This is the second prayer in the prayer acrostic, F.O.L.L.O.W. C.H.R.I.S.T.
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O: Open a door for your word!
- "2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving, 3 praying together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds, 4 that I may reveal it as I ought to speak" (Colossians 4:2-4).
Prayerful Observations:
We are to do three things. We are to be steadfast in prayer, watch in it and pray "that God may open to us a door" for us to repeat "the word" of the Father. Laymen can do this. You don't need a seminary degree to do this. I don't have a seminary degree and I can do this. The best way to reveal these truths is by way of a real life example.
A relative of mine told me that she was afraid of dying. I asked if she was afraid of the suffering of physical death or if she was afraid of what was going to happen to her after her death. She said, "I'm afraid of what is going to happen after I die." I shared the Gospel with her (Ephesians 2:8 which says "for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works"). I also bought her a modern translation of the Bible. She couldn't understand her old translation. She began to read the Bible. She wanted to read it all before she died.
About a year later, she was in the hospital dying. Although I had known her for decades and seen her often, I did not know if she was a Christian. I viewed her as good, honest, enjoyable, kind and responsible person. Instead of calling her by her real name, I'll call her "Olivia".
As I drove to the hospital, I prayed that God would "open a door for the word" and give me the words of the Gospel (Ephesians 6:18-19). I told my Lord that I would wait for Him to open the door for His word. I would not force the conversation into spiritual things. In this way I was "steadfast in prayer". I was committed to "watching in it".
I talked with my relative in the hospital for about half an hour. She was upbeat and the conversation was not naturally moving to spiritual things. Silently, in my spirit, I said to my Lord, "I guess you are not going to open a door now." In this way I was watching in prayer. But, I had not seen a door open for the word.
A moment later, she suddenly began to cry. She said that she had called her minister and that he had come. The Holy Spirit had moved in her spirit, just as scripture says that He will (micro-subchapter 3.1h).
I asked her if she would like for me to read some scripture. She said, "Yes". I read a paragraph from the second chapter of Ephesians, and then asked her if she understood it. She said, "No". Then I read one short passage to her. I read Ephesians 2:8-9: "for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, that no one would boast".
In this way, I had repeated the words of the Father. Then I asked her if she understood the passage. With a great joy she said, "Oh yes. I understand! I understand!" She was full of joy. I knew in my spirit that she belonged to Him. I don't know exactly when she came to know God.