You know that thing? That thing that has a hold of you. Or rather, those things. You got em and you may not want them anymore, but you got em. You can't shake them, you can't give them up. As a matter of fact, they control you and are so much a part of you that you don't even know that they are present until they take over. Some of them you enjoy flat out until afterwords when you look back and feel guilt and dismay. Something has a hold on you and it's your strongholds. There are several other posts on this site that talk of these things and I would encourage you to read them as well.
This post is about a guy I know. He had some strongholds that he fully knew about and some that he didn't realize he had. He tried and tried to get control over them without success. But God, took them away when he asked Jesus to be his one and only stronghold and change his life.
Here is the list of strongholds that he once was enslaved to:
Liar
Cheat
Thief
Atheist
Rage
Anger
Foul Mouth
Selfish
Prideful
Fantasy/Escape
Procrastinate
Quitter
Deceit
Glutton
Scoffer
Prejudice
Porn/ Sex addict
Voyeur
Lazy/ Sluggard
Disobedient
Story Teller
Coward
Bully
Dreamer
Clown
Vandal
Filthy Mind and Speech
Dishonest
Gambler
It feels good to be rid of these things, to be able to say no to them. Before, I never saw them coming, but now I do by God's grace through the Holy Spirit. Notice that they still come after me, but now I can say no. I'm literally a new man now because of Christ.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new is here!
2 Corinthians 5:17
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Luke 11:9,10
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
Matthew 11:28
So, You know that thing? That thing you can't get rid of? Think about the scriptures you just read. Jesus wants to help you. All you need to do is ask. He'll give you a new start.