Do You Have Any Strongholds?

Jericho was a well-fortified stronghold preventing Israel's progress into the Promised Land. In Bible times, a stronghold was a place of safety where Israel's enemies retreated after an attack. Israel could not take possession of the Promised Land and allow those strongholds to stand.

Spiritually, strongholds are anything that hinder our walk with God.  They could be unforgiveness, depression, pride, addictions, negative thought patterns, a critical attitude, or a bad temper. These "fortresses" are hard to defeat (thus the name "a STRONG hold").

Another stronghold is arguments (human reasoning) "against the knowledge of God" (verse 5). When we feel that we know how to handle life's situations (without searching the Word or seeking Godly counsel), we have allowed the enemy to begin building a stronghold in our mind.

How can we pull down the enemy's strongholds? When Israel was ready to enter Canaan, Moses sent twelve spies. One of their tasks was to look for any strongholds in the land (Numbers 13:17-19). By using our God-given weapons (the Word and prayer), we can identify where the enemy has built strongholds in our life.

Once you have located a stronghold, surround it with God's Word. If your stronghold is fear, read 2 Timothy 1:7; if it is depression, read Psalm 42:5. Starve it by not allowing supplies and reinforcements (your thoughts) in. As the children of Israel marched around Jericho in obedience to God, let Him guide you concerning your personal strongholds. "The weapons of our warfare are ... MIGHTY through God!"

Spiritual strongholds begin with a thought, become a consideration, develop into an attitude, lead then to action, repeated becomes a habit, and a habit establishes a power base for the enemy. That is a STRONGHOLD.
–      Elisabeth Elliott