Strongholds

Spiritual warfare is a real thing and it involves all believers.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Ephesians 6:12

Satan will attack from every direction and he knows our very strongholds. Strongholds are what hold us in bondage because we begin to think a certain way based on a distorted idea of our circumstances. We remain imprisoned by these things as long as we believe the lies presented to us. Satan is always trying to attack our minds with doubts and fears, discontent and irritation. He develops a well laid out scheme that takes time to cultivate. His attacks are persistent and he is relentless in his cause to send us into a downward spiral that leads us stumbling in our walk. His plan is so laid out that sometimes we do not see it coming until it is too late and we are already caught up in the middle of it all. We are going to be constantly under attack when we choose to live for the Lord and place Him on the throne of our life. Satan cannot physically harm us but he is constantly at work trying and wanting to see us fail. We were bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ and no weapon fashioned against us will stand when we put our faith and trust in Him.

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of this world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

2 Corinthians 10:4-5

Christ’s death on the cross was the ultimate defeat over Satan and his attack to claim our souls.

“And having disarmed the powers of authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

Colossians 2:15

We now make the choice to accept Satan’s invitation to dwell upon our past or our weaknesses. This is what he hopes for and encourages us to do. We must stand firm in the word of God and hold to the truth He sets before us, that we have been forgiven.

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace…”

Ephesians 1:7

“as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

Psalms 103:12

When we are filled with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, we have His strength and can overcome the cleverness and deceit of Satan and his attacks. We must remember that sin does not come from bad genes and Satan definitely does not make us do it. We choose to act on the things that surround us or lies that are put into our minds. Satan does not ever force our hand; those decisions are made entirely on our own. This occurs when we are focused on ourselves and away from the Lord. We cannot live a God centered life when we are on the throne. So be encouraged, when you put on the Armor of God and place Him on the throne, stand firm in His promise of protection and love against the battle that wages on daily when you choose Him above all else and trust His word.

Ephesians 6:12, II Corinthians 10:4-5, Colossians 2:15, Ephesians 1:7, Psalms 103:12

Trials

Everyone in his or her lifetime will experience some kind of hardship or pain. Scripture says,

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

James 1:2

This verse gives us hope and a reason to be joyful in times of heartache and pain.
I once heard a speaker say, “if you won’t worship God in the wilderness then you won’t worship Him in the promise land.”

It is so very easy to praise Him when times are good. We get that pay raise or someone we know is healed from an illness and at those times, it is very easy to rejoice in Him. What about when those beautiful blue skies turn dark and the clouds roll in and the rain begins to fall? When those storms come, where do you find yourself?

We choose whether we will stand in the middle of the storm with our arms lifted to the sky praising Him or fall into the “why me” trap that Satan sets up so that we focus on the circumstances that surround us. God allows us to experience storms so that we may put our focus and trust completely in Him, so that our faith in Him will grow. It is part of His plan to grow us and to complete the work He began in us when He created us.

“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 1:6

He has it all laid out before Him and when we question Him or try to avoid the “speed bump” before us, it becomes an act of faithlessness in what He promises He will do for us. Rejoice in where He is taking you and realize that it is only for your good so that on the other side you will have grown and matured which will make you usable to help someone else who may come upon the very storm you once weathered yourself.

James 1:2
Philippians 1:6