¿Qué es una fortaleza demoníaca??

¿Qué es una fortaleza demoníaca??

What Is a Demonic Stronghold?

by Toni Weisz/Spiritual Warfare

Escrituras: Salmo 18:2-3, 1 Peter 5:8, John 8:32b-c, y Salmo 91:1-4

Salmo 18:2-3
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, so shall I be saved from my enemies.

Definition of Stronghold: A fortified place or a fortress. An area dominated or occupied by a group or marked by a quality. Taken from The American Heritage College Dictionary.

As I read Psalm 18, it says that God is my stronghold.

We have a choice who we will allow to be our stronghold: God or the evil one.

There are things we do that make us vulnerable to the enemy, which create an opening where he gains a foothold, if not challenged or acknowledged will then become a stronghold.

I have heard a stronghold also referred to as having, “a hook in our soul.” The hook represents a spiritual entry by the evil one, either through unconfessed sin, trauma, abuso, and/or drug and alcohol usage. Once he has access, he lays a snare for us and torments us with lies and deceptions.

Due to the chaos in my home of origin, I learned to hide in my secrets to protect myself. It was my safe place. I could control people’s reactions and protect myself so I thought. I didn’t grow up knowing how to use my voice properly, and I had no boundaries, so you can imagine why hiding in my secrets was my safe place.

For me, my secrets were the area the enemy had a stronghold, a hook in my soul. I started hiding in my secrets at the age of 12 when I started sneaking Scotch Whiskey from my parents’ liquor cabinet. But it didn’t stop there; this sin opened up a door to all kinds of ungodly behavior while outwardly I still appeared to be the “good quiet one” in the family. I strived for perfection in all I did to receive recognition from others. Entonces, hiding in my secrets was important to keep up this façade.

I was living a double life. I had a distorted view of reality because of the torment from the evil one. I hid in my secrets for over tres decades. I had a huge hook in me because of my fear of rejection and abandonment. I was afraid if I shared some things people would reject and abandon me or would be harsh and cruel. The fear of that rejection and abandonment caused me to terminate the life of my son.

When I was saved by the grace of God at the age of 34, I still feared the reactions and comments of others, so I told half-truths, but I was still holding back some information. If I am not careful, I can easily go there (withholding information) so como not to hear someone’s cruel and harsh comments. In a way, I felt it was self-preservation. God calls it something else: sin. I should not fear man, but rather fear God.

When I hold back information, I am trying to control the outcome and that is codependency. Instead of trusting God with the results, I am manipulating the situation. I don’t like how this feels. I am uncomfortable, and I feel like I am walking on eggshells. This causes anxiety in me as I imagine how the conversation will go. And I am not doing anything wrong or ungodly, but the evil one has me hiding to get me in this vulnerable place. He is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (Árbitro. 1 Peter 5:8). He and his minions are continually observing me and watching for my reactions to things. Then he knows he’s got me in his trap.

The best way to combat this is head on. I pray and ask God to go before me to prepare that individual’s heart, and then I ask Him to give me the words to say. For the most part, it goes well, but sometimes it doesn’t. But I am relieved when it is over and I am no longer being tormented about it.

We need discernment when speaking with certain individuals, especially if they are unsafe emotionally. There is a fine line between discernment and waiting for the right time, and withholding information out of fear. The longer I hold onto something, the harder it becomes to share and the bigger it grows and consumes my thoughts; that’s where the hook comes in. Luego, of course, the enemy torments me with all kinds of scenarios and possible outcomes. I am robbed of my peace and joy because of my fears.

By confessing my sin to God, He removes the hook. When I seek Him daily, I am protected from the enemy’s attacks. Each morning, I put on my spiritual armor. Confessing sin is part of my daily devotional time with the Lord. I do not want the evil one to gain a foothold, which can turn into a stronghold. Being in the Word of God daily and memorizing Scripture is the best way to protect myself from the evil one. I ask God to remove any blindness so I can see clearly my character defects, my sins, and shortcomings. I ask Him to bring them into the light so I can confess and repent so I can be forgiven and healed.

Jesus said in John 8: 32, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” God’s Holy Word is Truth. He is our refuge and our fortress, our stronghold. He is our hiding place, and He is our protector. The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. With it, we are able to slash the lies of the enemy in two (Árbitro. Efesios 6: b-c). He covers us with His wings so we are protected by the fiery darts of the enemy. We are safe when we stand on the truth and under His mighty wings.

I want the Lord to be my stronghold because I know He will not abuse me; He is gentle, amable, caring, and compassionate. Lord give me the courage to speak up when I need to and not to delay. Help me to trust You more in this area.

Preguntas para tomar en serio:

1.) What is an area in your life you need to watch carefully because Satan had a huge hook in you?

Secrets is the area I need to watch carefully. I need to use my voice and share things right away before the enemy has a chance to torment me about things. I need to be more intentional and proactive in this area.

2.) How did God remove that hook?

In February 2010, I was in a very dark place and asked God to take me home because I couldn’t deal with the pain in my life anymore. He asked me if I trusted Him, and I said yes. He then opened a door and I was introduced to a local ministry that dealt with childhood wounds from dysfunctional families. I was a part of an intense inner healing and a high–accountability group for five I worked on adult-Child recovery work and journaled every day for five años. I heard from God like never before. I began to trust God more and more. He showed me that having secrets is lying and eso lying is a sin. He told me to stop running and hiding, which in essence I was doing by not telling the whole truth. He wants me to be bold and courageous.

3.) Cómo podemos orar por ti?

Please pray that I will fear God more than man and I will speak up quickly. Pray God gives me the courage to speak the truth and to trust Him.

Espero que este tema te haya sido útil.. Si necesitas hablar, please reach out to me: toni@myashestobeauty.com.

 

Eres amado,
Toni

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La raíz de la amargura

La raíz de la amargura

La raíz de la amargura

Por Toni Weisz/Disciplinas espirituales

Escrituras: Hebreos 12:14-15, Efesios 4:26-27, 31 and James 5:16a

Hebreos 12:14-15
Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by this many become defiled;

Efesios 4:26-27, 31
Be angry and sin not: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking put away from you with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Jaime 5:16a
Por lo tanto, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

Have you ever struggled to forgive someone, and it seems like a hundred times a day you keep thinking about all the bad things they said and did to you. Each time you bring them to the Lord and forgive them, but it’s not working. The evil one keeps bringing all these offences into your mind and heart and he is tormenting you with them. You try to forgive them the best you can, but for some reason, it is not working. I had that happen to me recently.

When I journal in the morning to the Lord, I ask Him to reveal any blindness or secret sins that I am not aware of so they can be brought into the light. Each morning, I read The Bible for Hope by AACC (American Association of Christian Counselors). Each morning, I read a different topic and the Scriptures that go with it. One morning, I was reading about bitterness. The Lord removed my blindness in this area, and He showed me I was jealous and envious of my family, and because of that, I could not forgive them. I first needed to confess my sins to God and then ask Him to remove this huge root that had been growing for 30 años. He had to do major surgery on my heart because this thing was huge. After all, He is the Great Physician (I couldn’t resist that, jajaja). I asked Him to remove this root and to replace it with His love, alegría, and peace. And He did. It was done, no more struggling, no more playing old tapes, no more comparing their lives to mine. It was done. I was set free from my torment.

This root had prevented me from truly loving my family the way Christ wanted me to; instead I felt like a martyr. I was the poor little thing. That was a lie. God plucked me out of my family of origin, and I was adopted into God’s family. They don’t know the Lord. They are scrambling, trying to hold onto everything this world can give. I, on the other hand, have an incorruptible inheritance that no one can take away. No one can pluck me out of the Father’s hand. I have eternal security, which is more valuable than anything else this world can offer me.

I no longer yearn to be accepted by them. I don’t need to feel like I belong, because I know I belong to God and His Son has covered all my sins. My life has been redeemed from destruction; He crowns me with loving kindness and tender mercies. I am a daughter of the King. And that’s just fine with me.

Preguntas para tomar en serio:

  1. Do you struggle with forgiving others for what they have done to you in the past?
  2. Has it created a root of bitterness?
  3. Ask God to show you what is preventing you from truly loving and forgiving them.
  4. Cómo podemos orar por ti?

I pray that you too can be set free from the chains of unforgiveness and bitterness. Si necesitas hablar, just email me at: toni@myashestobeauty.com.

Eres amado,
Toni

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Mis mecanismos de afrontamiento poco saludables

Mis mecanismos de afrontamiento poco saludables

Mis mecanismos de afrontamiento poco saludables

by Toni Weisz/Abuse Recovery

Escrituras: Hebreos 13:5C, Romanos 12:1-2, John 8:31-32 and Zephaniah 3:17

Romanos 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good and acceptable perfect will of God.

John 8:31-32
Entonces Jesús dijo a los judíos que le creían., “If you abide in my word, ustedes son mis discípulos en verdad. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Los mecanismos de afrontamiento se definen como técnicas que utilizamos para ayudarnos a afrontar el estrés., dolor, y traumas que hemos experimentado en nuestras vidas.

Mecanismos de afrontamiento poco saludables:

  • Evitación y aislamiento
  • Drogas y alcohol
  • Negación
  • Ocupación
  • Racionalización
  • Control

From my childhood, I learned evitación y aislamiento para mantenerme a salvo de personas o situaciones no saludables. Running and hiding is what I learned as a small child, and I still used those tactics as an adult until I got into recovery and learned new healthy coping mechanisms. Alabado sea el Señor!

Instead of avoidance, God gave me a voice, and I learned to communicate my likes and dislikes. I never developed a voice growing up, but once I put up boundaries, Usar mi voz era necesario para comunicar esos límites a los demás.. Conforme el tiempo fue pasando, Me sentí más cómoda compartiendo mi corazón con los demás sin miedo al rechazo.. Dios también me dijo que dejara de correr y esconderme y que le dejara el resultado a Él..

comencé a usar alcohol y drogas en 12 años cuando no recibía la atención saludable que necesitaba en casa. Decidí empezar a tomar el asunto en mis propias manos., which was a defining moment in my life. As a result of that choice, I would run to other things other than God when I was hurting. Sólo quería una solución rápida para evitar el dolor que había acumulado toda mi vida.. Usé a la gente y les permití que me usaran.. Mi vida se llenó de arrepentimiento, miedo al rechazo, depresión, suicidal thoughts, and self-hatred. Doy gracias a Dios por tener misericordia de esta mujer rota.. He saved me from my self-destructive lifestyle. Ahora corro hacia Jesús para que me quite el dolor.. He is the only one who will never leave me nor forsake me (Árbitro. Hebreos 13:5C).

Yo estaba en negación about the dysfunction in my home of origin and my home with my husband and children for many years until I realized I cannot control another person and that doing anything out of fear never ends well. I don’t have the power to change another person; only God does. Entonces, Cedo el control a Dios para cambiar a otros o situaciones cuando me siento impotente. I was in denial due to my fear of rejection from my parents and spouse, so I obeyed ridiculous rules to be accepted and loved by others, pero eso nunca funcionó. When I finally received the love of Jesus in my heart, then I had the courage to stand on my own without fear of rejection from others because I knew God was with me, always.

Ocupación Fue una herramienta que el enemigo usó conmigo durante décadas.. His purpose was to keep me so busy that I would not have time to recognize my dysfunctional life. My striving for love and acceptance, even from God, kept me working so hard to feel worthy. Nunca me detuve lo suficiente para evaluar mi vida., mis decisiones, mis relaciones, mi visión poco saludable de mí mismo, Dios, y otros. estaba tan arruinado, but I could not see that until God showed me my ways were not working.

De nuevo en 2010, Estaba tan deprimida que le pedí a Dios que me llevara a casa porque solo quería morir.. Y él dijo, “¿Crees que puedo cambiar las cosas para tu bien??"

I said, "Sí, Caballero, I believe that.”

el dijo, “TRUST ME.”

After that, I got into ACA recovery work and an inner healing group for five years. God was exposing the lies with His truth. I was learning about boundaries and what that looks like, and He showed me that I was enabling abuse from others by not using my voice. God had me stop from all serving at church and First Care because I was that sick and needed God to intervene to heal me. God was so faithful and put the right people in my path, and I was healed and set free from all the dysfunction in my life and started experiencing true peace and freedom in Christ. In January 2013, comencé este ministerio. Alabado sea!!! Gracias, Jesús.

I racionalizado mi abuso, Pensar que no debo ser una persona valiosa o los demás me tratarían de manera diferente.. Después de mi aborto, El enemigo me dijo que merecía ser abusada por mi decisión de abortar a mi hijo.. My husband was very controlling, and my children and I were required to obey ridiculous rules. I rationalized in my head that if I didn’t obey those rules, he would leave me. El enemigo usó esa mentira durante décadas para mantenerme en cautiverio y en un ambiente hogareño muy insalubre.. I am thankful for the day I had courage to say, "No, I am not going to follow these rules,” and leave the outcome in God’s hands.

Ya no tenía miedo de que se fuera. I trusted God to take care of me, and He did. Mi relación con mi marido ahora es mejor que nunca.. I now know that I am loved and valued by God and that He doesn’t want me to accept abusive treatment from anyone; No merezco que abusen de mí a pesar de mis malas decisiones en el pasado.. Él me ama y quiere que use mi voz para establecer límites saludables y protegerme de personas y situaciones no saludables.. No puedo cambiar mi pasado. All I can do is learn from it and share my experience, fortaleza, y esperanza con los demás para que tal vez puedan tomar decisiones saludables.

Control fue una herramienta que aprendí a usar cuando era muy joven. Sinceramente, creía que podía controlar cómo se sentían los demás., lo que hacen, y que podría controlar el resultado. que todo era mentira. No tenía control sobre ninguna de esas cosas.. Las áreas que traté de controlar fueron cómo reaccionaban y se comportaban las personas hacia mí.. I tried to control what others saw in me by wearing a mask, and I also tried to control how much I weighed by taking speed, píldoras de dieta, y purgarme después de haber comido demasiado. Dios me mostró al cederle el control que puedo ser liberado de estas obsesiones y tormentos.. He taught me to love myself just the way I am and to relinquish all control to Him because He will never harm me.

I am so grateful for the day I was set free from all my unhealthy coping mechanisms. I have learned new skills to help me cope with the pain and trauma from my past. Tuve que entregar completamente todo y a todos a Dios.. Ya no me importaba lo que los demás pensaran de mí.. No obedecí reglas ridículas por miedo a ser rechazado., I now had a voice, and God has taught me how to use it to express my feelings in a healthy godly way. Ya no estoy esclavizado por mis viejos pensamientos y mis viejos patrones de comportamiento.. I truly have become a new creation in Christ, with God’s help and by renewing my mind daily.

En romanos 12:2, the Bible says do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

El tiempo diario que paso con Dios en Su Palabra y escuchar al Espíritu Santo me ha ayudado a salir del caos., disfunción, y la miseria en una paz, joyful, y vida plena.

Preguntas para tomar en serio:

  1. What have you used in the past to help you cope with the trauma you have experienced in your life?
  2. How did you break those unhealthy destructive behaviors?
  3. What are some healthy things you do now to help you cope in a godly way?
  4. Cómo podemos orar por ti?

Espero que este tema te haya sido útil.. Por favor comuníquese si necesita hablar: toni@myashestobeauty.com.

I will leave you with one of my favorite verses:
Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord your God in your midst, the mighty One will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.

Eres amado,
Toni

 

 

Lea más de los blogs de Toni AQUÍ.
Rechazo, Una mentira del diablo

Rechazo, Una mentira del diablo

Rechazo, Una mentira del diablo

by Toni Weisz/Spiritual Warfare
Salmo 27:10, Romanos 8:38-39, mateo 24:35, Salmo 147:3

The spiritual warfare I am experiencing lately has heightened, due to me taking on the leadership for my church prayer team since our leaders stepped down a few months ago, and now I am about to start a STS (Surrendering the Secret) study session. I am still in a
wheelchair after my foot surgery about a month ago. Entonces, I would say I am a little vulnerable right now. But I am aware of what the evil one is trying to do. Rejection has always been a huge wound for me from my childhood.

When I feel rejected by my earthly family, I am reminded that my peace and security doesn’t come from money, relationships, or anything else this world has to offer. My peace and security come from knowing God my Heavenly Father, and His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit my constant companion and friend.

Entonces, when the evil one comes to poke my rejection wound, I remind him, “I belong to God.” I was plucked out of my earthly family and placed into the family of God. I am adopted by God. I will never be rejected. I will never be abandoned. I will never walk alone again. “When my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take care of me.” (Salmo 27:10)

I am loved by my Heavenly Father, and nothing shall separate me from His love. “For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities nor powers, nor things present not things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romanos 8:38-39) What a beautiful promise from God’s Word.

Gracias, Holy Spirit, for giving me God’s perspective. It gives me great comfort to know the truth. I pray for my unsaved family members who do not have a relationship with You. They are desperately holding onto things like money, relationships, their physical beauty, a retirement account, or anything that gives them a sense of security. But it will all burn up in the end. The only real thing in this world is a relationship with You, Jesús. Everything else will rust, corrupt, decay and die, but your Word will never pass away. It is eternal. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” (mateo 24:35)

Dear one, I pray you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior. He knows what it feels like to be rejected and abandoned. He wants you to surrender all to Him. Stop trying to do things in your own strength. Allow Him to minister to you in all the places in your soul that have been wounded due to trauma from abortion and/or abuse. He comes to bind up the broken hearted and heal all your wounds. (Árbitro. Salmo 147:3)

Por favor comuníquese si necesita hablar: toni@myashestobeauty.com.

Eres amado,
Toni

 

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El rescate

El rescate

El rescate

por Toni Weisz/Disciplinas espirituales
Escrituras: colosenses 1: 13-14 and Isaiah 53:2e-3b and 62:2b

colosenses 13:1
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Isaías 53:2e-3b
There is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

Last week, my parents had to put down their beloved dog of 16 años. This little fella was like a child to them. He was beautiful to look at, a full breed Chihuahua, reddish brown with a big bushy tail. he looked like a miniature fox. But he was quite spoiled y could do whatever he wanted. We all called him, “The Little Prince.”

The grief was too much for them, so when I went to see them five days later, my dad said, “I want you to find us a dog.”

“Oh, okay,” I said.

I had no idea where to even start, so I texted my daughter who has rescued four dogs, “How can I find them a dog?” She made a few suggestions, so I went online and started searching, putting in their criteria. I came to this little guy named Happy Boy y showed my mom, and she said, "Oh, no, I don’t want that one.”

I agree, his photo was not very flattering. he looked kind of scruffy. Nothing to be desired. Sound familiar? In Isaiah 53:2e-3b, Jesus is described as, “There is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.”

I made a few phone calls and found a place, so after I left there, I went to go find them a dog. When I arrived at the shelter in, I looked at a few dogs, but none matched their criteria. they found one for me in a different city, so they made a call and I was on my way.

His name was Happy Boy, the same dog I found online that my mom did not want. Oh well, I was going to look at him anyway. he fit their criteria; his description read: friendly, cariñoso, gentle, easy going, all the things they were looking for, but he was not pretty. I finally find this place located in a parking lot on the grounds of the Palm Beach Kennel Club.

I asked the young woman if I could see Happy Boy y she told me to wait outside and she would bring him to me. As I waited, I started a video to show my parents this little guy. When I saw him come, I said, “Hey, little guy, let me see you,” and he came running and jumped on my legs and was running all around. he was a bundle of joy and full of fun and energy. Pensé, “OH my, this is their dog. he looked much cuter than his picture. Entonces, I called my parents and did a video call so they could see him. I told them that I could pick them up and take them to see Happy Boy the next day .

Once they saw him in the video, my dad said, “Bring him to us."

“You mean buy him now?" I asked.

"Sí," he said.

I said, “Okay,” and thought to myself, “I guess we are doing this."

Entonces, I went inside and filled out the papers and paid for Happy Boy. The young woman said we want to take a picture. When I picked this little guy up, he didn’t stop licking my face. I tried to raise my chin, but I could not escape his enthusiasm. He was so thankful, pero I don’t think he understood he was being rescued. He just was so full of love eso he couldn’t contain himself.

We were rescued also, by the precious blood of Jesus shed on the cross for us. I don’t think I understood the magnitude of this until recently. His death purchased my eternal life. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, (Árbitro. colosenses 1:13-14).

On the drive to my parents’ home, this little guy settled in nicely, still panting because it was so hot. I had him lay down on the front passenger’s seat. He must have licked my hand for five minutes, as I was holding his leash so he would not fall off the seat. He started to dose off, feeling safe, comfortable, and cool. For the last ten minutes, he became a little antsy and jumped into my lap, and I finished the remaining part of our ride with this guy literally in my face. It was so adorable. he is such a love, a pure joy.

We arrived at my parents just in time as they had just pulled into the garage with a huge box in their trunk. They had just come back from the pet store with this big fence for their new little member of the family. This would no solo keep him under supervision but also give him a space for his bed, new toys, and water. This was probably tres times the size of his old cage at the shelter.

I called several times over the next few days to find out how they were all adjusting, and the response was an astounding, “We are all doing well, y “Randy” (his new name), is adjusting nicely.” Doesn’t God give us a new name too?

Isaías 62:2b, “You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will name.”

I hope this story touched your hearts, too.

Jesus purchased our freedom with His blood on the cross. He rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of Light. He also gave us a new name. I pray you have experienced this transformation for yourself. If you want to talk to someone about what it means to have a relationship with God, to be born again, por favor envíeme un correo electrónico a: toni@myashestobeauty.com.

Eres amado,
Toni

 

“Happy Boy”
This picture was taken on the first day of his rescue from the shelter. Junio 6, 2025

The Rescue bu Toni Weis, HAPPY BOY

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