Bringing Down the Strongholds – 2 Corinthians 10:4

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

When sick of my sin and disgusted with my futile vows of repentance, I have more than once gone to war against a spiritual stronghold in my life.  At these times, my prayers for deliverance remained unanswered, my resolutions lay broken, and my sin continued unabated, but mercifully, rather than abandoning me, the Lord helped me suit up in the armor He provided and placed the sword of the Spirit into my hand, thereby, equipping me for victory over sin.[1]

The battles were intense, for the foes of my soul, such as anger, fear, and jealousy, having long enjoyed a comfortable abode within me, did not leave without a vicious fight.  When I resolved to permanently banish them and bring my angry, bitter, and jealous thoughts captive to Jesus Christ, [2] these idols threw tantrums, bombarding me with ugly, vengeful, unkind thoughts while my own indulgent mind tempted me to continue in their company.[3]

Although the Lord could have instantaneously delivered me from these strongholds, He did not.  Rather, He chose to lead me, by His grace and in His strength, in the fight.  As my enemies attacked with their lies, He trained me to defend the territory I had consecrated for Him by dismissing them in His name while praying for joy and tender-heartedness.[4]  As the cycle of temptation and rebuke replayed a hundred times, a thousand times, inch-by-inch, the Lord replaced anger with praise, fear with gladness, and jealousy with kindness, and I rejoiced for praise, gladness, and kindness are exceeding more pleasant companions than the monsters they displaced.  Not that I have obtained complete dominion over my thoughts,[5] but when my enemies slink back to drag me into their camp, I can stand against them behind my Shield and Sword, and when temptation overcomes me and I succumb to unholy behavior, I confess my sin, knowing I have been forgiven.

Does a stronghold have a grip on your heart?  Do not become dispirited; remember, God is not finished with you, and He will be faithful to complete the good work He has begun in you.[6]  Journey on and seek an obedient heart, a heart transformed by grace.[7]  Put on the full armor of God and, taking up the divinely powerful weapons of truth, righteousness, faith, peace, and salvation, march boldly into battle.  Fight with passion, using the sword of the Spirit, standing against the enemy’s attacks, and casting out, in Jesus’ name, the sin that would keep you from dwelling with joy in the high-walled city of His love,[8] and you will have victory in Jesus.[9]

[1] Ephesians 6:12-17

[2] James 1:14

[3] 2 Corinthians 10:5

[4] Ephesians 4:32

[5] Philippians 3:12

[6] 1 Corinthians 1:8

[7] Ephesians 4:22-24

[8] Psalm 21:6

[9] 1 John 5:4