Positive Strongholds

Strongholds in Our Lives

 

“For though we live in the world,

we do not wage war as the world does.

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.

On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds”

(2 Corinthians 10 vs. 3 & 4) 

            Life contains issues that dominate our thoughts and distract us from our spirituality. They may be negative or even exciting and positive issues. On the surface, they may be very good for us. Distractions that have a stronghold on us, “strongholds,” block us from being Godly or spiritual.           

In our case, the Pickering family had some very successful years and a good life. We owned and ran three businesses, traveled, and raised four children. Those were also triathlon years and June and I kept very fit. (I just looked at some old photos and wondered how we ever looked like that.) There were a few people, including my pastor, who talked with me about possibly being OCD. That could never have been true, making money, having fun, great family trips, etc. and we did go to church. That is the American way. We were victims of a positive stronghold.           

There were some negatives. In the early ’80s, there was a recession that caused business stress that dominated our thoughts, some legal issues that dominated thoughts for a year, and every day management of it all.  Another time when there were two kids in college and our first business had issues that caused us to hedge our bets and start a second business.           

Positive and negative issues in our lives can be overwhelming. When these strongholds take over, spiritual focus will level the field. In our case we knew that we needed help and emotional support. So we prayed a lot and meditated about the Lord’s role in our lives. We made it with the help of spiritual growth and so can you. 

Thought for Today: Today let’s recognize our strongholds and pray for release. We can take a break from them.

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and father, today is the day you made for us to enjoy. We are often distracted by life and ask your support so that our concentration on the spirit stays at the forefront. Today we pray that we will contribute to doing your will here on earth.

Amen