I am going to be writing about my experience with mental strongholds and how I overcame the chains of anxiety and depression that ruled my life. This is a very sensitive subject but after many weeks of talking myself out of writing this, I am doing it. This comes from my experience and how I decided to battle these strongholds with the word of God, prayer, and a relationship with Jesus. After years of depression and anxiety, I realized that it was my outlook on my circumstances and the perspective that I had. That perspective was steaming from the enemy and the lies he told me about me.
Lets Start By Defining A Stronghold:
Biblically speaking a stronghold is a belief that is a lie and has taken root and overpowered your ability to think or see clearly according to God’s view and what His word tells us. This effects you emotionally, spiritually, and even physically.
Lets Look At The Cause Of Strongholds:
It is so easy to get caught up in negativity, a false belief system, doubts, fear, and our circumstances. We are trained by the media, by people, and the ways of the world to live and think according to their standards. We must accept that we fight against unseen spiritual forces of the dark world and that this world is ruled by the dark forces. Yes, that means demons and malicious spirits that are causing affliction in your mind, on you, and to you. They have stealthily found a way inside of your mind and they are trying to take over. Perhaps they already have.
For a cause to take place, there has to be a sin or a circumstance that negatively affected you. Therefore, that leaves you dealing with the effects. This could be your sin or even someone else’s sin that has altered your way of thinking and your way of doing things. If you are unable to let things go, the memory that haunts you can have a negative impact on your life. If we allow a certain thought to replay in our mind, we start to believe that thought.
Here is an example: As a child and young adult, I experienced rejection from my dad who was an addict. Although it was not intentional, his addiction stronghold was the cause of my rejection stronghold.
Ephesians 6:10 | For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Identifying Your Strongholds:
Identifying the areas in your mind that are strongholds require you to take examine your life – the past and present. It can be uncomfortable at first but as we know from God’s Word, the truth sets you free! Once you begin to identify and see the parallels, you will rejoice in knowing the cause of your afflictions and reasons of why you think or do something a certain way.
Here is a list of the most common strongholds relating to the mind:
(Be in prayer with the Heavenly Father, ask Him to reveal yours to you, and be open to listening to His answer)
- Rejection
- Fear
- Doubt
- Shame
- Hopelessness
- Worthlessness
- Negativity
- Anger
Lets Look At The Solutions:
Now that we have identified what a stronghold is and the cause, let us start taking a look at how we tear down the strongholds and replace them with God’s truth about you.
First, you must repent and turn from any sin that is unconfessed. Once we have done so we will be able to break free from any sin that is causing negative effects. You must remember that God has already won the battle and you must have faith to fight through.
Second, you must know and accept that God is sovereign. He is the supreme authority and all things are under His control. Without Him, you can not win. You need Him to fight a supernatural battle.
Third, you must believe and accept that you are forgiven, our sins and past are washed away by the blood of Jesus! You have the power to live free in Christ. This is His desire for you!
2 Corinthians 5:17 | Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Fourth, you must act!
Great! So, how do you act?
This will require you to put your faith in action and when you experience the enemy placing thoughts or past memories into your mind, you must exercise your authority in Jesus Christ to reject your past way of thinking and replace your thoughts with all good things that are of Jesus.
Philippians 4:8 | “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.”
Accepting The Past Is The Past
Unfortunately, the enemy knows about who you were and all the things you have done and said that you are not proud of. There will come a day when he is smearing it in your face and putting every sordid detail back into your mind.
When you start remembering the past, you must stop replaying past memories. You can not allow yourself to be controlled by your past – no matter how painful and haunting it is! It happened and it can not be changed! Get your head out of the past and strain your neck to look forward into your future! Your past is not there!
Philippians 3:13-14 | Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Renewing Your Mind
Romans 12:2 | Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
You must ask the LORD to guard your mind and to help you keep your mind focused on what is right in the eyes of Him.
Every day you have to wash and bathe in God’s living word. It refreshes you and each day you will learn something new about the characteristics of God and how he truly feels about you! To renew your mind is to spend time with the LORD, read the Bible, and pray daily!
Taking Every Thought Captive
2 Corinthians 10: 3-5 | 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.
Every thought that comes to mind must be tested. Ask yourself – is it from our loving Heavenly Father or is it from Satan who is set out to steal, kill, and destroy?
With God there is life.
With Satan there is death.
With God there is truth.
With Satan there are lies.
With God there is hope.
With Satan there is hopelessness.
With God there is a future.
With Satan there is a past.
With God there is confidence.
With Satan there is fear and doubt.
With God there is boldness and bravery.
Ask yourself, does this thought come from God or Satan?
If it comes from Satan, then you need to hold that thought captive, pray and ask God to slay this thought and replace it with His truths. Seek His word and learn what He says in scripture. Rejoice and praise God for the truth that He is replacing in your life. Slowly, you will see just how each thought, especially thoughts that seem to be on repeat can cause depression, anxiety, and fear!
Xoxo,
Hannah B.
P.S. I hope you enjoyed this blog and if you did be sure to leave a comment down below and share across all of your social media feeds!
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and encourage you to seek professional help to determine what is best for your situation and I am not encouraging you to stop current treatments. I do believe that with physicians and the hands of our great physician, you can be healed! Almost always, there is a root cause and I do believe that we need to get down into the roots to properly heal.
Collective Circle Gathering 