Who Is Guarding Your Gates?
In ancient cities, gates were more than entry points. They were places of protection, authority, commerce, and judgment. Whoever controlled the gates influenced what entered, what remained and what was kept out.The same principle applies spiritually.
Every day, we open gates through what we see, hear, speak, think about and entertain. These gates shape the condition of our hearts and ultimately influence the direction of our lives. The question is not whether your gates are open. The question is: Who is guarding them?
Some gates are strongholds (fortresses, essentially reinforced, defensible checkpoints) working against you. It keeps out the King of Glory and give access to shame, dishonor, disgrace, false beliefs, idols, and every foul Spirit that come to defile and humiliate you. —Sherica Heath
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
1. There Is An Active Battle Going On For Access
The enemy understands a powerful truth: if he can gain access, he can gain influence and whoever is watching the gate, determines who have access. He often seeks entry through seemingly small compromises that we so often justify.
- Unchecked thoughts
- Unhealthy conversations
- Compromising entertainment
- Bitterness and unforgiveness
- Offense and resentment
- Fear and anxiety
- Gossip and negativity
- Ungodly counsel
What enters repeatedly can eventually shape character, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. A single thought may seem harmless. A single conversation may seem insignificant. A single compromise may appear small. Yet over time, repeated exposure creates strongholds, influences decisions and affects spiritual sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. This is why Scripture repeatedly emphasizes the importance of guarding our hearts and minds.
"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."
Proverbs 4:23 (KJV)
Notice that Solomon does not say to guard your heart casually. He says to guard it with all diligence. Why? Because everything flows from it. The quality of your relationships, your decisions, your words, your worship and your witness are all connected to the condition of your heart.
2. Your Eye Gates Matter
Much of what enters our hearts first enters through our eyes. The culture around us constantly competes for our attention. Every image, video, advertisement and form of entertainment carries the potential to influence our thinking. David understood this when he declared:
"I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes..." Psalm 101:3 (KJV)
This was was wisdom. David recognized that what he continually looked at would eventually affect what he desired, believed and pursued. Jesus reinforced this truth when He said:
"The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light." Matthew 6:22 (KJV)
A guarded eye helps keep light in and darkness out.
3. Your Ear Gates Matter
Not every voice deserves access to your life. We live in a world filled with opinions, commentary, criticism and noise. Yet, wisdom requires discernment regarding whose voice we allow to shape our thinking. Faith comes by hearing God's Word, but fear often comes by hearing everything else. When we continually consume negativity, division, gossip and unbelief, those influences begin to affect our perspective. The voices you repeatedly listen to will eventually influence the decisions you make.
4. Your Mind Needs Protection
Spiritual warfare often begins in the mind. That's why you often hear the phrase " the mind is a battlefield." Joyce Mayer even wrote a book about this called "The Battlefield of the Mind." The enemy seeks to plant seeds of doubt, insecurity, fear, condemnation and confusion. When the gates of your mind is left unchecked, those thoughts can take root and grow. The Apostle Paul instructs believers:
"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."
2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV)
Not every thought that enters your mind deserves permission to stay. Every thoughts that exhalteth itself against the knowledge of God must be rejected. The lies and false narratives of the enemy must be must be confronted with God's Truth. A guarded mind learns to filter every thought through the Word of God. Read Ephesians 6:10-18 to see how every watchman should be dressing as they stand guard at the gate.
5. Your Home Need To Be Guarded
Gates are not limited to individuals. They also exist within families and homes. A guarded home protects unity. It protects peace. It protects healthy communication. It protects Godly values. When contention, offense, criticism and division are allowed unrestricted access, the atmosphere of a home begins to change. However, when prayer, forgiveness, grace, and Truth are welcomed, unity flourishes, love abound, peace enters, joy remains and God is exalted.
6. Guarding Is Not Fear, It Is Wisdom
Guarding your gates is not about becoming fearful, isolated or suspicious of everything around you. It is choosing to protect what God is building within you and protecting what He has entrusted you with. It is recognizing that your heart is valuable territory. It is remaining sensitive to the Holy Spirit and intentional about what you allow to influence your life.
If you don't remember anything else, remember this: A guarded heart creates room for God's peace to flourish. A guarded mind creates room for God's truth to prevail. A guarded home creates room for God's presence to dwell. The enemy seeks access, so deny and resist Him at every turn. Wisdom establishes boundaries.
Who is guarding your gates?
Reflection Questions:
- What am I allowing through my gates on a daily basis?
- Are there voices or influences that are weakening my walk with God? (List them and deny access)
- What thoughts have I entertained that need to be replaced with God's Truth?
- Are there areas where I have become careless in guarding my gates?
- What practical steps can I take this week to better guard my gates?
Ask the Holy Ghost to show you the gates in your life that are unguarded. Ask the Repairer of the Breach to repair every wall, gates and entry points that have been breached. Ask the Lord of Host to remove every enemy that has breached the gates.