We’ve previously suggested some strongholds that can affect decision-making. These patterns of negative, faulty thinking can skew our perspective and keep us from truly aligning with God in the decisions we make. We might not always get totally off track but we may settle for something good when God has something better. Consequently, we need to learn how to demolish strongholds so we can make the best decisions.
Three Steps to Demolish Strongholds Freeing Us to Make the Best Decisions
For 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. 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 Cor. 10:3-5)
1) Identify the stronghold.
To know if a way of thinking “sets itself up against the knowledge of God” (2 Cor. 10:5), we need to consistently and insistently use God’s Word as our Standard. By its constant use our minds will be renewed and trained to distinguish right from wrong, good from evil (Heb. 5:14). The more in tune we are with God’s character and ways, the more our decisions move from what’s right and good to what’s best so we’re making the most of every opportunity (Eph. 5:16; Col. 4:5).
2) Take it captive.
Once we identify a stronghold, we need to confess it and He “will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9). We need to admit that we need God’s help to overcome, yielding to Him to change us (Ps. 139:23-24; Prov. 3:5-8) from the inside out.
3) Replace it with truth.
If we merely clean house, we risk reestablishment of the stronghold. We need to replace the faulty thinking with truth, God’s Truth, so there’s no room for it to come back. Consider the truths that need to replace a few of the strongholds we might have:
A sense of entitlement needs to be replaced with a concern for the big picture and how our decisions affect and benefit others (Phil. 2:4).
A need for control needs to be replaced by a Christ-like attitude as One who humbly came to serve and not be served (Matt. 20:25-28; Phil. 2:5-7).
A need to please people needs to be replaced with an ambition to be most concerned with pleasing God and doing what promotes His image and glorifies Him (Gal. 1:10).
Of course, following the above steps doesn’t mean we won’t ever struggle again with making the right decisions or guarding the decision-making process. We still have an enemy who wants to thwart God’s work. We still serve with people at varying levels of maturity, some who have these strongholds. God, however, provides us with armor so we can take our stand against the devil’s schemes (Eph. 6:11) …. the topic of another post.
For More: Resources on Divine Weapons for Spiritual Warfare
All Posts about Decision-Making:
- Making Decisions That Line Up
- Decision-Making Questions for Lining Up
- If You Find Yourself Making All the Decisions
- Pluses & Minuses of Getting Others Involved in Decision Making
- Who Makes the Final Decision?
- Stifled in Decision-Making?
- Rushed Decisions
- Delayed Decisions
- Derailed Decisions
- Retrofitted Decisions
- Decisions Reveal Faith in God’s Power?
- Decisions You Don’t Have to Be Ashamed to Make
- Decisions Examined at Foot of the Cross
- Making Decisions from a Place of Humility
- Making Wise Decisions
- Making Decisions Void of Legalism
- Foolish Not to Pray
- Wisdom & Discernment Needed
- Decisions from a Renewed Mind
- Equipped for Making Good Decisions
- The Spirit Helps Us Make the Right Decisions, the Right Way
- The Spirit Provides Guidance and Wisdom in Decision-Making
- Decisions Worthy of Bearing His Name
- Strongholds Affecting Decision-Making
- How to Demolish Strongholds So We Make the Best Decisions
- Protection for the Decision-Making Process
- Decisions Made from Our Raised Position
- Setting an Example in Decision Making
- Servanthood Affects Decision Making
- Leader Qualities that Keep Decisions on the Right Track
- Shepherds Make Wise Decisions