Stronghold Protection

Illustrating a Truth of Spiritual Strongholds

All scripture citations are from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise noted.

Jesus is our true stronghold, the One that we run to when threatened by sin or danger. David couldn't say enough about trusting the Lord as his powerful Protector, Provider and Pardoner (Psalm 18:2).  However, counterfeit strongholds are un-surrendered, un-healed or un-crucified areas of the old nature or self-life. They rise up and resist the Spirit-given life - also called the life of the Spirit, Christ's life, or the life of the New Creation in us.

Self-protection and self-promotion built and maintain them, aided by the lies and temptations of the enemy. We are to resist these strongholds of the flesh by pulling them down. The walls we built may make us feel secure at times, but they trap us inside loveless strongholds always. Let’s do some holy demolition!

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 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. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Prayer

Father, I have lived inside the walls of my strongholds for so long they have become a part of me. I hardly know how to begin taking them down. But I do want to find out what life in Your Kingdom is like on the other side of these walls. I desire that childlike life of simplicity and trust. So, I ask You to help me take down all of my strongholds stone by stone, untruth by untruth, and rebuild with Your truths the godly walls of love, mercy, faith and grace around the renewed heart You are giving me. What I can't tear down, will You? Come charge my walls! Send, allow, withhold. Do whatever it takes so that our two hearts can meet and live as one—in this life.

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