Doors of Influence

Who has access to the rooms of your life?

“So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.” ~Proverbs 4:23

Within every house, every room has doors that either allow or deny others access. These doors can be viewed as gateways into our lives and the different areas that make up who we are.

Every house has a front door, the main entryway. The security and strength of your front door largely depend on how much time you spend with Jesus, allowing Him to teach and guide you in every area of your life. In your secret place, you not only grow closer to Him, but you also increase in wisdom, knowledge, and discernment.

When you don't choose Jesus, or when you don't fully surrender and give Him access to come in, you leave the door open for Satan to enter your house. Jesus is the only One who can keep Satan out. This is one of the biggest choices we will ever make because it shapes the foundation upon which all our other decisions are made.

Whoever you allow inside will influence your heart, your emotions, and how you grow—or don't grow—as a person. It will also affect everyone connected to you, including your closest friends and family. You don't live in your house alone, spiritually speaking, and how you dwell within your house has a ripple effect throughout your life.

Your front door is the gateway to your house—to your WHOLE LIFE. Who has access? Is it Christ?

If you're not sure, I strongly encourage you, right now, even if it's for the hundredth time, to get down on your knees (or take another posture of surrender) and say out loud:

“Jesus, I give You my whole heart. You are the only One I want in my life—in my heart, my emotions, and my pain. Teach me and guide me in how to live. I surrender every part of my house, my life, to You, and I trust You with every area of who I am. I choose to take Your hand and let You lead me through every part of life, regardless of how hard it gets.

I believe that You are the Son of God, and that You died for my sins and rose again on the third day. Today, I choose to take Your hand and give You full access through my front door and every other door in my life. I choose You, and I will trust Your process as You help me clean up my life, heal my heart, and face the parts of myself I'm afraid to touch.

By Your love and grace, I declare that Jesus Christ will have the greatest influence over my life. May everything I welcome into my life be examined in the light of Your Word. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.”

When Jesus comes in, one of the first things He begins to do is drive Satan out, along with everything that comes with his influence—including unforgiveness, bitterness, jealousy, and every form of darkness that seeks to steal, kill, and destroy the goodness and light within you.

Life gets hard sometimes. Old pain can resurface unexpectedly, and things you've forgotten about—things buried deep within your house—can come back to the surface. But God loves you so much that He wants to help you uncover that pain, heal the damage it has caused in your soul, and remove what no longer needs to remain. He wants to help you carry the remnants of that pain out through the back door of your house and into the trash.

There is nothing too dark in your soul or your past that God cannot heal, address, and help you overcome. There is no darkness greater than the surpassing, unconditional love of Christ.

Trust Him. Take His hand. DAILY, go to Him, read His Word, pray, and learn more about Him. Every day you have breath in your lungs is another day you get to know more about God, yourself, and the purpose He has for your life on this earth.

With faith in Him and His hand leading you, boldly walk in ALLLL that He has predestined for you! It will be more beautiful than anything you could ever imagine.

With Love,

The G.O.A.A. Team

Scriptures to Meditate On

“Ask, and it shall be given to you. Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it shall be opened.” ~Matthew 7:7-8

“Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour. ~1 Peter 5:8

“What a glorious God! He gives us salvation over and over, then daily he carries our burdens! Pause in his presence” ~Psalms 68:19

“Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.” ~Romans 12:2

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.” ~Psalm 139:23-24

“Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].” ~Proverbs 3:5-6