KEYS

Jesus said, “Become like little children.”1 If we desire to enter the Kingdom of heaven. If we desire the greater things; His presence overwhelming, His peace, and joy, and every good thing. This is tied to our coming to Him in need and simplicity. He also says, “you have not because you ask not.”2 “Ask, seek, and knock.”3

How many times I try to pry a door open or turn the knob when the lock can only be turned by a key I do not have. A hallway of doors, questions, and unknowns in life, seeming to float in a sky of color waiting to be opened. I saw this image in my mind’s eye like a dream.

I was on a road trip this spring with my family, listening to a podcast about something seemingly unrelated and my head was filled with the image of a little boy trying his hardest, on his knees, looking through a keyhole, turning locked doorknobs and handles in vain, to door after door in this floating hallway of sorts. I knew the boy represented God’s kids, and me. Then the boy turned and simply ASKED God for the key. With a patient and affirming smile Jesus handed one key that would unlock that specific door, and I knew that there were more where that came from. The supply was endless. I sensed that for every single door in life, every single question, problem, situation, fear, unknown, and opportunity, came a key to OPEN that specific door. I was not simply being locked out, but neither should I force my way in. What would be impossible, OR reap consequences, was to simply not ask for help. Not out of a manipulation or power play, but simply because our Creator created us in relationship with Him, who knows best that He is WAITING to give us the key to every door. His DESIRE is for the doors to open, and He waits patiently for us to ask, so we remember He is the source. In reality, this “key” simply looks like asking Holy Spirit a question-

“What do YOU want to do in this situation?”

“What do you want ME to do in this situation?”

“ Who do you want to be for me in this situation?”

“Where is the provision going to come from?”

“How can I get through this impossibility?”

And you must know! He wants to give you a key more you think you need it! He hands the key to your mind and heart, and the ‘door’ in the natural world of your life opens like it NEVER would or could have without HIS key. Just as HE says to His disciples 2000 years ago, we can choose to say the same- “I only do what I see the Father doing.”4 We shockingly have this same access to the Father, and can come to Him any time to hear that. Often times, I simply don’t want to take the time to ask. I have to be honest, many times this happens for me without my notice. I still have days and times I think “This is such a small thing, I can surely figure it out on my own” or I simply forget to go to Him until things begin to unravel. I keep twisting the knob, banging on the door, or just sit there staring at the problem in worry. Still at square one, what was a ‘good’ idea, turned out to still be a locked door! Yet He is so incredibly gracious, it is really quite ridiculous tha He is there waiting for me to turn to His face and ask. The amazing truth is, we are to be like children in the habit of coming to this perfect Father, who always is longing to give us the right key needed to open the doors in our lives. We can be assured this simple, but powerful tool, can also be passed on to the next generation as well. WE don’t have to have everything figured out at all, we just actually need to know WHO has all the answers. Every generation has access to the keys.

Recently I found this fascinating to watch, before my eyes, when I was teaching the first art class I’ve ever hosted in my studio. Several young ladies joined me for weekly zoom, or in person classes learning to see God’s voice through creativity, how they are wired to create, and simply finding inspiration by the Holy Spirit. Such simple invitations and pure open hearts produced meaningful creative responses it blew me away. It was not only a joy, but reminder of how simple it really is to go to the source about what is on His heart and His solutions (keys) He is waiting to give out. These girls ‘got it’. They were taking their problems and hurts on their hearts to God, and seeing His answers, painting them out in response! Creating with youth and my own kids always reminds me of His constant flowing voice. The sound of His voice, He says, is likened to powerful moving waters in Psalm 29:3 ;

“ The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. ... His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory.”

as well as it can be the quietest sound, as in 1 Kings 19;

“ 11Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire [a]a still small voice.”

I receive this as an invitation to rest in the truth that it is EASY to hear Him. I believe the most beautiful part is that He longs to hand out keys in the process of intimacy, the process of the seeking Him. He longs to be found.

“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of Kings to search it out” -Proverbs 25:2

This has been one of my favorite verses the last few years in coming to understand the Father’s heart. This concealing being not one of with-holding, but likened to a treasure hunt. When they were little, sometimes I created treasure hunts for my kids and nephews and nieces and when they sought out treasure with clues I provided, I knew they were capable of always succeeding. I would never hide a treasure they would not be able to find. The joy in looking back at the treasure hunts they went on, was only increased by the journey and adventure they had with the clues. Sometimes, they will even have memories of the joy of the hunt, and cannot recall the treasure they found at the end of it! I believe our perfect Father has designed our seeking out, our asking for keys to be like that. He longs to create things in us and transform us into His likeness along the journey, and in the asking. There is a surrender that happens in the process that plants faith and accesses deeper trust in Him.

The last verse I wanted to share with you is one of my life verses. It never grows old, but increases my curiosity and awe of the depth of His knowledge and love; Paul blesses the church with this Ephesians One prayer;

17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit fof wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people

I am so thankful that He gives us this radical privilege of knowing Him and hearing His heart solutions for every situation and relationship. I will end with a short poem of sorts that I felt flow out as I finished painting the piece called ‘Keys of Wisdom’ during a weekly live worship in the chapel time at my local home church;

What are the keys of revelation

In every situation

Are they Marked by grace and truth?

Open the doors

No man can shut

The hallways are dark

Light peaks through the cracks

Beckoning you on

Enticing towards freedom

The only way in is through Him

Your will be done

As your kingdom comes

Every key turning locks of revelation

For each situation

Never failing

Ever seeking

One small voice

Unlocks a thousand generations

Waiting for the key of revelation

Who will be brave and ask?

Seek and knock

You say

There you will find hope

In what I say

Not what you know

Keep asking

And you will see

The next answer is inside Me

Calling out to you in intimacy

You will find each key

When you come to Me.

References; 1. Matthew 18:3 , 2. James 4:2 , 3.Matthew 7:7, 4. John 5:19 Using biblegateway.com and Biblehub.com for various translations

Photo of Light bulb and key courtesy of free stock images

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