Overcoming Strongholds

Overcoming Strongholds – Published 10/6/2014 –      Life Notes the Cafe Blog

Do you battle strongholds in your life?  I know I do!  We all have many hills to climb as a result of original sin.  Daily we are inundated with the stress of living, whether it be good or bad.  Sometimes our basic needs are not met.  In order to pacify these needs, we often resort to temporay fixes to fill voids in our life.  Example:  I might be lonely and need companionship, but instead I turn to cupcakes at night before bed.  Maybe you smoke in leiu of the rest that you need, and you can’t rest because you are anxious.  When we resort to these substitutions in our life, they often become patterns of behavior, which then become strongholds in our life that are hard to rid the mind and body of.  Many of these strongholds contribute to disease in the body and some are a direct result.

When we are made aware of our slavery to these strongholds our first response is usually, “Don’t bother me right now, it feels good.”   It’s not until the devastating effects of our choices greet us that we decide to change.  We try to stop.  We do everything in our power to quit!!   So, why can’t we?  Most of the time it’s because our focus is on the stronghold instead of what is behind it.  We must dig deep to find out what the void is in our life in order to change and repair it.

Remember this quote, “insanity – doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” (Albert Einstein) In our own power, although we try hard not to, we do end up doing the same things over and over again.  So….our power must come from somewhere else.  In 2 Corinthians 12:9 the Bible says, “But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (NIV)  It is in our weakness that Christ makes himself known.  He reveals to us through His Word that it is our reliance on the Holy Spirit and through the renewing of our mind that we will make lasting change in our life.  Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is  — his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (NIV)

What does the process of renewing your mind look like?  In Phillipians 4:8 it says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (KJV)  We really make it more complicated than it has to be.  When we saturate our brain daily with an abundance of these things, our mind begins to change literally.  Positive thoughts produce positive behavior.

Finally, acknowledging the void and replacing the stronghold with the truth of God’s Word will bring healing and freedom to your life.  There is a Biblical truth for everything that we suffer from in God’s Word.  Remember  John 8:32 – “Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (NIV).