We all have strongholds in our lives. The apostle Paul used the term to describe a mind-set or attitude. “The weapons of our warfare are . . . mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God” (2 Corinthians 10:4–5, emphasis mine). A stronghold is a conviction, outlook, or belief that attempts to interfere with truth.

Does a stronghold have a strong hold on you?

• God could never forgive me (the stronghold of guilt).
• I could never forgive that person (the stronghold of resentment).
• I don’t deserve to be loved (the stronghold of rejection).
• I’ll never recover (the stronghold of defeat).
• I must be good, or God will reject me (the stronghold of performance).
• I’m only as good as I look (the stronghold of appearance).
• My value equals my possessions (the stronghold of materialism).

But we don’t have to live in the shadow of these joy-sucking strongholds. Our weapons are from God and have “divine power to demolish strongholds” (v. 4 NIV).

Isn’t that what we want? We long to see our strongholds demolished, turned into rubble once and for all, forever and ever, ka-boom! How does this happen?

By keeping God in the center. -- Glory Days / Max Lucado, God Is with You Every Day (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2015).