The Tribune

By Dr Mattie Nottage

LAST week in our conversation, I dealt with overcoming bad habits and how these habits can destroy your life if left unidentified and unresolved. Today, I would like to further explain what keeps these bad habits in place and how you can dismantle them.

In many Christian circles, the word stronghold has been frequently used. A stronghold is what you adamantly believe and how you live and respond to what you have come to believe. These demonic strongholds can open the door to demonic curses.

Strongholds can be either demonic or godly. Godly strongholds prompt you to obey the voice and will of God while demonic strongholds prompt you to resist the things of the spirit of God.

A stronghold is also commonly used in military terms meaning a fortified or hiding place. In essence a stronghold is really a resolute mindset that is resistant to change.

Just as it is in the natural, so is it in the spiritual realm. During spiritual warfare, there is an ensuing battle between the unseen forces of good and evil; just as there is a battle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. However, the spiritual territory and the battleground are in your mind. The ultimate goal of the enemy is to gain complete control of your soul, which comprises of your will, intellect and emotions.

In Proverbs 23:7, the Word of God says that as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. It has further been said that your thoughts become words and your words eventually become actions. Therefore, whatever you allow yourself to be influenced by is what will eventually begin to control you. Once you embrace a belief you begin to establish what I call a belief system which forges a stronghold in your mind. This stronghold or governing belief system will dictate your actions. Either you will serve God or you will serve the Devil.

Demonic strongholds may form as a result of negative or traumatic experiences. Some of these life-altering events may have occurred during your childhood, teenage years and even throughout your adulthood. Further, some of these strongholds are inherited or generational demons from familiar or familial spirits. Some demonic strongholds are also formed based on what you have learned from your environment or personal experiences.

Many people have tried, tirelessly, to overcome negative strongholds and break bad habits. However, before you can embrace anything new, you must break down the negative things of old. Remember, holding on to spirits of bitterness, hurt, pain, rejection, abuse, resentment and others will keep these strongholds firmly in place and keep you trapped in the vice grip of repeated vicious cycles.

You may find yourself going after the same types of relationships or situations which will cause you even more pain. After remaining in these perpetual cycles, you may find that you are bringing harm to yourself, hurting other people and may become susceptible to being hurt again.

In order to begin dismantling ungodly strongholds, you will need to establish godly strongholds (beliefs). Godly strongholds are the good, spiritual, moral and biblical truths that you can begin believing and practicing. To do this you must begin to renew your mind daily (Romans 12:2). You must make a decision, starting today, that you will begin to think differently, believe differently, and do differently. God has given you a free will which allows you the power and ability to choose what you will do. The law of acceptance says that before anyone can accept you, you must first accept yourself.

I believe this applies to every positive attribute that you are seeking to attract to your life; before anybody else can love you, you must first love yourself; before anyone can believe in you, you must first believe in yourself, and so on. You have the innate power from God to counteract systems of hurt, abuse, neglect or rejection with systems of acceptance, healing and wholeness. Dismantle every demonic stronghold by defeating or replacing them with godly ones and begin living your best life ever!

• Prophetess Dr Mattie Nottage is the co-pastor at Believers Faith Outreach Ministries International on Carmichael Road West. If you need prayers, call 698-1383.