Doors (part 1 of 3)

Did you ever have an experience in which you thought you were about to go through a door, only to discover there was only a wall there?

Dianna and I saw it happen once on a train while we were in Alaska. The train is rocking back and forth. We are seated in the last row of seats in our car. The car behind us was the car with the restroom facilities. As such the aisle for that car, actually took a tight right turn. On the wall behind us, and in front of you (if you were walking back the aisle), there was a large mirrored wall.

An older gentleman carefully made his way up the aisle toward us. He carefully held to the seats lining the aisle. As he approached the mirrored wall, he stepped aside and kindly gestured to the image approaching him in the mirror (his own reflection), to come on through. Graciously the image on the wall made the same offer to him! And so he started forward and walked directly into the wall!

Sure it is funny! When it happens to someone else, it is funny. What do you do when your prayer life hits a wall? What do you do when you thought there was a door open to you, but instead you only find a dead-end? Not so funny then, huh?!

In Matthew 7:7 Jesus said the following about prayer:

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

I think there are three different kind of prayers in that simple statement:

There is the asking prayer. This is the prayer we pray when we know we are praying in accordance to God's will. Here we pray the prayer of faith that is acting upon the teaching that God has given to us-and we are asking for his provision and protection. (Think "daily bread"---Jesus told us to ask for that!).

There is the seeking prayer. This is the prayer when we are trying to discern God's direction and His way. We are seeking the mind of God. We may not know what to do about the decision that is in front of us, so we SEEK God's wisdom. (Think "not my will but your will be done"---Jesus prayed like that, and so should we!).

There is a knocking prayer. This is a prayer of the closed door. It is a prayer in which we have a clear word from the Lord (we can read His Will through His Word), but this prayer runs up against the free will of another. And that means the "door" cannot be forced. It's a closed door, maybe even a locked door. This is the prayer that we may pray for someone we love who has not come to Christ. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us plainly that it isn't God's will that anyone would perish. But at the same time, we know that God gives free will and He will not violate the free will of even the most stubborn heart.

And that's when we need "knocking" prayer. The word picture from Matthew 7:7 is one of constant action. It isn't that you knock and stop. It is an annoying; constancy or repeated rapping that will not end.

Are you praying that way? Sometimes you might hit a wall. You thought you were going to walk right through, but then "WAM"-you find yourself spinning backward. What do you do then?

Keep praying, keep praying, keep praying! For whom are you constantly rapping on the door of heaven pleading that God would save? You are not going to let a little wall get in the way, are you?

Keep Praying!