Breaking Strongholds

Many people, even after becoming a Christian, struggle with emotional and relational issues, many of which have come out of their past. Much of this is related to how they think and habits that have been formed. “Repeated acts form a habit, and if you exercise a sinful habit long enough, a stronghold will be established in your mind. Once a stronghold is established, you have lost the ability to control your behavior in that area.”* They hold you captive. But it is not just bad habits or sinful deeds. Destructive strongholds can also be a lot of wrong thinking.

Even the apostle Paul, who wrote over half of the New Testament, expresses this struggle in Romans 7:15-20. “ For I do not understand my own actions.  For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now, if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law that it is good. So now, it is no longer I who do it but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me that is in my flesh. I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now, if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but the sin that dwells within me.”  Paul does not mention specifically what these struggles were, but is it possible that he also had strongholds from his past?

Negative strongholds are destructive habits, attitudes, or mindsets that have a grip on us, and have become so much a part of our subconscious character that they hold us back in defeat and mediocrity, where we cannot experience a life of victory and happiness. According to author, Neil T. Anderson, “Bitterness and unforgiveness toward other people is the most widespread stronghold that Satan enjoys among Christians.” *

Strongholds must not be passed down to the next generation. They must not be permitted to become accepted as normal. Someone in the family needs to decide to break them. They may be generational curses. It is necessary for our children to see that change is possible. They need an example that a person does not have to remain stuck in some negative or destructive problem. One of the best things for our children to realize when they leave home is that it is possible to live a life of victory.

How do we break strongholds? “Patterns of negative thinking and behavior are learned, and can be unlearned through disciplined Bible reading and counseling. Some strongholds are anchored in demonic influences and spiritual conflict from the past and present mental assaults, which lock their victims in bondage.” *

It wasn’t until 50 years of age that I began breaking my strongholds from the past through several years of counseling, reading books, and focusing on Bible reading. I wrote a book about it entitled “God’s healing hope:breaking the strongholds of wrong thinking.” If you have strongholds in your life, I hope you don’t wait that long to break them. Program your mind with the word of God. Get some Christian counseling. Do whatever it takes. Don’t allow them to become generational. May your children and grandchildren see that you are an overcomer.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience when your obedience is complete.

*Neil T. Anderson, The Bondage Breaker, Harvest House, 1990, pages 54 and 220.