Does a stronghold have a strong hold on you? Do you feel nothing but despair? Do you think thoughts of defeat? A stronghold is a false premise that denies God’s promise. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says “it sets itself up against the knowledge of God.” It attempts to magnify the problem and minimize God’s ability to solve it.

God could never forgive me— That’s the stronghold of guilt.

Bad things always happen to me— That’s the stronghold of self-pity.

I have to be in charge– The stronghold of pride.

I don’t deserve to be loved– The stronghold of rejection.

Most Christians don’t recognize strongholds. But we don’t have to be among them. Our weapons are from God and have divine power to demolish strongholds. Isn’t that what you want? Keep God at center stage. Turn off the computer and open the Bible more! And turn to God for help.

From Glory Days

Here’s what you need to know about the walls of Jericho. They were immense. They wrapped around the city like a suit of armor. Here’s what you need to know about Jericho’s inhabitants. They were ferocious and barbaric. They withstood all sieges and repelled all invaders. Until the day Joshua showed up. Until the day his army marched in. Until the day everything shook. Until mighty Jericho crumbled.

But here’s what you need to know about Joshua. He didn’t bring the walls down. The shaking, quaking of the thick, impervious walls? God did that for him. And God will do that for you! Your Jericho is your fear, your anger, your bitterness, your guilt about the past. It stands between you and your Glory Days. And its walls must fall! Life will always bring challenges. But God will always give strength to face them.

From Glory Days

Joshua 5:14 says “Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped.” He was a five-star general. Forty-thousand soldiers saluted as he passed. Two-million people looked up to him. Yet in the presence of God, he fell on his face, and worshiped.

We’re never so strong or mighty that we don’t need to worship. Worship-less people have no power greater than themselves to call on. The worship-less heart faces Jericho all alone. Don’t go to your Jericho without first going to your Commander. Let him remind you of his all-encompassing power.

In Hebrews 13:5 he has given you this promise. “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” Look to Jesus for comfort. Turn your gaze away from Jericho. You’ve looked at it long enough. Your Jericho may be strong but your Jesus is stronger. Let him be your strength.

From Glory Days

Romans 6:11 says, “Consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God.” When the devil draws near, stand against him. Don’t take his lies. When he dredges up your past, tell him whose you are. He has no recourse to this truth. He knows who you are. He just hopes that you don’t, or that you will forget.

So prove to him that you know and remember. Tell him what 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind.” Romans 8:35– “I cannot be separated from the love of God.” And Philippians 4:13– “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Promised Land people think like this. They live out of their inheritance. They show the devil the new name on their spiritual passport. Remember whose you are!

From Glory Days

Some years back as I was driving my daughter Andrea to middle school, she noticed I was anxious.

“Why are you so quiet, Dad?”  I told her I was worried about a book deadline.

She asked me, “Haven’t you written other books?”  “Yes,” I replied.

“How many?” At that point the answer was fifteen.

She responded, “have you ever missed a deadline before?” “No,” I said.

“So God helped you fifteen times already?” “Yes,” I winced. She was sounding like her mother.

She reasoned further, “if he has helped you fifteen different times, don’t you think he will help you this time?”

Satan has no recourse to your testimony! Your best weapon against his attacks is a good memory. Don’t forget a single blessing! 1 Corinthians 6:20 says, “You have been bought with a price. You belong to God.” God’s message for you? Remember whose you are. Live out your inheritance!

From Glory Days

Jericho’s shady lady found God—or better worded, God found Rahab the harlot. He spotted a tender heart in the hard city of Jericho and reached out to save her. He would have saved the entire city, but no one else made the request. Then again, Rahab the harlot had an advantage. She had nothing to lose. She was at the bottom of the rung. She had already lost her reputation. She was at the bottom of the pit.

Perhaps that’s where you are as well. You may or may not sell your body, but you’ve sold your allegiance, affection, attention, and talents. You’ve sold out. Glory days? Perhaps for him or for her. But not for me. I’m too soiled, dirty. I’ve sinned too much. No Glory Days for me!

God’s one-word reply for such doubt? Rahab! God has a place for the Rahabs of the world! He has a place for you!

From Glory Days

Do you sense a disconnect between the promises of the Bible and the reality of your life? Jesus offers abundant joy, yet you live with oppressive grief. Romans 8:37 promises we are more than conquerors—yet you are commonly conquered by temptations or weaknesses.  Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:18 you can live from glory to glory. The deed to your new life is already signed. From dry land to the Promised Land; from manna to feasts.

Joshua 21:43-45 says, “So the Lord gave to Israel all the land of which he had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it.”  You can personalize that promise! You can realize your Glory Days! I invite you to join me in a Glory Days Scripture Memory Challenge and take to heart Joshua 21: 43-45. Let’s memorize these verses together at GloryDaysToday.com!

The Hebrews did what God commanded—and God protected them. Joshua 5:1 says, “So it was, when all the kings of the Amorites. . .and all the kings of the Canaanites. . . heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan. . .their heart melted, and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the children of Israel.”

Devotion prompted divine protection. Don’t face Satan by facing Satan. Face Satan by facing God. Don’t give Old Scratch the time of day. Colossians 2:15 says, “God stripped the spiritual rulers and powers of their authority. With the cross he won the victory and showed the world that they were powerless.”

Satan is a fallen angel whose time is short. Don’t let him mess with your glory days. Neutralize him. Join me at GloryDaysToday.com to remember what God has done!

What’s the secret to survival in enemy territory? Remember what God has done! Record his accomplishments in your memoirs. Don’t forget a single blessing. Create a trophy room in your heart. Each time you experience a victory, place a memory on the shelf. Before you face a challenge, take a quick tour of God’s accomplishments.

John 1:12 says, “Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”

Live out your inheritance! You are loved, redeemed and filled with the Holy Spirit. You have the power of God in you to fight any battle you face.

The secret of survival in enemy territory? Remember what God has done. And remember whose you are! John 1:12—make it a verse to memorize this week. Let’s do it together at GloryDaysToday.com.

Promised Land people say I’m a victor in spite of my surroundings. Wilderness people say These are difficult days and I’ll never get through them. But God’s people say, These days are Glory Days…and God will get me through!

John 1:12 says, “Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” Imagine what would happen if a generation of Christians lived out of their inheritance. The lonely would find comfort in God, not in the arms of strangers. Struggling couples would spend more time in prayer and less time in anger. And children would consider it a blessing to care for their aging parents.

Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ, because He gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). Join me in claiming your inheritance in a special 4-week journey of scripture memory at GloryDaysToday.com!