“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us…” Ephesians 3:20 NIV

Don’t Shut the Door

Walk His Way Revisited

I have been involved in ministries in the church for many years, but my main ministry, the ministry in music that I loved most, seemed to be coming to an end. That door seemed to be slowly closing. And with it, my sense of identity and where I belonged in the church in terms of using my gifts, just seemed to be in limbo. Recently however, I have had the opportunity to be involved with a different team that provides a worship and teaching service at the mission one night a month.

One evening after the service I was conversing and praying with a woman who had come and asked for prayer. As we were talking, I noticed another woman who had approached but seemingly did not want to intrude. So I turned to her and asked if she wanted prayer. Now this woman seemed different than the usual crowd that hangs out at the mission. Maybe it was because she seemed bubbly and happy in contrast to the sadness in the faces that I usually see. She introduced herself and said she was from the Los Angeles area and was in the entertainment business, but because her daughter here in Redding was ill, she had come to take care of her. But she said the reason she approached me was that she had really been trying to be obedient to God lately and that He had impressed upon her heart that she should come and tell me that He is going to be opening a door of opportunity for me in an unusual way that I was not expecting.

At first I was really excited at these words. I love hearing from God in unexpected ways, but later as I reflected, I began to have doubts. Had she really been sent by God, or was she someone with visions of grandeur? “God,” I said, “I really want to know if this is a word from You. Would You please send me a second message of confirmation?” Once before God had sent a word of prophecy to me, and I had asked for two more confirmations to be sure it was a word from Him, and He was faithful in bringing me two more confirmations. Now, I was only asking for one. I was waiting on pins and needles to get that confirmation and find out what this “unusual door” was going to open up to. When it came, the confirmation actually arrived after the door “opened” up.  I was asked to contribute a devotional for this Walk His Way daily devotional series. Not only was my devotional accepted, but I was asked to be a regular devotional contributor, with the possibility of some other future writing.

I was thrilled. I didn’t have to “hang up” my ministry shoes. God had opened a door for me “in a way I was not expecting!” I had always had a secret hankering to do some writing. It runs in my family (we have several writers among us), and now God was not only confirming this gift in me, He was calling me to use it!

I believe that all of us who are called by God have a desire to serve Him in some way. What secret desire or gift are you harboring that you are afraid to step out and walk in? Ask God for the opportunity, and remember that He “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us!”

Dear Lord, please open a door of opportunity for me today, and give me the courage and boldness to walk right through that door!