Can it be a coincidence? Nahhhh, don’t think so :0} Let me explain …
I was returning to my office last week when I tried to open the door by pushing the handle. The problem is that the handle is on the inside of a glass door, and I was on the outside. I knew no one can come in unless someone physically opens the door, or buzzes you in, but I still instinctively tried to open it anyway. Laughing at myself I came in and shared it with my coworkers, who were “just” sharing how the Lord wakes them up in the middle of the night to pray.
Lisa was saying the Lord told her “Behold, I stand on the door and Knock”, she even said she heard a soft knock-knock … Funny, :-} … but I was paying very close attention. David, said “Nancy, maybe the Lord’s trying to tell you He’s standing at the door knocking – you better open that door girl :-}.When you wake up in the middle of the night, spend extra time praying and waiting on Him, and I promise you, you will wake up nice and refreshed”
So that evening, I woke at 2 a.m.; trust me; I was in NO mood to pray, so I turned over a couple of times. But I heard a Ding-Dong in my right ear. Folks, I am not kidding you I really did hear it – Could Lisa be right … LOL.
Finally I got up because I had to, ‘go’. While I was on the “throne”, I placed my face on my hands as I sat there half asleep rubbing my eyes and said: “OK Lord… I’m here, whatta you want me to pray; here I am :-}”.
OK, I know you’re going to think I’m crazy, but, by now I heard a voice that was coming from inside me, it was out of the same ear I heard the ding-dong. The voice said “Go to My Word”
Now, it was 2:00 a.m. and I could barely open my eyes, I knew I had forgotten my Bible in my car and it was dark and cold outside. So I said “Lord, I will put on my glasses and pay attention to You, but would You use “The Spirit-Filled Believers Handbook” that’s on my little green table” I lifted it up and said “Jesus, Derek Price taught Your Word, please guide me, I think You want me to pray for Robert” So I opened the book to any page, and there was John 16:8 right in the middle of the page- When He, the Holy Spirit comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:. This got me excited, so I praised God, and applied that Promise in my prayers for my husband I have been faithfully praying for Robert, and standing on God’s Word before, however, I used to pray for him when he showered and I’d lay hands on his clothes, and pray Ephesians 6:10-18, but I kind of stopped cuz I’ve sleeping late.
That morning I woke up early and “nice and refreshed”, just as David had promised – Thank You Jesus! Well, I received two emails; one from Rob, http://www.illustrator.org , with a message about the Full Armor of God; in his message Rob just happened to mention John 6:13 – But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. ….. Are you folks excited yet, or do you think it’s coincidence? The other message was from a dear friend in Jersey, her message was all about Revelations 3:20 – Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, and will come in and eat with him and he with Me.
Is that hysterical, or what? After I read the messages and replied with sincere thanks, I decided to go make my bed. My husband was in the shower, and since I was refreshed, I started to pray. As I was removing my husband’s clothes from our bed, I instinctively started to pray over them … as soon as I started to speak “The Belt of Truth” around his pants, I realized the Lord had definitively used my friends to direct me in praying His Word – Hallelujah. Jesus, is Awesome, He uses those around you to get your attention. That weekend, Ethan, my 18 month old grandson, was frustrated that his grandfather was not coming to church with us. After he calmed down he on his own, or should we say (inspired by the Holy Spirit), bowed his little head, closed his eyes and said “Jesus, Bless Grandpa, AMMMMMENNNN”. That’s my little boy :-} The Lord is now using the apple of his eye to lift him up in prayers. I believe it’s because Jesus used people around me, knocked at the door to my heart, and I opened it. Wait, just a minute; can you all hear it? It sounds to me like Jesus is knocking on your door… will you open it? …
For as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:. 1 Peter 1:3-4
Nancy Reindl nerck@sbcglobal.net