A stronghold can be a good thing or a bad thing.
Nahum 1:7 says the Lord is a stronghold in time of trouble.
A stronghold can be a physical limitation or barrier. In Joshua 7, the walls of Jericho was a stronghold, a resistance or opposition to progress. In Biblical times, the walls of the city can be up to 50 ft wide, People lived in these walls and you can have a modern highway on them. How do you break through such a stronghold? Only by devine intervention.
The Strong’s concordance defines a stronghold as a fortress, strong defense, a military stronghold, strong walled, a secure place or a refuge.
A stronghold can also be a giant, wall, mountain or even a limitation in your knowledge to receive from the Lord.
Be careful not to label every struggle or opposition as a stronghold. Consider these two life changing destinies, remembering that in this world, you will have troubles or strongholds(John 16:33).
- The suffering and death of Jesus was supposed to take him to His glory(1 Corinthians 2:7-8)
- By selling Joseph to the Ishmaelite traders, his brothers were giving him a visa to his destiny, Egypt.
I have considered three types of strongholds, with the conclusion that two thirds of the strongholds is inherent in man.
- Sinful strongholds, Hebrews 12:1-2
2. Soulish(mindset) stronghold, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
3.Satanic stronghold(Ephesians 6:12)
The mindset stronghold include beliefs, principles, attitudes, philosophies, teachings that affect our choices, decisions and lifestyles. This may prevent you from taking your rightful place in Christ and believing His promises. Joshua and Caleb had a different, another spirit or mindset or attitude.
The Apocrypha defines a stronghold as a prison. You need to pray if spiritual you are caged or imprisoned.
How to overcome these strongholds:
1.Repentance, 1 John 1:9
2.Meditating on the word of God, Romans 12:1-2
3. Prayer , Ephesians 6:12
4. A lifestyle of fasting and prayer, Isaiah 58
Further Reading
1 Corinthians 10:13
Psalm 34:19
Ephesians 2:1-5
Luke 19:30
