Always looking for direction . . .

I have been meditating in Psalms 118 for the last several days ( it's a long psalm). In Psalms 118:5 it says, "From my distress I called upon the Lord; The Lord answered me and set me in a large place." So I spent some time thinking about the significance of a "large place" as opposed to a mountain top or valley. There is clarity, security, rest because in a large place you can see what's coming and have time to prepare. That provides safety. There's clarity because in this space there is time to focus on the task at hand; look at the details because you are safe from immediate hazards. Hazard you might be concerned about in the valley or on the mountain. If you hike at all, this makes sense. There's less potential for falling or getting hurt in a wide open space than there is in a narrow valley or on a mountain trail.




From this large place, there is victory from the enemy vs 10 - 18. God has defended us and won the battle! (He's in control)




Then in verse 19 there is a response of obedience because of what God has done. The scripture reads "Open to me the gates of righteousness; I shall enter through them, I shall give thanks to the Lord."


It struck me that I don't open the gate of righteousness, God does. I choose to enter. I am constantly asking God for direction in my life. I always want to know where I'm going; what I'm supposed to do next. LEAD ME GUIDE ME is my cry. But the choice today is " Lord, open for me the gate of righteousness. I'll choose to follow you in what is right, pure, holy. My choice today will be you; focusing on you.


Think about all the gates in scripture, gates to the temples, gates around cities, narrow gates, wide gates. There are tons of them!



IN Matthew 7: 13-14 Jesus talks about a gate that is narrow and I must choose to enter into it. He doesn't drag us. This narrow gate leads to life, the wide easy gate leads to destruction.



Proverbs 14:12 - There is a way (gate) that seems right to a man but it ends in death and destruction. (emphasis added)



John 14:6 Jesus says, I'm am the way (gate), the truth, the life no one can get to the Father except they come through me ( Jesus is the gate to get to God).



So God opens the gate to righteousness, provides the gate in Jesus Christ and I get the blessings of life and relationship for choosing to enter the gate.


Choose you this day whom you shall serve. . . . As for me and my house, We will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15


My house is the temple of the Holy spirit who gives me the power (resurrection power) to choose the gate of righteousness. Today.

I've spent a lot of time looking for and asking for direction, today I choose to look for the opened gate of righteousness and leave the way up to God. The infinite eternal gatekeeper.