{"id":14812,"date":"2023-12-18T21:19:24","date_gmt":"2023-12-18T20:19:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/?p=14812"},"modified":"2023-12-18T21:19:24","modified_gmt":"2023-12-18T20:19:24","slug":"open-gates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2023\/12\/18\/open-gates\/","title":{"rendered":"Open gates"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

 
\nDavid Adam<\/strong> writes,
\n 
\n“Every now and again ‘our eyes are opened’ and we see beyond the narrowness of our day-to-day vision. This was expressed by Jacob when he awoke out of sleep, a sleep he felt he had been in all his life up to that point: ‘Jacob awoke out of sleep and said, “How aweful is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”‘ (Genesis 28:16-17<\/a>). Jacob had not been looking for his experience, it had suddenly opened before him. I believe that such experiences are offered to all of us at one time or another in our lives. But we in our turn have to be open enough to receive them. … If we face the unfamiliar it may open all sorts of gates for us.”
\n 
\nfrom The Open Gate: Celtic Prayers for Growing Spiritually<\/a><\/em>
\nby David Adam, p.2
\n <\/p>\n\n

Prayer<\/h3>\n

O Lord,
\n    Open our eyes to your Presence
\n    Open our minds to your grace
\n    Open our lips to your praises
\n    Open our hearts to your love
\n    Open our lives to your healing
\n    And be found among us.<\/p>\n

 
\nby David Adam<\/strong>,
\nfrom The Book of a Thousand Prayers<\/a><\/em> by Angela Ashwin, #15
\n <\/p>\n\n

From the blog<\/strong>
\nTurn to the light<\/a>
\nHoly moment beneath the stars<\/a>
\nSlow learners and bright ideas<\/a>
\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  David Adam writes,   “Every now and again ‘our eyes are opened’ and we see beyond the narrowness of our day-to-day vision. This was expressed by Jacob when he awoke out of sleep, a sleep he felt he had been in all his life up to that point: ‘Jacob awoke out of sleep and … Continue reading “Open gates”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,127],"tags":[246],"class_list":["post-14812","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-prayer","category-quote","tag-open"],"yoast_head":"\nOpen gates - Prayer matters<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Like Jacob in Gen 28, "if we face the unfamiliar it may open all sorts of gates for us." 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O Wrestler contending with us until daybreak, holding us in the grip of your argument, grappling with our questions and doubts, You who strive to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer"","block_context":{"text":"prayer","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/los_angeles_angel.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/los_angeles_angel.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/los_angeles_angel.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/los_angeles_angel.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12600,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2022\/02\/10\/theme-change-my-heart-o-god\/","url_meta":{"origin":14812,"position":1},"title":"Theme: Change my heart, O God","author":"Irene Bom","date":"February 10, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"PDF version \u00a0 \u00a0 \u201cIn contemplative prayer the saint (who knows himself to be a sinner, for none of us is whole, healed, and holy twenty-four hours a day) turns inward in what is called \u2018the prayer of the heart,\u2019 not to find self, but to lose self in order\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer sheet"","block_context":{"text":"prayer sheet","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer-sheet\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":14723,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2023\/12\/28\/open-ending\/","url_meta":{"origin":14812,"position":2},"title":"Open ending","author":"Irene Bom","date":"December 28, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 \u00a0 This final post for 2023 has an intriguing title, something to chew on, and features a prayer of reflection by Tim Watson for the end of a day ... or year ... \u00a0 Reflection at the end of a day \u00a0 In the silence we hold before God\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer"","block_context":{"text":"prayer","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/moon_over_spoorsingel.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/moon_over_spoorsingel.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/moon_over_spoorsingel.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/moon_over_spoorsingel.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14405,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2023\/08\/07\/seek-the-lord-and-his-strength\/","url_meta":{"origin":14812,"position":3},"title":"Seek the Lord and His strength","author":"Irene Bom","date":"August 7, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"PDF version \u00a0 Psalm for Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, RCL Year A Psalm 105:1-6 (optional ending: 16-22) A litany: a sung response alternating with spoken word (preferably with feeling) \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Seek the Lord, keep on seeking Seek His presence; seek His strength v 1-2 1 \u00a0Give praise to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "psalms"","block_context":{"text":"psalms","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/psalms\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/seek_the_lord-_and_his_strength.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/seek_the_lord-_and_his_strength.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/seek_the_lord-_and_his_strength.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/seek_the_lord-_and_his_strength.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16815,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2025\/12\/02\/joy-despite-everything\/","url_meta":{"origin":14812,"position":4},"title":"Joy, despite everything","author":"Irene Bom","date":"December 2, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 35:10 \u00a0 \u00a0 source: BBC news \u00a0 News from St Andrew's Scots Kirk, Columbo Lakshmi writes, On the church property a small tree had fallen. Except for two people in our congregation who had water\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "on the news"","block_context":{"text":"on the news","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/on-the-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/sri_lanka_emergency_800.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/sri_lanka_emergency_800.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/sri_lanka_emergency_800.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/sri_lanka_emergency_800.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9080,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2020\/02\/29\/a-good-nights-sleep-inspirations\/","url_meta":{"origin":14812,"position":5},"title":"“A Good Night’s Sleep” inspirations","author":"Irene Bom","date":"February 29, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Do not try to cover more than one good day\u2019s journey at a time. Ann Siddal, from #15 \u00a0 In July\/August 2019 I decided it was time to address my struggle to go to bed on time, and I foraged for Bible verses and prayers to help me turn\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "bible"","block_context":{"text":"bible","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/bible\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/a_good_nights_sleep_treasury.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/a_good_nights_sleep_treasury.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/a_good_nights_sleep_treasury.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/a_good_nights_sleep_treasury.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Irene Bom","author_link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/author\/irenebom-com\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/\" rel=\"category tag\">prayer<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/quote\/\" rel=\"category tag\">quote<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"  David Adam writes,   “Every now and again ‘our eyes are opened’ and we see beyond the narrowness of our day-to-day vision. This was expressed by Jacob when he awoke out of sleep, a sleep he felt he had been in all his life up to that point: ‘Jacob awoke out of sleep and…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14812","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14812"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14812\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14812"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14812"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14812"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}