Strongholds

Overcoming Negative Behavior Patterns through Biblical Truth

In the vast tapestry of human experience, our minds often become battlegrounds where truth and falsehood wage an unrelenting war. The Bible, with its profound wisdom, uses the metaphor of "strongholds" to describe mental fortresses of deception that entrap us in cycles of sin and negative behavior. Imagine these strongholds as towering castles built from bricks of lies, each one a belief contrary to the liberating truth of Scripture. The apostle Paul, a master strategist in this spiritual warfare, gives us powerful insight into this mental warfare in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5: "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."

This evocative imagery challenges us to confront the spiritual strongholds of the mind that imprison our thoughts and behaviors. It beckons us to understand that the battle against sin is fought not with physical weapons but with divine power and spiritual insight. As we embark on this exploration, we will uncover the nature of these strongholds, dissect the lies that sustain them, and learn practical strategies to reclaim our minds and lives through the truth of God's Word. This journey promises not only personal freedom but also the restoration of relationships and a closer walk with God. Prepare to delve into the depths of spiritual warfare, where truth triumphs over deception, and liberation awaits those who dare to dismantle their mental fortresses.

Understanding Strongholds

The "strongholds" Paul refers to are mental fortifications constructed from false arguments and pretensions—philosophies, reasonings, and schemes of the world that stand against the knowledge of God. These strongholds manifest as proud, man-centered, and self-confident attitudes that oppose divine truth. They are barriers that prevent individuals from embracing God's wisdom and guidance, often leading to persistent sinful behaviors. Like the walls of Jericho, these strongholds must come down in order for us to truly follow Jesus.

All negative behavior patterns are rooted in lies that contradict God's word. Freedom is found when we replace these lies with the truth of Scripture. These lies, deeply embedded in our minds, are often the result of past traumas. Trauma can arise from three main sources:

1. Abuse or Neglect: Actions others have taken against us or the failure to provide essential care.

2. Losses: Things taken from us, such as childhood innocence or opportunities.

3. Worldly Lies: Influences from secular thinking and values that distort our perception of truth.

The Difficulty of Resisting Negative Behavior Patterns

As we discussed previously in Hurt People Hurt People, when faced with fear, our brains often enter a limbic mode—a state where blood flow is redirected from the frontal cortex (responsible for higher reasoning, morality, and empathy) to more primitive areas that manage fight-or-flight responses. In this state, making the right decision becomes significantly harder. Paul addresses this challenge in 1 Corinthians 10:13, reminding us that temptations are common to all and that God provides a way out so we can endure them: "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure."

The "way out" comes at the onset of fear, in the moments before the limbic response takes over. This critical juncture is where the choice between following the Spirit or succumbing to the flesh is made, as Paul elaborates in Galatians 5. Choosing the flesh means dethroning Jesus as Lord and relying on our own strength and protection, effectively telling God we do not need His help. This is contrary to the biblical assertion that God is our protector, as stated in 2 Samuel 22:2-7 and Romans 12:19.

Techniques for Overcoming Limbic Lies

To avoid the limbic response and choose the Spirit, we can employ several techniques:

1. Self-Analysis: Recognize physical sensations of fear as warning signs that you're about to enter a limbic state.

2. Identify the Lie: Determine the underlying falsehood causing your fear.

3. Counter with Scripture: Find a Bible verse that opposes the lie. For example, if you feel the need to defend yourself, use Exodus 14:14: "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

4. Deep Breathing: Take deep, diaphragmatic breaths to calm yourself.

5. Speak the Truth Aloud: Verbalize the scripture to affirm the truth in both the natural and spiritual realms, driving away demonic influences.

6. Ask Curious Questions: Calmly and non-accusatorily question the person or situation causing fear to uncover the reality, often revealing that the fear was based on a lie.

7. Reflect: Try to see how fear is lying to you and what the Holy Spirit is revealing to you.

This process is a potent tool for Christians to overcome spiritual strongholds and negative behavior patterns. By knowing and experiencing God's word as truth, believers can systematically dismantle the lies embedded in their minds due to past traumas. This transformation leads to choosing the Spirit over the flesh, resulting in the fruits of the Spirit rather than the fruits of the flesh. Such a choice not only heals the individual but also mends relationships damaged by past lies.

Hurt people often perpetuate hurt, continuing the cycle of sin. However, Christ invites us to break this cycle by rejecting limbic lies and embracing His truth. This renewal process heals the heart and enables believers to bear the fruits of the Spirit, as outlined in Galatians 5:22-23.

A Personal Example

I struggle with feeling accepted. Sometimes, my wife’s verbal assistance sounds like criticism to my wounded heart. Once day, I was laying grass seed down on my lawn. At the end, I sprayed the lawn down with the hose. My wife happened to come out of the house and watched me spray the lawn and she asked, “Do you really want to have the hose on so high?” Instantly, I felt the surge of incredulity and anxiety swell within me. I was certain by her question that she didn’t believe in me, that she thought I was incapable of performing a simple task of watering the lawn. However, by this time, I had practiced a bit on the steps to overcoming lies so I recognized those feelings within me and took a breath, said my scripture quietly to myself (Exodus 14:14) and then asked a curious question as calmly as possible, “Why are you asking me about the hose?”

She responded, “Because you are spraying the lawn so hard that the seeds you laid down are flying away and you’re undoing all the work you did today.” That’s when it hit me: She was trying to protect me. She wasn’t being critical, she loved me and had my best interest in mind and only wished that all my hard work was not in vain.

If I had allowed my sensitivity to overwhelm me with fear, I would have instantly been defensive and angry at her which would cause her to be defensive and the cycle would have perpetuated. But that day, the Lord showed me the truth: fear is a liar. How many times have I believed the lies that fear told me and caused unnecessary fighting with my wife?

This moment was a powerful revelatory experience for me. It caused me to explore all the ways in which fear was lying to me and there were a great many more ways. The Holy Spirit is inviting us into this process to heal us. God loves us so much that he wants to replace the lies that are hurting us and that keep us enslaved with the truth that heals us and sets us free.

Conclusion

By recognizing the lies at the root of our negative behavior patterns, replacing them with biblical truth, and choosing the Spirit over the flesh, believers can experience true freedom and transformation. This journey not only brings personal healing but also has the potential to restore and strengthen all of your relationships, ultimately leading to a life that glorifies God and the ability to follow Jesus.

For help in overcoming strongholds of lies from the enemy, visit ficm.org.

What lies have you believed? Are you caught in negative behavior patterns of sin that you have found it difficult to change? If so, invite the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the lies you have been believing and to assist you in finding the antithesis scripture that will be your God-forged weapon against the enemy:

Father, like every one of your children, I am a victim of sin. I realize now that the seeds of sin have grown within me to form these negative behavior patterns from which I am unable to break free. Holy Spirit, reveal to me the lies I have believed that cause me to do the things I don’t want to do and satisfy my flesh and instead let me walk in the Spirit. Assist me in finding the truth in your word that will help me overcome these lies. The authority I have in Jesus because of what He did on the cross gives me the authority to speak truth against the enemy and for him to flee from me. In Jesus mighty name, Amen!

Bibliography

1. The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV)

2. The Stronghold of the Mind by Dr. Neil T. Anderson
   Anderson, N. T. (2000). The Bondage Breaker. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers.

3. Victory Over the Darkness by Dr. Neil T. Anderson
   Anderson, N. T. (2000). Victory Over the Darkness: Realizing the Power of Your Identity in Christ. Regal.

4. Spiritual Warfare by Dr. Karl Payne
   Payne, K. (2011). Spiritual Warfare: Christians, Demonization, and Deliverance. WND Books.

5. The Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer
   Meyer, J. (2006). Battlefield of the Mind: Winning the Battle in Your Mind. FaithWords.

6. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
   Lewis, C. S. (1942). The Screwtape Letters. HarperOne.

7. Bondage to Breakthrough: Living the Truth That Sets You Free by Larry Huch
   Huch, L. (2004). Free at Last: Breaking the Cycle of Family Curses. Whitaker House.

8. Transforming the Inner Man by John Loren Sandford and Paula Sandford
   Sandford, J. L., & Sandford, P. (2007). Transforming the Inner Man: God's Powerful Principles for Inner Healing and Lasting Life Change. Charisma House.

9. The Spiritual Man by Watchman Nee
   Nee, W. (1968). The Spiritual Man. Christian Fellowship Publishers.

10. Deliverance and Inner Healing by John Loren Sandford and Mark Sandford
    Sandford, J. L., & Sandford, M. (1992). Deliverance and Inner Healing. Chosen Books.

11. The Healing Code by Alex Loyd and Ben Johnson
    Loyd, A., & Johnson, B. (2011). The Healing Code: 6 Minutes to Heal the Source of Your Health, Success, or Relationship Issue. Grand Central Life & Style.

12. The Lies We Believe by Dr. Chris Thurman
    Thurman, C. (2011). The Lies We Believe: Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life. Thomas Nelson.

13. Healing the Wounded Heart by Dan B. Allender
    Allender, D. B. (2016). Healing the Wounded Heart: The Heartache of Sexual Abuse and the Hope of Transformation. Baker Books.

14. Soul Care by Dr. Rob Reimer
    Reimer, R. (2016). Soul Care: 7 Transformational Principles for a Healthy Soul. Renew.

15. Keener, Craig S. The Mind of the Spirit, Baker Academic, 2016.

16. Riemersma, Jenna. Altogether You: Experiencing personal and spiritual transformation with Internal Family Systems therapy, 2020.

Scriptural References

1. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

2. 1 Corinthians 10:13

3. Galatians 5

4. 2 Samuel 22:2-7

5. Romans 12:19

6. Exodus 14:14