2 Cor. 10:3-5
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments, and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Sep 24, 2008
Devotions for Week Eleven
Beloved!
I am writing today about "Overcoming Strongholds". I don't feel qualified to write on this subject, since I know that I still have strongholds in my own life that I am dealing with. But, I think you know that this program is about all of us taking this journey together, none of us has arrived as yet! For some, it may be a good reminder, and review, for others, maybe it will be new and life-changing! So, here goes!
A stronghold may be an addiction (even sugar addiction, ouch) an unforgiving spirit towards someone who has hurt you, or even despair over a loss of some kind. It is something that demands so much of your emotional energy that your abundant life in Christ is strangled!
The most powerful way to break down strongholds in your life is to pray through the Scriptures! Praying through the Scriptures is a process of taking a verse and praying it back to God in your own words.
The process isn't complicated, here is an example of praying the Scriptures:
Lord, You've said that I live in the world, but I do not wage war as the world does. My weapons are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. I can demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and I take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Thank You in advance for working my life! Amen!
See: 2 Cor. 10:3-5
Before we tackle the spiritual strongholds in our lives, we need to identify the battlefield. The enemy is waging a constant, personal battle against us and the primary battlefield is our minds! There are many great books written on this subject, one comes to mind by Joyce Meyer, "The Battlefield of the Mind". (I think that is the title)
Our mind is the control center of our being! Satan wants us to believe that he is powerful, and we are powerless! He will do his best to put destructive and discouraging thoughts in our minds. But, we are not powerless, we have God's Holy Spirit living in us!
To combat these words that Satan would put in our minds we should repeat these words: "Nothing is bigger or more powerful than God" The strongest addiction or our worst habit can be overcome through the power of the living God!!
The primary goal of our spiritual warfare is found in the verses we just prayed! We need to demolish every argument and pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God. We must take our thoughts captive and be obedient to Christ!
Let me encourage you to memorize the verse for this week! Pray it over and over back to Jesus! Keep the verse close at hand so you can go over and over it until it is part of your very being! Each time we use the verse, God will plant it more firmly in our minds and heart.
Like I said, this is a journey, and this step of the journey is so important! Rejoice at the opportunity that God gives us to live a life free of strongholds through His mighty power that is at work in us!
More praying God's Word:
Father God, please help me to keep in mind that my struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Eph. 6:12
Lord, I know I have nothing to fear from strongholds because You have given me a spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Tim. 1:7
Lord, thank You for Your protection. Help me to be sober and vigilant because the devil walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. But You are greater, and you live in me! Help me be steadfast in the faith. 1 Peter 5:8
Heavenly Father, help me to seek first Your Kingdom and Your righteousness, for then, Your Word tells me that all these other things will be given to me. Matt. 6:33
Enjoy your memorization and meditation on God's Word this week!
I love you all! This is Mary/Mom/Grams/Aunt saying bye until next week.
I am writing today about "Overcoming Strongholds". I don't feel qualified to write on this subject, since I know that I still have strongholds in my own life that I am dealing with. But, I think you know that this program is about all of us taking this journey together, none of us has arrived as yet! For some, it may be a good reminder, and review, for others, maybe it will be new and life-changing! So, here goes!
A stronghold may be an addiction (even sugar addiction, ouch) an unforgiving spirit towards someone who has hurt you, or even despair over a loss of some kind. It is something that demands so much of your emotional energy that your abundant life in Christ is strangled!
The most powerful way to break down strongholds in your life is to pray through the Scriptures! Praying through the Scriptures is a process of taking a verse and praying it back to God in your own words.
The process isn't complicated, here is an example of praying the Scriptures:
Lord, You've said that I live in the world, but I do not wage war as the world does. My weapons are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. I can demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and I take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Thank You in advance for working my life! Amen!
See: 2 Cor. 10:3-5
Before we tackle the spiritual strongholds in our lives, we need to identify the battlefield. The enemy is waging a constant, personal battle against us and the primary battlefield is our minds! There are many great books written on this subject, one comes to mind by Joyce Meyer, "The Battlefield of the Mind". (I think that is the title)
Our mind is the control center of our being! Satan wants us to believe that he is powerful, and we are powerless! He will do his best to put destructive and discouraging thoughts in our minds. But, we are not powerless, we have God's Holy Spirit living in us!
To combat these words that Satan would put in our minds we should repeat these words: "Nothing is bigger or more powerful than God" The strongest addiction or our worst habit can be overcome through the power of the living God!!
The primary goal of our spiritual warfare is found in the verses we just prayed! We need to demolish every argument and pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God. We must take our thoughts captive and be obedient to Christ!
Let me encourage you to memorize the verse for this week! Pray it over and over back to Jesus! Keep the verse close at hand so you can go over and over it until it is part of your very being! Each time we use the verse, God will plant it more firmly in our minds and heart.
Like I said, this is a journey, and this step of the journey is so important! Rejoice at the opportunity that God gives us to live a life free of strongholds through His mighty power that is at work in us!
More praying God's Word:
Father God, please help me to keep in mind that my struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Eph. 6:12
Lord, I know I have nothing to fear from strongholds because You have given me a spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Tim. 1:7
Lord, thank You for Your protection. Help me to be sober and vigilant because the devil walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. But You are greater, and you live in me! Help me be steadfast in the faith. 1 Peter 5:8
Heavenly Father, help me to seek first Your Kingdom and Your righteousness, for then, Your Word tells me that all these other things will be given to me. Matt. 6:33
Enjoy your memorization and meditation on God's Word this week!
I love you all! This is Mary/Mom/Grams/Aunt saying bye until next week.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)