DESTROYING NEGATIVE STRONGHOLDS

SEPTEMBER 30

Jeremiah 1:10 ”See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build and to plant”

Stronghold is a fortified place, a place of refuge against attack. These are good terms used to describe strongholds here and one often cannot perceive these as something negative. How can one then think of destroying strongholds when beautifully described in this definition.

Now at a closer look, a fortress, a fortified place, a stronghold can become negative when it imprisons and one cannot break free even when there are no more dangers around. Negative strongholds are thoughts, imaginations, ideas that traps you. They are limiting factors. It will therefore require efforts, stronger power to break loose and enjoy freedom once again.

Negative strongholds often develop as something positive before it gradually slips into traps and limiting factors. I remember how I allowed I Tim. 5:8 ( But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel) to become a negative stronghold which incapacitated me instead of setting me free. As good as that scripture is, it made me developed fear for marriage until God set me free by His word again. It started on a positive side. The scripture propelled me to work hard, acquired more education and some level of comfort suitable for marriage. Even after that I still saw myself as unsuitable for marriage.

Strongholds are developed from thought patterns that we have consciously or unconsciously developed as a result of a specific knowledge that we have acquired over a consistent period. This thought patterns come from interactions with our culture, friends, family, church and our society. When these thoughts and views are incongruous with God’s word, they develop into negative words then negative actions, then negative character and habits which become negative stronghold. You need to break loose from negative strongholds.

Breaking free from negative strongholds require certain conscious, deliberate and decisive steps and actions. These include:

Identifying the strongholds
Breaking free from a particular stronghold- be it fear, anger, unbelief, poor self perceptions, alcoholism, masturbation, smoking, lies, pornography…. require you to first dig around it to find the source, the root of the stronghold. What is feeding the stronghold? What is making it hold so strongly to you? You will need the help of the Holy Spirit in your search so as to identify the root cause of that which has held you bound hitherto. Until you find the root, you cannot stop the reproduction of the fruit. You will need to locate the root not the branches. Matt. 3:10 (And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire).

Acknowledge the stronghold
Breaking free from a stronghold after discovery is to accept that you have it and is holding strong to you or you holding strong to it. You cannot break away from habits you have not convinced yourself that you have. Acknowledge it, be sincere to yourself, then you are on your way to freedom.

Destroy the stronghold
After you’ve dug round it and you’ve been able to identify and acknowledge the stronghold; the next thing is to destroy the strongholds. This you can achieve through:

• Application of the weapons of our warfare through aggressive prayer.
II cor.10:4-5, (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; )

Eph. 6:16-18, (16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints).
The name of Jesus, the blood of Jesus, the word of God are potent weapons in our hands to deal with strongholds.

• Renewal of mind by meditation.
Romans. 12:2 (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)
Since the mind via thought is the entry point of stronghold, then you need to meditate on the appropriate word of God to renew your mind. The word of God is powerful to root out wrong thoughts.

Meditation include muttering, pondering, thinking deeply on the word of God relevant to your situation.
It is high time you took charge of your life. It is high time you dug around the issues robbing you of progress and the kind of life God promised.

Wake up and take charge of your life.

For further study:
Joshua.1:8

Personal declaration for the day:
I will start taking steps and necessary actions towards my freedom.

Questions for you to reflect on:
Are you ready to live in freedom?
What steps are you taking ?