DEALING WITH STRONGHOLDS, IMAGINATIONS, AND THOUGHTS Author Unknown

Paul writes: "Pulling down… strong holds; Casting down imaginations… bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). What are you to pull down? Strongholds: areas of your life that are held in the grip of the enemy. What are you to cast down? Imaginations: always fearing the worst instead of believing God for the best. What are you to take captive? Thoughts: thinking that doesn't line up with God's Word or submit to the rule of Christ in your life.

Recognise that you are in a war. Old issues and thought patterns will constantly try to reestablish control over you. Don't let them. And be careful who your friends are. If they can barely stay afloat themselves, how can they lift you? So long as these old issues reign in your life, Christ's seat is taken. If they are on the throne, Christ is still on the cross. Put Christ on the throne and your past on the cross!

In the Old Testament a priest could not come into God's presence if he had touched anything dead (Leviticus 22:3-4). That means if you are going to walk with God you must bury your old lifestyle. Don't even touch those old dead issues any more. It also means forgiving those who hurt you, including yourself, then moving on. The issue is not whether you remember, but how you remember. God is able to take the sting out of the memory and still leave the sweet taste of victory intact. No longer will you be handicapped or hindered by what you've been through; instead you'll be enriched by it!