God’s Word speaks of the need to demolish strongholds in our lives with divine power. These tend to be negative, faulty thought patterns that have taken hold in our lives and misguide how we think and what we do. These are patterns of thinking that go against who God is and His ways. Consequently, as leaders we might have strongholds affecting the decision-making process that need to be demolished so we not only make the right decisions but also follow a Christ-like process to get there.
Divine Power to Demolish Strongholds
The world and the devil stand in opposition to those who want to put the Lord first in all they do. Yet, we can be our own worst enemy with battles taking place in our own minds or ways of thinking. If we don’t allow God to transform us by the renewing our mind (Rom. 12:2), which involves taking those thoughts captive and replacing them with God’s truth, we open the door for the enemy to take ground in our lives and strongholds get built that hinder us from fully following God and His ways.
A worldly approach to self-improvement will not break down the strongholds but rather may serve to fortify them even more. — “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.” (2 Cor. 10:3-4)
Types of Strongholds We Might Have That Affect Decision-Making
Anything that stands in opposition to following God’s purposes for us to love Him with all of who are and let that love spill over into loving others, could be a stronghold. That which keeps use from following God’s design for His Church could be a faulty pattern of thinking that has taken root. When we fail to pursue His mission to go and make disciples, it could be that we’re driven by other pursuits that stand in opposition to God’s desires. These faulty premises will tend to guide our decision-making so that decisions we make do not fully align with God’s purposes, design, and mission for the Church.
While we probably could identity a number of strongholds, here are a few common ones that clearly could affect not only making the best decisions but also the decision-making process:
entitlement – making decisions based on what benefits me
need for control – making sure we do things my way
people pleasing – making decisions driven by fears or insecurities about how it affects my image
Since these strongholds can negatively impact decision-making, we need to ask how we demolish strongholds — a topic for another post.
For More, Go To: 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