The longer I have thought and prayed about strongholds and identified some of them in my own life, the more I have come to the conclusion that most strongholds are quite socially acceptable in our society; they only become socially unacceptable when they cross some invisible line that clearly indicates an addiction.
For example, many people regularly engage in "retail therapy"; our culture thrives on it. Almost all of us have done it at one time or another; purchasing something we probably don't need in order to temporarily meet some unmet need, whether it's a need to fit in, the companionship of shopping, the rush of adrenaline (yes, there is one), a need to have everything "perfect" or "complete" (and while it's easy to focus the attention on women where this is concerned, I know of many men who can spend a small fortune on a sport, hobby, or collection of some sort), or the need to impress other people. I'm sure there are other motivators, but you get the idea. Particularly in our very, relatively speaking, well-off country, it is not uncommon to have problems creating enough space to accomodate all of our "stuff". It is currently not only socially acceptable, but encouraged, to do all of those things; it is only when someone crosses over into hoarding that people start to identify that perhaps it's a problem for that particular individual. And even when we identify that it's a problem for them, we frequently can't distinguish the exact same patterns or thought processes in our own lives, or if we do, we tend to rationalize them or justify them.
So, to clarify: a stronghold is any external thing we run to in order to meet an internal need which can only be filled by God.
Some socially acceptable strongholds include:
work or ministry
technology (phones/social media/TV/video games/computers)
money/debt/things
alcohol/drugs (although some drugs are less socially acceptable than others)
sex/pornography
relationships
achievement (whether it's grades/awards/recognition)
food
exercise/"healthy" living
religion
politics
Some internal needs we may be trying to meet:
truth
security
intimacy
affirmation
acceptance
admiration
approval identity
value/self-worth
purpose
confidence
control
unconditional love
provision/prosperity
relaxation/stress relief
escape from reality
comfort
excitement/a "high"
pleasure/satisfaction
You can probably think of others for both lists. Most of these potential strongholds are not "bad" in and of themselves (although I would have to make a case against pornography); these things are merely "tools" or "vehicles" we have the opportunity to use. We can choose to use them positively or negatively. But what really classifies them as a stronghold is not how we use them, but why we use them; what is going on in our hearts and minds? What is motivating us?
For example, ministry can outwardly appear to be "positive", but God cares about our hearts and motivation; if we are doing ministry for the wrong reasons, it is a stronghold for us, and there are people working in ministry who will justify and rationalize the hours they are spending working in ministry who would have no trouble identifying that the same behavior in someone else who is working for a corporation is a "workaholic". They will justify that because they are doing it "for God", it is not only "okay", it is admirable.
There may be times when God calls us to temporarily put in extraordinary hours to accomplish an extraordinary mission, but there is a reason He created day and night, the need for sleep and rest, and His Word promises that His yoke (the "burden" of following Him) is easy and light. I have found that when I am doing something God has called me to do, I am somehow able to get all of the "right" things, the really important to Him things, accomplished. And I have also found that when He is calling me to do something that requires a great physical, spiritual, or emotional output, He provides adequate downtime either before, during, or afterwards. If I am stressed or over-worked on a regular basis, I have to ask myself if I am really acting within God's will and following and obeying Him, or if I am motivated by something else.
© I Lift My Voice, 2015.