Strongholds

We all have experienced it at one time or another. That feeling of, "Why did I do that again?", or "Why do I continually struggle in this area of my life?" Even the apostle Paul said in Romans 7:15, "For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate." This is called a stronghold. Now the question becomes, "How did the strongholds get there and what can be done about them? Satan built these fortresses in our minds, but we must remember that he can only do what we give him permission to do. He only has the power to make suggestions. We give him authority when we agree with his suggestion. Then, brick by brick, he begins to build the stronghold in our lives.
How do we destroy these fortresses? How do we tear these strongholds down? Remember, they were built in our mind so it is in the mind that we must wage our war. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 says, "For though we walk according to the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, (here is the key) and we are taking our thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete."
We are not just spectators watching God fight our battles for us. We are mighty warriors on the attack and He has made us more than conquerors. If you choose to take this step into the next dimension of your Christian walk, get ready for a shock. You will be absolutely stunned at the things you have allowed to run free through your mind. Be diligent to arrest every thought that raises itself against the knowledge of God, and you will begin to experience His power working through you to give you victory.