Asking God to open a door for you today
Many Christians would like to talk about Jesus but don't know when. Too early, and you are clumsy; too late, and the chance has passed. The Bible speaks of a "door opener": God himself. This quest invites you to a simple prayer, to be said in the morning: ask God to open a door today.
What it looks like in your day
The prayer is short. For example: "Lord, open a door for me today to talk about you, with the person you have chosen and at the right moment. I am available." Then you live your day with your eyes open.
An open door can take very ordinary forms:
- A colleague who, at the coffee machine, mentions that they are going through a hard time.
- An unexpected question: "What are you up to this weekend?" (a chance to talk about your church).
- A conversation that drifts toward the meaning of life, death, justice.
- A neighbor looking for someone to help with a move.
- A person who asks you why you are always so calm.
When you spot a door, you have three choices: walk in simply (say one sincere thing about your faith), walk in gently (ask a question, offer to talk again), or wait (pray for the person, let it ripen). None of these choices is a failure.
In the evening, go back over your day: did a door open? Did you go through it? If not, that's fine: you were attentive, and that is already an act of faith. If you are in a hurry, the morning prayer takes only ten seconds. If you are shy, remember that you don't have to force anything: you ask, and God knows how to open.
What the Bible says
Paul asks the Colossians to pray that God will open a door:
“Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:”
Notice that he, the apostle, doesn't say "I open the door," but "that God would open unto us a door." The initiative is divine. In the book of Revelation, the Lord says to a modest church:
“I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.”
"Thou hast a little strength," and yet he sets an open door before it. Doors don't depend on our strength. And at the end of his first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas tell the church "all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles" (Acts 14:27). Paul also writes (1 Corinthians 16:9) that a great and effectual door is opened to him, while noting that there are many adversaries: an open door is not always an easy door.
Pitfalls to avoid
Waiting for a spectacular sign. Open doors often look like ordinary conversations. If you wait for a movie scene, you will miss them.
Confusing an open door with an obligation. Sometimes an opportunity comes up but the moment is wrong: the person is in a hurry, you are tired, the place is unsuitable. You can say "Shall we talk about it again?" and set another time.
Forcing a closed door. If a person shows that they don't want to talk about faith, respect them. God can open other doors at another time. Insisting can close things for a long while.
Making yourself responsible for the result. Your role is to be available, honest and loving. It is God who touches hearts.
Forgetting to give thanks. When a door opens, whether you went through it with ease or clumsily, thank God. If you saw nothing, thank him anyway: he kept you attentive.
Tomorrow morning, say this simple prayer. Keep your eyes open, and in the evening, review your day.