Open Doors
Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.” Acts 10:20
It’s been a busy couple of weeks. This past weekend was our annual women’s conference at our church and the weeks leading up to it have been packed full. It’s only one of the reasons I didn’t get a message posted everyday last week. Added to that, I was asked to speak at two different small events during the week leading up to the conference which added some preparation to the activity of the week. It would have been easy for me to say that my schedule was just to full to add anything else into it. However, since I have already decided I do not want to miss any open doors that God puts in front of me, I make my decisions when opportunity comes by checking in on what God may be doing. I used to have the philosophy that when my schedule was full, it was ok to say “no” to unexpected requests that come my way. However, I have now come to realize that God presents these occasions to help others to not only grow and strengthen me, but also to remind me that when I trust His grace for the time and resources I need, He always make things fit into my schedule with room to spare.
In today’s reading, an unplanned event happened in Peter’s life. It doesn’t look on the surface like Peter was terribly busy. He was staying at a friend’s house and waiting for dinner. It was definatly an interruption in what he already had going on, but Peter greeted the men, invited them to stay to night and left with them in the morning. This was way bigger than the commitments I slotted into my busy schedule. (I only needed to free up about two hours in the week and maybe a couple more for preparation.) Peter took an entire evening and the next day to go with these men to Cornelius’ house. Keep in mind that the apostle Peter was in charge of the church, so he wasn’t exactly a person with a lot of free time. I find it interesting that in a time when he was alone to spend quiet time with God in prayer, that the vision came and also when the Spirit told him about the guys coming for him. This again reinforces how important it is to have a plan each day and spend time talking with your Father in heaven.
In today’s society I hear a lot of talk about boundaries and not letting people take advantage of you, but I want to encourage you to make sure that you are not saying no to the things that God is calling you too. Moments that may seem big or uncomfortable or even occasions that seem like they may cost you some valuable time and money. God will supply when He is calling you and He will make these events fit into your schedule. We read about Phillip a couple weeks ago and how God told him to go one place and supernaturally transported him to his next appointment right on time. He can make it all fit and keep you on your schedule too.
Today I want to encourage you to check in often with your heavenly Father. Walk out your days in a running conversation with Him. Don’t make your decisions based on feelings and circumstances. If you do, you will miss out on some of the greatest blessings that God has planned for you. Let the Spirit of God direct your paths day by day and when you do, you will always know the right decision to make at the right time to walk through the open doors He puts in front of you.
Today’s scripture reading: Acts 10:17-23
17 Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate.
18 And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.
19 While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you.
20 Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”
21 Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”
22 And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.”
23 Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
The Daily Dose 