I HAVE SET BEFORE YOU LIFE AND DEATH, BLESSINGS AND CURSES. NOW CHOOSE LIFE, SO THAT YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN MAY LIVE AND THAT YOU MAY LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD, LISTEN TO HIS VOICE, AND HOLD FAST TO HIM. FOR THE LORD IS YOUR LIFE
(Deuteronomy 30:19-20).

Did you know that a big hard hailstone starts with a speck of dust?  Under the right circumstances, a layer of ice builds up around the dust speck.  Then, as the little ice pellet cycles through the thundercloud multiple times, more and more layers accumulate, until a huge stone the size of an egg forms that can do a lot of damage.

This is the way a stronghold is built in your life.  It starts innocently as a speck of a thought, “Why did he betray me?”  Then, as you dwell on these thoughts, layers of beliefs build, each one more potent than the one before, “He betrayed me, because I am not worthy. I am not loved. I am bad.”  Following that, these beliefs billow into the pernicious POWER of HOPELESSNESS. Thus, a stronghold is formed that will keep you captive for the rest of your life…unless you allow God to set you free.

‘FOR I HAVE NO PLEASURE IN THE DEATH OF ONE WHO DIES,’ SAYS THE LORD GOD. ‘THEREFORE TURN AND LIVE!’
(Ezekiel 18:32).

Grasp that if you want to get rid of the strongholds in your life, you need to reverse the action.  To break down the stronghold, you need to peel it back one layer at a time…one belief at a time…one lie at a time, until you can find the speck of dust that started it all.

FOR I WILL SURELY DELIVER YOU, AND YOU SHALL NOT FALL BY THE SWORD; BUT YOUR LIFE SHALL BE AS A PRIZE TO YOU, BECAUSE YOU HAVE PUT YOUR TRUST IN ME,” SAYS THE LORD
(Jeremiah 39:18).

What set of oppressing beliefs from the father-of-lies is causing the stronghold in your life? What are you going to do about this? What will you choose: life…or death, the blessings of God…or the curses of the father-of-lies?

I bless you to choose LIFE! Turn and live! Find these beliefs and expose them to the saving Power of the Lord Jesus Christ. He will redeem you. He will deliver you from the stronghold.

PRAYER: Lord God, I choose Life. I choose to surrender my stronghold to You, for I cannot get rid of it by myself. Show me the various beliefs from the father-of-lies that comprise this stronghold, so I may hold these up to You for deliverance. Work Your Obedience and Love in me, Lord Jesus, so I may hold fast to You and listen to Your Voice as You lead me out of my stronghold, one belief at a time.