Stronghold of Stinginess

Stinginess like pettiness depletes the host of whatever it is withholding. A stingy person is unwilling or shows an unwillingness to share with others. A stronghold of stinginess sets in when the fear of poverty increases–unfortunately, this same stronghold perpetuates poverty and the resultant fear.

If a stronghold of poverty or fear didn’t come before stinginess became an issue, it invites the stronghold of poverty and of course many other strongholds along with it, depending on the measure of stinginess–think, Ebenezer Scrooge. In the story of Scrooge, Ebenezer Scrooge became shut off to the world, fearful, and petty in all he did.

Proverbs 11:24 There is that scatters, and yet increases, and there is that withhold more than is meet, but it tends to poverty.

Where does this stronghold come from?
Like most other strongholds stinginess begins in our thoughts. Fear is a great contributor to this thought process but selfishness is not far behind. Fear of losing, of not having enough, of going without, of getting too close–in short, any number of thoughts can trigger the thought to withhold something that should be given.

What can be done to keep this stronghold from setting in? 

5 Biblical tips to overcome or obliterate a stronghold of stinginess:

1. Learn God’s will for provisions in your life and His direction. 

Romans 8:28 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.

Proverbs 28:27 Whoever gives to the poor lacks nothing. Whoever ignores the poor receives many curses.

2. Trust the Lord to keep His promises for your obedience.

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

3. Cast away any fear that might lead you to believe anything other than what God has said. Be patient.

Proverbs 28:22 He that hastens to be rich has an evil eye and considers not that poverty shall come upon him.

4. Give generously when you have the opportunity and ability to give.

2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

5. Love. Keep your thoughts free from anything that would cause you not to withhold love.

Matthew 22:36-40 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Written by Christian author, Pola Muzyka

Free from the Stronghold of Acrimony

As with almost every stronghold, acrimony begins in our thoughts. When we allow thoughts of hatred, anger, vengeance, or offense to well up inside us we may invite a bitterness which we cannot control, and that bitterness will spew out at every opportunity.

Terrific movie of how easy it is to push anger over the edge.

Unlike bitterness, which can hide for decades in a host before it does damage to anyone but the host, acrimony blurts out its intentions. Harsh, bitter words spill forth without any guard or regard to the outcome. Many a bully uses acrimony to hurt, harm, and otherwise try to destroy.

Acrimony can be the culmination of days, months, or even years of internal bitterness. When acrimony increases it can become a stronghold that’s hard to defeat.

The dictionary describes acrimony as harsh or biting sharpness especially of words, manner, or disposition. At times our words are not tempered and we speak out acrimoniously. However, when a spirit or stronghold of acrimony is present the same words can seriously harm the hearer and may be spoken over and over again. Harsh words spoken over and over again will have a destructive effect on the hearer.



Job 10:1 I hate my life.  I will freely express my complaint.  I will speak as bitterly as I feel.

What can be done to prevent acrimony?

5 Biblical tips to prevent and overcome a stronghold of acrimony. 
1. Temper all your input with God’s words for you and his will for your future before you allow bitter thoughts to accumulate or fester.

Job 7:11 “Therefore I will not keep silent; I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

2. Guard your heart. Everything you embrace and accept should be glorifying to God.

Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Matthew 15:18  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

3. Ask God to guard your thoughts. Our thoughts can lead us to bitterness and eventually blurting out that bitterness or acrimony.

Philippians 4:6-8 Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. 7 Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable.

4. Turn everything over to God in prayer and thanksgiving before bitterness turns to acrimony.

Psalm 39:12 Listen to my prayer, O Lord.  Open your ear to my cry for help.  Do not be deaf to my tears,  for I am a foreign resident with you, a stranger like all my ancestors.

5. Take control of your own emotions. Determine to keep yourself free from acrimony and outside influences that may cause it forever.

Ephesians 4:31 31 Get rid of your bitterness, hot tempers, anger, loud quarreling, cursing, and hatred.

Written by Christian author, Pola Muzyka.

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Free from the Stronghold of Guilt

Judgementalism stalks with other religious spirits to confuse us when we attempt to rest in the promises of God given to us through the salvation of Jesus Christ. The stronghold of guilt can steal our peace, joy, trust, and even our faith.

It is a weapon Satan uses to try to separate us from God and cause us to live a life of torment even after we’ve been set free–thinking that we still have a death sentence. It’s a weapon that would turn us from Christ if we gave into it.

What don’t we understand about freedom in Christ? God sacrificed his own son [filled with all the fullness of the Godhead] for us. In order for us to be free to love him, he first loved us. 

Our time on earth is a fraction of eternity. Our earthly bodies are dust.  The glorified body, given to those who receive Christ, will be our eternal, non-corruptible, heavenly body, able to be present with God.

Why did God make us so imperfect that we would have to suffer a life of guilt? He didn’t. Sin entered in. God gave us free will. We were free from the beginning to choose right or wrong.
In our free will, we gave/give ourselves over to sin. But the stronghold of guilt no longer has a place in our lives when [if] we accept Christ because sin has been defeated.

5 Biblical tips to overcome guilt:
1. Know who you are in Christ. The enemy [Satan] cannot take that away from you.

1 Corinthians 6:11  ¹¹And such [sinners] some of you were [once]. But you were washed clean (purified by a complete atonement for sin and made free from the guilt of sin), and you were consecrated (set apart, hallowed), and you were justified [pronounced righteous, by trusting] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God.

2. Keep away from self-righteous hypocrites.

Colossians 2:8-9 See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men’s ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah).

Matthew 22:18 But Jesus, aware of their malicious plot, asked, “Why do you put Me to the test and try to entrap Me, you pretenders (hypocrites)?”

Luke 6:42 How can you say to another believer, ‘Friend, let me take the piece of sawdust out of your eye,’ when you don’t see the beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First, remove the beam from your own eye. Then you will see clearly to remove the piece of sawdust from another believer’s eye.

3. Read the word daily. Trust what God says to those who have received salvation.

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing the message, and the message that is heard is what Christ spoke.

Revelation 3:10″Because you kept my Word in passionate patience, I’ll keep you safe in the time of testing that will be here soon, and all over the earth, every man, woman, and child put to the test.

4. Forgive others–forgive yourself. If guilt still plagues you after you are sure of your salvation, it’s possible that you didn’t forgive you. Remember salvation is for all those who receive it by faith. No condemnation to those who are in Christ. Romans 8:1

Luke 6:37 “Stop judging, and you will never be judged. Stop condemning, and you will never be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Luke 1:37 But nothing is impossible for God.”

Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.

Proverbs 16:3 Entrust your efforts to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.

5. Turn to God. Ask him for his grace and help to live with yesterday’s events so that guilt will no longer have a stronghold in your life.

Colossians 2:9 For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature].

Have you received your free copy of Biblical Solutions for Cultural and Social Issues in the World Today study guide? [written by Pola Muzyka]

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