Doors are mentioned throughout the Bible. The sixth chapter of Genesis references the doors of Noah’s Ark. In the twelfth chapter of Exodus, lamb’s blood was used to mark the door frames and spare God’s people. The sixth chapter of Deuteronomy encourages us to abide by God’s commandments, writing them on the frames of our doors and gates to help us remember. Even the book of Revelation asserts that God stands and knocks at the doors of our hearts, seeking entry.

What are doors, really? Literally and figuratively speaking, doors are barriers – they are intended to be protective entrances.  Doors are designed to provide a measure of controlled entry. If any and everything could come through a door, then the door itself would serve no purpose.

If your prayer life were represented by a door, which type of door would it be? For some of us, prayer is a revolving door. We go before the Lord with confessions and requests. However, the moment the prayer ends,  we recover every burden we just dropped at the Lord’s feet and take it back into the world with us. The Lord wants shoulder our burdens, but we must do so willingly. Releasing our burdens to God Almighty is one of the best practices we can ever learn. Giving burdens to God liberates us, allowing us to focus on His will – His assignments for us instead of being preoccupied and weighed down by the issues and concerns of this world. Matthew 11:28-30 says “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

For others of us, prayer is a swinging door. We make our requests known to God, but then go back and forth between doubting and believing. James 1:6-8 warns against this mindset, stating “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.” 

Then, there are those with renovated hearts who consistently trust in the sovereign and absolute power of God. They have demolished the old revolving or swinging door, and spiritually installed a solid, stable entry door. The new door is magnificent! It does not spin, swing, nor go in circles. It is the door to our hearts that we wisely and willingly open to invite God’s power to manifest in our lives. The clear panes in this door allow us to look out into the world, yet be in a safe place, knowing that God is in control and working out all things for our good. Jeremiah 17:7-9 describes it this way: “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” When we open this strong and beautiful door, joy and love go out as faith, hope, and peace enter in. Worry, anxiety, fear, and bitterness are perplexed because they cannot gain access and rush in the way that they used to.

Are you ready for your prayer door makeover? The good news is that it’s yours for the asking!