Daily Devo

Destroying Spiritual Strongholds

By: Bob Beck

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)

Spiritual warfare is real, but it isn't fought in the classic sense. We don't use manmade weapons, and we aren't fighting other people. We are battling Satan's schemes and fighting his minions of darkness. Our world doesn't understand, but pornography, drugs, alcohol, and anger all come from Satan. He is the master of using worldly ideas and thought patterns to lead people away from Christ. He uses those same weapons to stumble believers, and our enemy will do everything he can to keep us from growing in Christ.

Though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4

Another way to describe a spiritual stronghold is any argument or opinion that goes against God's Word. It can be secular thinking, false doctrines, or false gods. We don't always see our world that way, but the ungodly ideas of the world are actually spiritual strongholds designed by the enemy. The lofty opinions mentioned in that verse are anything that is prideful, self-centered, and self-reliant. When we only use our human wisdom to make decisions, we may not even realize it, but we've been trapped by a spiritual stronghold.

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. 2 Corinthians 10:5

A common ungodly thought pattern is only submitting part of our lives to Jesus's authority. If Jesus is our Lord and Savior, we must grant Him access to every area of our lives including our minds. Even the strongest Christ follower must realize that some of those thoughts that pop in our minds aren't coming from Christ! How do we tell the difference? Anytime our thinking contradicts God's Word or God's principles, those ideas are coming from Satan. But taking those types of thoughts captive requires godly discipline. How do we develop godly discipline? By spending time with God, by talking to God in our quiet time (praying), and by reading, studying, and obeying His Word.

Remember, spiritual strongholds usually start in our minds. Christ follower, make sure to take those thoughts captive!