One publication that I use regularly for my devotional time is "Our Journey: A Daily Walk in the Word." Today's reflection is written by the legendary Beth Moore and it ministered to me in a unique way. She defines a stronghold as something that overpowers one's mind, distracting one from focusing on God and keeping one from living the abundant life in the power available to believers through the Holy Spirit. Addictions are a common stronghold. But a stronghold can be less obvious. Today, I realized that a stronghold in my life is the negative thinking associated with my ability to write for God's kingdom. While in my heart I believe I have gifts in this area, in my mind I have allowed Satan's influences to replace my faith in God to utilize these gifts with doubt in His will and power to do so. This negative thinking about my own God-given skills and His potential purposes for giving them to me is a stronghold, as this goes against my knowledge of the Almighty and His sovereignty. If it is His will to utilize my writing in some way to further His kingdom, then nothing can get in the way, unless I allow strongholds to rule my mind, limiting my ability to hear from the Holy Spirit and my courage to follow His leading. May it never be! "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." 2 Corinthians 10:4-5"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."" John 8:31-32
(Special thanks: http://www.walkintheword.com, http://www.bethmoore.com)
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