Advent 2018 – Day Sixteen – Open the Door
Today’s song is Let ’em in by Paul McCartney
Open the door
And let ’em in
Todays passage is a great encouragement to us in our Advent waiting. It declares that there is an open door before us.
When we have responded to the calling of the Holy Spirit doors will be opened before us. Perhaps more importantly they will stand open drawing us to pass through them.
As we travel with God we gain power through our faith. As we see God acting in and around our lives we sense that there are things God wants us to do for him. We look for those opportunities, whan a need appears, and we are able to respond. As we seek to follow God’s path we will find that doors are opened for our continued service. We pray that as we do that work doors will grow even wider so others may enter into his presence with us.
As we travel towards the coming of Jesus help us look beyond the cradle to see what the Christ child is calling us to do for him with the rest of our lives.
Revelation 3 v 7 – 13
“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and 
what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Prayers and Reflection
Helpful Hymn:
Hymn: Songs of Fellowship 464 – Praise Him on the trumpet, the psaltery and harp
Contemplation saying.
“…I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.”.
Let us pray together.
Contemplative Prayer.
Think of the saying in order to understand context and meaning,
Feel the meaning of the saying with and in your heart,
Pray, using the saying, for yourself or others. With only a name and without explaining the reasons or pre-defining any answers.
Listen for God’s voice in the quiet of your prayers.
Pray using your own prayers or one of those which have been prepared below.
Twitter Prayer
Lord, I thank you that you continually open opportunities for me to speak of your love and how much you mean to me. Amen
Facebook Prayer
Lord as you open doors for me may I have the strength and courage to pass through them knowing that you are with me. Help me to draw others into your presence by my words and the things that I do in your name.Let all hear your loving words of grace, that there is a place for all in your Kingdom. Amen
Full Prayer
Loving Lord Jesus help us to walk close to you. Often we do not see the path you have called us to or understand 
the way you are leading us. Teach us to trust you and see that even in the difficulties of life you never leave our sides.
Help us to know that we do not need to be afraid, as we draw close to you we have the assurance that as we do, you draw close to us.
In this season of Advent help us make the space we require to look for the doors you have opened for us. Help us use this time of preparation to seek your will for our lives. May we be bold and confident in passing through these doors into your service. Amen.
