What lie are you Believing?

Have you ever thought much about what a "strong hold" is? The term is found in the Bible so I believe it deserves to be recognised and mediated on. I once heard a preacher say that a strong hold is "something you believe to be true."  Someone else described it as "a faulty thinking pattern based on lies and deception." Lets look at how God put it, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled."
2 Corinthians 10:4.

This summer my sister and I went to a Christian Singles Conference (I really hate to use that word, but that's what it was) and while we were there we went over several "lies that we believe".  The list included things like,

• I am not accepted for who I am
• I am replaceable
• I am not loved
• I am not smart
• I am a burden
• I am weird/ different
• Everything I do turns out bad
• I don't deserve anything

The whole list consisted of over 60 lies the enemy (Satan) tells us in a very convincing manner. Everyone could find at least one that they believe and many find that almost the whole list expresses their feelings either now or in the past. It is really eye opening to see that something you believe is a lie and is causing you to act or react in a certain way that you don't like. It is even more amazing when you realize you can be free of such lies and find new liberties in which to serve Christ through.

Since the conference I've heard others talk about these same things, but in a more personal context. One man shared how he overcame the temptation to look lustfully upon a woman, and it was through exposing a lie and meditating on a scripture that was contrary to that stronghold. He found freedom through Galatians 5:13, "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love, serve one another." You see, he believed that life was for pleasure, but upon looking at this scripture he realized that life was to serve others, not himself. I think this is pretty amazing! How many other men have you heard say they are no longer tempted to look upon a woman in lust?

So I thought I'd try it out myself. Every time I feel or have a desire to do something that is not righteous I ask myself, "What lie am I believing that is causing this?" Today was the perfect time to apply this question to my life. All day I just had the "muligrubs". I didn't feel like doing anything including reading my Bible and communing with God. I would have honestly been content to lay around and be lazy. I did get a few things accomplished, like folding sheets and cleaning my purse, but it was like pulling teeth to get myself to do those two things! So I asked myself, "What lie am I believing that is causing me to feel like I deserve to have a lazy day and do nothing?" That's when I realized: I thought this was my life. My life to do whatever I want. But the Bible says otherwise in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. "What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." That was it! I forgot that I am to do everything to the glory of God and present my body a living sacrifice. Could I say that being lazy glorified God? Could I say that I was sacrificing myself to God by sulking around trying to find every excuse not to do anything productive? You see, I was exalting myself against the knowledge of God, but once I became aware of this strong hold in my life I was then able to have a "readiness to revenge all disobedience" because now I recognise it as not just the "muligrubs" but as disobedience. Now I have the energy to say, "I am not going to let this lie from Satan cause me to live in a way that would displease God," which brings me right back to 2 Corinthians 10:4. "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God". We have Christ in us who is able to do all things (Philippians 4:13) and the word of God which is the sword of the spirit (Ephesians 6:17). God has given us all we need to uncover and conquer these strong holds that are hindering our lives from glorifying God. The more we uncover the more liberty we will have to serve God and others in a meaningful, delightful way.