As I stand at the bottom of the stairs, I am drawn by a soft voice that is calling me to this door.  When I hear that soft voice off in the distance, my heart races like hundreds of horses galloping through my heart.

I had been called to this red heart-shaped door before; but my body was in a frozen state.  I could not move.  It was on a warm humid Sunday evening in a church building in Miami, Florida that the voice started calling me again.  I felt like maybe I would never hear that tender soft voice call me again if I didn’t step out.   Many thoughts rushed through my mind.  Do I dare go up?  Do I dare surrender my life?  What should I do?  What will I find when I open the door?

I looked up at the staircase again.  It seemed so far away and yet it would only take me ten steps to get to the top – to be in front of that door.  I remember saying, “Lord, if this is you, help me to get up those stairs.”  Then I felt my legs release and I placed one foot after another and I walked up those ten steps.

I put my hand on the pearl door knob and then I closed my eyes and I entered in whispering, “Yes, yes, yes!  I am poor in spirit and I need Jesus as my Savior.”  I knew with all that was within me that I had stepped over into the Kingdom of Heaven.

As one comes to the staircase which leads to the first door – the offer is made:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit.”  So who are the poor in spirit?  These are seekers – those trying to find purpose – find meaning to their lives.  They realize that all the paths they have taken to this point has not brought joy, peace, love, mercy, or grace into their empty lives.  Yes, maybe for a temporary moment, but all the paths led to emptiness – to deflated hearts.

What is the message of the first beatitude?  What the law was powerless to do – God was able to do for us.  He sent his own Son, Jesus to save us.  When you understand that and accept that gift, then you are blessed.  Supremely blessed.  You recognize your misery and your inability to be happy.

AS we walk together on this journey to the heart of God, I think you will begin to notice the “grace” that has been offered to us – to be able to live from victory in our lives through these blessings.  It is a journey that will bring us to doors and to crossroads, but if we keep our eyes upon Jesus – we will always choose the right path.

Once you open the first red heart-shaped door and accept the gift of the kingdom of heaven, you will become a child of God who now has His Spirit living inside of you.  All I can say is, “WOW!”

I end this journey today with some wise words found in a book by Max Lucado:

“The message is gripping: Show a man his failures without Jesus and the result will be found in the roadside gutter. Give a man religion without reminding him of his filth, and the result will be arrogance in a three-piece suit. But get the two in the same heart— get sin to meet Savior and Savior to meet sin— and the result just might be another Pharisee turned preacher who sets the world on fire.”

(Lucado, Max (1999-04-15). The Applause of Heaven: Discover the Secret to a Truly Satisfying Life (pp. 43-44). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.)

MY SONG:  I have longed to have the heart of God.  I have had many conversations with my Heavenly Father about this.  I leave this song today for you to meditate upon the words – and maybe – just maybe – you will be drawn to the Heart of God.

Heart of God

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A little history:  The word “blessed,” comes from the Greek word Makarios (mak-ar’-ee’os) meaning Supremely blest; well-off (Strong’s Concordance NT: 3107)

It is a happiness that points more to the internal than the external.  To me that means my soul – my inner being.

Jeremiah 6:16 – This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ (NIV)

Matthew 5:3 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  (NIV)

Romans 8:1-3 – “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.  For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh” (ESV)

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the beautiful red heart-shaped door that you placed in front of me.  I thank you for that soft whisper off in the distance that called me to your heart.  I pray for those who haven’t opened that door yet, that they would be filled with a desire to run to the door and open it and then start their journey to your heart.  Be with those who are walking through difficult times.  Help them to come and sit with you for a while and enjoy the peace that passes all understanding.  I love you Lord.  I ask this in Jesus Christ’s name, amen.

*******I wrote this series three years ago.  It was at the beginning of my public writings.  I have desired since a young child to have the Heart of the Father.******************