Guard the Gate
Well now, how’s it goin’ today? What a treat to have you stoppin’ here today. Why don’t you just come on up to this ol’ front porch, friend, and grab that chair right over yonder before a lil’ ol’ chipmunk files a homestead claim on it? This ol’ world can git to flingin’ foolishness at us faster than an ol’ barn rooster can be scatterin’ feed across a clean floor. One minute you’re mindin’ your own business, and the next minute somethin’ has done marched straight through your wide-open eyes and set up camp right in your thoughts.
Genesis paints a real soberin’ picture for us. Genesis 6:5 says, “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” The real battleground wasn’t merely just outside Noah’s front door. It was plum right inside the human heart.
Friend, that battlefield hasn’t moved either.
The trouble is, our minds can git to collectin’ all kinds of junk a whole lot quicker than a lil’ ol’ raccoon collects shiny objects. What we watch, replay, imagine, excuse, and dwell on eventually starts shapin’ us. That’s why spiritual vigilance plum matters. We can’t keep on feedin’ the flesh cornbread and then wonder why it’s sittin’ at the head of the table.
Romans 8:13 says, “For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live.” Victory ain’t just white knuckled determination. It’s sho’-nuff’ learnin’ to let the Holy Spirit put to death what doesn’t belong there.
That’s also why Psalm 19:14 gives us such a beautiful prayer: “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” God downright cares about what gets entertained in the quiet rooms of our minds.
Father, guard my heart and mind today. Help me recognize what doesn’t belong there and give me strength through Your Spirit to turn away from it. Fill my thoughts with what honors You, and make the meditation of my heart pleasing in Your sight. Keep me close to Your Word and sensitive to Your voice. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Now, there you have it! So, git to scootin’ on off this porch, friend, and keep a good latch on the gate of your mind. A fox don’t need the whole henhouse door open if it can squeeze through even one lil’ ol’ loose board, and a weed don’t need an invitation to take over the garden. Fill your thoughts with truth before trouble starts rentin’ rooms upstairs. Then, head right on back into this day with your heart swept real clean, your eyes wide open, and the Spirit of God keepin’ close watch at the gate.
With joy,
Gwen
