“Fortress Mentality”
Church Leaders and Pastors are familiar with the term “fortress mentality”. Usually it means a church
mindset that thinks of protecting the church, circling up the wagons and keeping others out, and just
grows inward. If you are acquainted with that term…this is not about that! I want you to think of a
different type of fortress mentality, one that is good. A mindset that is actually healthy and freeing. The
Lord impressed upon me this truth early this morning during my quiet time. I was reading several of the
Psalms, and came across these verses; “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my
salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken…For God alone,
O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and salvation, my fortress; I shall
not be shaken.” (Psalm 62:2-5) “Be still and know that I am God…The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of
Jacob is our fortress.” (Psalm 46:10-11) “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God is
my rock, in whom I take refuge.” (Psalm 18:2) And just one other one; “But the Lord has become my
fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.” (Psalm 94:22)
There are different Hebrew words translated fortress in our English Bibles; the NIV uses the word fortress
17 times in the Psalms alone. Webster’s Dictionary gives this clear definition of the word fortress; “A
fortified place, any stronghold.” What a comforting thought; “God is our fortress!” He is a safe place for
us, a fortified place, and a stronghold the enemy can never enter.” I wonder if we have a “fortress
mentality?” Do we understand our protection and provision in Christ? No one can get in to attack us, no
circumstances need affect us, and no evil plans can be accomplished against us. That is, none can, unless
we open the door and let them in. A fortress is imposing, and impregnable, but all one has to do is open
the door from the inside, and then the invader can come in. God will protect us, we can rest in the God of
our salvation, who is a Rock, who is a Refuge, and who is our mighty Fortress.
Perhaps today, you feel the onslaught of the enemy. Perhaps you are being assaulted from all sides. Your
defenses seem to have collapsed, the enemy has smashed and splintered your door in, and you feel
doomed. What is the hope, what escape is there? Run to Jesus, He is your strong tower, He is your shield,
and He is your Fortress. Listen to these words from Psalm 91; “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most
High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and fortress, my God
in whom I trust.’” If you have not read Psalm 91 in a long time, I encourage you to read it. It is a great
reminder of what God has promised to be, and promised to do. Right now, God may be saying to you,
“Develop a fortress mentality”. God will allow nothing to come into your life that has not passed through
His hands. And when the enemy attacks, he has promised to be your fortress. God’s walls around your
life are impregnable, unscalable, and fortified. The enemy can come in if YOU let him, but if you make
God your shelter, He will protect you.