What is on your mind today? Is it what the word of God says? Or is it lies that the enemy has planted there? When thoughts come into our mind, they are not an established truth but an invitation. An invitation to align with the truth of God’s word or align with the lies of the devil.
If we believe in the lies of the devil, it will eventually build a stronghold in our minds. The lies may be something like…
Your children will never turn to God.
You will never get out of debt.
You will die from this disease.
You will always be like this; things will never get better.
Once we accept the invitation of these lies, they begin to build a fortress in our mind. However, God has given us the ability to tear down those lies.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. (2 Co 10:4-6)
The weapons God has given us are mighty!
The word, mighty, is defined as powerful, strong, able to bear calamities and trials with fortitude and patience, and the power to complete something.
A stronghold is from a Greek word, ochuroma, meaning an imposing fortress or a fortified castle. It also describes a dreadful prison built deep inside a fortress to prevent the hostage or prisoner from escaping and becoming free. The devil means to trap you with lies to the degree that you cannot escape. But God has given us the tools to overcome.
Once we believe a lie it can become ‘our truth’ which begins to shape what we see, feel and believe. If we do not cast them down, we will become hostage, or a prisoner to those thoughts. To those lies. You see, it’s not one lie that builds that fortress but a deluge of lies coming at us repeatedly.
That’s his job, to trap you with things that are not even truth. The only truth is what the word of God says. Your job is to take the mighty weapons God has given you and pull down those strongholds completely.
The words, pulling down, means to meticulously take something apart, piece by piece until it is reduced to nothing. We see from this definition that pulling down strongholds is most likely not a quick process. It means dismantling and disassembling those lies one at a time, until no trace of them exists.
It reminds me of a definition I once read concerning the anointing. It said the anointing removes burdens and leaves no evidence they ever existed. Can you imagine that?
Can you imagine that what you are now fighting through would be like it never existed. I know that is hard to fathom. Yet, that is what the Bible says.
My friend, we have been given everything we need through the word of God to walk in complete freedom and victory. We have been given weapons of might – its time we use them. Don’t you think? Begin today, by pulling down every stronghold. Start now dismantling and disassembling every lie of the enemy – one at a time – until there is no trace of lies in your mind or in your heart. Once you do that, fill your mind back up with truth from the word of the living God.
It is my prayer for you that you begin to walk in truth and freedom today. That every lie is cast down until it no longer exists – that only the truth of God’s word is found in your mind, and in your heart. May it be so, in Jesus name. Amen and so be it.
I never heard nor read of the definition of a stronghold such as you have described it. It is truly anointed and God inspired.