Open gate

Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD: Psalm 118:19

An open gate is very inviting; it says come on in and stay awhile. When the surroundings are serene and peaceful, you want to go and stay for a time of relaxation. On my walk I came across open gates. Gates swung open to allow passage into an open field or a large beautiful yard sitting on the ocean. Thinking about the gates we sometimes put around our hearts I considered the open gate. An open gate around our hearts bring to mind our relationship with God. When are hearts are open to God it can be a time of growth and learning. It is also a time of complete and total trust .

Ebedmelech was a man who trusted God with an open heart. Who is Ebedmelech? A servant of the king during the time of the prophet Jeremiah. As soon as Ebedmelech heard of Jeremiah being thrown in the dungeon of mud, he took action. He did not sit there contemplating what he should do, he did it. Ebedmelech went quickly to the king and told him what happened. He was not afraid of what the king would do to him, he was on a mission to help God’s prophet. His heart was open to the leading of God.

As a result of his obedience to God’s leading, the king listened and gave him a plan; go and get 30 men to help you. Ebedmelech found the men and took a bunch of old rotten rags to accomplish his mission. Jeremiah was rescued, but the story does not end. God sent a message to Ebedmelech that he would be protected from his enemies. God’s protection, the best protection one will ever receive. (Jeremiah 38:6-13; 39:16-18)

There are many traits our hearts can be opened to, here are a few:

• Open to God’s leading


• Open to His love


• Open to his compassion


• Open to His direction


• Open to the small still voice


• Open to His kindness and care


• Open to walking with Him in faith


• Open to change in our life no matter what the change – this could be a pleasant or scary situation.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. Psalm 100:4

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20

Falling apart gate

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:21

As I continue looking at gates, I came across a gate that was falling apart. This gate reminded me of a life separated from Christ or a life without Christ. Is the gate around your heart falling apart? Is it alienated from God? Does your life seem like it is falling apart because you have strayed so far away. Being far away from God can be a lonely place indeed.

There may be many reasons why the gate of our heart is falling apart. The reason might be obvious or it might be something hidden in the recesses of our mind. Only we know the answer.

It doesn’t matter why the heart gate is falling apart, what matters is what we are going to do about it. Is there a time in your life that you repented of your sin and asked Jesus to forgive you and save you? Did you answer yes? God has not moved He is still there waiting to welcome you back into His love and care.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. … James 4:8

Was the answer to the question no? God is patiently waiting to make you part of His family. Don’t be like King Agrippa in Acts 26 who said to Paul, “almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian” If you know you are not a Christian and would like to be one please see below.

Have you walked the Romans Road?
The Romans Road is a group of Bible verses that show the way of salvation in Jesus Christ.

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: Romans 3:10The Bible says no one is innocent.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:23We all have sin in our hearts. We all were born with sin. We were born under the power of sin's control.
- Admit that you are a sinner.

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: Romans 5:12We all have original sin from Adam, the first man.

For the wages of sin is death; … Romans 6:23Sin has an ending. It results in death. We all face physical death, which is a result of sin. But a worse death is spiritual death that alienates us from God, and will last for all eternity.
- Understand that you deserve death for your sin.

… but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23Praise God that verse 23 does not end with death. The verse continues BUT (God gives us a choice)
Salvation is a free gift from God to you! You can't earn this gift, but you must reach out and receive it.
- Ask God to forgive you and save you.

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 13:3Repent means to think differently. We need to think differently about our sin and turn from it.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8Jesus died for our sin, your sin and mine . He paid the price for all sin, when He took all the sins of the world on Himself on the cross.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13- If you know that God is knocking on your heart's door, ask Him to come into your heart.

Pray and ask Jesus to forgive you of your sin and come into your life and save you. Repent and turn to Him.

Start today by repairing the gate of your heart by accepting the love of Jesus. Jesus died for the sins of the world. Won’t you accept His sacrifice for you? Please let me know if you asked Jesus to save you, by leaving me a comment.

Dear Heavenly Father, if there is anyone who does not know you as savior please soften their heart. Let them know that you are willing and waiting to accept them into your kingdom. Amen.

Have a blessed day,Donna

Iron gate

And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

Psalm 78:8

In my travels I have come across iron gates. While reflecting on this type of gate I thought of it being strong and hard to penetrate. Sometimes we put up an iron gate around our heart, nothing is going to enter, it is stubborn and unchangeable it is our way or the highway. Most of the time we have our heart set on something, whether right or wrong, and no matter what Someone says we will not listen.

There are many Bible characters who display this type of heart gate, stubborn, obstinate and know better than anyone. A name that comes quickly to mind is King Saul. He was the first king of Israel. In the beginning of his reign he was quiet and obedient to the Lord. The Bible tells us he was a goodly person, there were no others like him (I Samuel 9:2) as you continue to read about Saul in the early chapters of I Samuel he appears humble and desires to seek God’s will.

The more you read the more you realize Saul wanted to do things his way. He did not care about God’s law but about himself. He was impatient and wanted results NOW, he could not be bothered to wait for the priest to offer the sacrifice, and he offered it himself (I Samuel 13:8-14). God told him to destroy everything in Amalek, but again Saul thought he knew better than God. (I Samuel 15:2-9) Each act of disobedience brought him further and further away from God. The iron gate around his stubborn heart was unbendable and unyielding which lead to the loss of his kingdom.

The prodigal son (Luke 15) is another example of an iron heart gate. He wanted his own way. He did not want to wait to inherit his share of the estate. He wanted it NOW. His father freely gave him what he requested. Without a care in the world the son took off to parts unknown to enjoy his riches. Forgetting everything he learned, he foolishly wasted each and every cent. The iron gate around his heart was slowly yielding. He remembered His Father and His Father’s love and traveled back home. Once home he found his loving Father with arms outstretched to embrace his wayward son. His stubborn, obstinate heart started to shed the “ iron” gate.

I know there have been many times, too many to count, where I allowed the iron gate to surround my heart. Thankfully I allowed the Lord to break down the iron gate. How is your heart? Are you stubborn or unyielding in a certain situation. Ask the Lord for guidance and direction through His word.

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. Hosea 10:12