Free from the Stronghold of Defensiveness

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Defensiveness or to be on the defensive about one’s mistakes or an assumed attack overtakes the majority of people at one time or another. The stronghold of defensiveness creeps in with fear to the consequences of judgement or retribution for wrong actions or in retaliation for a perceived attack.

In other words, a person with a defensive spirit is excessively concerned with guarding against the real or imagined threat of criticism, injury to one’s ego, or exposure of one’s shortcomings. A host of this demonic stronghold puts up walls and may see an offense where none is intended.

English: Defensive Wall, Nuremberg (Germany), ...

English: Defensive Wall, Nuremberg (Germany), north part, burggarten bastion from west (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: Defensive Wall, Nuremberg (Germany), north part, burggarten bastion from west (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Defensive Wall, Nuremberg (Germany),

This host is always on guard, always ready to battle anyone or anything that does not line up with its perception of self or events, or its own thinking. If this attitude becomes a stronghold, the host may invite spirits of paranoia, perfectionism, religion, animosity, and even abuse. The new strongholds may invite others and so on until the condition of the host is worsened.

Confusion will set in and an inability to discern right from wrong may cause the very condition the host of a defensive spirit is guarding against. There is only one way to demolish this demonic stronghold and live a life of peace, discerning right from wrong, good from evil, and the truth of trueness of life that comes from submission to God.

Defensiveness may seep into our lives as the result of a catastrophe against us or someone we love. This circumstance may be perceived as a catastrophe only to us, but our resultant reaction may cause trauma to others. Before we allow a spirit of defensiveness to set in, we must clear our minds of any preconceived notions about the intended threat or criticism.

Żary's defensive wallŻary’s defensive wall

5 Biblical tips to overcome defensiveness:

1. Submit to God and allow him to guide your actions and reactions. Let him take care of anything that could cause defensiveness.

Isaiah 54:17 But no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong. This [peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord [those in whom the ideal Servant of the Lord is reproduced]; this is the righteousness or the vindication which they obtain from Me [this is that which I impart to them as their justification], says the Lord.

2. Do your research well. Don’t listen to, or participate in, gossip. Keep your mind on God.

Leviticus 19:16 Never gossip. Never endanger your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.

Proverbs 28:26 He who leans on, trusts in, and is confident of his own mind and heart is a [self-confident] fool, but he who walks in skillful and godly Wisdom shall be delivered.

3. Forgive. This is one of the hardest actions we will take, but it must be undertaken.

Matthew 6:15 But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failures.

4. Do not jump to conclusions. Check everything out with the Word of God. Remember, a spirit of defensiveness can confuse us, so it’s best to get godly input before you act on anything that is causing you to have suspicion.

1 Timothy 6:3-4 Whoever teaches false doctrine and doesn’t agree with the accurate words of our Lord Jesus Christ and godly teachings 4 is a conceited person. He shows that he doesn’t understand anything. Rather, he has an unhealthy desire to argue and quarrel about words. This produces jealousy, rivalry, cursing, suspicion,

5. Wait. After you have gathered all the information, prayed, submitted to God, and have forgiven, then wait for God’s guidance in any matter causing defensiveness because he is waiting for you to get right with him.

Psalm 62:5 Wait calmly for God alone, my soul, because my hope comes from him.

Isaiah 30:18 The Lord is waiting to be kind to you. He rises to have compassion on you. The Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all those who wait for him or for the right time, or occasion.

Written by Christian author, Pola Muzyka.

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Free from the Stronghold of Discrimination

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Hitler SaluteThe spirit of discrimination is cleaver. It hides deep within the heart of its host. But, the heart is deceitful above all things. Jeremiah 17:9 How can we justifiably allow this spirit into our lives? Not even God discriminates. Job 9:22

Free from the Stronghold of Discrimination is written by Christian author, Pola Muzyka. This editorial is meant to be a stepping stone in uncovering a demonic stronghold that may keep us captive and prevent us from receiving God’s best. Explore the website to see how strongholds may be trying to surround you and strip your life of God’s blessings.

Does this mean we cannot discern? No. There is a difference. Discernment makes a choice between good and evil, right and wrong. Discrimination judges others by skin color, finances, gender, or other circumstances. Discrimination may justify selections that go against God’s will.

The spirit of discrimination becomes a stronghold when the host no longer allows Godly wisdom to guide its decisions, when fear takes the place of trust in God, and when godly advice is ignored. It makes a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit.

Legion of Merit5 Biblical tips on overcoming discrimination.

1. Check it out with the word of God. Remember that the word of God is the will of God and God does not show partiality.

Acts 10:34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

2. Let love, not appearance be your guide in circumstances that pertain to others.

Galatians 5:14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Mark 12:31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

3. Discern on equal ground, don’t discriminate. When you discern between good and evil you block discrimination out and godly decisions come easily.

James 2:2-4 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you
pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit
here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over
there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions
among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

4. Stop before you are tempted to judge or discriminate.

Matthew 7:12  “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

5. Take everything to the Lord in prayer. Be a good example and ask guidance and wisdom from God.

Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

1 Timothy 4:12Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

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Free from the Stronghold of Accusation

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It’s amazing how much of what our accusers say about us seems to hit us dead on. There is a hint of reality in every accusation, but only a hint and it is never justified when we are in Christ. Since the great accuser is Satan, his tactic is to take some of what is true and twist it into a false accusation. The host of a spirit of accusation does the same thing. Morgan Cryar – What Sin? (Great Song).

Free from the Stronghold of Accusation is written by Christian author, Pola Muzyka. This editorial is meant to be a stepping stone in uncovering the demonic strongholds that keep us captive and prevent us from receiving God’s best. Explore the website to see how strongholds may be trying to surround you and strip your life of God’s blessings.

Rembrandt - Samson Accusing His Father-in-Law ...The spirit of accusation stands ready to point a finger when it is challenged. Why? What is this spirit of accusation and how can we rid ourselves of it permanently?

A fault finder, or host of accusation, looks for perfection. The accuser spirit becomes a stronghold when a host  is seeking an assurance of security and self justification. Accusing is a way to sanction personal inadequacies while blaming others, thereby taking the attention off  the real problem, which could be in something the host is harboring. Like other strongholds, an accuser stronghold invites reinforcement to sanction it’s right to the host–blame, defensiveness, false religion, and any number of other spirits can follow or proceed this demonic stronghold.

If a stronghold of accusation is built, the host of accusation will forever be unhappy, forever be left unsatisfied, and forever search for that justification that only be found in a right relationship with God.

The woman taken in adultery

The woman taken in adultery (Photo credit: gwilmore)

5 Biblical tips to overcome a stronghold of accusation.

1. Ask God to help you see things from His point of view. A worldly POV would only keep us accusing even those made righteous. When we see the beauty around us we spend less time looking at the faults of others.

Romans 3:23-24 Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives. [All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,

2 Corinthians 6:8 Amid honor and dishonor; in defaming and evil report and in praise and good report. [We are branded] as deceivers (impostors), and [yet vindicated as] truthful and honest.

2. Be cautious and wise before you judge. There are very few righteous accusers. Even our Creator will not judge the world until the judgement time comes.

2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

John: 8:6-10 10 When Jesus raised Himself up, He said to her, Woman, where are your accusers? Has no man condemned you?

3. Put your trust in the salvation of Jesus Christ and don’t be overwrought by the accusation of others for anything you did in the past before you came to Christ and turned from sin

Hebrews 2:14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

Luke 15:7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

4. Once you come into the kingdom by receiving Christ Jesus and turning from sin, don’t go back to a life lived in sin.  Your past is forgiven, your accusers cannot destroy your future. A religious spirit cannot take you down.

Ephesians 2:1-2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—

5. Never fear false accusations or accusations from sins of your past. The accuser that tries to infiltrate our thoughts, lives, and those around us is an enemy. He was an accuser from the beginning. Do not join him.

Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

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Free from the Stronghold of Pride

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pride and prejudicePride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. –Proverbs 16:18

Free from the Stronghold of Pride is written by Christian author, Pola Muzyka. This editorial is meant to be a stepping stone in uncovering the demonic strongholds that keep us captive and prevent us from receiving God’s best. Explore the website to see how strongholds may be trying to surround you and strip your life of God’s blessings.

Many have fallen prey to this deceptive stronghold. The tricky duplicity of pride can confuse us and cause us to sanction what we assume to be justified. There is a pride in doing well and a satisfaction taken in others that may be admirable. But pride can soon turn destructive when it is not in its proper place.

Unrighteous pride will bring in a spirit or stronghold of arrogance, haughtiness, over inflation of self importance, an inordinate opinion of our own dignity, merit, or superiority, and the resultant strongholds that protect or sanction its right to being. In short, the wrong kind of pride can separate us from God and cause us to fall flat on our face before the enemy.

Stronghold5 Biblical tips to overcome pride:

1. Evaluate your life. What type of pride belongs to you? Are you haughty and arrogant or do you have a sense of well-being about someone or something?

Proverbs 26:12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes and conceit? There is more hope for a [self-confident] fool than for him.

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

2. Help others. Reach out to those who are less fortunate. There may be some among them who have lost things without seeming cause.

Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

Proverbs 22:2 The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord is the maker of them all.

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

3. Humble yourself. A humble spirit will never allow pride to rule.

Proverbs 11:2 When swelling and pride come, then emptiness and shame come also, but with the humble (those who are lowly, who have been pruned or chiseled by trial, and renounce self) are skillful and godly Wisdom and soundness.

1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

4. If there is any praise from your lips let it be for God and for another and not for yourself.

Proverbs 27:2 Praise should come from another person and not from your own mouth, from a stranger and not from your own lips.

5. Gain understanding and wisdom. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

2 Corinthians 10:12 Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

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Free to Have a Healthy Marriage

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The stronghold of division is a powerful sickness that is one of the strongholds the enemy uses to destroy what God has put together. Just like any other demonic spirit it follows its leader as it prowls around like a roaring lion looking to devour the children of God.

Free to Have a Healthy Marriage is written by Christian author, Pola Muzyka. It is meant to be a stepping stone in uncovering the demonic strongholds that keep us captive and prevent us from receiving God’s best. Further research is advised.

FortificationsDivision wants nothing more than to take over our homes, our lives and our families and it will use any means it can to accomplish its goal. Its favorite avenues of entry are through lust, indifference, unforgiveness, false religion, rebellion, addiction, verbal and/or physical abuse and struggles.

Mark 3:25 And if a household is divided against itself, that household will not last.

Be forewarned. The enemy would like nothing more than to distort and destroy holy matrimony. He fears a strong household devoted to the Lord. A man and a woman united by holy covenant under God threaten it’s very existence. When a whole household is devoted to God, the enemy (Satan and his followers) is harmed at its root.

If the enemy gets a foothold, the best line of attack to restore the household to health is to kill the root and cause immediately and submit to God to purify whatever might have entered in as a result. God can and will heal every aspect of your life if/when you submit to Him.

The Marriage at Cana

The Marriage at Cana (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

However, if there is abuse involved, denial might cover up the path to healing and marital health. (Control is a form of abuse.) Take this stronghold seriously.

There is only one way to have a happy home and that is be honest with yourself and with God without trying to manipulate God’s attention in your favor. Draw close to Him.

5 Biblical tips on being eternally happy in marriage:

1. Love. Approach every conflict with love. While you are learning to love your spouse with the love of God, learn also to cut ties with those who are rebelling against submitting to God. Bad company corrupts.

2 Thessalonians 3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts into [realizing and showing] the love of God and into the steadfastness and patience of Christ and in waiting for His return.

James 4:8 Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery].

2. Always put God first in your home, your marriage, your desires and your plans. Never allow yourself to be so busy that there is no time for the Lord or sincere prayer before you tackle the day, the week, or any potential problem or struggle.

Romans 2:6-8 He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

3. Leave selfishness at the alter. Never allow it to enter your home.

Proverbs 18:1-3 Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. 2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. 3 When wickedness comes, contempt comes also, and with dishonor comes disgrace.

4. After consulting the Lord always be willing to compromise.

Proverbs 11:14 Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

5. Keep your focus on good things. A negative attitude will destroy any relationship and especially a marriage.

Proverbs 5:18-19 Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable.

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