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God Is My Stronghold - by Debbie Przybylski "The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior . . ." Psalm 18:2 Strongholds bring serious devastation into our lives. The enemy will use these against us as we pray. They are childish thoughts that strengthen and control our lives. The devil has a strategy for his warfare, a well-laid out plan of deliberate deception. And he hates prayer and will do anything to stop us. What are some ways that we can face and break free of strongholds and be aware of these defeating thoughts? How can we have God's spirit flow through our lives unhindered by this negative and destructive thinking? Always remember this: Our mind is the battlefield. The problems we face are internal - in our thoughts and attitudes. Satan knows that if he can control our thoughts, then he can control our actions. We cannot have a positive life when we have a negative mind. We must pay attention to what we are thinking. Here are ways to face the strongholds in our lives How to Face Strongholds We must realize that we cannot destroy personal strongholds by ourselves - The battle is in the spirit realm. God is divinely powerful to demolish strongholds (II Corinthians 10:3-5). Only He can do it. We often try to take surface thoughts captive and not the thoughts underneath that are feeding those thoughts. Lord, I realize that I cannot destroy the strongholds in my life by myself. I acknowledge my dependence on you to do it. "One of your weapons is prayer (asking). You can't overcome your situation by determination alone. You do need to be determined, but determined in the Holy Spirit, not in the effort of your own flesh. The Holy Spirit is your Helper - seek His help. Lean on Him. You can't make it alone" We must give God permission to deal with the strongholds in our lives - He will not do it without our permission. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman. He demolishes the strongholds, fortresses, destroying speculations, arguments, thoughts and ideas. He is the only one who can break the power of the lie. We need to invite God to show us the strongholds. Our flesh doesn't want to see them. Our flesh wants to live the old way. We need to ask God to show us the motivation of our hearts. Lord, I give you permission to deal with the strongholds in my life. I ask you to show me the motivations of my heart and my hurtful ways. I invite you into the center of my life to reveal to me the lies I have been believing. "Search me (thoroughly), O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24)). We must make a firm determination to deal with strongholds - It hurts to see our root systems. They are such a part of us, and they are woven all throughout our life. We are not even aware of them. Lord, I determine to deal with the strongholds in my life. Make this real to me. Get to the roots, the childlike thoughts, in my life. "It is so important for you to come to grips with the fact that your life will not get straightened out until your mind does. You should consider this area one of vital necessity. Be serious about tearing down the strongholds Satan has built in your mind. Use your weapons of the Word, praise and prayer." We must be aware of our thoughts - What is your self-talk? Get a piece of paper, put it near your bed, and write down every time you start feeling down, discouraged, depressed, etc. Be aware of your negative emotions. Your emotions can be your friend because they tell you when you are touching a stronghold. Sudden negative emotions point to a stronghold. What were you thinking when you suddenly started feeling down (i.e. "I'm no good", "I'm a failure", "I never can do anything right", "Life is hopeless", etc.). These types of thoughts are strongholds. Although they are simple thoughts, they can totally destroy and ruin our lives. Lord, make me aware of my thoughts. Show me my strongholds and negative thought patterns in my life. "Thinking about what you're thinking about is very valuable because Satan usually deceives people into thinking that the source of their misery or trouble is something other than what it really is. He wants them to think they are unhappy due to what is going on around them (their circumstances), but the misery is actually due to what is going on inside them (their thoughts)." We must be patient and persistent - It took you a lifetime to reinforce these strongholds, these negative thought patterns. They are like grooves in your life. It takes time and effort to be free of them. We often want a quick fix. The quickest fix is if you determine to deal with them on a daily basis. Lord, give me endurance and patience to walk free of these negative thought patterns. I know that it is not a quick fix. I accept your timetable in dealing with these strongholds. I choose to be persistent in dealing with them. "'And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint' (Gal. 6:9). The Apostle Paul simply encourages us to keep on keeping on! Don't be a quitter! Don't have the old 'give-up' spirit. God is looking for people who will go all the way through with Him." We must be alert and recognize these strongholds quickly - As you practice watching your thoughts and looking for false mind sets, you are able to see them more clearly. Lord, make me alert and help me to recognize these patterns very quickly. Open my eyes to see the lies that I have been believing and the truth of your Word. "Be well balanced (temperate, sober or mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring (in fierce hunger), seeking someone to seize upon and devour" (I Peter 5:8) We must be willing to forgive anyone who has hurt us - As you face strongholds in your life, you often have to forgive others who have hurt and offended you or who have been instruments in developing these lies in your life. There is no freedom without forgiveness. So let each one of us choose to forgive everyone! It is good to name them one by one before the Lord and the offense and then proclaim forgiveness and blessing. You choose to forgive and God will do the rest. Remember, forgiveness is a process. Lord, I choose to forgive those who have hurt me. I set them free by the power of your Spirit. I let them off the hook and pray your blessing in their lives. I trust that you will deal with the individuals who have hurt me. "Let go and let God." Recommended books: The Search for Significance by Robert McGee, The Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer (quotes by Joyce Meyer and Amplified Bible) "And therefore the Lord (earnestly) waits (expecting, looking, and longing) to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who (earnestly) wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him (for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship)!" Isaiah 30:18 Afliction_and_Belief.html

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