“For though we walk in the flesh we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and begin ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled” -2 Corinthians 10:3-6
I have been taking a Bible study at my church, called “Rooted in Christ.” This Bible study opened my eyes to a few strongholds I have in my life. So, in pure fashion I have to share what I learned.
There are four main strongholds we have in our minds:
- Fear – The debilitating sense of anxiety that restricts us.
- Confusion – That causes double mindedness and restlessness.
- Anger – Producing frustration, agitation, and can harm our lives.
- Despair – Making us believe that life is not worth living
I think strongholds don’t just affect our minds but our souls as well.
The human body has three parts the spirit, soul, and body (or flesh). Our souls are made up of our minds, will, and our emotions. It’s in the area of the soul that most inner healing is required.
The word “stronghold” is defined in the Greek language as ochuroma which means military fortress. In ancient times it was used to denote a safe place, but also referred to a person attempting to escape reality.
A stronghold in a person’s mind is when a thought which is usually easy to dismiss evolves into a reinforced combination of entangled thoughts that become stuck like a knot that is not easily loosened.
A person with a mental stronghold can find it almost impossible to shake off or dismiss their thinking and it begins to overwhelm their mind to the point they are being controlled by it.
Everything begins to be played out through the lenses of the stronghold. For example, if it is fear then everything is viewed through the prism of fear. Or like mine when is insecurity. My insecurity is persistent and difficult to overcome a pattern of doubt around other people which causes me to believe I am of little worth.
A person that is struggling with a stronghold perceives everything that happens to them through a twisted and knotted thought pattern.
Simply put it’s an imprisonment of thinking. In other words, that we can incarcerate ourselves and we only the key to unlocking the cell door that has imprisoned us.
A stronghold in the mind is a spiritual fortress made up of wrong thoughts and it can be a fortified dwelling place that satan likes to hide and operate. It’s a battlefield of the mind.
The Bible pictures the mind as being held by the enemy which can be a waging war. The Bible says false argument and lofty opinions are counter to God‘s truth. They are areas where we are in bondage that affect our way of thinking in the worst way (2 Corinthians 10:5).
I am sure I got my insecurity strongholds from my childhood. And anything that has longevity developed roots, anything that had roots will become a strongholds. Which means it’s going to require power to demolish it.
But when we are able to remove the stronghold it gives Satan or his minions no place to live.
Strongholds are lies of Satan hiding in human reasoning waiting for us to agree and to approve of them.
From Pity to Praise 