Ever heard the saying, “like a cow staring at a gate?” Around here, cows stare and stand at gates and fences all the time and for all kinds of reasons. Most often, they just want someone to OPEN THE GATE!
They either want someone to open the gate and come in or open the gate so they can go out. We open gates to go in and feed or put out hay. But the cows especially like to go out of gates! They really like to go out of gates when you don’t want them to! When husband goes in to put out hay or do something really quick, he likes to leave the gate open…. and that’s when the cows choose to go out the gate!
On Sunday, our pastor spoke from Psalms 24.
Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle!
9 Lift up your heads, O gates!
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory!
On Sunday evening at a time of church prayer, Pastor spoke briefly about praying with and through imagery. This struck home to me, as I am a very visual person. God often speaks to me visually and through things that I see, hence this blog! It even flows over into everyday life. Husband can get frustrated with me sometimes, because I need to SEE whatever he is explaining or telling me. I am very visual. So during prayer, I asked the Lord to show me how to pray.
I immediately saw an image of cows standing at a gate, much like the one above. As I just said, I am very familiar with the reasons they stand there. So I asked the Lord, “Ok, what are you saying?” Psalms 24 came immediately to mind and I began to pray and meditate on those words. I felt as if He laid out 3 succinct points:
Stand at the gates.
When the cows stand at or near the gates, they are first out. They are prepared and ready to either leave through the gate or follow quickly whoever enters. If we will stand ready, prepared to follow where He leads, we can’t be late and we can’t wonder where we are going. We wait on YOU, Lord. With expectancy in our hearts, we stand at the gates. We should be found sober and vigilant, waiting and watching.
Open the gates.
Sometimes, the cows do the work for us. We have a few that have learned how to raise levers and undo chains. Often, they will open the gates whether we are ready for them or not! We must open the gates of our heart. We have to open the gates of our understanding. He will come in to our lives, our homes, our churches, our country and our conflicts, IF we will open the gates. Invite the King of Glory to come in!
Allow entry through the gates.
Sometimes, the cows crowd the gates so much that they don’t allow anyone to come through them. You can be so close to the gate that it can’t open and He surely can’t enter. Sometimes our desires get ahead of ourselves and ahead of God. Wait patiently for the Lord and allow Him to walk through the open gate!
Stand at the gate, open the gate, and allow Him to enter through the gate.
Prepare the way of the Lord! If we will, stand at the gate with expectation, open the gate of our heart to Him, and then allow Him entry through the gate, The King of Glory will come in! The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord who fights our battles. The God of angel armies, The Lord of Hosts is His name! He will come in and WIN every battle and lead us to every VICTORY!
