You can’t open a door shut by God. Revelation 3:8 reminds us,”…..the Holy One, the True One, He Who has the key of David, Who opens and no one shall shut, Who shuts and no one shall open.” Now, lets tell the truth and shame the devil…we don’t like it when God shuts a door that we believe we have the keys (power) to access. Perhaps the harshest word we ever hear growing up is also one of the shortest: “No.” “No” is a small word that packs an enormous amount of power. It has the ability to both prevent and protect. Growing up, we almost singularly see the prevention side of this command, seeing “no” as merely a barrier hemming us in, but in fact, “no” is more like a gateway to better living. “No, do not touch that electrical outlet.” “No, do not touch that hot stove.” “No, do not play in the middle of the street,” etc. Youthful ignorance and curiosity sometimes see only the prevention and not the protection! Do you remember when David wanted to build God’s temple? God said, “No” (1 Chron.17:4)!! It’s tough hearing God’s “no,” especially when it doesn’t sound like protection, only prevention. Fact is God closes doors because He knows we need a few more seasons of meekness and humility under our belts. I say this for my tenacious saints: When God closes a door, he doesn’t always open a window.!! Sometimes he just wants you to be content in the room you’re in. So if you’re standing in front of a shut door, pray to be content with God’s denial, knowing that His deliverance of you is secure forever by the merits of His Son. He might have said “no” to you in this occurrence, but for everything else, is “yes” in Christ and so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. (2 Cor 1:20)!!