His Tender Love
The Welcome Mat
by Donna Fitzpatrick on Apr.25, 2009, under Learning to Hear, His Tender Love
The saying, “I’m not a doormat!” or “God didn’t call me to be a doormat!” is a saying that means, “Don’t step on me to get where you’re going.” But one day when I became upset about something I made this statement and the Spirit whispered into my heart:
“No, but you are are not the Door, either.”
Jesus is the Door. No one can enter heaven except through Jesus. Again I heard the whispers, “Donna are you willing to be a doormat if I call you to be one?” In my mind I could see a welcome mat—the kind that sits in front of a door. The mat cannot replace the door. The mat welcomes all who come to the door. God doesn’t always call us to be a doormat to assist others to the door, but if He does—are we willing?
By listening to the Spirit of God we can know when we need to remove ourselves from a situation or whether He has called us to be a “spiritual doormat” in this situation. When an angry crowd wanted to stone Jesus, He knew it wasn’t God’s will for that to happen, so He slipped away. But we also know of a time when He went willingly to a Cross to become the sacrificial lamb for us—knowing that this was the will of the Father. If we are faithul to follow the will of the Father, we will receive the blessing promised to the one who overcomes:
“Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life . . . He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death” (Revelation 2:10b, 11b/NKJ).
Overcoming can mean victory over our own self-will [i.e. not willing to be a door mat], or it can mean victory over situations that could tempt us to deny our faith. When we overcome self-will we can become victorious in offering Christ’s love.
(Excerpt from chapter 6 of “Learning to Hear the Whispers of God.”)
Prayer: Lord, Help me not to view the “welcoming mat” as a opportunity to be a victim, but rather as a time to be sensitive to Your leading of whether it is a time I should flee or endure. And, when I am to endure, help me to use the opportunity to elevate, comfort, encourage, and love…—whomever You send my way that they may desire to enter Your door.
