1. Express to God your desire to walk free from the strongholds that bind you.  Ask Him to grant you “a spirit of wisdom and revelation” in your own life. (Ps. 43:3)

1. Honestly examine your own behavior patterns. (Entrenched, uncontrollable fleshly behavior is a signal of a stronghold in operation.)
   1. Are there areas of habitual defeat and torment (fear, anger, depression)?
   2. Are there behaviors that seem to control you rather than you controlling them (gossip, gluttony, immoral thoughts, addiction)?  
   3. Have you excused some ungodly character trait/behavior by thinking “I can’t help it…that’s just the way I am”?
   4. Have you promised yourself and God, time and time again, that you’ll “do better next time” in some particular area?                    

1. Ask God to expose the lie that is at the root of the behavior from which you long to be delivered.  (Am I “performing well” so I’ll be loved and accepted?) 

1. Write down what God shows you and spend some time repenting and renouncing the lies He exposes.

1. Commit yourself to regular time in worship and the Word. (Jn. 8:31-32, Rom. 12:1,2)  His Spirit will continue to reveal lies you’ve believed, as you seek Him.

1. Remember that your nature, your very essence of being, is that of a saint, not a sinner….you don’t HAVE to sin!  (Rom.6-7)

1. Once the lie is exposed, its power is broken, the stronghold topples and you are free to choose to live a godly, responsible life! (“gird up your mind for action”    I Pet. 1:13 versus passivity)

1. Continue to turn to God and choose truth (Phil. 4:6-8), “taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (II Cor. 10:3-5)

1. Realize that the greatest power you have as a Spirit-filled believer is the power to choose; and then continue to exercise that power each time the tempter shows up.  (Jas. 4:7-8)