Gatekeeper

I was asked to speak at a Moms Group at my church in Barcelona. The same evening, I felt like the Holy Spirit dropped the word "Gatekeeper" in my spirit. I instantly felt this was a word for the group, but quickly sensed it's a timely word for moms, not only moms but women in general.

Curious, I decided to look up the meaning, and this is what I found:

Gatekeeper

The English word "gatekeeper" has its origin in the Hebrew word "show'er," which speaks of a porter or doorkeeper, one who guards the opening to the temple. The gatekeepers mentioned in 1 and 2 Chronicles were priests, set apart by the Lord to minister holiness throughout the temple. Armed with a passion focused on the things of the Lord, they were the last line of defense from the outside world into the holy place. Their role was to prevent anything unclean from entering the holy temple, whether it be ill intentions of plunderers or unclean rituals - these individuals guarded the gates of the temple night and day with steadfast vigor.

I was amazed by this powerful meaning.

Today, we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit, as written in 1 Corinthians 6:19:

"Have you forgotten that your body is now the sacred temple of the Spirit of Holiness, who lives in you? You don't belong to yourself any longer, for the gift of God, the Holy Spirit, lives inside your sanctuary."

We are gatekeepers for our own lives and also for the lives of our children.

Those who know me, know that I love to quote Psalm 127:3, where it is written:

"Children are God’s love-gift; they are heaven’s generous reward." In another translation, it’s written they are His inheritance.

While we often recite this verse, do we grasp the profound nature of the gift bestowed upon us by God? Our children—are His inheritance, a cherished blessing entrusted to our care.

Pause for a moment and reflect on that, as you think of each child in your home.

They are His gift to you.

How does that make you feel? Are you fully conscious of the significance of this?

How passionate are you about being a mom?

What has come between you and your God-given mandate to teach them diligently?

Where has the world infiltrated your thinking about being a mom and raising children?
I know these are not easy questions, but please take a couple of minutes to journal your answers.

Isn't the prevailing attitude today to have children and then go on with our lives? Everywhere we turn we encounter the idea of resuming our former lifestyle - movies, commercials, talk shows - all suggesting that we can have it all and do it all. It's such a common idea to proclaim that we really can "have it all," as if children are merely an accessory or a secondary occupation.

But we forget that we do not own our lives. We forget that we have been bought with a price 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

We forget that we must lay down our lives for our friends. (Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. John 15:13) How about changing it to our children?

This concept feels incredibly foreign in today's world. How do you feel when you read this? Does it stir up anxiety, anger, frustration, or a sense of restriction?

Children are not an inconvenience; they are a gift straight from God!

In my 18 years of working with parents and 19 years of being a parent, I’ve witnessed a rapid rise of women reluctant to embrace this sacred role, instead resisting it in the name of freedom.

This worldly notion has infiltrated even the church, where the role of being a mom has unfortunately become secondary. And I'm not just referring to working moms or stay-at-home moms, but rather a mindset that seems content to let others take primary care of our children from the earliest of ages, so we can pursue what is perceived as more important work.

Choosing for family is often a fierce decision that is neither comfortable, easy, nor popular.

When we moved to Barcelona and chose to have our girls come home for lunch, even though we knew it would significantly disrupt my day, we recognized it as a necessary decision.

Similarly, another mom I know pulled her 3-year-old daughter out of kindergarten because she recognized the importance of spending extra time with her before preschool started.

It's not just about lunch or school; it's about recognizing what your personal decision is. What is God asking you to do?

It probably won't be comfortable, easy, or popular. Take a moment to ask Holy Spirit for guidance.

These decisions reflect the courage of mothers like us who bravely swim against the tide of society and refuse to be swayed by its lies.

Indeed, as the gatekeepers of our families, we are entrusted with this divine mandate to uphold His teachings and cherish the responsibilities He has entrusted to us. Our role is not only to nurture and protect our children physically, but also to guide them by example toward spiritual growth and holiness.
Holding on to His mandate and what He has entrusted us with.

As Gatekeepers, we are set apart to minister holiness, fostering separation from the world.

Our role as Gatekeepers is to passionately guard the opening to the gates—our homes—and prevent anything unclean from entering. And how do we do that? Through intercession.

God has been talking about intercession to me for months when not a year. He has been bringing me back to his heart for intercession.

Intercession is a God-given mandate for women.

When we think about it, almost every testimony begins with my mother or grandmother praying. Recently, I heard my godmother pray for me, which emphasized that you don't have to be a biological mother to be involved in intercessory prayer.

We are all called to pray and intercede for the next generation.

Intercession is taking hold of God's will and refusing to let go until His will is accomplished.

Take a moment to reflect: Where have you let go because you were frustrated, disappointed, angry, sad, or just felt you'd had enough because it didn't happen?

Bring them to God and take them back fiercely.

Instead of complaining about our husbands or worrying about our children, taking them to God is the most powerful thing we can do.

Intercessory prayer takes place in the spiritual realm where battles for our lives, families, friends, and nations are won on our knees.

IT IS POWERFUL. Do we still believe that prayer is effective?

What will happen if we neglect this mandate and stand in the gap for the next generation? Most of us are standing on the foundation of someone's prayers. I certainly am.

I feel God’s heart on this so profoundly, my daughters, have left their knees because of endless distraction.

We have left our knees for other activities.

What is it for me? What is it for you?

It becomes challenging when the good things distract us from the better things. Like friends, church, our husbands, another sermon, another podcast, a new worship set, a mom's group, and the list goes on.

We are busy for Him, but not abiding in Him, not remaining still in Him, when all He asks is to meet Him and commune with Him as Jesus did.

I am deeply touched by this scripture:

Luke 5:15-16

After this miracle (the healing of the leper), the news of Jesus spread even further. Large crowds gathered to hear him speak and to be healed of their diseases. But Jesus often slipped away from them and went into the desert to pray.

Would I do that?

This is just one example of Jesus withdrawing to be with His Father.

What is competing for your attention?

Take another moment and ask Holy Spirit specifically. Don't let fear and condemnation take root, but don't push away conviction either. Too often we dismiss conviction, but we need to invite it back, feel it, and then we can be transformed.

We are not victims of the challenges our children face. As gatekeepers and prayer warriors, we understand that our enemy is not physical but spiritual. We are vigilant in our role, guarding against anything that threatens the well-being of our children.

Come with me to Ephesians 6:12-18 “Now my beloved ones, I have saved these most important truths for last: Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you. Put on God’s complete set of armor provided for us, so that you will be protected as you fight against the evil strategies of the accuser! Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage. Because of this, you must wear all the armor that God provides so you’re protected as you confront the slanderer, for you are destined for all things and will rise victorious. Put on truth as a belt to strengthen you to stand in triumph. Put on holiness as the protective armor that covers your heart. Stand on your feet alert, then you’ll always be ready to share the blessings of peace. In every battle, take faith as your wrap-around shield, for it is able to extinguish the blazing arrows coming at you from the evil one! Embrace the power of salvation’s full deliverance, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies. And take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken word of God. Pray passionately in the Spirit, as you constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times. Pray the blessings of God upon all his believers.”

So mothers, women, let's reclaim intercession and allow God to instruct us in this sacred weapon for our families and those He has entrusted to our care.

Let's not shy away from discomfort, but rather make bold decisions. As gatekeepers, let's passionately engage in prayer warfare for our loved ones.

Today, I want to encourage you. You can do it—one step at a time. Ask Holy Spirit for a fresh anointing to intercede, to break through distractions, and to align with His Spirit.

This next generation needs our prayers!