Many people today live in fear, most of which exist in their imagination. They imagine that something terrible could happen to them, or that something is threatening their lives. Some imagine that they can never be successful, because failure has been in their lineage. For some others it’s sickness; their mother died of heart trouble; now, they imagine that it’ll be the same with them. These are strongholds in their minds.

 

It’s like someone who’s contracted HIV/AIDS, and hears it’s got no cure, and feels hopeless. He just can’t believe or accept that he could be healed. That’s a stronghold. What are strongholds? They’re ideas, thoughts, principles, arguments and reasoning of men, which are contrary to God’s Word. They’re negative imaginations that breed fear, which is Satan’s primary weapon.

 

But thanks be unto God! We can use the Word of God to tear down strongholds, whether they’re in the lives of others or in our own lives. You don’t have to be in bondage anymore in your mind! You don’t have to be afraid of anything. When Satan tries to attack you with fear, respond with the Word. Be on the offensive against him with the Word of God. Pull out scriptures relating to the situation, and keep speaking them forth; interject it with speaking in tongues, until you completely drown the voice of every contrary thought, and your fears vaporize.

 

Satan attacks with fear to make your faith in the Word of God defective and inoperative. So, when negative thoughts—undesirable imaginations come to you—cast them down! The latter part of our opening scripture says, "…Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God...." This is talking about everything that pretends to have the power that it doesn’t have; pretentious or false spirits with their pretentious ideas. Refute them with the Word of God.