Strongholds in our lives

Strongholds are incorrect thinking patterns that people develop over time, and are often set up and nurtured by demons through lies and deception. Demons thrive on strongholds, and use them to hang around a person and torment them. Failing to tear down strongholds can hold up a deliverance and prevent us from walking in complete spiritual freedom. Strongholds played a vital role, no army could successfully defeat an opponent and let their stronghold stand within conquered territory. One of the main objectives of armies were to remove strongholds within conquered territory. We as the Lord’s army need to take notice, of the objective to remove strongholds. Like conquerors of old, we need to target the spiritual strongholds of our enemy, Satan. Strongholds were points, which were hard to defeat, because of their design, walls, located on a hilltop, along with the offensive capabilities of an army within. The army could launch attacks, and then retreat to the safety of its walled city. Thus, their point of operation became a “strong hold”. This picture of the physical stronghold is used to also represent the spiritual stronghold. Spiritual strongholds are represented in scripture, in the same way as physical ones. They are points of operation, where attacks are waged on outlying areas. The become points of offensive operations, which are hard to remove, unless concerted effort is made to remove them. Spiritually speaking, Paul defines strongholds as an “argument or high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God”. A stronghold is a point of operation from where Satan can keep the unbeliever captive or the believer incapacitated. See 2nd Corinthians below. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

How to help the one you love (By Brad Lamm)

A powerful, groundbreaking book that shows you in concrete steps, how to help a loved one stop from engaging in self-destructive behavior.

Is your husband drinking himself to death? Is your brother losing it all to gambling? Do you need to get your kids off drugs before it's too late? Or make your spendthrift sister stop maxing out her credit cards? Get your best friends out of an abusive relationship? If you're tired of watching your spouse, child, relative or friends go downhill, dragging you with them. How to help the one you love will help you turn these lives around. You don't have to endure behavior that is unhealthy, abusive, or even deadly. You can break down the great myths around change - and help them change for good.

Many books will tell you that you caon't change anyone. They advise you to not even try. BUt they ignore the tremendous power you actually have to change people. If most books are written for the persons in touble, How to Help the One You Love reaches out to the loved ones: people who know that change is critical and urgent. How to Help the One You Love is not just a self-help book; it's a help-you-act book.

Coping With Envy (By Dr Windy Dryden)

Envy can be a surprising dynamic in close relationships: sometimes it energizes people so that they accomplish more; at other times, envy hurts more than it helps. Coping with Envy explains how to direct this force for the best. It explores how to recognize and deal with your own feelings of envy, whether it involves your family, friends or partner.

Subjects covered include:

• when envy helps and when it hurts
• owning up to feeling envious and why it's so difficult
• using envy to motivate yourself and to accomplish your goals
• how to recognize when you need to get off the envy train
• how to cope when someone else envies you
• integrating envy into your life and moving on

In this wise book, Dr Windy Dryden - one of the world's most renowned cognitive behavioural therapists - takes a positive, vibrant approach to a troublesome emotion.