OPENING THE FLOODGATES
“Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors; that the King of glory may come in.” (Psalms 24:7)
One of the fun things about this time of year at our house is that it is irrigation season. It is wonderful to see the gates of the irrigation canals open and water flow from the river to give life to crops and yards all around. This is a beautiful picture of what our life is supposed to be like as God’s blessings flow through us to bring hope and life to a dying world.
How do we open the gates for God to pour His Spirit and resources in and through our lives? I believe the two keys are open hands and an “others’” focus. Have you ever tried to give something to a child who was clutching something that you wanted them to let go of. Maybe they have their brother’s toy and you are wanting to give them their own gift.
That is the case so often when God is wanting to give us new mercies, visions, opportunities, and blessings. He can’t give something new until we let go of the old. Jesus said about His life, that unless a seed falls into the ground and dies it abides alone. But if it dies it will bear much fruit. Often, there is something of a death in living a plenty too much generous life. We die to what we imagine might be if we cling to a possession, a relationship, or a demand that God is wanting us to let go of. We face the spirit of poverty that says “if you let go of that you will have nothing.” What we cling to, though, actually becomes a rope that stakes us to the past.
The floodgates of God’s blessings come when we let go and surrender what we have tried to possess and give God permission to give us whatever He wants us to have. Sharon and I just celebrated our 44th wedding anniversary. It’s been an incredible journey. But it started with a time after we first met where I liked her but she didn’t seem to be interested in me. I tried to make something happen and felt frustrated and hurt. Finally there came a day where I utterly released not only her but my right to have any girlfriend or future plans about marriage at all. There was a complete surrender. What is beautiful is that shortly after that God confirmed to her that I was the one and the rest was history. Live with open hands, tell God anything He wants to take or have me let go of He can have and watch what happens.