Strongholds Read online

  Had Theresa protested, I could have told her what a horrible, self-centered person I was, and how much they all would be better off having me out of their lives sooner rather than later. Nope, that would never have worked.

  But I did make one, ultimate miscalculation. I didn’t count on them treating me like family. Nor did I know being with my own flesh and blood like that would cause me to start changing. I admit: I got a little soft.

  Whoever is looking for me, though, I hope it’s worth their while. I would have given up after all these years myself. So either Lena or Theresa called the police on me and filed a report that has caused the police to try and find me (which I seriously doubt the police would be looking this hard for somebody like me), or someone else I’ve wronged somewhere through the years has hired someone to stay hot on my trail.

  Nobody, which includes Lena and Theresa, can prove I took anything. And even if they could prove anything, they have no evidence. I figure little Miss-High-and-Mighty Theresa is the likely culprit behind this man who has been following me from town to town. She’s probably more upset about me having left her back in 2001 the way I did when she was in labor than anything. And there was the 9/11 World Trade Center and all those other tragedies happening that day, alongside the joy of her baby being born….

  The baby. I hear it was a little girl just like I told them it would be. The 9/11 thing had me a little worried for a while as I did wonder about what may have happened to Lena. But then I’d already done what I did, and it was too late to turn back. Gosh, who had a way of knowing? I did eventually learn Lena was okay. I also heard something about Beatrice dying; I’m sure that had to have sent Theresa completely over the edge.

  Theresa seems to be vindictive enough; she would pay money for someone to hunt me down just for the principle of the thing. And I’ll give it to whomever it is searching; they are attempting to be quite clever about sniffing me out. Like when they had that detective tell folks I’m possibly heir to some huge fortune in, of all places, Asheville, North Carolina, and that it’s imperative my family locate me. Like I would really fall for that one. As soon as I took that bait, they would be reeling me into the nearest jailhouse and threatening to throw away the key or who knows what else.

  Lately, I have considered making things right with my family. Just go on and allow that man to catch me and face the consequences. Frankly, I’m just tired of running. I’m too old to continue living this kind of lifestyle. Moving constantly, looking over my shoulders, hustling for my next “pay” day by any means necessary.

  This minister was preaching about strongholds and being released from them.

  “God can release you from the strongholds of your past,” Pastor Landris said. “Some of you may have done things you think you can never be forgiven of. There’s not a sin out there that you can’t bring before the Lord and ask Him to forgive you of that He won’t forgive. And God won’t bring up your past to you again. But now Satan will take your past and try to keep you in bondage. He’ll tell you how horrible you are. He’ll tell you that God could never forgive someone like you. But Satan is a liar, and the truth is not in him. Come, won’t you? Come, and let God release the shackles from around your ankles today. Let Him break the chains that have you bound.” He pulled his fist in different directions to show a chain being broken.

  “If you’re tired of carrying around heavy weights that are holding you down,” Pastor Landris said, “then come. Let’s pray to have your stronghold released. If you want to be free, get up out of your seat and walk up here right now. Don’t wait for tomorrow. Today is your appointed time. Don’t worry about what the person sitting next to you will think. This is about you. Get up and come forward now. Right now. Today. Today is your day to be set free. For whom the Son sets free, is free indeed.”

  I stood up, and the next thing I knew, I was standing at the altar with tears streaming down my face. I already knew the Lord; I’d given Him my heart when I was a young girl. True: I didn’t know what all that meant at the time. And I had turned away from Him and all that I knew to be right. But now it appears that in the midst of all my running away, I may be finding my way back to Him. It’s as though today, I am running into the arms of my Lord, who has been standing there waiting for me all this time.

  “Take me back,” I found myself singing quietly as I walked to the front. “Take me back, dear Lord. To the place where I first received You.”

  Chapter 2

  Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

  —2 Corinthians 8:21

  Pastor Landris stood at the front of the conference room. “Many of you came forward today when I extended the call for those who were dealing with various strongholds. I prayed for you at the altar, and as much as all of us would love for your deliverance from your stronghold to have been instantaneous, that’s not always the case. It’s not as if prayer alone will always cause everything to suddenly be all right,” Pastor Landris said as he took a few steps forward. “I believe in the power of prayer, but I also believe there are times where some work, strides, and efforts must be made on our part for a change to completely take hold and become effective.”

  A woman raised her hand.

  “Yes,” Pastor Landris said, acknowledging her.

  “So coming forward today didn’t automatically break me from my stronghold?”

  Pastor Landris smiled. “Sometimes some people experience an immediate manifestation of deliverance. Sometimes there is work that has to be done as the process is taking place. I’ve known people who have come up and asked me to pray for them to be released from, say, overwhelming debt. Now, I know everybody would love to just walk up to the front, have a minister slap them upside their head, and everything is set straight, right then and there. But God doesn’t always work that way. I’m not saying that He can’t do it that way; it’s just many times things are done in progression. First the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear.”

  A man raised his hand. “So you’re saying some of us may be released from our strongholds already?”

  “Yes. And some of you may have to work it while you believe God for your full manifestation. I believe God did a work in each of you when you stood up, took that step of faith, and came forward. It might have been just the blade for some of you; for others, the full ear.” Pastor Landris looked toward the back as another hand went up. “Yes?”

  “Then what you’re saying is that prayer alone doesn’t work?”

  “I’m not saying prayer alone doesn’t work. But I feel people have misconceptions about prayer. Prayer is not designed to be a magic cure-all. Prayer is a way to bring a request before God. Look at prayer as being an usher who escorts you and your request front and center. That’s why I wanted all of you to come in here so we could talk more in-depth. My desire is to equip you with every tool needed to win your individual battles. God’s desire, as is mine in having done all these sessions on strongholds, is to set captives free. Think of my giving you information as bringing you before a locked door. Prayer delivers the key designed to unlock that door for you. If you have a key and don’t use it, what good does it do you? If you use the key—faith—but you refuse to walk through the unlocked door, it still profits you nothing. You must fully act on your faith to overcome your strongholds. But you also need a powerful weapon to fight with. This”—Pastor Landris picked up his Bible and held it up—“two-edged sword, the Word of God, applied consistently in daily living, will set captives free.”

  Dr. Holden raised his hand.

  “Yes?”

  “How long does this process generally take? And is there any way we can accelerate the processing time…get to the full ear? I’m sort of in a hurry.”

  A few people laughed while others looked intensely toward Pastor Landris for the answer.

  “Much of where you go and how fast you get there from here will depend upon you. God has already done it. It’s finished in His eyes. B
ut as the Bible says, without faith, it is impossible to please God; and faith without works is dead. You can believe you’ve been healed, delivered, your stronghold has been placed under your feet and that you’re free. But unless you act on that belief, in the end it doesn’t really matter what you believe. That’s why faith—action—is so important.” Another hand went up. “Yes?”

  “So what’s next for us?”

  Pastor Landris smiled and clapped his hands one time. “Glad you asked. What I’d like to do is to have our Deliverance Support Ministry meet with any of you who are interested in a specially created Bible study on this subject. This is a brand new ministry we’ve started here. This Wednesday will be the first time for this group to meet. The first two or three weeks will be used to disseminate information and tools with which you’ll learn how to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. But to get you started, and for those who are not interested in this Bible study, I do have a handout for you to take with you so you can begin to make changes in your life today.”

  Pastor Landris nodded to Sherry and her team to distribute the handouts. “For some of you, this handout may be enough to help usher you into the full manifestation of your deliverance. If that’s the case, then that’s great. If you desire to come to the Deliverance support group, we welcome you and believe it will bless you. Again, if you feel you don’t need it, that’s fine. After the first few weeks’ study, you can still come together to continue the support as well as pray and receive teaching for as long as you need it.”

  Pastor Landris noticed Sherry had finished passing out the reading material. “I would like to ask anyone interested in this Wednesday night session to please sign up here on your way out.” He held up a notebook. “That way we’ll have an idea of how many to expect and prepare for.”

  “If we sign up and change our minds later about coming, is that okay?” someone asked.

  “Yes, that’s fine,” Pastor Landris said.

  “What about if we don’t sign up now? Can we come anyway if we see we need to?” another person asked.

  “Yes. We’re not here to make things difficult for anyone,” Pastor Landris said. “Our goal is to be a blessing and not a burden on God’s people in the process. If you need to come, then come. If you sign up thinking you need to and you find you don’t need it because you are totally delivered, that’s wonderful. God bless you.”

  “We just need a general count today so we’ll have some idea of the size room to secure, at least to begin,” Sherry said. “We’re also posting this class on the Web site.”

  An elderly, Caucasian-looking woman in the back raised her hand. “Should we decide to sign up, what information will we have to disclose?”

  “Just your name, address, and phone number.”

  “Will we have to openly disclose our problem at any time?” a young man asked.

  “No, you don’t have to tell what your specific problem is unless you desire to tell it or unless you feel you need to reveal something in order for us to help you.”

  “One more question, Pastor,” a man said. “What if we need individual counseling? Can we come and talk with you privately?”

  Pastor Landris looked around the room of about sixty people. “Well, as you can see just from here, it would be taxing to try to counsel everyone individually. That’s why we’re doing this form of corporate counseling by way of this special Bible study. After the initial weeks, we will likely break the group down into more specific smaller groups.”

  “Will you be the one in charge of this ministry?”

  “No, actually, we have some wonderful ministers who’ll be leading this support group effort,” Pastor Landris said. He then looked around the room. “Any more questions?” He scanned the room once more. “All right then. I thank you for your time, and please sign up if you’re interested in joining this Deliverance support group as you leave.”

  Pastor Landris watched as the older woman who sat in the back and seemed to hang on his every word got up and walked out of the room without signing up.

  Memory looked back after she walked out the door. “That prayer he prayed when I was up there had best be enough to break my stronghold,” she mumbled to herself. “There’s no way I’m coming here weekly for some meeting.” She walked to the car and found Arletha waiting inside, drumming her fingers with a frown and tight, buttoned lips.

  “Sorry,” Memory said. “You know how it is: when you got to go, you got to go.” Truthfully, that really wasn’t a lie. She did have to go; she just didn’t say go where.

  Chapter 3

  For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

  —Luke 23:31

  Darius rang the doorbell twice. Fatima sat on her couch trying her best to ignore it. She already knew it was Darius. He had called and said he was on his way over.

  “Darius, don’t come here. I’m not playing; we’re through,” Fatima said.

  “Well, if we’re really through, then you can at least have the decency to tell me to my face.”

  “I don’t have to tell you anything to your face. Look, you’re the one who’s married here. This is wrong…for both of us. I hate this. Do you understand? I hate this!”

  “Is that why you went sashaying up to the altar yesterday at church?”

  “That’s none of your business,” Fatima said.

  “Oh, it is my business. Especially if you told what you went up there for.”

  “You don’t know why I went up there. That’s between me and God.”

  “Well, I know you. And knowing you, you were up there because of us. I just want to know if you happened to tell anybody why you came forward.”

  “Darius, look. If you’re worried about your sweet reputation and word getting out that you have—oh, I stand corrected—had a woman on the side, you don’t have to sweat about that. This is about me. It’s about me doing what’s right for me.”

  “So what are you saying? That I’m not right for you?”

  “Look, I don’t want to talk about this with you, okay? You and I are history. Finished. Through. It’s over. You can just go on with your wife and try to work things out with her. That’s what you should have been doing all along anyway. She’s the one you chose and decided to spend your life with—”

  “But she doesn’t make me happy,” Darius said.

  “Well, that’s not my problem.”

  “I’m coming over there.”

  “Don’t come here.”

  “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

  “Darius, I’m not playing. Don’t you come over here!”

  “Just don’t have me standing outside making a fool of myself. Because if I come and you don’t let me in, I will cause a scene if I have to.”

  “Yeah, right. Mr. Darius Discretion. I bet you will.”

  “I’ll see you in ten minutes.”

  “Darius—” Fatima stood there as a dial tone hummed in her ear. “Okay, God. What do I do now?” Fatima could only think to recite a Biblical passage. “The weapon of my warfare is not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. My weapon is not carnal, but mighty through God.”

  Nine minutes later, Darius, as promised, was ringing her doorbell. She refused to answer it. He rang it again and again. She stood praying to God for strength not to give in and open the door, which was what she really wanted to do. Darius began to bang on the door. She continued to pray.

  “Fatima, I know you’re in there!” Darius yelled. “Open up and stop playing games!”

  Fatima continued to pray.

  “Fatima, open this door!”

  “Thank you, Lord, for strength,” Fatima prayed. “I am mighty through you, God. I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me. I can do this. I can.”

  There were a few more pounds on the door, then finally…silence.

 
Fatima listened as she heard the car crank and tires squeal as Darius drove away. Tears streamed down her face. “God, I do love him so. Please, take away these feelings I have for him. Please. Take away these feelings. Oh, Father God, this hurts so much!”

  Chapter 4

  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

  —Ephesians 6:12

  Desiree and Edwin had walked up to the altar hand in hand. While standing there, he squeezed her hand three times. Her mind had wandered back to the time when she and Edwin first fell in love, back when she believed he was everything she wanted in a man.

  “Desiree,” Edwin had said after the first time he ever told her he loved her, “I’m not real good with words. In fact, saying ‘I love you’ was a major accomplishment for me just now. I wasn’t raised to show affection in that way. So I’m going to devise my own special signal specifically for us. On those days when I can’t get the words out, I’m going to squeeze your hand three times. That way you’ll know that I love you, no matter what’s going on or if I haven’t said it verbally.” He squeezed her hand three times. “I love you, Baby-cakes,” he said, and squeezed her hand three more times.

  “Baby-cakes?” Desiree had said with a smile, then a slight blush. My very own pet name. “I love you too, Edwin.”

  Desiree knew as they stood at the altar that Edwin was saying he loved her. It had been such a long time since he’d said it or used their special signal. It had been two days since they’d discussed their own strongholds. Edwin seemed to be struggling big time.

  “You know my stronghold is gambling, don’t you?” Edwin had said on their way back home from church. “But I felt something on the inside of me caused me to get up.”