Competing With Locks and Fingernails
We have a first-of-the-morning prayer time in our chapel. One morning
I was running a little late, hurriedly hopped out of my car and, in slamming
the door, broke a fingernail. Shaking away its hurt, I ran to the door
and fretted through trial and error of which key suited the back door
lock. I have three carefully marked ‘THEATER DOOR’ keys. There
in front of me was a theater door! One of my three keys had to work! Over
and over I twisted each key into the lock until finally the door opened.
I ran to the chapel and joined a group quietly praying, all tucked into
the holy envelope of prayer – except for me. I was angry at myself
because I was late, provoked by a broken nail and highly suspicious as
to the nature of the back door that had refused to open properly.
There I stood on my way into the presence of the Most High God, dramatically and totally out of fellowship. I was on my way to do daily battle with the powers of darkness, turn the world upside down in Jesus’ name and encourage others into the victory of abundant living – and I had been done in by a broken nail and a stubborn lock! Somehow the defeat didn’t match the battle!
I learned several principles in the few minutes of that experience. One was the cleansing goodness of my friends at prayer. Even in my fretful, negative attitude, the depth of prayer in that room affected me. Are you praying for someone standing out in the cold of anger, irritated at God, resentful? Keep on praying! The prayer itself may offer an invitation unto restoration.
That morning I also knew I needed to pray and in order to pray I had to get back in fellowship – and in a hurry – because our morning prayer time is brief and it would soon be my turn. Confession, like repentance, may be one incident in a long process, but by the Grace of God its action can be fully effective in an instant. Before I prayed, I prayed, ‘Lord, forgive me. I let a little thing like a broken fingernail or a stubborn door lock keep me from the big thing, fellowship with You.’ And, in a moment of miracle, I was back in the circle of Grace! If you have run with the footmen and they have wearied you, remember, God understands the dynasty of trivia’s power, and gives us a Holy Technique to interrupt its reign! Get back into fellowship with Him, Who is the Lord God of Fires and Dominions and also the Lord God of Fingernails and Doors. Read again Jeremiah 12:5 and don’t let fretting over footmen keep you from the Victory of the Valiant.
Jeremiah 12:5 “If you have run with the foot soldiers and they have wearied you, how can you compete with horses?” Or, more pertinently, “Jeannette, if you’re done in by a broken nail, how are you going to stand in the greater battle?”
Excerpt from
"Jeannette Clift George, From Center Stage"
