DESTROYING STRONGHOLDS (JOSHUA 6:1-14)

REFLECTION “Destroying strongholds” is the theme for our reflection. A stronghold is a place that has been fortified to protect it against attack. Destroying strongholds means disempowering the fortified walls or camps of the enemy. We shall consider the fact that God is our strength and conqueror of strongholds. Beloved in the Lord, no stronghold can withstand…

Jean-Paul Agidi

May 16, 2025

3–5 minutes

REFLECTION

“Destroying strongholds” is the theme for our reflection. A stronghold is a place that has been fortified to protect it against attack. Destroying strongholds means disempowering the fortified walls or camps of the enemy. We shall consider the fact that God is our strength and conqueror of strongholds.

Beloved in the Lord, no stronghold can withstand the power and glory of God. After entering Canaan, the first enemy and impediment on the path of the Israelites was Jericho. We are told “… the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. 2 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.” (Joshua 6:1-5) Dear friend, like the Israelites, we are not alone in our journey and battles of life. The important elements in destroying strongholds or overcoming impediments on our path to success are our covenant relationship with God and obedience. Israel had a relationship with God, God gave them directions to follow to the promised land and through the leadership of Joshua, they obeyed. Before the fall of Jericho, they were given instructions, they obeyed, and the walls or strongholds of Jericho were destroyed. In other words, we must always trust and obey the Lord to destroy the Jericho walls in our lives. The Psalmist confirms that “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. 8 The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. (Psalms 28:7-8)

We must also be aware that we have spiritual strongholds, and during Jesus’ earthly ministry, He destroyed many spiritual strongholds and set people free from their bondage. Jesus has become our refuge and protector because He assured us that “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” (Luke 4:18-19) With Jesus, we can destroy the evil or spiritual strongholds through the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul reminds us that “… be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:10-12). Indeed, we are feeble and have no power to overcome the spirit strongholds, but through prayer, obedience and faith, our Lord and Master Jesus, we shall render those strongholds powerless and overcome them. Truly, the Psalmist testified that “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you…“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him. 16 With long life, I will satisfy him and show him my salvation. ” (Psalms 91:7, 14-16)

In summary, we have discovered that we are bound to encounter strongholds or impediment in our lives. However by trusting and obeying God like the Israelites did through the leadership of Joshua, we shall also overcome the strongholds on our path. Shalom.

PRAYER

May we trust and obey God in all things so that at the mention of Jesus we shall render the strongholds ineffective through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.