Are you living life to the fullest? Or is there something that prevents you from being who you are called to be?
The reason I ask is sometimes lives can be left of center, meaning, if God is not the focus, something ELSE will be. And anything other than God leading life will result in life lived unfulfilled. A way to test if this is the case is to ask yourself some questions.
- Is there something in your life that causes fear, creates anxiety, or makes you feel you need to do or have someone other than God fill a need?
- Does your thinking lead you to believe you are not good enough or that you are defined by your mistakes?
If you answered yes to any of these you may be experiencing a STRONGHOLD.
So what exactly is a stronghold? Webster defines stronghold as “dominated by a particular group or by a characteristic; place where a particular cause or belief is strongly defended.”
But, in this case the stronghold referred to is a spiritual battle with the flesh; a pretense or scheme of the world which is man-centered. Life shifts from God-centered to the ways of the world. Since we live in an imperfect world because of sin, we can risk having a stronghold(s) take us hostage.
What strongholds do is disguise themselves convincingly as truth. Yet, looking closer, what really is seen is the absence of God replaced with the world’s perspective. This perspective is actually a wedge relationally between us and God. We can’t have it both ways. We either choose God or we have the worldly perspective likely accompanied with one or more strongholds.
Jesus teaches, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Since this is so, the stronghold is a lie. The belief that fear, inadequacy, unworthiness, and addictions are the solutions to the voids in life contradicts completely that Jesus is Lord and Master of life (Philippians 2:11).
The Apostle Paul informs us in 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 that we don’t live by the standards of the world and because of this, the way we fight these strongholds is not in the same way the world fights, because as believers, we have access to divine power to demolish the strongholds. There are no self-help books, medication, or even a psychotherapist that can heal without the power of God.
Paul teaches:
“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.”
Life can be complicated and our experiences can plant seeds of life or death. It is our choice. But it is important to know that any pretension that holds us hostage is not living life fully as God designed. Jesus invites us to live in freedom! He says,
“Take my yolk upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yolk is easy and my burden is light.”
Jesus is gentle! His invitation is open,
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me.”
Life to the fullest is Christ-Centered!
Tenderly in Jesus,