An Open Door Pt.1

Symbolizations for this entry (aids in understanding):

An open door = A door that leads to the promises of God

When God asks something of you and fear arises, pray that you decrease so that He may increase.

Prayer:

“Lord, all of You and none of me. Help me to decrease so that You may increase and receive all the glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

The other day, God asked me to start teaching Sunday School. It wasn’t the first time He asked. A few months ago, even though I knew the day would eventually come, I declared that I wasn’t ready. I said “no” when God placed it on my heart. But last week, when He asked again, I immediately said “yes.”

What changed?

I remembered a dream God showed me two years ago. In the dream, there was a door that led into a new dimension—bright and radiant—and everything I had ever prayed for was on the other side. As I attempted to walk through, my shirt got caught on a post right before entering. I was close enough for the light of God’s promises to shine on me, yet I couldn’t step into the fullness because I remained stuck. I pulled and tugged, but still I couldn’t get free. All I needed to do was lift my shirt off the post and walk in. I knew what to do… I just didn’t do it.

In that moment, the Holy Spirit said, “That’s your fear holding you back.”

It was so simple. I knew how to get free, but I didn’t move.

Sometimes the very things we desire most are the things that scare us the most. But in order to obtain them, we cannot bring fear with us. Sometimes, to reach our “next,” God calls us to step out in faith and trust that He has us fully covered.

The overall significance of that dream was this: I cannot take fear where I’m going. And for many of you, the same is true. Fear causes stagnation, delay, and even forfeits God’s promises when we allow it to rule us.

I’m learning that although God did not give us the spirit of fear, it is still human to feel afraid—it’s inevitable. But the reason God reminds us that fear is not from Him is so that when we encounter it, we don’t allow fear to control us. Instead, we allow the Spirit of God to drown out fear and rise higher than the nature of man.

2 Timothy 1:7:

7) “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

See part 2…