Doorkeepers
by Tina Yeager
“I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked”
Dead leaves pollute my front stoop. I’ve lost concern over the buried mat in this season of rare visitors. As uninviting as my doorway now seems, it once stood clear and presented a welcome message to the world.
Soon after we moved into this house, I swept our autumn-littered porch. More debris carpeted the threshold by the next morning. The task of maintaining a clear stoop demanded more effort than I ever imagined. I soon gave up on an endless chore which seemed to benefit no one.
As a writer, I must maintain a threshold of words. I can lay out a welcome through nonfiction or stories to invite the world into the warmth of God’s messages. I must sweep words across the screen as I draft and rewrite. Persistent efforts on unpublished manuscripts can seem to bring little effect. Without readers visiting my pieces, I can often lose motivation to tend the doorway.
Yet, the Lord calls writers to persist as doorkeepers of his kingdom. He stationed each of us in certain neighborhoods. Our individual threshold shapes of genres and styles can prove inviting to visiting readers who would find other doorways irrelevant.
But if we neglect the work of sweeping our words across these doorsteps, no one will read the welcome messages through which God intended them to enter his truth.
I will soon take a broom to prepare my front stoop for one of my rare house guests. But first, I will sweep prayers across the closing edge of this devotional. Whether I expect your visit in advance or not, may the message offer you a clear invitation into the Lord’s steps for you.
Father, thank you for honoring me as a doorkeeper of your message to the world. Please equip me with persistence. Align my heart with your love for those readers you will bring to my doorstep. Help me, Lord, to maintain the threshold of words and welcome these neighbors you hold dear. Amen.
Award-winning author, speaker, licensed counselor, and life coach, Tina encourages audiences to fulfill their potential. She offers writing workshops through Serious Writer Academy, hosts the Flourish-Meant podcast, and is a mentor with Word Weavers International. Beautiful Warrior, her book on women’s esteem is available through New Hope Publishers. To connect with her, visit tinayeager.com.
Encouraging challenge to persistent word sweeping in preparation of unexpected guests/readers. Well done.
Thank you, Sharron! May the Lord bless your words.
The ink strand of your quill pen twists and turns skillfully between tangible figures and tormenting doubts provoking my writing wings to soar above my misconceptions to fulfill my call. Thank you for your prayers, Tina.
Thank you for your kind and eloquent feedback, Yeny! May the Spirit continue to breathe powerful encouragement beneath your writing wings!
This is great! Love thinking of my words as leaves and my connection with readers as a doorway. Need to get back behind the broom!