Hello dear ones!

I think too often we think of the word “STRONGHOLDS” as a very complex word.  Simply put, STRONGHOLDS are merely incorrect thinking patterns.  That’s why we’re exhorted in Romans 12:2 to renew our minds to the Word of God and not to think like the world thinks.  STRONGHOLDS are patterns in our minds that are programmed to think contrary to the truth.

For example, if a person feels guilty and is shameful of their past, they are used to thinking about it.  It drives the person to think and feel like a failure.  They tend to feel unworthy in their relationship with God which greatly affects their spiritual strength, faith, and confidence towards Him.  No wonder Satan tries to build such STRONGHOLDS in our minds!!!

You may be asking, “How does Satan build these STRONGHOLDS?”  He starts by reminding us of our past failures and sins.  He brings up things that we shouldn’t be dwelling on.  He tries to make us agree with those thoughts on how badly we failed.  We have to make the choice not to listen to him, but to agree with God’s Word (which tells us that those sins have been washed away).  If we take the devil’s bait and begin to meditate on our failures, it will begin to pull us down spiritually and STRONGHOLDS will develop.  We will begin to see ourselves as failures because we’ve taken the bait and chose to meditate on a lie that the devil fed us! 

What we need to understand is that STRONGHOLDS can and do play a big part in how we feel!  If we think we’re a failure, we’ll feel like failures.  If we think we’re hopeless, we’ll feel hopeless.  But if we know we’re forgiven, we’ll feel clean inside.  If we constantly think of our past failures, we’ll see ourselves as associated with them, but if we’re constantly thinking of how we’ve been separated from our past sins when the blood of Jesus washed them away, we’ll feel bright and clean inside.  Changing the way we think will make a big difference in the way we feel.

We can PULL DOWN STRONGHOLDS by countering the deception with the truth of God’s Word.  What does God have to say about you?  I can tell you that He values you more than you can ever imagine.  The number of hairs on your head are all accounted for.  He has you inscribed on the palms of His hands.  You are the apple of His eye.  The list goes on and on!  Find out what GOD has to say and the devil won’t stand a chance!  Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5,

  • For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly (weapons), but powerful through God for the bringing down of fortresses (STRONGHOLDS), the pulling down of reasonings and every high thing that is elevated against the knowledge of God, and for leading into captivity every thought to the obedience of the Anointed.  

STRONGHOLDS are built upon deceptions and lies that we’ve accepted into our minds.  We must counteract the lies with the truth.  John 17:17 says,

  • God’s Word is truth.

As we can see in Ephesians 6:17, the weapon we use against the enemy is the sword of the spirit:

  • “…the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”

This is how we PULL DOWN STRONGHOLDS, using the Word of God.  Do you remember when Satan said to Jesus in Matthew 4:3-4,

  • If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.  But Jesus replied with, “IT IS WRITTEN…Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Jesus knew the Scripture and took away satan’s ability to influence Him.  This is what we must also do.  Jesus is our prototype.

“Father I pray for my readers today and ask that You teach them how to PULL DOWN STRONGHOLDS by using the Word of God to combat satan’s lies against them.  As they meditate in Your Word, they are building up a strong tower that satan cannot penetrate.  The more Word they know, the more of a threat they are against the enemy.  Give them an insatiable desire for Your Word, because that’s their sword, their weapon to use against him.  I pray that You teach them to give NO PLACE to the devil and cause them to rise up and take their authority on this earth against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual hosts in the heavenly places, in Jesus’ powerful Name I pray, Amen.”

PULLING DOWN STRONGHOLDS today,

Lisa Gordon

Jesus City Church

Glastonbury, CT