If you're going to overcome a stronghold you've got to recognise there's one there - recognise the pattern. Everything begins when you recognise that you've got a problem - and call it by its name.
Secondly, it requires you take responsibility for the change. Don't wait for someone to pray for you. That will help, but you've got to own what you have to do, to deal with that thing. You're in agreement with something - you've tolerated it living in your life, and it's your journey to overcome it, so you can grow. Fathers give their sons challenges.
Third thing we need to do, to deal with a stronghold, is resolve the hidden pain. Usually with a stronghold, there's pain somewhere. You were wounded, you were hurt, you were rejected. Someone did this, or did that, or withheld, or betrayed – whatever it is, under the stronghold, there's always some pain to acknowledge, and grieve over, and bring to the cross. Is there someone I need to forgive? Do I need to release forgiveness to someone? Do I need to repent, that I've held this thing, that I've agreed with this thing? Do I need to repent that this thing has become an idol, that I've bowed down and served? Instead of encountering God, I've let this thing dominate my life.
God is wanting to bring us, and His end time church is going to be full of worshippers, full of people who love His presence, full of people that are abandoned before Him, full of people that can flow with the Holy Spirit, full of people that can stay in His presence, enjoying Him, knowing how to bring heaven to earth. That's the people God is building. That's why He wants you to be free of the stronghold.
Do you have to break your agreement, or renounce your agreement, with something? Then renounce it! Speak the words. Cancel your agreement with fear. Cancel your agreement with rejection. Cancel your agreement with unbelief. Cancel your agreement with those things. Cancel listening to criticism. Cancel it! Break your agreement with it; and then make your stand, and speak against it, and resist it.
That is what sets you free; but after you're free, you must build in that part of your life. Every time you encounter God's love in that part of your life, the revelation of His love helps to build us, and establish us, in truth. God loves His people. He's committed to raising up a family of overcoming sons. You're called to be one of them. You're called to rebuild, overtake, and overcome the enemy, in whatever part he's robbed from you.
Closing PrayerI believe some people today need a breakthrough. I don't know what your breakthrough is in, but people here today are needing a breakthrough.
Perhaps it's fear and anxiety? You say: God, I've been listening to stuff, reading stuff, watching stuff, and my fear levels have gone high. I really want to break my agreement with that and repent of agreeing with that. I want to refocus my life on the eternal kingdom, and upon You.
Perhaps it's bitterness? You say: oh man, I've got some anger and issues underneath in my heart, I need to address those. Come on, deal with it today. Don't put it off. Name it; and start to press in, to change it.
Perhaps it's some area of uncleanness that keeps badgering you, and coming around you? Don't just agree with it, or tolerate it - stand up, and push it back.
You are called to freedom! You are called to liberty. You are called to it. Jesus paid a price for it. It's yours to take hold of, if faith will rise in your heart. You say: I don't have to live with that stronghold anymore. I can push through that stronghold. Jesus - You conquered that thing on my behalf. I'm identifying with You, breaking my agreement with it and breaking through it today.