What are strongholds, what does scripture say about them, and what can we do about them?
Learning more about this topic and dealing with the strongholds in my life has brought so much freedom to my mind and my life, and my walk with the Lord has strengthened so much. That’s why I can’t wait to share this with you here on the blog.
Okay so first of all, we want to define our terms. What is a stronghold?
The Hebrew word for stronghold in the Old Testament is mibsar (mib-tswar) and it means a fortification, a castle, a fortified city, or fenced.
The Greek word for stronghold that is used in the New Testament is ochyroma(okh-oo-ro-mah) and its definition is very much like the Hebrew: to fortify, a fortress, a castle, but it also refers to anything on which one relies.
Now let’s think about this for a minute. What is the purpose of having a fortified city? A fortification is a military construction designed for the defense of territories in warfare. And we’ll continue to unpack this in a moment, but as believers in Christ we are most certainly in a warfare, a spiritual one.
So, the question would then be, who is building this stronghold, what side are they on, and what is the territory are they trying to defend? We’ll work through all of that. A stronghold in the spiritual sense is something that has power over your life and keeps you in bondage and from experiencing full freedom in Christ.
So, if a stronghold is something that holds you in bondage to keep you from freedom in Christ, is the stronghold from God? No. Who would want to keep people in bondage? That’s right, Satan the enemy of the believer. And the territory that he is trying to claim and defend is you, specifically your mind.
We’re going to read through a passage of scripture that discusses this battle.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 says: For though we walk in the flesh, we do not after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
So, in this passage we hear a little bit about the warfare that we are in, that it along with our weapons are spiritual and not physical much like what Ephesians chapter 6 talks about. Then we are given three different aspects of this warfare: strongholds, imaginations, and thoughts. For today we’re just focusing in on strongholds.
We’re told that the weapons of our warfare that are given to us by God are mighty and with them, we can pull down strongholds.
Just imagine for a moment, a fortified city like we talked about a minute ago. And then imagine what it would be like to see the walls of that city pulled right down to the ground. That’s exactly what the power of God can do in the mind and life of the believer, and I can testify to that very thing. He’s done it for me, and He can do it for you too.
Alright, so the next thing we need to talk about is, how are these strongholds built by the enemy? How do they start? Where do they come from?
I’m going to share with you the two sources of strongholds that I’ve identified, there could be more, this isn’t a statement of absolutes- just simply what I’ve learned and observed thus far.
The first source of a stronghold is an incorrect and deceptive thinking pattern that affects the way we think, our feelings and emotions, and how we behave. These thinking patterns can come from childhood (what we were taught, the environment we were in, what we observed in our homes etc.) or it could come from a demonic oppression due to an open door in our lives.
The second source of a stronghold is an area of unrepentant and ongoing sin that holds you in bondage. Then in turn that shame, guilt, and secrecy that comes with that sin can hold you in the bondage even more.
Now, while a stronghold is built in the mind/the soul because we are a spirit, a soul, and a body, those strongholds can and often do affect our spirit and our body as well.
When you are in a spiritual bondage, it can do damage to the physical body anyone that struggles with anxiety can tell you that what is happening in their mind greatly affects how they feel in their body.
This kind of bondage can also affect your spirit and your relationship with God. If you have a stronghold belief that you are not good enough for example, it will hinder your relationship with God.
Okay, so now I’m going to list off some examples of strongholds that the enemy can build up in our minds and lives, because the first step to pulling them down is identifying them.
Unforgiveness, bitterness, anxiety, fear, worry, addiction, sexual immorality, lust, pornography, adultery, fornication, perverse thoughts, depression, despair, lying, gossip, an incorrect view of God, idolatry, anger, rage, cursing, being judgmental or critical, self-pity, rejection, shame, hatred, pride, complacency, perfectionism, and more.
I’ll share with you some of the strongholds that I had and the Lord has helped me fight and overcome: condemnation, not being good enough, failure, comparison to others, fear and anxiety, depression, loneliness, and anger.
So as I shared in my testimony video, which if you haven’t watched you can find here on the website or on my YouTube channel, strongholds are often built by one little brick at a time. The brick can be a lie, a trauma, a belief, an experience and they just stack up over time until that stronghold becomes almost like a part of you.
Now that we’ve established what strongholds are, where they come from, and how they manifest in our lives—let’s talk about what to do about them!
Romans 12:2 says: And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.
This is a part of that mind renewal process that can truly transform us from the inside out.
The first step is to identify the strongholds in your life. This is a part of not being ignorant of the devil’s devices. So if you need to go back and listen to the list of examples and write any down that sounds like it might be you.
But more importantly, spend some time praying and asking the Lord to reveal to you any strongholds. If you’re able to also identify the source of the stronghold, or the Lord shows it to you that’s great and that can be helpful. But don’t feel like you need to dig way back into your past or relive painful things that the Lord isn’t asking you to in order to deal with this.
The second step is to bring the strongholds to the light. We have an enemy that is sly and cunning, and he likes to work in darkness and secrecy. When we bring our struggles or sins to the light he begins to lose power in that area. Bring it to the light by talking about it with a trusted fellow believer that will stand with you and pray with you.
James 5:16 says, Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed (made whole). The effectual and fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Confess the sin, confess the thoughts, confess the lies—out loud. And have a heart of repentance. Be ready to let these things go and leave them behind. Ask the Lord to forgive you for being held in bondage and ask Him to set you free. This would also be a good time to address the possibility of demonic oppression.
Once you’ve repented, then out loud renounce (or come out of agreement with) ___ and command every unclean spirit associated with it to leave you and your life in the name of Jesus.
The third step is to confront the strongholds with the truth. In Ephesians 6 verse 14, we are told that a part of the armor of God is the belt of truth and in verse 17 we’re told that the sword of the Spirit is the word of God. These two pieces of armor will be very important in this battle. The truth of God’s word.
John 8:31-32 says: If ye continue in my word, then ye are my disciples in deed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Continue in my word- that is an ongoing and continuous action.
Examples of what this might look like:
“I’m not good enough” –--> I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
“Shame”----> There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus
“I’ll never be free of ___” –---> Who the Son sets free, is free indeed.
Meditate on the truth of God’s word.
Philippians 4:8: Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report (admirable), if there is any virtue (excellence) and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
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