Today at Cafe Chat, Kim asked a follow-up question to last weeks discussion. Click here to read last weeks post.
So, how can we be set free in Christ from our strongholds and struggles? (If you can please make sure to use scripture to support your answers). Feel free to share your testimony of how you were set free from your struggles in the past as well.
I will try to keep this post fairly short, but I know this has the potential of being very long (warning).
I have shared bits and pieces of how I was set free from a demonic stronghold of fear. I shared last week that it made me angry to see that I still had some of the remains of “fearful thinking” in my thoughts, so I will share my action plan where those thoughts are concerned.
God has already given me what I need to be set free. Jesus came and accomplished what needed to be done. Jesus triumphed over the devil at the cross! I love that he made a public spectacle of them (the demons)!
Colossians 2:13-15
13When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Luke 10:18-20
18He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Did you catch that? The spirits DO submit to us because of the blood of Jesus! Not that we are to rejoice over that fact, but it is still a fact. Jesus gave us the authority to cast out demons. Without the authority of His blood and His Name, we have nothing.
Matthew 6:19
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
When I saw that scripture I saw another KEY. I used that scripture as my authority to BIND every spirit of fear coming against my mind and I would LOOSE peace over myself in Jesus’ Name.
It is our responsibility to KNOW God’s Word. If we don’t know what His word says, then how can we know what belongs to us as children of the King? Doesn’t Hosea 4:6 say that God’s people are destroyed from lack of knowledge?
This is how I broke free from the bondage of fear and panic. I stood on God’s Word! I took note cards and wrote down every scripture on my authority as a believer and every scripture I could find on fear. I took the example of Jesus when He was tempted in the wilderness. Each time satan tempted Him, Jesus spoke “It is written” and quoted what God’s Word said about the situation. I did the same thing! Each time a panic attack would try to come my way, I would speak out loud, “It is written! GOD HAS NOT GIVEN ME A SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT OF POWER, OF LOVE, AND OF A SOUND MIND” (2 Timothy 1:7)! God’s Word declares that “NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST ME SHALL PROSPER” (Isaiah 54:17a)! I would speak God’s Word out and stand on it. Refusing to back down. Those are just a couple of the scriptures I used.
One tactic the devil uses is speaking to you in 1st person. For example I would hear, “I am going to have a panic attack” as I was approaching a stop light, or a place where I couldn’t just ESCAPE. He would plant that thought in my mind and I would entertain it. Eventually, I would work myself up until the attack did manifest in the natural! Two things I did wrong. 1. I entertained those thoughts instead of capturing them! (See the scripture below.) 2. I was focusing on myself. I have found that if my thoughts are on JESUS and NOT ON ME — there is no room for ME (fear, self-pity, depression, oppression, etc …). I would spend way too much thinking about “I” and “ME.”
2 Corinthians 10:5
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Another KEY is to renew our minds with God’s Word. We must replace our stinkin’ thinkin’ with what is good and TRUE.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.
As I fought for my sanity through the pages of the Bible, my mind slowly began the renewal process. The fear was being pushed out as I focused on the TRUTH of who I was in Christ.
1 John 4:4
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Another KEY I found was RESISTING the devil. That is where I have grown complacent and need to cut off any traces of fear left in my thinking! I will show the scripture below, but I found out that when I faced fear and didn’t back down, the devil had to flee. I decided that if I was going to be fearful, I would JUST DO IT AFRAID (as Joyce Meyer said)! That is where I need to step up now. If I still feel fearful about speaking in front of crowds, etc … well then, I’LL DO IT AFRAID!
James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Be sure that you don’t ignore the beginning of James 4: 7 … SUBMIT YOURSELVES TO GOD.
There are so many other scriptures I could share, but I’m concerned that I might lose your attention at this point (ha).
IF you are in a place of torment, where you are walking out something different than what God’s Word says He has for you … then begin standing on His promises. Let me tell you, IF you GIVE the devil one inch, he will take a mile. He doesn’t play fair!
If you want to know more of my story, I’ll be glad to share.
To join the chat, please click here.
AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN..can I say another AMEN!!!!!! Girl,,AMEN!! Oh Beth, there is FREEDOM from this..I too walked in that path of fear, anxiety, believing all the lies of Satan,,EVEN listening to fellow sisters in the Lord that would say ,”it’s hard, we all go through it, we are human,we will always struggle with this”..NOT, NOT, NOT..!!!!! We HAVE the mind of Christ Jesus. God has given us EVERY thing to be set free. Each and every scripture you have here, I too have prayed over, cried over and made it envelope my entire being. You will find me MANY times with a wee one in my arms during nap time, rocking her to sleep, and in my other hand grasping on to four sheets of scriptures that I pray over myself each and every day…I have receipe cards FILLED with scripture in the daycare, pretty much in all the rooms of my house, I have scripture to grab unto when the enemy comes to attack…and I stand my ground!! I LOVED this devotional..sorry for making my comment a devotion back,,blush blush..love ya girl.
This was a great post, and you did exactly what I wanted for today’s post…you loaded it up with Scripture… I know that God’s Word can set me free, but so often I don’t turn to it… Thank you for reminding me that God’s Word is where the victory lies…
Blessings…
SO powerful, Beth. Incredible what the Word can do. I praise Him that you have what you need (and that I do too!) to break free.
Beautiful post, my friend! I loved the scripture and I love what you said about when Iam focused on Him there is no room fo me. BTW, I believe the scripture about capturing our thoughts is II Cor. 10:5, not 2:5, just a typo.
Thank you for the catch Momstheword! I would have never caught that.
Love,
Beth
Beth,
This post speaks the truth and that is what sets us free. Great post!
God’s Word is the Truth! When I realized that I was fighting against the spiritual realm,especially thoughts that would exhale themselves,its then strongholds were broken.
Ephesians 6:10-18 Put on the Armor!!!
In His Grace,
Tammy
Great post. I have had panic attacks in the past but not in many years. They are not fun at all. Jesus said “In this world you will have tribulation.” But he also reminded us that he has overcome the world. Our help is to keep our eyes on Jesus. Of course there are other things and people who help, but then I remember that He is the Great Physician.
Blessings,
Charlotte
Beth~
I learned so much from reading your post! Fear is something we all struggle with at some point in our lives. I love the idea of writing down Bible verses having to do with fear and carrying them with you…I just might do that! Thanks for sharing your heart so openly, once again!
That is a wonderful post! I could relate to you when you wrote that you allowed yourself to entertain these thoughts instead of immediately resisting it. I struggle with discouragement and depression only if I allow myself to dwell on these things, but when we immediately recognize that it’s the handiwork of the enemy, we can shun him off completely. There’s victory and joy in Jesus 🙂
Amen, powerful scripture.
Amen my friend! May we never forget the power that we have at our disposal. May we remember to use that power to fight the enemy and the strongholds in our lives. Thank you for this wonderful reminder!
I am glad you are free! Thank you for sharing withs us! I love the part about fighting the enemy with scripture like Jesus did. What great truth!
Take care! I hope you are having a great weekend!
Beth I love when people share real solutions to how they have overcome through Christ…it helps me know that I can too!!! And that while not as bad as I used to be that I can continue to improve.
this is another good post with spiritual as well as practical advice. Your willingness to be open and share the difficulties Christ has brought you through will give others to open up as well. Blessings to you my sister. God is good!
Beth,
This is one powerful post, my friend! I loved how you very clear about submitting to God, taking our eyes off of ‘us’ and putting them back on Jesus and remember that the enemy does not play fair!
Love you, my friend and rejoicing with you in your freedom!
Beth…what another beautiful post. I’m always encouraged by your blog! I love the verses you shared as well!!
Your post made me also that of John 3:30
He must increase, but I must decrease.
Have a wonderful Sunday, Beth!!!!
I so enjoyed your post! I have also struggled with fear and though things are getting better, I find that fear still rears its ugly head every now and again.
I LOVE your approach to battling the fear. Standing on God’s word is key and those note cards sound great. I think IT IS WRITTEN will become my new buzz phrase.
Thank you for being so transparent. I enjoyed my visit.