, it works fine. The compulsions decrease the pressure inside, allowing life to continue.

Soon, however, a transformation occurs unaware, and control is lost, brutally ripping out hope. As the compulsions take over, despair makes its home inside the heart.

It takes the creative light of the Father to conceive new emotions and thoughts. God can quicken the dead and call those things that are not as though they were, bringing life (Romans 4:17). That’s what He did with Gideon, and what He has set out to do for you.

Are you ready?

Gideon: The Man Who Thought God Abandoned Him

Judges 6. The hand of Midian prevailed against Israel, forcing them to take refuge in the caves and to make dens in the mountains (Judges 6:2). Israel’s sins brought punishment and allowed the enemy to have a stronghold in their territory.

The Midianites purposed to destroy Israel, plundering the land in the time of harvest and whenever the Israelites sowed. Much like the birds from the wayside soil, they left nothing in sight. Israel remained feeble, impoverished, and oppressed. Finally, they cried out to God, who quickly responded.

God sent His Messenger, who sat under the oak tree that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite. Nearby and hiding in the winepress, threshing wheat, Gideon, the son of Joash, had no idea that the messenger waited for him.

He made Himself known, proclaiming to Gideon: “Yahweh, the Eternal, is with you, o mighty man of valor and courage.” (Judges 6:12).

Because of the oppression he experienced, Gideon couldn’t understand the words. So, he questioned the messenger. “Where is God and all the miracles we’ve heard about from our fathers? No, He has cast us off and forsaken us.”

Have I not Sent You?

The beauty of Gideon’s story is God’s patience and lovingkindness toward him.

He looked at him and reaffirmed His words: Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?”

Again, the Lord (the messenger) speaks life to the bewildered Gideon: “Surely, I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.”

Only the beginning of Gideon’s transformation, that night, the Lord instructed him to get rid of the idol of his father’s house and make an altar and sacrifice to God.

It’s Time to Cast Down the Idols

In the middle of all the sin, evil, disobedience, and witchcraft of the people, God had mercy. The signs of new life and a way-out compelled Gideon to leave behind the darkness he clung to for hope.

Although he required many words of comfort and reaffirmation, Gideon realized that the change had already started. The dark clouds began to clear as the voice of the Lord Jesus broke through.

The Waymaker came, and He required trust and obedience. Becoming the identity God spoke forth, required the relinquishing of sin. Gideon couldn’t have any other gods before the Lord (Exodus 20: 1-5).

Leave the Despair Behind– Freedom is at the Door

If, like Gideon, you’re wondering how to begin the journey to freedom, start with repentance. The God of Israel is a jealous God (Deuteronomy 4:24). He will share you with no other. Because you are His, He has promised to never leave you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6).

In the midnight hour of this chapter of your life, He is with you because His love knows no conditions. Where the blood of Jesus is applied, the oil of the Holy Spirit can go (Leviticus 14: 28; Ephesians 1:17).

After a few more lines in this section, you’ll notice the Holy Spirit building your faith. In the next chapter, God will thrust out the enemy from before you and destroy them; they will be found liars to you, and you’ll tread on their high places (Deuteronomy 33:26-29).

Therefore go in this thy might, the Lord is with you. Leave the cave and cast down the idols.

Victory awaits.

April 18, 2020 0 comments

Faith

Broken-Hearted? Jesus Is Closer Than The Air You Breathe

by GOD TV March 30, 2019

written by GOD TV

God loves each and every one of us and He is so close to the broken-hearted.

My son came home from work and told me a story I’ll never forget. He’s working at a secure mental health facility doing some joinery and occasionally some of the patients strike up a conversation. His boss told him of one patient who’s in there who once was a multi millionaire. He had so much money and was a well respected gentleman. Had a good family, with kids of his own.

One day he came home from work to find his wife in bed with his best friend. He completely fell to pieces and it broke him. These days, he wanders around aimlessly. He cannot enter into a conversation as he is a prisoner in his own mind. He’s now locked in his own little world and only chatters away to himself. He suffered such immense hurt and pain that he lost the will to live.

The Broken-hearted

Some of us know that pain. It is a level of hurt where you are so broken that you no longer wish to live. Every day is another day in hell, full of torment, and tearing you apart inside. The thing is, so many of us hide it – some better than others. This guy obviously can’t hide his pain.

I heard a report recently that you can die of a broken heart – maybe there is some truth to that.

But, what does the Word say? In Proverbs 18:14 it says, “The spirit of a man sustains him in sickness, but as for a broken spirit, who can bear it?” Nobody. No one is meant to bear it alone. We are meant to share our weaknesses, despair and pain. We are meant to take anything that isn’t from the Lord and lay it at His feet. He comes alongside us, He picks us up when we can’t pick ourselves up and He guides us. He moves our feet – one step after the other.

Thank God for Jesus and what He did for us on the Cross. We’re blessed to have the remedy for every broken heart. So many people don’t have that hope in Jesus. If you don’t know that there is a God who loves you, cares for you, and will heal your broken heart and crushed spirit – go and pray in your room cry out!

He will hear your cry. He is waiting for you. Psalm 34:38 tells us, “He is near to the broken-hearted.” He is closer than the air you breathe and He wants to bear your burden for you.

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…” (James 4:8)

This article was written by Tracy Simone Hudson.

March 30, 2019 0 comments