Part of the crew part of the ship

[MeMyself]

 I am working through some strongholds in my life. It is a painful process, and I can't help but wonder *why*   I feel that way!

The strongholds HURT me, hold me back, keep me from the freedom God wants for my life so I can fully bless and please Him..and yet, tearing them down is painful.

As I was beating myself up over why I felt like I was grieving over the process, the line from the Pirates of the Caribbean movie hit me.  "Part of the crew, part of the ship".  The longer a crew member was held captive on Davey Jones's ship, it began to "eat" them alive and absorb them.  One of the characters was so consumed within the walls that pulling himself out, even for a moment, was a difficult task..and he never stayed free.  He mindlessly put himself *back* into the wall that held him tight.

It dawned on me, that is where I am at right now.  And, the pulling away from my stronghold HURTS because I have become *part* of it.

Yuck.

The realization of that makes me so exasperated with myself. BUT, at least now I see what I've been and what I've allowed myself to be absorbed into...

Isn't that the first step into freedom?  The blinders falling off so that the horizon can be seen?

Yes, pulling away and tearing down can be a hard, painful process; I feel like Jeremiah who said to God "I CAN'T!"...and I am right. *I* can't...but God?...HE can!

[larry2]

I appreciate your post, and that reminds me of 2 Corinthians 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Our strongholds can very much be an infirmity to us, but then we can enter into 1 Peter 1:7, That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

Blessings in Christ Jesus. 

[Bitter Sweet]

Congratulations on your graduation!

When my my life started to turn around, I found a lot of those parallels like you described in almost everything. Don't forget to notice the good ones too.

[MeMyself]

I appreciate your post, and that reminds me of 2 Corinthians 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Our strongholds can very much be an infirmity to us, but then we can enter into 1 Peter 1:7, That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

Blessings in Christ Jesus. 

Thank you, Larry.

[Debbie_55]

My walls were my security of nothing ever to hurt me again and I was safe behind them as they swallowed me up. In all reality those walls were consuming my life and keeping me from experiencing the good things of Gods promises. It was then that I received this scripture and from there those walls came down brick by brick and I was set free. Let go and let God.

2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2Co 10:6  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
2Co 10:7  Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.

[MeMyself]

My walls were my security of nothing ever to hurt me again and I was safe behind them as they swallowed me up. In all reality those walls were consuming my life and keeping me from experiencing the good things of Gods promises. It was then that I received this scripture and from there those walls came down brick by brick and I was set free. Let go and let God.

2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2Co 10:6  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
2Co 10:7  Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.

Yep.  That describes some of what I am working through...and it all ends up being a lack of TRUSTING God!!!  I have been fighting this stronghold for so many years ...I am so tired...and just when I think I'm about done, I turn around and there's another layer of walls!!!   
BUT!
I am SO thankful that God is bringing me through this and is not content to let me get the walls down "good enough"!  He is saying "ALL THE WAY DOWN!"  It hurts, I'm tired,but its sooo worth it!  I don't want to spend time beating myself up over it though! Can't rush God's timing and process, I guess.