Encouragement for Today

December 16, 2024 Open the Door to God’s Gifts BOB GOFF Lee en español

“… Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.” Acts 12:16 (NIV)

Sometimes we can be so busy, distracted or doubtful that we don’t realize what we were praying for is already knocking at the door.

Picture this: The Apostle Peter’s in prison in Jerusalem, about to go on trial. He’s chained to two guards while other guards stand at the prison gate. Then an angel shows up in his cell, the chains fall off Peter’s wrists, and the angel leads Peter past the guards as the jail doors open. The angel disappears as soon as they’re out on the street.

“Then Peter came to himself and said, ‘Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches …’” (Acts 12:11, NIV).

Peter ran from the prison to John Mark’s house, where “the church was earnestly praying to God for him” (Acts 12:5, NIV). When he knocked at the door, a servant named Rhoda came to answer. But when she heard Peter’s voice, she hurried to tell everyone else.  

Wait, what? she must have thought. Isn’t everyone upstairs praying for Peter, hoping he will escape jail? She was so stunned she didn't even open the door! Certainly her motives were not bad, but she left the gift standing on the doorstep.

The people gathered upstairs did the same. Rather than believe it could be true that their prayers were answered, they told Rhoda, “You’re out of your mind … It must be his angel” (Acts 12:15, NIV). As they rifled through explanations and possibilities, “Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished” (Acts 12:16).

As we approach a new year, think about what this story tells us. Sometimes God is at work doing things we either don’t notice or don’t believe. God has answered our prayers, but we come up with another explanation for what’s occurring.

In other words, we say, “Nothing is impossible with God” (see Genesis 18:14a, Matthew 19:26 and Luke 1:37). But deep down, we don’t believe it. We get stuck in our ruts — even in prayer — and forget to open our eyes.

God does not want us to spend our lives caught up in figuring out His will for us but instead wants us to discover an adventurous, trusting relationship with Him, one full of connection, wonder and possibility.

The new year is a great time to fling wide the door and celebrate what God is already doing in your life. To wake up each morning committed to growing closer to the God of the impossible. You are surrounded by the miraculous every day. Don’t dismiss it or ignore it — and don’t leave what God has done in your life standing at the door, waiting for you to pay attention.

God, thank You for the incredible things You’re doing in my life. I want to open the door to Your gifts in the coming year. Help me to see the miraculous in the everyday and to pay attention to how You see me and want to connect with me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Here’s your invitation to a yearlong journey into the uplifting, inspiring and unexpected possibilities waiting for you every day with the new book from Bob Goff, Catching Whimsy: 365 Days of Possibility.

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FOR DEEPER STUDY

Matthew 19:26, “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’” (NIV).

How would the year ahead look different if you lived with greater anticipation of what God will do in your life and greater recognition of what He is already doing? Share your answers in the comments so we can encourage one another!

© 2024 by Bob Goff. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries thanks Nelson Books for their sponsorship of today’s devotion.

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