Practical Steps to Breaking Strongholds in the Mind (Old, Negative Thought Patterns) 

God wants our minds free and us free of torment and we must have His help to break them.

We must recognize that our mind is property that is either occupied by God or Satan and we have to take stock and be real and say who has more property.

We have the choice to either set our minds on the flesh or on the sprit and what we set our minds on is what we will become.

Romans 8:5

⁵ For those who are living according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh [which gratify the body], but those who are living according to the Spirit, [set their minds on] the things of the Spirit [His will and purpose].

God is ready to fight for us. He wants us free and anything else is a lie from the enemy.

Satan lies and says it is God’s plan and it will always be this way but that is not true.

We must break patterns and habits and God will always help us do that if we humble ourselves and ask Him.

1.   What we watch and listen to matters. If we are watching things full of lust, cussing, and other sins that is what will eventually come out of our mouths and lives. What we put in comes out and what we think on eventually comes out in our actions. Strongholds in the mind often dictate what we do, and they come out in our actions because our thoughts drive our actions.

We become slaves to the mindsets and the mind dictates the actions of the body. What we feed grows.

2.     God’s Word expresses truth and destroys strongholds. When we hear the truth, the strongholds can be broken. This is why it is important to read and hear the Word of God though personal readying and listening to preaching that is full of truth.

3.     We fight in the spiritual realm and we must use spiritual weapons. Our weapons are not flesh, we cannot argue them out, medicate them out, or compromise with them and we also cannot argue with others who have them. It does no good to argue with people who have strongholds. The power of God, His Word and the Blood of Jesus is what sets them and us free. People get so used to them because they have been there for so long, but no matter how long or strong they are God can break them in a moment.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6

³ For though we walk in the flesh [as mortal men], we are not carrying on our [spiritual] warfare according to the flesh and using the weapons of man. ⁴ The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. ⁵ We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ, ⁶ being ready to punish every act of disobedience, when your own obedience [as a church] is complete.

4.     Cast down imaginations/Arguments: We must pull down every single imagination and thought that does not line up with the Word of God. Every single one, every single time.   

Corinthians 10:4-5 says: ⁴ The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. ⁵ We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ, 

If we do not pull them down every time, they will multiply and take on a life of their own.

Psalm 94:19 ¹⁹ When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your comforts delight me.

Some examples of imaginations that must be pulled down are things related to fear, worry, distraction (stuck in your thoughts about regrets, what ifs, the past (good or bad), jealously, low self-worth, rejection, abandonment, addiction, and trauma.

Arguments: These are things that are wrong ideas that go against the Word of God and we often accept them as true.

Examples: I can still sin and be okay, this isn’t really that bad, surely God doesn’t care if I just do this. This would include concepts, ideas, and doctrines that have been perverted and go against the Word of God. They are man-made and made up. We must stop following false doctrines and feel-good doctrines because they create strongholds in our minds. This is why we must know the Word of God for ourselves and have a personal relationship with Him, so we know when something we hear is not of the Lord.

We cannot dwell on the imaginations or arguments instead we must recognize them and cast them down with the truth. We must choose to believe and follow the Word of God.

If we do not and we obey and follow the lies, we give the enemy power and the ability to build the strongholds.

We must bind any thoughts that go against the Word of God. Bind them, cage them, pull them down and hold them captive.  Our thoughts are sometimes like wild animals that must be caged and contained. They try to take on a life of their own. If we do not take the restless thoughts captive, they will take us captive.

5.     Submit our Minds, Will, Emotions to God: This is a must. We must walk in total submission to God and ask Him to make us more like Him. We must walk in the Spirit, live the way He says to live (Bible), and submit our lives to Him. 

As we walk with Him our mind, will, and emotions will be more like His. Our minds are renewed and lined up with Him. We are no longer a slave to sin, and our minds are being renewed and restored and our emotions are healed. We need to be renewed and lay down the old self and take off the old nature daily. This is something we must do intentionally. The flesh does not want to let go of who we were, but by submitting to God we become more like Him. We are not damaged, broken, or less than. We are whole in Jesus. We are who He created us to be.

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs] but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].

6.     Diligence/Hard Work/Consistency: We have to put in effort to change old mindsets, it is not easy, it takes time and work and consistency. We must be diligent and confront them every single time. If we give the old mindsets an inch, they will take a mile. The same goes for the enemy. If you allow him to get in your thoughts, he will take up camp and start creating bondages.

7.     Biblical Principles: We must lay down, and strip off the world’s mindsets, and even some churches, daily and put on the mind of Christ. Put on the helmet of Salvation to protect your mind. We must stop letting the enemy tell us what to think and believe. He is a liar and every word that comes out of his mouth is a lie.

8.     Speaking and Listening to God’s Word: The only way to undo wrong thinking is to create right thinking. Jesus fought the devil with the Word. We must do the same. Memorize scripture to use. Renew our minds. The Word became flesh, it is powerful. Turn on an audio Bible and sermons to break the lies of the enemy.

9.     Confess Sins to God and Others (a trusted other): We must admit our way of thinking is wrong and then confess it. We must come into agreement with God that our way is not right, but His truth is right. Bring it to the light and get rid of it. Pride can hinder this step so make sure to pull down any pride. Get an accountability partner if you need one.

1 John 1:9

⁹ If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises] and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose].

We must hate sin the same way God does. When we do this, it exposes the enemy and his lies, and he loses power over that area of our lives.  

10.  Fasting: This will crucify the flesh and bring thoughts captive.

11.  Focus on the Positive: We just look for the good things in life. Yes life can be very difficult, but I challenge you to find the good in every situation and not always focus on the negative. Put effort into thinking good things. Think about true things real, truthful, and honest.

Philippians 4:8 ⁸ Finally, ^[a]believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].

Apply this scripture to every single thought that goes through your head. If they do not line up, throw them out.

We must stop giving the enemy permission to be in our minds/thoughts. We must love truth and pull down every lie.

Blessings,

Nichole Henson, Fullness of Joy Ministry