Strongholds are mental barriers that keep us from reaching the next level in our lives that is God’s will for u. Strongholds keep hold us back from our destiny by convincing us to not do what we know we should, often seemingly reasonable thoughts that are really vain excuses. One example of a stronghold is caring about what other people think of us.
One way strongholds work in us is when we consider doing something good, then the stronghold in our minds instantly comes us with the reasons why we shouldn’t do that thing,
Maybe we consider exercising more or eating better, but then an excuse comes to mind. It can be any good thing we think of doing and then we think of reasons why we shouldn’t.
Strongholds are merely incorrect thinking patterns. They are patterns in our minds that are programmed to think contrary to the truth.
A common scenario I’ve had in my life is where I feel guilty or shameful of my life. I hear my mother’s negative words playing in my head at times. I have to remind myself I am not who she said I was. I am a good person, I deserve to have good things in my life. For 18 years I heard my mother speak awful things to me, and I still struggle with that thought pattern she invoked in me. I was so used to thinking about my mother and my past that it drove me to think everything I did good or bad that I was a failure. That was a stronghold.
Strongholds can and do play a big part of hoe we feel about ourselves. If we think we’re a failure, we will feel like a failure. If we constantly think about our past failures (perceived or not) we will associate ourselves with them. If we think we’re hopeless, we will feel hopeless. If we know God has forgiven us, we will feel forgiven inside. Changing the way we think can make a big difference in the way we feel.
Strongholds are built on deception and lies that we have accepted in our minds. So, how do we counter a lie? With the truth. Where do we find the truth? In the Word of God (the Bible). Our weapon against any stronghold is the “Sword of the Spirit.”
“For though we walk in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Messiah” -2 Corinthians 10:3-5
This passage says to throw down our imaginations. Satan plants these in our minds when he asks us a question that starts out “What if?” Don’t try to reason things with satan, just throw it out and leave him hanging. Get your mind on God’s Word and off what satan is trying to tell you.
We are also told in this passage to bring every thought into captivity that comes to our minds that opposes the knowledge of God. Since God associates Himself with His Word (1 John 1:1) if anything comes into our minds that is contrary to His Word, throw it out. Don’t waste your time thinking about it or trying to reason with it. If Satan is trying to tell you that God does not want to forgive you, or that you are unworthy of His love, then throw it out. Why? Because His Word says otherwise.
One of the last things satan wants us to know is God’s forgiving and loving nature toward us even after we have messed up.
We don’t need to listen to the garbage satan feeds us. James 4:7 tells us,
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
From Pity to Praise 