Winning the Battle in Your Mind: Overcoming Strongholds

A stronghold is a fortress of lies that the enemy builds in our mind and emotions. It's a place of captivity in our thinking that prevents us from experiencing all God has for us. God desires for us to be completely sanctified—spirit, soul, and body. While our spirit is born again when we accept Christ, our mind (part of our soul) may still be programmed to respond to life based on what our culture, family, media, and other influences have taught us.

What is the battlefield of the Christian life?

The first thing we need to recognize is that the battlefield is in our mind. Proverbs 23:7 tells us, "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." Our real war is not around us, but within us. The enemy knows that every struggle, temptation, and defeat starts in our thought life.

When negative thoughts come, they often feel like they're our own because they come in first-person. But many times, these aren't our thoughts at all—they're attempts by the enemy to build strongholds. Jesus demonstrated this when Peter suggested He shouldn't go to the cross, and Jesus responded, "Get behind me, Satan." He recognized the source of that thought wasn't Peter, but the enemy working through him.

Why can't we live victoriously with a defeated mindset?

We can't live a victorious life with a defeated mindset. Romans 8:37 reminds us that we are "more than conquerors through Christ who loved us." Many believers live in bondage not because of demons, but because of deception—believing lies about themselves, God, and their circumstances.

The enemy works through our flesh, elders, and culture to craft the way we process life in our minds. He wants us to accept defeat through thoughts like:

• "I'll never be free"

• "I'll always be this way"

• "God can't use me because of what I've done"

• "I'll always struggle financially"

These thoughts directly challenge God's Word, and anything that challenges God's Word must be challenged by us.

How do we transform our thinking?

Romans 12:2 instructs us, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." God doesn't want junk in our minds—we're too holy to Him to have this garbage remaining.

Colossians 2:8 warns us not to let anyone cheat us with garbage—the traditions of men, things of this world, or false philosophy. As temples of the Holy Spirit, we need to guard what enters our minds.

There are two sides to grace. One side is mercy when we fall, but the other side is the enabling power that helps us battle and win the war for our minds. Many Christians live only on the mercy side of grace, but we need to flip the coin and armor up to fight for our minds.

How do we tear down strongholds in our minds?

2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to "tear down every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God." In the Old Testament, high places were where people built altars to worship false gods. Today, our "high places" might look different, but they serve the same purpose—drawing our worship away from God.

Wrong thinking leads to wrong believing, which leads to wrong worship, and ultimately to spiritual slavery. The enemy is looking for those who allow their minds to live loosely. We should be doing the thinking, not letting the thinking do us.

To tear down strongholds, we must:

• Be diligent to filter every thought through God's Word

• Choose to cast down thoughts that don't align with Scripture

• Replace false reasoning with truth from God's Word

• Develop mental discipline as a mark of spiritual maturity

• Maintain private altars (personal devotion time) with the Lord

What should we be thinking about instead?

Philippians 4:8 gives us clear guidance: "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."

As we fill our minds with these things, God's peace becomes so real that we want no trash or false garbage. The goal isn't just clean thoughts—it's Christ in our thoughts, His character, His lordship, and His Word filling our minds.

Jesus said before going to the cross, "The prince of this world is coming and has nothing in me" (John 14:30). We need to ensure the enemy has nothing in us—no footholds, no strongholds, nothing he can use to control the way we think.

Life Application

This week, commit to guarding your mind and actively fighting against negative thought patterns. Here are some practical steps:

• Start each day with worship music and Scripture to fill your mind with truth.

• When negative thoughts come, immediately recognize them and ask: "Is this thought aligned with God's Word?"

• Replace lies with specific truths from Scripture—write down 3-5 verses that counter your most common negative thoughts.

• Spend time in prayer daily, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal any strongholds in your thinking.

• Practice mental discipline by intentionally directing your thoughts toward things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy.

Ask yourself:

What recurring negative thoughts do I need to challenge?

• What strongholds has the enemy built in my mind over the years?

• How can I be more intentional about guarding what enters my mind through media, conversations, and other influences?

• Am I living on both sides of grace—receiving mercy and accessing power?

• What has God already written on my heart that I need to pay attention to?

Remember, you are more than a conqueror through Christ. The battle for your mind is one you can win with God's help and your cooperation.