“The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble” (Psalm 9:9).

The word “stronghold” occurs more than fifty times in the Bible. The Oxford dictionary definition of stronghold is “a place that has been fortified so as to protect it against attack.” That was certainly what David found when he first saw the city of Jerusalem. And then, David proceeded to further strengthen the city. “David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terracesinward” (2 Samuel 5:9).

Nehemiah also was called to fortify the city of Jerusalem after the temple was destroyed along with the city walls when the people of Israel were exiled to Babylon. It happened like this: “They (the Babylonians) set fire to God’s temple and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, they burned all the palaces and destroyed everything of value there” (2 Chronicles 36:19). The temple was finally rebuilt when Cyrus of Persia came to power ((2 Chronicles 36:22-23). Nehemiah later led the rebuilding of the walls and gates surrounding Jerusalem. “So, the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God” (Nehemiah 6:15-16).

And something to look forward to when Jesus returns to lead us into the New Jerusalem: This city will have gates, but they will never be closed, for we will have no need of strongholds because:

• There will be no night there (Revelation 21:25, 22:5.
• Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life (Revelation 21:27).
• No longer will there be any curse (Revelation 22:3).

However, as we are awaiting that Glorious Day, we live in a time when strongholds can also have a negative connotation. While they may offer protection, strongholds can also represent a prevailing problem in your life, perhaps a sin you cannot seem to overcome. Paul speaks to these types of strongholds as mindsets or attitudes, “arguments and pretensions that set themselves up against the knowledge of God,” that can only be overcome through the power of the Holy Spirit. Just like physical strongholds, these mindsets or attitudes can be influenced by the enemy, and they can be overcome and rebuilt with the help of the Holy Spirit to protect us against those same enemies.

“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. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-6)

We see from reading the story of David that he was physically protected by God against his enemies through the provision of fortified places to stay—strongholds. But David also acknowledged that God himself was a stronghold, a place of protection for David from not only physical threats, but mental and emotional threats, temptations, and “the weapons of the world.” When you are under attack, call on God who will protect you, just as He protected David.

“He (David) said: ‘The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn[ (strength) of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—    from violent people you save me.’” (2 Samuel 22:2-3).

Many of us look forward to a new year with resolutions to do more, do better, kick bad habits, etc. And most, if not of us, fail despite our best intentions. As we, ever optimistic, make our 2023 resolutions, I pray that you will envelop all your plans with prayer and the power of God, that you will align yourself with His will and walk with Him in grace, peace, and mercy. I pray that you will, through the power of God and the counsel of the Holy Spirit, overcome the strongholds of negative mindsets and attitudes, and replace them with the stronghold of God, which we do by abiding in Him through Prayer, the Word, and Worship. I pray that 2023 will be known as “the year of the LORD’s favor” and that you will be successful in the eyes of God.

In Christ,

Judy