Open the Door
“They told her she was out of her mind, but she wouldn’t back down. She knew what she heard. Still, they didn’t believe it could really be Peter. They figured it was just his angel.” Acts 12:15 (MSG)
The church was praying earnestly for Peter’s release. He had been arrested and was heavily guarded. There was no logical way out. But then God did the impossible. In the middle of the night, Peter was woken by an angel, his chains fell off, and the doors opened on their own. Peter walked right out of that prison and went straight to the house where his friends were praying.
Rhoda, a servant girl, answered the door. She heard Peter’s voice, got so excited that she forgot to let him in, and ran back to tell everyone. Their response?
“You’re crazy.”
They were praying for a miracle, but when it showed up, they couldn’t believe it. Even when Rhoda insisted, they explained it away. “It must be his angel.” In other words, “There’s no way that’s actually Peter.”
I remember a season in my life when I was praying for God to open a door for provision. We were facing financial strain, and I was doing everything I knew to do: working, saving, praying. I prayed for open doors, but deep down I started assuming the answer would come through a long process. Then one afternoon, I got a phone call with a generous gift from someone who had no idea what we were walking through. I was stunned. And honestly, I almost told them no out of pride. I had prayed for help but when it came, I wasn’t ready to receive it. That moment taught me something important. Sometimes, the answer is already knocking, and we just need to open the door.
Even though they were praying, they almost missed the very thing they were asking for. And if we are not careful, we can do the same. Let’s look at four things that can keep us from opening the door when God answers.
Devotion without expectation.
They were passionate in their prayers but practical in their faith. It is possible to go through all the right spiritual motions and still not truly believe God will move. You can love Jesus, serve faithfully, and still doubt His power to show up suddenly.
Real faith does not just pray. It prepares the room for what you are asking for. Expectation is evidence of faith.Dismissing the messenger.
Rhoda heard the answer knocking, but when she told the others, they dismissed her. Why? Because of who she was and how she sounded. We often ignore the message because we underestimate the messenger. Sometimes God will use a child, a stranger, or someone overlooked to confirm what He is doing.
Do not let familiarity cause you to miss the voice of God speaking through unexpected people.Doubting the divine.
Instead of saying “God answered,” they said, “It must be his angel.” In other words, this cannot be real. How often do we explain away what God is doing because it seems too good to be true? We want miracles, but we are often more comfortable with manageable outcomes.
Stop trying to make God’s power fit within your comfort zone. He does not need your logic. He needs your trust.Delayed response to God’s doorbell.
Peter kept knocking. The miracle had arrived, but the people inside delayed because of disbelief. How many times has God brought the breakthrough, but our hesitation left it waiting?
God may have already answered your prayer, but it is your move now. Open the door. Let the answer in.
So if you’ve been praying, waiting, or wondering if God is going to come through, pause and take a second look. The answer might be closer than you think. It might already be knocking. Let this be your moment to respond with faith and open the door.
Let’s pray.
God, do not let me delay or dismiss what You are doing. I want to live with faith that expects and responds. Help me open the door to Your will, Your timing, and Your answers, even when they surprise me. Amen.
Make it Personal:
Have I ever been surprised when God answered a prayer I prayed? What did that reveal about my faith at the time?
Is there something right now I’ve been praying about, but deep down I don’t actually expect to change?
Who or what have I been tempted to dismiss that might actually be a part of God's answer?
