Breaking strongholds in your life – why it’s important and how to do it

A stronghold can be defined as a "system of wrong values or beliefs we yield our will to and give control to, which unchallenged, then lodge themselves into our soul, our very personality" (Dianne Manusama). Strongholds can occur in various areas including the following:

• Anger (constantly and severely overreacting)
  
• Rejection (manifested in striving, drawing self-worth from external things, rejected people tend to reject others until they fully face pain of own rejection)
  
• Pride (Stubbornness, Blaming, secretly thinking "I can do better")
  
• Lust (Addiction to pornography, sexual images etc.)
  
• Jealousy (Striving, envy of other's success)
  

Probably everyone can find him/herself to a certain degree in those and other areas. It's usually a stronghold if this area really has a significant influence on how we live our lives. Breaking those strongholds allows us to break free from this oppression and truly walk in the freedom and joy that already has been won for us.

The most powerful way to break the stronghold in your life is to get together in a group and

1. Identify the recurring areas / lies in your life you most struggle with
   
2. Find at least 2-3 scriptures and other evidence to 'counter attack' each of these areas with truth
   

One example: The reoccurring thought "Nobody loves me. I have no family and I am totally on my own to make this life work" can be counter attacked with Romans 8:35-39 and a list of close friends in your life.

So when are you taking action to break strongholds in your life? What exactly are you going to do, when and together with whom?

Forgiveness – So important for our physical, mental and spiritual health

I learned again today how vital it is for our lives to forgive people who hurt and offend us. It is not about letting other people of the hook or saying that injustice is right. It is about maintaining a healthy relationship with God and trust him that he will eventually bring perfect justice to this imperfect and broken world.

Everyone has probably heard various messages on the topic but I was reminded today that there's much more to forgiveness than just saying "I forgive this person". Many of us have forgiven others in our mind but still carry offence and a deep longing for retaliation in our hearts. We're often not aware of this and are surprised if we react strangely when we suddenly see a person again that hurt us in the past.

That's why it's so important to really make a full list with all people who hurt us and bring it all humbly and honestly before God. First ask him to forgive you for having harbored all this unforgiveness in your heart. Second, specifically name the people of the list and declare that you are not longer holding on to the wish for justice/revenge etc.

Moreover it's not only about us forgiving others but also about us forgiving ourselves for all those moments were we've done wrong e.g. by being selfish and self-absorbed and thus neglecting to help others in desperate need around us.

Letting go of the hurt and offence in our hearts will have a wide range of positive effects on your life and will improve your health in all areas tremendously. It's so worth it. So, have you honestly dealt with ALL forgiveness in your heart? Are you sure? If not, when exactly will you take action to change this?