Angi Aymond

I sat in the rocking chair, holding a precious bundle of sweetness. It was naptime and we were in the middle of sleep training.

But I had left the nursery door open. Ahhh …

And Franklin stared at me as if to say, “You can’t do anything about me right now.” He then waltzed right in with gentle cat-likeness and found a comfortable spot to chill. Under W’s bed.

Yes. Franklin is my daughter’s cat.

It was from the rocking chair in W’s nursery that I may have prayed the lamest prayer of all eternity.

Lord, I know this is so trivial. But, could You just show me Yourself in the still of naptime hope? Could You please compel this darn cat to exit the room? Sleep training is hard without a cat to disturb the process. Please, Lord. I’m embarrassed to ask, but I am asking. Amen.

Not 15 seconds later, Franklin walked right out of the room just as quietly as he had entered.

I smiled and nodded. Thank, You Lord.

A few days later, I found myself in the same situation. Ugh…

So I simply looked up and whispered, Again, Lord? A bit later, Franklin tip-toed out of the room.

Again, I smiled and nodded.

A week later … yep. Same.

I know what you’re thinking! I was thinking the same thing: Just close the door behind you, Angi!

And that’s when this post was conceived. (God speaks to me in the gentlest of ways in the most mundane places.)

Yes. Why did I keep leaving the door open? Why, knowing there was a cat on the prowl whose greatest joy in life is creating chaos? Because I was busy. Hurried. Maybe even distracted.

How often does that happen outside the nursery? How often do I leave the door open for the enemy of my heart whose greatest joy is creating chaos in my soul?

How many times have I prayed the same prayer, asking God to move? To get me out of a situation that could have prevented if I had only been more diligent? Aware. Obedient. Surrendered.

You might be thinking, well, what does leaving the door open look like in real life?

It can look like many things. For me, in different seasons of life, it has looked like outright disobedience, apathy, and pride.

Disobedience. That one is easy. I usually know (whether I’m willing to admit it or not) if I am being disobedient: with my actions or with my inaction.

Closing this door is simple: trusting and obeying. Trusting God enough to do what He asks of me.

At times, leaving a door open to the enemy looks a bit more like apathy. Doing life on auto-pilot. Stuck in a rut. Living comfortably. Lulled into thinking all is well.

Closing this door requires intentionality. It involves a plan. Reading God’s word. Practicing His presence. Spending time in prayer, listening. This isn’t a checklist. It’s more like a process  God uses to open my heart and mind so that I can see what’s going on around me. What He is up to around me.

Lastly, leaving the door open too often looked like pride. Subtle, but deadly. That’ll never happen to me. I would never do that. I can’t believe she/he could get caught up in that. Can you believe it?

Closing this door requires an honest look at myself. Acknowledging my own weaknesses. Understanding the power of the enemy in a heart full of pride.

That’s what opened doors have looked like in my life.

Have you ever considered how you might leave the door open for the enemy of your heart?

I am committed to the practice of closing the door.

All of them.

How about you?