The Remedy for Strongholds

We have a dog named Maggie. Poor Maggie has had mange. It has been quite an ordeal for us. Over the summer Maggie lost a bunch of fur on her back, had big scabs and had a bad odor. We did research and found she had mange. My husband made some homemade formulas/recipes from his research to cure Maggie. It was a mess trying to get her back to normal- but after several weeks of treatment, Maggie was her same old beautiful self. Her fur grew back and she lost the bad odor and stopped the horrible scratching. However, to our surprise, the mange returned around Christmas time. We did some more research to find that in order to completely cure the mange - the dog must be treated every week for at least six weeks. Because you can treat the immediate symptoms but you must also treat the mange mites that are deeply embedded in the skin. Now Maggie is on her way to being completely cured.

Why have I taken the time to tell you a useless story about our dog? The mange reminds me of strongholds and sins in our life. There are some sins and habits in life that we quit with ease. Then there are other things that are more difficult to overcome. There are things in our lives we think we can stop or quit doing and somehow go right back to that same sin or habit. For some it is smoking, for some it is lying, for some it is having relationships with people that we know we shouldn’t, for others it may be drugs. A Stronghold can be anything that has a hold on you and dominates a part of your mind.

With Maggie, we found that we must give her a treatment for six weeks in order that the mange would not return. There are many things in our life that we have to work harder at overcoming than others. Sometimes it takes a lot more effort and a lot more time than we had planned. We need to research the real cause of the problem, treat the obvious symptoms, and continue in our efforts until the root causes are dealt with.

The Apostle Paul talks about his struggle with sin in Romans 7. He says that the things he wants to do, he doesn’t and the things that he doesn’t want to do, he does. He says "the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do." He doesn’t end with that thought though. He continues on (in Romans 7 & 8) with his discussion to come to the conclusion that it is through the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ that he gains his strength as well as his help from the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul teaches us that we can not overcome sin in our own strength or with our own abilities but that we must rely on and accept the grace given to us.

In whatever struggle you are in, remember to rely on Jesus Christ to help you overcome and to be consistent and continual in all of your efforts. Remember who you are in Christ and look to His word for help. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us!

Additional Scriptures:

2 Tim. 3:14

But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

Romans 12:21

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

1 John 4:4

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Romans 8:37

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

1 Cor. 10:13

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Romans 5:2

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 14:4

Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.