The word “stronghold” is a bit of an enigma to me. The majority of the time, we, Christians, look at the word as a negative thing. Stronghold is a powerful, sinful thought pattern that has entrenched itself in our minds hindering our ability to be obedient to God entangling us in the cares of he world and the darkness of the evil one. Here is Godly counsel from His word. Hebrew 12 declares 1 let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Throw off strongholds and run with perseverance fixing our eyes on Jesus! 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 are absolute electric verses…3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. We have the ability in Christ to “destroy strongholds.” Other translations use the word, “demolish.” Paul challenges us “in Christ Jesus to take each and every thought captive to obey Christ.”
I submit to you that as believers, the word, stronghold, should be a positive, powerful, divine thing and am asking God that He “gives us eyes to see” this (Eph. 1:18).
Nahum 1 exclaims, 7 The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.
Psalm 9:9 states, The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
Psalm 27:1 rocks, The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Guys, I could go on and on. There is one verse after another in scripture regarding what should be the prevalent context of the word, stronghold, in the lives of believers. “The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid!”
When we fix our eyes on Jesus, we discover that “the glass is not half empty; it is all the way full!” Amen!
Barnabas Man 