Spiritual Sketches: fences

“Building Spiritual Fences: Protecting Your Heart and Faith”

Gardens need fences. I learned this the hard way! After preparing my garden and planting all my choice plants, I started noticing something strange. The leaves on my new, tender pepper plants began disappearing. At first, I couldn't figure out what was happening. But within a week, my pepper plants were stripped bare—nothing but stems remained.

It wasn’t until a few nights later, when I pulled into my driveway, that I saw the culprit. A big, fat rabbit was closing in on my garden like Seal Team 6. I knew right then I had to do something.

So, the next day, I bought some chicken wire, fence posts, and put up a simple fence around my garden. Sure enough, over the next few weeks, my plants started to grow again. They came back from the barren stalks they had been reduced to and became lush, vibrant plants once more.

Building Fences for Our Spiritual Lives

Just as my garden needed a fence to protect it from the bunny, we, too, need fences in our lives to protect our spiritual health. There is a spiritual war going on around us—whether we notice it or not. And without proper protection, the enemy can easily creep in and steal our joy, peace, and growth.

As Paul writes in Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” We aren’t just up against visible, tangible threats; we are facing spiritual forces intent on our destruction.

And here’s the thing: those forces don’t always look like the fierce enemies we expect. Sometimes they’re as subtle and seemingly harmless as a bunny in the garden. But don’t be fooled. Jesus himself said of Satan, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” (John 10:10)

Fencing the Heart

As Christians, we’re called to protect our hearts, our families, and our children from the destructive forces that would love nothing more than to ruin the "gardens" of our lives. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” A well-guarded heart leads to flourishing, but a neglected heart can quickly be overrun with weeds, critters, and destruction.

The fences we need aren’t meant to be restrictive or burdensome. They aren’t walls to imprison us. Rather, these fences bring about peace, joy, and freedom. They allow for growth, security, and protection. Think of them like the garden fence—it doesn’t restrict the plants; it enables them to grow without the constant threat of being devoured.

What Do Spiritual Fences Look Like?

The fence around my garden was a literal one, but the fences we need in our spiritual lives may take different forms. It could be as simple as setting up boundaries to guard our time with the Lord or as complex as making major life changes to ensure we're walking in obedience.

1. Physical Boundaries

For some of us, building fences might mean setting physical boundaries—choosing not to go to certain places, avoiding environments or people that pull us away from Christ. Romans 13:14 encourages us to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” Sometimes the first step in keeping out spiritual pests is cutting off their access.

2. Mental and Emotional Boundaries

Our minds need fences, too. Thoughts of worry, lust, jealousy, and pride can quickly infiltrate and take root in the soil of our hearts. Second Corinthians 10:5 reminds us to “take every thought captive to obey Christ.” Surrendering those unhealthy thoughts to the Lord and refusing to dwell on them is an important fence for spiritual growth.

3. Spiritual Community

A healthy, biblical church can also act as a fence for our lives. When we surround ourselves with fellow believers, we have people who encourage, challenge, and hold us accountable. Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.” Christian community acts as a support system, helping to keep spiritual critters at bay.

4. Maintaining Relationships

Sometimes building fences in our lives means restoring broken relationships or seeking forgiveness. Unresolved conflict can be like a gap in the fence—an open invitation for bitterness, resentment, and division to take root. Ephesians 4:31-32 urges us to “put away all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander…be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Maintaining the Fences

Of course, once the fence is up, the job isn’t over. Fences need regular maintenance. I learned this lesson when I noticed one day that my fence had too much slack. My sons had been using it as a hurdle for their backyard games, and over time, it had become loose.

Fences aren’t "set it and forget it." We need to regularly walk the perimeter, so to speak, and check for weak spots. The cattle farmer knows this all too well—if a tree falls on the fence in the back pasture and he doesn’t catch it, his cows will be out before he knows it. Likewise, we must inspect our spiritual fences and mend any gaps before they grow too wide.

Are we allowing certain thoughts, actions, or relationships to weaken the protective boundaries we’ve set up? Are we neglecting spiritual disciplines like prayer, scripture reading, and worship that strengthen those fences? Galatians 6:9 encourages us to “not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

Reflection: What Fences Do You Need?

Christian, I want you to take some time today to reflect honestly on your life. Are there “critters” getting into your spiritual garden—stealing your joy, choking your growth, or robbing you of a deep relationship with Christ?

What fences need to be put in place to protect the garden of your heart? Maybe it’s setting better boundaries, addressing unresolved sin, or surrounding yourself with godly community. Or perhaps your fences are already in place, but they need some maintenance. Where are the gaps? What areas have gone unchecked for too long?

Jesus desires for you to grow and flourish in your walk with Him. He is the Good Shepherd, the one who laid down His life for the sheep (John 10:11). He is the ultimate protector of your soul, but you must also play a role in keeping your heart guarded and prepared for the growth He desires to bring. Till up your heart, set up your fences, and watch how God will bring life and growth in abundance.