“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;
meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open up a door for the word…”
(Colossians 4:2-3)
Pray.
Our lives and our purpose are not of this world – neither are the answers we need.
I know you are at work or home right now – but everything you need right now is invisible to you.
Paul knew this. He knew all He needed was first and foremost accomplished in the spiritual realms.
That’s why after talking about practical things like family and work relationships he said . . .
Continue earnestly in prayer.
He said to keep at it (being vigilant) with thanksgiving. Why thanksgiving?
Because when we stop being thankful we stop praying in faith – most of the time we just stop praying period.
When we stop being thankful we stop living life in faith, hope and love.
We stop trusting in God and living life as His servant. We become all about ourselves.
Continue earnestly in prayer with thanksgiving.
And then Paul said – pray that God would open up a door.
Prayer opens up the doors that our obedience and His word are supposed to walk through.
We can be so tempted to try to open up doors with our own efforts but those doors never stay open.
The book of Revelations tells us that when God opens a door no man can shut it.
Continue earnestly in prayer with thanksgiving until the door opens.
Pray that God opens the door for His purposes in your life.
Don’t strive. Don’t worry. Pray. Do it now. Don’t let prayer be last on your list.
May the Holy Spirit rush in through your prayers and open up doors both in the world around you and in your heart.
Jesus wants to move through your life today – He is ready to open doors for His glory and honor.
Praying alongside of you and for you in thanksgiving and for doors to open.
Today, I go down to serve at Shady Hill where drugs, violence and poverty have shut the hope and life from so many adults and children.
Yet, I can also share several stories about how prayer has directly led to God opening up doors that seemed to be totally shut.
God wants to partner with us to create and care for life today. And we partner through prayer.
Whatever Kingdom promise seems shut to you today – invite the Holy Spirit to join you in prayer and ask the Father for open doors.
I believe this is a word from the Lord for many people reading this email today. ~ Pastor Shawn
