Photo by jcomp
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony…–Revelation 12:11
The journey of breaking spiritual strongholds is a powerful journey of finding freedom and peace.
Many people are held back by negative thoughts, fears, or patterns they can’t seem to change. These battles are often spiritual.
For those seeking spiritual freedom, Ashley D. Wille’s My Journey Through the Cross offers practical guidance and personal testimonies about deliverance ministry and overcoming dark influence.
Photo by Binti Malu
Understanding Spiritual Strongholds
Spiritual strongholds are more than just bad habits or fleeting negative thoughts—they are deeply rooted patterns of thinking and behavior that can keep us from living a true Christian life.
These strongholds often originate from evil influences, such as pervasive lies we have been led to believe, or the subtle forces of spiritual oppression that seek to distort our view of ourselves and God.
Over time, these thoughts become entrenched and shape the way we see the world and ourselves. Living in the freedom that Jesus offers, thus, becomes difficult.
Recognizing these strongholds is the first step toward breaking free.
Facing the Cross and Acknowledging Your Weakness
The journey of breaking spiritual strongholds begins with honesty and surrender.
Wille calls this “facing the cross,” which means stopping your own efforts and bringing your pain to God. She learned to “still her soul” in God’s presence. The coming of God’s presence guides and directs the process of surrender, reminding us that He leads our spiritual journey. This is not a one-time prayer, but a daily choice to focus on God instead of the problem.
In her struggle, she felt assaulted by guilt and condemnation. But she learned that God’s voice brings peace, not fear.
“The Lord trained me repeatedly to focus solely on Him throughout the day and night.”
This focus is a great weapon in spiritual warfare because it shifts your attention from the problem to the Problem-Solver. Using God’s Word as a practical tool in spiritual warfare and surrender provides guidance in prayer and authority to resist evil.
The Power of Renouncing Curses
A vital part of breaking spiritual strongholds is to cut off their source. Wille discovered that voices from her past were influencing her present. These, she calls “phantoms”—critical voices that dictated her actions.
She realized she had to forgive everyone who had hurt her and also renounce curses from her family line.
The process of deliverance often involves several events, such as diagnosing the issue, identifying the dark influence, and expelling it through prayer and spiritual intervention.
“He also showed me the forgiveness I must offer all people in their humanity for future times when I would be hurt or rejected.”
She even forgave historical figures, breaking ties with generational sin and pain. This act of forgiveness and renunciation is a powerful declaration in spiritual prayers that severs the enemy’s rights, especially when considering the nature of certain influences or objects that may contribute to spiritual strongholds.
Finding Inner Healing in God’s Presence
He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.–Psalm 147:3
Breaking spiritual strongholds always involves deep inner healing.
Wille had to let God into her deepest wounds, especially those from childhood that affected her view of God as a Father. She was afraid God was distant and hard to please, just like her early memories of her dad.
In a moment of raw honesty, she yelled at God in her pain. Instead of punishing her, He responded with tenderness, and the Holy Spirit brought comfort and healing.
“Tenderly, with understanding and empathy, He spoke to my heart… ‘Do you feel better now?’”
This encounter began her inner healing, and she learned that God is not a harsh judge but a loving Father who wants to heal our hurts. God’s Word brings healing and restoration to wounded hearts, supporting the process of inner healing and deliverance.
A major stronghold Wille had to break was the belief that she had to perform perfectly for God. She was exhausted from trying to follow all the rules. In today’s fast-paced world, it can feel impossible to meet all spiritual expectations. She discovered that true faith means resting in what Jesus has already done.
“I used to hate my humanity, fight to conquer it, while feeling ashamed of it in God’s presence… I have come to let Him love my humanity, all of it.”
Accepting our human nature is essential in the journey of faith and healing.
“Christ in me is my life, my worth, and my hope of glory.”
This faith brings a “Sabbath rest” for the soul, where you stop your own labor and trust in His.
Photo by 8photo
Living Truly in Spiritual Freedom
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.–John 8:36
The result of breaking spiritual strongholds is a life of freedom and peace. Wille is no longer controlled by guilt, fear, or the need to perform. She doesn’t live in a cycle of confessing every sin because she believes Jesus took them all away. Stating plainly, she writes: “I never confess my sins to God,” because she agrees with Him that He has already removed them “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12).
She lives in the freedom of being fully known and fully loved.
Her home, once a place of stress and perfectionism, became a place of joy, even amidst messes. This is the practical proof of a life set free.
The path of breaking spiritual strongholds is a journey from bondage to rest, from fear to love. It is fought with the weapons of prayer, faith, forgiveness, and a relentless focus on the goodness of God.
As Wille’s story shows, the victory is not just for a select few, but for anyone who dares to bring their whole, broken self to the cross and receive the healing and freedom that Christ offers.
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.–1 John 5:4
If this message of freedom and rest resonates with you, Ashley D. Wille’s personal testimony in My Journey Through the Cross will help you discover how you, too, can break every stronghold and find the abundant life God intends for you.
