In the previous post, we presented Dr. Marcus Warner’s outline of Satan’s spiritual warfare strategy: wounds, lies, vows, and strongholds. To illustrate the steps outlined by Warner, let’s apply Satan’s strategy to Shelley’s downward path.

  • The Wound. Although parents are responsible for protecting their children, Shelley’s father violated her body and soul by sexually abusing her repeatedly for five years. This was compounded when, instead of protecting her, Shelley’s mother betrayed her and accused her of lying when she reported her father’s sexual abuse.
  • The Lie. She no longer believed God was loving, caring, or compassionate, but bought into the lie that He can’t be trusted, because He could have prevented the abuse, but didn’t.
  • The Vow. She would no longer have anything to do with God but would rely solely on herself to make life work.
  • The Stronghold. “Rage, bitterness, resentment, and emotional damage imprisoned her soul” (Shelley’s Petals, p. 8).

If you find yourself in Shelley’s shoes, you know firsthand how Satan can trap someone through his schemes. Details of abuse may vary, but Shelley’s example illustrates an understandable response to abuse. We may empathize with her or anyone who has experienced the horror of sexual abuse.

How do you escape from the stronghold? There are various escape routes. Counselors, therapists, or pastors may offer different pathways. As we progress, we’ll offer some tools to apply. A way to discern if it’s the right path is to determine if the Holy Spirit is the source of power for change. Depending on the flesh can result in changed behavior, but depending on the Spirit will result in life-transformation.

Regardless of the method, the key to unlock the prison of a spiritual stronghold is repentance. Repent isn’t a popular word today, but that doesn’t diminish its importance. Repentance is most often associated with salvation, but it’s a central theme throughout the Bible. The core meaning is to change one’s mind, but the significance lies in a change that leads to a heart transformation—turning away from following the flesh and following the leading of the Spirit.

Repentance involves acknowledging and replacing lies with God’s truth. Satan’s deception causes hindrances such as false guilt, shame, unresolved anger, fear, and unforgiveness. He has stolen your joy, killed your hope, and destroyed your faith for too long. If you are a child of God, then you belong to Him, and the devil has no authority over you.

Let’s dispel one of the lies now. One of his lies is, “The damage done to me from the abuse is too deep; I’ll never be healed.” God said in Jeremiah 32:27, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?” David said in Psalm 34:18-19,

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

Therein lies our hope for healing and wholeness. God will restore your joy, restore your hope, and rebuild your faith with His truth. Moving forward, we’ll address the issues that have hindered you from being everything God created you to be.

Stop and consider.

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