What is a Stronghold?

by Chyna Coleman

Have you ever felt like you are doing everything you can to progress and grow but there is always negative behavior or pattern that pops up at the most inopportune time or a cycle that you can’t get out of? Turns out, there’s a name for that – a stronghold. You can be free from it! Keep reading to find out more!

My Strongholds

I remember it like it was yesterday; the day I gave my life to Christ. I felt like I was on top of the world, nothing could keep me from the love of God and all I was called to do. Yet, years went by and the realness of the walk started to set in.

I was doing all the things both spiritually and naturally to improve my and my daughter’s life. However, I always felt like something was wrong and never felt like I could amount to what God said I was going to be. These thoughts continued to flow and kept being a hindrance to advancement on my journey as a single mother. 

In vulnerability, ever since I was a little girl I have had suicidal thoughts, always thinking of ways I could die or whether I would be better off dead. The thoughts continued into my teenage years with cycles of depression, anxiety, and rejection struggles. As I stepped into adulthood and motherhood, I began to notice the struggle I had developed with anger, pride, and rebellion. 

I had no idea what was happening. It wasn’t until a sermon my pastor gave that I began to notice the mental blocks and distractions that had been plaguing my Christian walk for a long time.

Hearing about my struggles, you may be reflecting on your own life and the mental/spiritual blocks in your walk. I want to give that struggle a name and show you how to overcome the “strongholds” that you face as a believer today.

What is a Stronghold?

A stronghold can seem like a buzzword in Christian spaces, but it is far from that. Strongholds are those very things that stand in the way of your relationship with God and being all that He created you to be.

A stronghold can be something physical, something mental, or even emotional. You can even have strongholds that plague not only you but have been in your family for generations. 

Strongholds typically are disguised as something good but create a wall between your future, a tower overshadowing your expectations/hopes, and a lie that holds you captive in your thoughts. 1 Peter 5:8 says, your adversary, the author of evil strongholds (Satan), prowls around, seeking someone to devour.

Stronghold Definition and Meaning

You may look in different places to truly define strongholds and find different viewpoints. They are not all wrong, but as you know, the word of Truth, the Bible, is where we will find how God defines strongholds.

In some instances, the word “stronghold” was used to name a place that is fortified to protect it against attack and could not be penetrated or passed through, great for hiding.

However, a stronghold in an internal sense is a block. It’s a safe place, if you will, in our minds or spirit that houses a particular cause or belief that is based on false, distorted truth that can be from the enemy or the sinful nature of our thoughts. Either way, it is strongly upheld and defended. This level of stronghold can be there for years and never be addressed until it is brought to light.

Strongholds in the Bible

In the Bible, strongholds were presented in multiple ways. 

The first was when the Isrealities needed a place of escape from war to hide themselves from the Midianites in Judges 6.

The second was a hiding place, castle, or fortress where David stayed for safety from troubles connected to Saul in 1 Samuel.

The third is presenting God as our stronghold that provides safety for those who walk in integrity and the ways of the Lord in Proverbs.

Lastly, the Bible shows in the New Testament in 2 Corinthians that strongholds are the deception of our reason and lies that disguise themselves as truth. These are the major strongholds that we deal with today spiritually.

However, one thing we can be clear on when it comes to strongholds of any kind, they can be seized, taken away, overthrown, and knocked down. If you keep reading, you will find out what you can do to tear down the strongholds that have been standing in the way of your full life in Christ.

Examples of Spiritual Strongholds

Spiritual strongholds are the habitual lies, thoughts, spirit blocks, and exaggerated attitudes within one’s self that try to set oneself up against God. 

Spiritual strongholds are often seen as demons and unclean spirits that require deliverance, but most times the warfare is within ourselves. The Holy Spirit reveals and requires repentance and real-time rebuke to break through.

Now, what are some examples of spiritual strongholds that often show up in the lives of believers? I thought you would never ask. Here is a list of common spiritual strongholds:

• Heaviness – depression, grief, sadness, hopelessness
• Poverty – debt, greed, hate of rich people, laziness, lack of generosity, coveting, idolatry of possessions
• Jealousy – anger, envy, bitterness, lack of self-control, selfishness, restlessness, fighting, competition
• Lying – deception, manipulation, adultery, vanity, gossip, exaggeration
• Fear – anxiety, doubt, timidity, stress, worry, horror
• Perversion – lust, sexual immorality, hatred of God, abuse, self-love
• Death – suicide, suicidal ideation, curses, self-harm, abortion, alcohol, mental disorders
• Error – rejection, discouragement, defensiveness, discontentment, being unteachable, stubbornness
• Bondage – addiction, cancer, over-eating, cigarettes, porn, abuse, love of money, spiritual blindness
• Haughtiness– arrogance, controlling nature, self-righteousness, pride, rebellion, vanity, stubbornness

All the strongholds mentioned can only be destroyed using God’s word of Truth. Many of these spiritual strongholds show up in various manifested versions but all root from the same spirit of the flesh which was mentioned above.

There are more types of spiritual strongholds, but I wanted to share with you the most common that show up in the lives of believers. I would encourage you to do extended self-study to deepen your understanding of the spiritual strongholds and the ones that you may be dealing with and how they disguise themselves to bring destruction to your life.

Scriptures on Strongholds

The only scripture on strongholds in the way we are discussing in this post is 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NLT.

“4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.“

What are God’s mighty weapons? God’s mighty weapons include truth, righteousness, the Gospel, faith, the hope of our salvation, the Word of God, and prayer. They are faith, authority, and humility in Christ. When we use these weapons, we are ready for any battle coming our way, even warfare against spiritual strongholds.

Worldly weapons are often through education, laws, money, and possessions.

This is why God admonishes that we do not lean on our understanding, thought processes, and ways. These are deceitful and will need to be under submission of wisdom Himself.

“5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.“

Pulling down strongholds requires a team effort. Working with your chosen Spirit-led community, seize and bring to non-existence the thoughts and behaviors that stand in the way of your relationship with God. 

Stop those negative and combative thoughts, putting them under the authority of Christ. No longer allow the lies and deceptions of strongholds to take root in your spirit, but filter them through Christ.

On the other hand, the transformative scriptures that turn the lies and deceptions into the direction of true safety and security are as follows:

”THE Lord is my Light and my Salvation–whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life–of whom shall I be afraid?“

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭27‬:‭1‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

”But the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge.“

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭94‬:‭22‬ ‭ESV‬‬

In this scripture, God gives us clarity that anything we should be stuck on mentally and spiritually is on the Word, the commandments of God, and what he has proposed or asked us to do. Replay over and over again in our mind, spirit, and soul that Jesus is Lord, and be fully obedient to that.

Pulling Down Strongholds

Pulling down strongholds is not a job for your flesh or earthy weapons, as the scriptures say. You’ve already been trying to do everything in your strength to overcome things like depression, poverty, porn addiction, and anger.

The truth is that this level of warfare, demolishing walls of resistance in your mind, requires spiritual weapons which include God, the Sword of the Spirit (The Word of God), the Holy Spirit, and a faith-based community to help you bring down the many works of the enemy that have been trying to keep you from knowing God and experiencing Him fully.

We must get stirred up and intentional about breaking down and conquering our strongholds head-on. – Chyna Coleman, CatchingCourage.blog Click To Tweet

In the words of Paul, we must:

• lead every thought and purpose captive into the obedience of Christ.
• be ready to punish every disobedience from a place of full submission and obedience within yourself.

For too long, we have allowed these lies and deceptive spirits to be our place of safety, place of hiding, and home. This year, I want to admonish you to start pulling down these strongholds and replacing them, as they come, with God’s truth.

Some practical ways to overcome strongholds:

• Confess your strongholds to a fellow believer for accountability and agreement in prayer.
• Pray every day for the Holy Spirit to help you and guide you in overcoming by capturing negative thoughts that come right away.
• Give yourself grace, but do not give the lies and deception permission to take further residence in your mind and spirit. Rebuke the thoughts and patterned behavior in the name of Jesus.
• Continually read and meditate on the Word. In that, you will be able to discern what thoughts are from God and what hindrances are from the enemy or your fleshly desires.

Scriptures on Deliverance From Strongholds

It’s okay to have a stronghold, but only if that stronghold is in the presence of the Lord, as was the case with Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 , not in a place leading you to spiritual death. All strongholds must be surrendered to God and His lead must be taken. Sometimes it is His will that your stronghold remain to work for His glory. If He doesn’t make it clear to you that your stronghold is being used for His purposes, it must be dealt with.

Here are some scriptures that will help you on your journey of deliverance from the strongholds in your life:

”Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.“

Ephesians 6:11-13 (NLT)

{Related – The Armor of God-An Introduction}

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) – ”Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.“

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) – ”But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the Spirit who lives in the world.“

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭9‬ (‭NLT‬‬) – ”Stand firm against [Satan], and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.“

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭2‬ ‭(NLT)‬ – ”And because you belong to [God], the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.“

‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭36‬ ‭(NLT)‬‬ – ”So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.“

‭‭James‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) – ”Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.“

‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) – ”Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.“

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭54‬:‭17‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) – ”But in that coming day, no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken!“

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) – ”For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.“

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬ (‭NLT‬‬) – ”So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.“

Freedom from Strongholds

The list of strongholds is not to be shameful but to bring awareness to the evil things that have been standing in your way of complete freedom in your walk with Christ. Once you know what is standing in your way, you can be better prepared and equipped for battle against the schemes of your mind and the enemy.

As you can see from my story above, I was stuck in a stronghold that operated from the spirit of death, haughtiness, heaviness, and error. All spirits played a part in destroying my confidence, and awareness of my purpose, and tried to get me to give up time and time again. 

However, My Heavenly Father made a way to bring to my awareness that I had a future, hope, and an expected end. Through the Word, I was able to break free from being bound by those spirits and the lies that I believed for all those years. Truth is, deliverance does not just happen overnight; it takes a daily choice to stand up and defeat everything that is trying to come against your walk with God.

Whether you are dealing with one stronghold or a long list of strongholds, know that God wants you to be free. He desires for you to walk in the authority, power, purpose, and peace that He has for you. It’s our job to do the necessary work and elicit spiritual help through the Holy Spirit to overcome the strongholds in our lives. 

What are the strongholds you’ve been dealing with past and present? What is one thing you can implement today to begin pulling down each stronghold? Comment below and let us know!

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