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Finding Freedom from Familiar Spirits

May 12, 2023 by alisa hope wagner Leave a Comment

A familiar spirit or otherwise known as a familiar stronghold is a way of thinking that does not line up with God’s Word.

People do not recognize that their thinking is wrong because they are accustomed to it.

Mainly, they were raised with parent(s) or in an atmosphere that normalized this incorrect thinking. Therefore, their negative thoughts continue to dictate their words, decisions, actions, behaviors and relationships; and they are stuck with negative outcomes in life without understanding why.

Some familiar spirits include the spirit of poverty, the spirit of fear, the spirit of judgment, the spirit of self-criticism, the spirit of jealousy, the spirit of worry, the spirit of control, etc.

These strongholds are all counterfeits of positive promises that the Bible offers us. The enemy wants us to normalize these counterfeit thoughts to limit our access to God’s promises and prevent us from fulfilling our highest calling.

The key question is then, “If these spirits or strongholds are familiar, how can we learn to recognize them and begin the process of replacing them with God’s Truth?”

The answer is simple. Jesus says, “If you remain in My word, then you are truly My disciples. You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:31-32 MEV).

We must read, study and meditate on God’s Word daily to learn biblical truths and expose wrong thinking.

Then we can begin the process of transforming our minds to produce positive, God-ordained outcomes in life. As we read the Bible, we develop the habit of capturing every thought that “exalts itself against the knowledge of God” and replace each one with a truth from God’s Word (2 Corinthians 10:5 MEV).

To capture these thoughts, though, we must make reading and/or listening to our Bibles and other biblical resources a priority each day. Once we fill our minds with truth, we will begin to recognize the lies, so we can rebuke and replace them.

  • For example, when our thinking turns to to fear, we can say, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear…” (1 John 4:18)
  • When our thinking turns to lack, we can say, “Jesus came to give us life and life in abundance” (John 10:10).
  • When our thinking turns to judgment, we can say, “We will not judge because then we too will stand in judgment” (Matthew 7:1).
  • And when our thinking turns to self-criticism, we can say, “We are the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The list goes on. There are so many biblical promises available to us if we would know them and apply them. Only then will we be able to find freedom from familiar spirits and strongholds that try to dimmish our destiny. The process is not easy, but with consistency, effort and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can renew our minds in Christ because all things are possible in Him (Romans 12:2 & Philippians 4:13).

 

And like always. Be blessed.

 

Listen to the Podcast for this meditation.

This meditation is based on an article in my book, Reframing: 40 Days to Reframe and Refresh Your Life. 

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Filed Under: Christian Living, Faith

Alisa’s Blog

The Protection of the Sword of the Spirit: Faith Soaking Season 3 Episode 8

Paul discusses putting on the full Armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-17. These verses are so important because they hold God’s promises for our protection and victory. We have the Shield of Faith which is our first line of defense. We have the Belt of Truth which allows us to walk in our true identity in […]

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Winning the Prize

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it” (1 Corinthians 9.24 NKJV). I won fifth place out of around seventeen ladies during my first bodybuilding competition in the Figure Division. I was so excited. Four […]

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The Protection of the Breastplate of Righteousness: Faith Soaking Season 3 Episode 7

Paul discusses putting on the full Armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-17. These verses are so important because they hold God’s promises for our protection and victory. We have the Shield of Faith which is our first line of defense. We have the Belt of Truth which allows us to walk in our true identity in […]

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Dead Last: Part 2

“Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43.19 NKJV).   People stared at me as I sprinted past the running point, beginning my race twenty minutes late. I still had […]

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The Protection of the Gospel Shoes of Peace: Faith Soaking Season 3 Episode 6

Paul discusses putting on the full Armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-17. These verses are so important because they hold God’s promises for our protection and victory. We have the Shield of Faith which is our first line of defense. We have the Belt of Truth which allows us to walk in our true identity in […]

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Dead Last Race: Part 1

  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 21.1 NIV).   My town of Corpus Christi held their 46th Annual Beach to Bay […]

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Police Pullover

  “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8.28 KJV).   I was driving in a small coastal city about 45 minutes from my house. I had to pick up my husband who dropped off our […]

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Throwing Away Journals

  “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5.17 NLT).   I’m very nostalgic. I still have every letter that my husband (then boyfriend) wrote me over thirty years ago. I also started journaling off and on […]

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  • The Protection of the Sword of the Spirit: Faith Soaking Season 3 Episode 8
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