The word “stronghold” is something that is used in Scripture.  I have seen this word used by Christian authors, and during the past few months have become more and more aware of just what this word means.

A “stronghold” is a false pattern of thinking. When we go to bed angry, we give place to the devil (Ephesians 4:26, 27) by establishing a stronghold in our mind. This will cause us to make decisions that are contrary to God’s will.

“When Satan constructs a line of reasoning in our minds that is contrary to Scripture, he then influences our wills to make wrong decisions.”  ~ Bill Gothard~

There is good news.  Although we have violated Scripture in the past and have gone to bed angry.  Strongholds CAN be pulled down.

We have been given weapons that are “….mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” (II Corinthians 10:4).  “These weapons of truth are designed to cast down every false philosophy and every deceptive imagination and bring every thought into line with the truth of Christ’s teaching.” ~B.G.

If you have ever gone to bed angry, His Word tells us that we have given “place” to Satan – he has taken ground in our life. We must take back this ground:

1.                         Confess the sin of bitterness.

2.                    Ask God to regain surrendered ground.

3.                         Tear down strongholds with truth.  We are to build up “towers of truth” by reading,            memorizing, and meditating on Scripture.

4.                       Show mercy by forgiving your offender.  “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”  (Ephesians 4:31-32)