Praying for Open Doors
Prayer for Open Doors: Moving from Defense to Offense in Faith
By: Chris Plekenpol
Prayer isn't just about asking God to protect us from life's challenges - it's about partnering with Him to push back darkness and bring heaven to earth. When we shift from defensive prayers to offensive prayers, we position ourselves to be used by God in powerful ways, even in the most difficult circumstances.
What Does It Mean to Pray Offensively?
Offensive prayer isn't about being rude or confrontational. It's about taking initiative in the spiritual realm rather than simply reacting to problems. While defensive prayers like "Lord, heal me" or "protect me from harm" are important, offensive prayers focus on advancing God's kingdom.
The Lord's Prayer demonstrates this perfectly: "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). This is asking God to use us to bring heavenly realities into earthly situations - that's as offensive as prayer gets.
Why Do We Struggle with Offensive Prayer?
We Don't Value Prayer as Our Most Powerful Tool
Many of us treat prayer like a last resort we went to too soon, rather than recognizing it as the most powerful thing we can do as Christians. Prayer isn't magic, but it does involve the supernatural - we speak words that activate something in the spiritual realm.
We Don't Know God's Word
When we forget Jesus' command to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19-20), we miss the promise that comes with it: "behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Our mission comes with God's presence.
We Focus on Negativity Instead of God's Goodness
When we constantly complain about our circumstances, we're essentially telling God that our life isn't that great and He could have done a better job. This negative mindset blinds us to the opportunities God places before us.
Learning from Paul's Prison Prayers
In Colossians 4:2-4, Paul writes from prison: "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ on account of which I am in prison."
Christians Pray In and Out of Prison
Paul could have prayed for escape, but instead he prayed for opportunities to share the gospel. He understood that prison - whether literal or metaphorical - can be a place where God shows up powerfully.
Like Joseph in Genesis, who looked beyond his own circumstances to minister to fellow prisoners, we need to minister in the midst of our own "prisons." Our struggles and challenges don't disqualify us from being used by God - they often position us to help others facing similar difficulties.
Christians Pray for Open Doors for God's Word
Paul specifically requested prayer for open doors to share the gospel. This should be our focus too - asking God to create opportunities for meaningful conversations about faith with the people in our lives.
How to Walk Wisely with Outsiders
Colossians 4:5-6 gives us practical guidance: "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."
Make the Best Use of Time
God has strategically placed you where you live, work, and play. These aren't random assignments - they're divine appointments. Ask God how you can serve and meet the needs of people in these spheres.
Let Your Speech Be Gracious
Gracious speech means talking about what others want to discuss - themselves. Use the FORM method for natural conversations:
- Family: Ask about their background, children, parents
- Occupation: Learn about their work, how they got into it, what they enjoy
- Recreation: Discover their hobbies and interests
- Message: Share how the gospel relates to their specific situation
The Crowd Cloud Strategy
To identify opportunities for offensive prayer, map out your "crowd clouds" - the different groups of people you regularly encounter:
- Where you live: Neighbors, community members
- Where you work: Supervisors, colleagues, subordinates
- Where you play: Gym partners, hobby groups, regular restaurants
Look for intersections where these crowds overlap - these often provide the best opportunities for building relationships and sharing faith naturally.
The Power of God's Word in Evangelism
When sharing the gospel, put God's Word directly into people's mouths by having them read key verses aloud:
- Romans 3:23 - "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
- Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord"
- Romans 5:8 - "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us"
- Romans 10:9 - "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved"
When people speak God's Word, it opens their hearts in powerful ways.
Life Application
This week, commit to praying offensively for open doors in your specific crowd clouds. Choose one person from each area - where you live, work, and play - and begin praying specifically for opportunities to share Christ with them. Ask God to give you wisdom in your conversations and to create natural openings for the gospel.
Remember, God doesn't waste your hurt or your circumstances. Your story of how God found you and brought you out of darkness is exactly what someone else needs to hear.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Who has God strategically placed in my life that needs to hear about Jesus?
- How can I shift from complaining about my circumstances to seeing them as opportunities for ministry?
- What would change if I truly believed prayer was my most powerful tool as a Christian?
- Am I walking wisely with the "outsiders" in my life, or am I missing opportunities because I'm focused on my own tasks and frustrations?