Have you ever been working on something and find yourself stuck? It could be the development of a new campaign, preparing for a business meeting, or just trying to figure out what to do on a vacation. When I find myself in this type of situation, I begin to look back at other times in my life where I needed to perform the same type of task and usually I find a negative stronghold involved.
This would happen to me whenever I had to complete the minutes for our board meetings. I would become overwhelmed and freeze. It wasn’t because the task was difficult. It was very easy for me to put together the minutes. However, as I looked back I found that I was remembering someone who always had to change something I wrote in every one of them. This had made me feel like I was inadequate. I’m not even sure if the person felt that way or not. To be honest, I don’t think they did. I had let a lie, a stronghold into my mind and that stronghold would inhibit me from producing something that was fairly easy for me to do.
You and I are in a spiritual war, and the battle is not against those around us. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12). Have you ever seen the illustration, or heard the comment, “it’s like the devil sitting on my shoulder?” Satan is as alive as God is, and he works through lies. Strongholds from the lies of the enemy can stop you in your tracks. They can cause you to keep going around the same old same old with nothing changing. You say, how? If we are constantly thinking those lies, our brain automatically responds to those thoughts. The enemy will try to talk you out of the will of God every time. He will lie to you. He will try to make you fearful and bring thoughts of doubt into your mind all to try to stop you from achieving your goals. In order to tear down those strongholds, you must take down the lies by replacing them with truth.
You must put 2 Corinthians 10:5 into action. “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. We need to recognize our thoughts, AND we must control them! We must captivate our thoughts, our imaginations, and the lies we have been believing and bring them into subjection. We must switch our mindset. Let go of the old “stinking thinking” and line up our thoughts with the Word of God.
In Ephesians, chapter six, the Word tells us to put on the whole armor of God, so we may be able to stand against the wiles of the enemy, and in verse 16 it says, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. ABOVE ALL, we must use our FAITH to stop the fiery darts. It takes faith in the Word of God to combat the strongholds of unbelief, doubt, and the lies of the enemy.
What has the enemy been whispering in your ear? What lie have you bitten into? Begin today to tear it down. Begin to speak the truth out loud. Satan, you are a liar! And the Father of them! I bind you, in the name of Jesus! I am who God says I am! I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! (Philippians 4:13). I have the power of Christ working in me and through me. (Ephesians 3:20-21) No weapon formed against me shall prosper, and all those who rise up against me in judgment, thou shall condemn. (Isaiah 54:17) My needs are all met according to the riches of my Father in heaven. I am not going under. God has made me the head and not the tail. (Deuteronomy 28:13). Take captive every thought. Line it up with the truth and speak the Word of God, boldly.
You’re coming out of the rut, in Jesus name!
Until next time,
Stay Calm and
Be Empowered!
