Pulling Down Strongholds

A stronghold is a fortified place or a shelter, which is typically built for survival from outside sources of attack. The word stronghold has both positive and negative connotations. As a positive reference, it relates to God being our deliverer and a defence from satan. “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Psalms 18:2). In this Psalm, David acknowledged God as his saviour from death and destruction. God responded to his cries for help and came down in his splendour and might to save him. David ran to God for shelter and found safety and protection.

The strongholds that Paul referred to destroying, are those established and reinforced by the devil. These are spiritual strongholds which are habitual patterns of thoughts, beliefs and ideas that are entrenched in people’s minds. “We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). In this verse, Paul was detailing the spiritual prayer and warfare strategy that we need to counter strongholds. He said that although we are in the flesh, our war is not against flesh and blood.

Strongholds originate in the mind as a desire or a lustful fantasy. “Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death” (James 1:15). Although strongholds start in the mind, they feed sinful habits that people struggle to get free from. Many people have negative habits, thought patterns and behaviours that they struggle to control. Many people have tried for years to live right and to be set free from some besetting sins. This can cause frustration and hopelessness in people who struggle with no success to do good. Paul understood this struggle firsthand as expressed in this scripture. “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me” (Romans 7:21).

The good news is that there is a way of escape. Habitual thought patterns, behaviours or sins that seem difficult to break are strongholds. The weapons against strongholds include persistent prayer, fasting to undue the burden of sin and to let the oppressed go free (Isaiah 58:6). There is hope and there is nothing that is impossible with God. Jesus told his disciples that if they had faith, they could command a mountain to be rooted up and thrown into the see. One main requirement that we need to ensure that our prayers are answered, is to forgive anyone who has hurt us, so that God can forgive us. “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24).

A.P.-Y.