Spiritual Strongholds

Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and He SHALL strengthen thine heart!

Spiritual Strongholds

A stronghold is an area of darkness within our mind or personality that causes ongoing spiritual, emotional and\or behavioral problems. We can be genuinely born-again, and sincere in our faith, but chronically struggle with thoughts, emotions, and habits that wage war against our relationship with Christ. We pray, we study, and we attempt to discipline ourselves, but often find our “problem” is resistant to real change.

A Stronghold is the Fruit of an Inward Lie

A stronghold is a lie which we have allowed to distort or confuse our thinking. A lie, with our permission, can gain control over our emotions and our behavior. If we allow a lie to reside within then our heart becomes a safe haven for that which binds. When we allow an untruth, knowingly or unknowingly, to reside within our thinking processes, that untruth will begin to produce its dark fruit in our perceptions, our wisdom, our view of God, and ultimately our behavior. The Scripture tells us the devil is the Father of Lies, so we know that every lie is rooted in Darkness and will eventually produce fruit that reflects the nature of Darkness.

As Christians, the very first article of spiritual armor we put on is the Belt of Truth. We are told to put on the full (complete) Armor of God that we might stand against the devices and strategies of the Devil, and we begin with truth. Our battle with the Devil is a battle with lies. Our fleshly nature willingly opens the door to lies for Darkness brings a message that is pleasant to Self; the Word brings a message of death to Self. These lies then seek a place of control within our emotions, our ambitions, our motivations, our priorities, and our desires.

Once the lies of darkness have found a secure place within our personality then they have the ability to determine our values, our thinking and our relationship with the Lord. Our battle with evil is not theoretical but real. The battle is inward, it is spiritual, it is intense, it is relentless, and only as we take up the weapons and defenses provided by Christ and His Word, can we be victorious over all the lies and deceptions of our enemy.

Emotional Trauma

One of the most common causes of spiritual and emotional strongholds are the sins of others who have sinned against us. People can say or do something that has the potential to forever and permanently change us. A single word of rejection, if not managed appropriately, can fester and grow and have a major impact on us emotionally and spiritually. We have to remember we have an enemy who lies in wait, who is waiting to take advantage of our weaknesses, and if given an opportunity will speak his lies into our lives. His lies can then turn a small hurt into an emotional or spiritual bondage.

Memories

People who suffer serious emotional trauma are prime candidates for spiritual strongholds. Ongoing memories of painful events prepare the heart to accept the suggestions and wisdom of Darkness. If we listen to these Dark lies, then the ultimate effect will be an inability to live out the redemptive victories of Christ; we will not be able to possess and walk out our New Identity in Christ. Painful memories can drive us to bitterness, hatred, anxiety, or depression, but the Word of God will bring us to healing. Even when we forgive the person or people that have hurt us, if the painful memories continue to recycle, then we can remain under the influence of those painful memories. Christ gives a sound mind, which includes soundness (wholeness) in our memories. Everyone has memories, and we do not forget the past, but in Christ we put on the New Creation who is not controlled by the past. In Christ, we are given a new future and the power of our past is broken. It has no power to control us. As a New Creation in Christ, we need to enforce, possess, and walk out the victories won by Christ for us. See Warfare Prayer

It is the recycling of painful memories that plows and prepares the heart to receive the seeds of darkness. Lies that repeat within our memory evolve into spiritual strongholds which lead to dysfunctional thinking patterns, which in turn, strengthen existing spiritual strongholds. We then find ourselves unable to escape our past, disillusioned, discouraged and often depressed, going in circles, wondering what has happened to us.

The Danger of Recycled Painful Memories

As we recycle painful memories the devil speaks to us, he flourishes in an environment of negative and painful thinking. He wants us to remember every failure, every personal defect, every offence, every unkind word, every difficult relationship, and he especially wants us to remember the unfairness and inequalities of our life. He will remind us of all the things we are missing; He wants us to be unhappy, uninterested, unfulfilled, unresponsive, unthankful, and unbelieving. If our heart becomes fertile ground for his lies then he will determine and order our destiny.

Medicine for our Soul

Just as fruit produced by lies tends to destroy, fruit produced by truth will heal. Truth is of God. Truth is anointed of the Holy Spirit, and will defeat the Devil and his plans for our lives. If we make the Word of God our daily bread, it will provide the spiritual nourishment of Truth, which has the inherent power to defeat all the lies of our Enemy. God's Word is alive and He sends His Word, not only to nourish us, but also to heal us. His Word is the medicine and power for our soul. The Lord tells us that we do not live by bread only, but “by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Life is more than nourishing the physical body, more than meat and drink, life is knowing the Lord by allowing His Word to live in us.

All Emotional Trauma Can be Healed by the Word of God.

The comforts and encouragements of God, through His Word, are greater than all the sufferings this world can bring. Our encouragement has to do with the nature of reality, i.e. God is, and our lives are in His hands. He alone is security, provision, comfort, peace, and life. In Him we are safe and only in Him do we have protection from all the devices and lies of our Dark Enemy. The future for the Christian is good, it is bright, and it is secure. Today we suffer with Him, tomorrow we share in His glory. Today, we war against our Dark Enemy, tomorrow we will delight ourselves in the abundance of peace.

Christians are given the Helmet of Salvation to protect their minds from the lies of the Devil. We are to have an optimism through salvation. Our optimism is greater than all the fear, stress, and turmoil this life can bring. Our Enemy hates optimism for it speaks of our future and his destruction. Let’s put on optimism and hope, by allowing the Word of God to speak louder than all the inward voices of negativity and fear. Jesus does not speak negativity and fear, He says, “in the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” He tells us to be light hearted and happy, that we have won, and our day of rejoicing is secured for us.

Keep your faith, lay hold on eternal life, put to death fleshly lusts which war against the soul. The Lord is at hand, everything that can by shaken will be shaken, judgment must begin at the house of God. Keep yourself unspotted from the world so that at His coming you may be found in peace, blameless, without spot or wrinkle. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

See Warfare Prayer

God bless you,

Jim

Psa 19:7-11 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Phi 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Psa 18:30 This God--his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

Psa 33:4,6 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. 6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

1Pe 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Psa 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Psa 121:2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

Isa 37:16 O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth.

Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Act 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Psa 119:160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever.

Psa 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Isa 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

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