praying for closed doors

By Brittney Smith (WITHIN Devotional Writer)
​
“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The Spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41 )

Pray for closed doors. Pray that the enemy won’t be able to find an entrance into your home, your family or your mind. We may not realize it, but paper thin openings can make us as vulnerable as wide open doors. The author of Song of Solomon says it’s, “The little foxes that spoil the vine” (Song of Solomon 2:15).  So don’t wait for a life altering problem before you pray. Pray over the mundane tasks and the daily irritants. The ungodly attitudes in the crevices of our hearts and the fault lines in our character, all need sealant. Prayer fills those gaps.

Prayer is only part of the instruction in this verse. Vigilance completes the task. Like an arrow set in a bow, prayer made through watchful discernment is what hits the intended target. Thus, by God’s grace we can pray skillfully, and not pray amiss. Our prayers no longer have to be aimless or routine. We can pray with strategy and boldness. Through watchfulness, we can intentionally go to God for our needs and for those around us.

We watch because the Enemy is also watchful. He is a prowling lion, seeking who he may devour. Yes, he waits for opportunity, for an opening.  Sin also lies at the door in wait for an entrance in our moments of weakness in the flesh. Remember, it is possible to close those openings before our enemies get to them. Should they ever trespass, we have the authority in Jesus name to put them out because greater is He who is in us than He who is in the world. There are many reasons for us to watch and pray but just remember there is no reason too small.
May the Lord help us to keep our eyes open.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The weekly devotionals seek to encourage you to dig deeper into Scripture as you take the time to daily read, meditate, and internalize the verses in the devotional, along with the passages provided below to give greater context. Take the time to read them throughout the week (repetition is important) and ask the Holy Spirit to help you grasp what God is showing you about Himself, about you, and how to live in light of these truths. 

Passages to read/memorize/meditate:

​Ephesians 6:18
Romans 8:26-27
1 Peter 5:8
1 John 4:4
Questions to Reflect on:

1. What “doors” or areas of your life or a loved one’s life can you pray specifically for God to close?
2. List the “doors” or areas of your life or a loved one’s life that you feel confident are closed and pray over them as well.
3. In what other ways can we be watchful in prayer?