|Guarding Our Spiritual Gates|

By Kenya Gossett 

“Oh be careful little ears what you hear, for the Father up above is looking down with love. Oh be careful little ears what you hear. Oh be careful little eyes what you see, for the Father up above is looking down with love. Oh be careful little eyes what you see.”

Sound familiar? That is a shortened version of the Sunday school song that we all grew up listening to. It’s simple and light-hearted, but in all reality it’s still a warning that we should adhere to. Our Father up above hears all, sees all, and knows all.  

We need to realize that our eyes and ears, are a gateway that leads either to life or destruction. Whatever we download and save into the hard drive of our mind, will flow out of our mouth and be evident in our walk on this earth. 

In a world filled with deep darkness, perversion, foul language and lust, it can be difficult for a Christian to walk untainted. There is temptation around every corner. There are attacks coming against the church, trying to take down leaders with sin. TV and movies have no shame in flaunting homosexuality, adultery, fornication, witchcraft and sorcery. Music has become so demon possessed and twisted, from what God originally wanted it to be. It’s the norm, but it comes from satan himself. He has crept into all of these situations making it look so innocent, and sadly people have become numb to it. They can sit in a movie and listen to actors curse their God, or they could watch TV shows with fornication and vulgarity in every scene. They can put earphones in and listen to explicit lyrics with a "cool beat", not realizing that it is opening doors for the enemy to come in and pollute their thoughts. The enemy is so subtle! It may seem harmless at first but the Word says that satan comes as an angel of light. He'll make it look innocent, but over time, it will kill you. Your conviction and fear of God will be gone. 

It is a dangerous game that we as Christians should not play. It breaks the heart of God when we entertain such things and let me tell you, it is not worth it!

Romans 12:2 AMP

“And do not be conformed to this world (any longer with its superficial values and customs) but be transformed and progressively changed (as you mature spiritually) by the renewing of your mind (focusing on Godly values and ethical attitudes), so that you may prove (for yourselves) what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect (in His plan and purpose for you.)”

The hard drive that we have is a powerful device. but hallelujah, it is not too powerful for the Holy Spirit to come and press the delete button. It’s because of the blood of Jesus, that we can have a clean slate. But we still have a responsibility to guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

We still have a choice to make. Are we going to renew our mind and press that delete button or are we going to let ourselves be enticed by the flesh? 

1 Corinthians 10:13 AMP

“No temptation (regardless of its source) has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience (nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance) but God is faithful (to His word- He is compassionate and trustworthy), and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability (to resist), but along with the temptation He (has in the past and is now and) will always provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it (without yielding) and will overcome temptation with joy.”

You see, God gives us a choice. When temptation arises, He provides a way out. It’s in that moment that we need to crucify the flesh, and walk in the Spirit. I love the end of that verse “you will be able to endure it, without yielding and will overcome temptation with joy.” 

When you choose right, it produces JOY. It’s the best feeling in the world when you not only get a victory but when you know that you just shut the door in satans face! 

You take ground in the Spirit and the enemy hates that. Even recently, I was able to overcome a few things and immediately the enemy came right back in with the same battle. I had to rise up and say “NO. I have been delivered, I have been covered in the blood. Jesus conquered the grave, so that I could conquer this.” and Praise God, it lifted. 

but I’ve learned how important it is to keep a heavy guard in front of my spiritual gates. The enemy is relentless in his pursuit to bring us down- he will go through every avenue and will use every little thing to trigger something in our mind that is not of God. 

I want to protect my anointing. I want to stay pure and holy before a Holy God. I want to keep His light in my eyes. I want to continually hear His Word. and most importantly, I want to speak words of life over myself and over the body of Christ. 

Luke 11:34 AMP

“The eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is clear (spiritually perspective, focused on God), your whole body also is full of light (benefiting from Gods precepts) But when it is bad (spiritually blind) your body is full of darkness (devoid of Gods word).”

So I want to encourage you, if you are struggling with anything listed above- it is time to call down the hosts of Heaven to guard every gate. I guarantee you that the Lord will not deny that request, nor will He withhold His blood from covering you. 

It’s not easy to take away things that the flesh loves, but in the end it produces a beautiful, victorious life. So I challenge you to make an effort in setting yourself apart. Only you know the things that the Lord is calling you out from, and that’s between you and Him. We all have to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12) But you can do it! I know this because God has delivered me from SO much. It IS possible. It may be a process but it can be done. 

When unwanted thoughts come flooding in or when a temptation starts dangling right in front of you, think on “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by Gods word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things. (center your mind on them and IMPLANT them in your heart.)” Philippians 4:8 AMP

and if you battle condemnation over past mistakes or current battles that you feel like you can’t overcome, you need to know that you are not too far gone. There is nothing that Jesus can not fix or cover. 

I want you to pray Psalms 51:7 and Psalms 51:10-12 over yourself.

vs. 7 “Purify me with hyssop, and I WILL be clean. Wash me, and I WILL be whiter than snow.”

vs. 10-12 “Create in me a CLEAN heart, O God, and RENEW a right and steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.”

God is going to do just that for you when you come with a repentant heart. Amen!

My last encouragement is simple and I will end with this. 

Just be careful, precious ones :)