One of my all-time favorite children’s stories is The Velveteen Rabbit! Remember that one? It’s the story of a toy rabbit that loved his owner so much he becomes real. I believe that’s what our Father God wants to make out of us you and me. Not empty professors of religion, but real honest God lovers who learn how to return the love He has shown us in Christ and continues to pour out on us through His Spirit. 

For years now, I’ve been taken with these words found in Revelation 4:1, “There is a door standing open in heaven.”

I want to spend the last few moments communicating as openly as I can about my experience in learning to use the privileges of that wonderful Door. My promise to you is that there’ll be no filters, no pretense, no parsing of words, just the solid unvarnished truth. Ready? Let’s go. 

I wish I could tell you that every morning when I set out to pray, the heavens part and communion with the One my soul loves is immediate.

But again, I want to be a real girl so I can be of help to you. Instantaneous heaven parting isn’t a regular occurrence. Rarely does the veil between heaven and earth thin so quickly. Most mornings my thoughts have to be corralled and pulled back over and over, and over and over, and over and over again from the many places they wander. Sure, I could speak only of the joy of prayer, but I’m hoping to tell you the whole of it in case you’re faced the same struggle. I don’t want you to give up before you make it to the Water.

…but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life. John 4:14

Towards that end, here’s the truth I know and to which I cling: The way of fellowship is here. 

Jesus is the Light left on and the Door standing open.

The dilemma is with me, myself, and I. See, there’s often a space between “draw near to God” and “He will draw near to you” where my thoughts can distract and defeat me. If I let them. The choice is mine. I can keep bringing them back to worship, and petition, and intercession for you— until the Holy Spirit stills my spirit and fills this dusty vessel.

For when I do stay with it, when I keep running back for the Door, regardless of my wool gathering, and ask Holy Spirit to help my heart burn for Him, I get to enjoy His company, the realization of His Presence. And, oh friends, it’s worth it. He is worth it. He is worth every reach, every effort. Oh, you didn’t know prayer took effort. Ah, there’s the rub. We wait for angels to transport us and music to herald our arrival into His chambers. Pardon the grammar, but it ain’t gonna happen. 

At least not for real girls.