Strongholds

Today, I am heavy-hearted that so many are suffering in their daily walks … not just with Christ, just in day to day living. My prayer is that you will read this and realize that you are NOT ALONE! Remember, we live in a world where there is someone out there just waiting to pounce on us in a weak moment!

Let me set the stage. Imagine that you are at an awards ceremony and you hear these words, “And the Award goes to ….” Often, we long for our name to be called out. We all want recognition for a job well done! That couldn’t be truer of Satan himself. So, today we’ll pay tribute to him!

“And the Award goes to … SATAN! We give credit to Satan for

succeeding in making hundreds of thousands of women feel isolated in their sin.”

Satan, you see, continues to use the same tricks and schemes to make women feel useless, ugly, shameful, doubt-filled, overflowing with regret, and simply unworthy. Let me be quite honest … if I were presenting this award to Satan, I would not GIVE it to him graciously, but rather THROW it ~ as hard as I could ~ in his face!

I have an intimate circle of individuals in my life ~ friends, sisters, sisters in Christ, cousins, mentors, etc. ~ and what I have noticed over the years is how Satan strives to get us to that dark and ugly place of isolation. You know that unsightly area that we dare not take anyone else to … the place of, “If people knew what I really indulged in, said, felt, witnessed, etc.” We ALL have those sinister places, (yes … including me!) and my, how easy those places can creep back up into our lives. We are taken back there when we hear music, the smell of a certain scent, see a specific movie, eat a particular food … we relive moments of being in certain places so easily and so quickly, no matter how much we long to remember it or how desperately we want to forget it … we can get back to that place with little effort. We all have that “place” where Satan tries to remind us of our past sin.

I am reminded of the song, “Oh, Be Careful Little Ears What You Hear,” and have come to realize the importance of what you put into your ears, eyes, mouth, and hands. It’s the “garbage in, garbage out” philosophy … and so easily, what we have put in comes right back out. It’s vital that it be “of God” because it can set in and become such a stronghold in our lives. Strongholds consist things such as:

*Abuse, *Adultery, *Alcohol, *Anger/Rage, *Critical Spirit,

*Debt, *Drugs, *Foul Mouth, *Gossiping, *Grudge-holding,

*Guilt, *Hatred, *Hopelessness, *Judgmental Attitude, *Lack of Control,

*Low Self Esteem, *Not forgiving, *Overeating, *Overspending,

*Past Negative Behaviors, *Poor Attitude,*Selfishness, and *Stealing.

Let’s face it … we ALL have a stronghold. They may be different for each one of us, but we can all relate! I recently had a long conversation with a friend who is desperately struggling with a stronghold. (Ha! That could be one of many in my circle of friends, but believe me … I am NOT putting anyone’s business out there!) She and I have shared how lonely this place is. In truth, this is right where Satan wants us and can do his best work!

I think we often equate the previous listed strongholds with unsaved people. Uh, NO! Sisters … let me tell you … Satan attacks Christians with much more viciousness than even the lost. It’s the Bible believing, but ill-prepared Christians that he attacks with such authority and might … longing to trip up and use as tools to win the non-believers. However, we can rest in the comforting words of Jeremiah 33:8, “I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me.”

As fellow Christians, we aren’t to judge when a sister-in-Christ falls. There is some truth in this: what Satan feeds us, people won’t understand which causes others to stay away, guarded and uninterested in our stronghold. But, girls, it is our duty to get involved! We can all relate to the feeling of isolation … let’s commit ourselves to go after those lost sheep and let them know that they aren’t alone and help bring them back to God’s throne of mercy and grace. Paul commands us in Romans 12:21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” As Christian sisters, our love should be sincere and free from judgment … showing God’s goodness to one another in order to overcome Satan’s evil influence. Whew … can you say REVIVIAL?!

Lastly, let me leave you with these scriptures: Psalm 86:5, “You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you” and, Lamentations 3:25, “The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.” Seek the Lord, call on His name to release you from your stronghold. Don’t allow Satan to get credit for his award anymore! Lift your sisters up … in prayer and in love. You and I are not alone ... we stand together, fighting the battle against Satan. Be victorious in Christ together today!