While flying today, I heard someone wish another passenger a merry Christmas for the first time this year, and it lit up my spirit like the tree at Rockefeller Center. Two thousand years have passed since the miraculous birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and Christmas is still—and always will be—the season of Holy Spirit opportunity.
Of course, Christmas is when we celebrate that Jesus was born to a virgin to give every person on Earth the opportunity to receive eternal, abundant life. But before Jesus was ever born, God invited Mary to choose to believe the words spoken to her by an angel. He beckoned Joseph to believe that what was happening in Mary’s body was of the Holy Spirit.
God gave Mary and Joseph these opportunities, these choices, to believe, and once they accepted, no one could derail the plan God had for them. As He did for Mary and Joseph, God has set before you opportunities of significance with powerful consequences that will impact generations for His kingdom.
The power of the Holy Spirit has led many men and women of God to stand on this extraordinary verse of Scripture written to the church of Philadelphia: “I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it” (Rev. 3:8). The term “open door” in this passage is connected to the word opportunity. If you will accept God’s invitation and if you will choose to believe, it will unleash miraculous, Holy Spirit power in your life and ministry.
This season, I encourage you to ask yourself:
—What opportunities has God set before me?
—Have I walked through all those open doors, or have I been hesitating?
—From which Holy Spirit invitations have I been withholding my RSVP, and why?
And then:
—Am I ready to trust the Spirit of God and step through the doors He has opened for me, knowing He will empower me for all good works, comfort my heart when I am afraid and guide me every step of the way?
—If not, what will I do in the coming weeks so that I can confidently say yes to that question?
As Paul so eloquently wrote, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Rom. 8:1). If you know there are callings and opportunities you have been avoiding, don’t wallow in regret, shame or fear. Remember that the Holy Spirit is always there to lift you out of despair and strengthen your heart. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you stand and walk through the open door in front of you, and you can trust that He will never leave your side.
God is doing something profound and powerful by His Holy Spirit, and He wants you to join Him. It’s time to get ready to step through the open door!
You’re beautiful. I see Jesus in you. Have a great week! {eoa}
Mikel French has challenged spiritual awakening all across America, where many celebrations extended into multiple weeks, and has conducted celebrations in France, Sweden, Russia, Romania, Poland, Ukraine, Moldova, Serbia, Germany, South Africa, Malawi, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Haiti, Japan, Singapore, India and Thailand. He conducted an outreach celebration in Manila, Philippines, reaching 200,000 teenagers with the book of hope. Through the generous support of partners, he has presented the message of Jesus Christ to millions of people in the nation of Russia through televised citywide soul-winning celebrations. Mikel considers it an honor to assist in conducting the annual pastor’s conference, where thousands of pastors from Russia’s 11 time zones come for training, teaching and equipping. Mikel and his wife, Marsha, reside in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
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