How You Can Break Demonic Strongholds Permanently

If you are struggling with cycles of emotional and mental distress and feel unable to break free, the solution lies in identifying and permanently destroying strongholds—ungodly thought patterns and reasoning. God did not create you to live in spiritual bondage or to lack joy, peace, clarity, and love. The Bible assures us that “if the Son sets you free, you are truly free” (John 8:36).

Many Christians mistakenly blame their struggle entirely on exterior forces, such as demons or ungodly influence. While demonic attack is real, victory is often blocked or diminished by an internal way of thinking.

Identifying and Defining Strongholds

A stronghold is a perspective, attitude, or pattern of thought through which you filter and see all things.

According to 2 Corinthians 10:4–5, we are commanded to use God’s mighty, non-worldly weapons to “knock down the strongholds of human reasoning” and to destroy false arguments.

1. Strongholds are Internal: The battle is not fought through physical means; our weapons are not carnal. You cannot physically punch darkness or deception. Victory is not achieved through physical displays of strength or human effort.
2. Total Obliteration: The purpose of spiritual warfare is the “pulling down” of strongholds, which in the original language signifies the total removal of the obstacle—not one brick upon another. Our weapons are mighty “through God”.
3. Capturing Thoughts: We are called to “capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ”. This means subjecting every thought to the authority of God’s Word, recognizing that not every thought or strong feeling you have is true.

The Lie That Produces Bondage

A stronghold begins with a lie from the enemy. A lie is anything that contradicts the truth. That lie only becomes deception when you choose to believe it.

The enemy is subtle and tricky, not blatant. For example, the enemy might not outright state, “God intends to harm you,” but he might offer subtle variations that are more believable, such as: “You being blessed is selfish,” or, “You’re supposed to give of yourself until you’re tired and exhausted to prove your love for God”.

The consequence of accepting a lie follows a distinct cycle:

1. Lie accepted becomes Deception.
2. Deception becomes a certain way of feeling and thinking (the lens through which thoughts and emotions are filtered).
3. This way of thinking becomes an Action (habitual behavior).
4. The action produces the Bondage Cycle.

Most Christians try to address the results or symptoms of deception—like depression, anxiety, confusion, lust, or shame—but they never confront the root lie that caused it. If you do not deal with the root, the symptoms will continue to resurface.

The Solution: Freedom in Truth

If you are still experiencing bondage, the sources assert that “there’s a truth you’ve not yet learned” or a truth you have not allowed yourself to believe. For every lie you believe, there is a truth that can break its power. The best way to get rid of darkness is simply to “turn on the light”.

We know the truth through three primary means:

1. God’s Word: “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105). All scripture is useful to teach us what is true and help us realize what is wrong in our lives. Establishing a pattern of receiving the Word of God solves approximately 99% of the issues believers face. You must reject what your feelings tell you and declare, “Let God be true and every man a liar”.
2. The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit, sent as the Father’s representative, will “teach you everything” and “guide you into all truth” (John 14:26, 16:13).
3. Sound Teachers: God gave the church apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip God’s people and to give instruction in sound doctrine.