Stronghold Counseling Services, Inc.

Stronghold Counseling Services, Inc. Stronghold Counseling Services began as a vision of a ministry in the Sioux Falls area. We offer a gr

11/17/2025

Not only does gratitude transform our hearts and minds, but it also has measurable effects on our bodies.


Research shows that people who practice gratitude sleep better and wake up more refreshed. Gratitude leads to fewer negative thoughts before bed, creating a calmer state of mind that promotes restful sleep.5 In Psalm 4:8, the psalmist declared,

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.

This sense of safety and peace, grounded in trust and thankfulness, allows us to rest well and wake up renewed.

The Great Morning Revolution
by Tara Beth Leach

11/16/2025

Martin Seligman, a pioneer in the field of psychological theory known as positive psychology, highlights the role of gratitude in mental health, finding that people who practice gratitude regularly experience higher levels of life satisfaction, lower levels of depression, and an overall greater sense of well-­ being. Gratitude, then, becomes not just an act of thankfulness but also a key to living a fuller, healthier life.



When we express gratitude, we don’t just feel better; we become better. It changes the way we see ourselves, the people around us, and the world at large. A study by Barbara Fredrickson and Robert Levenson found that individuals who practice gratitude are more resilient, experience less stress, and are more optimistic about their futures.4 In Philippians 4:8, Paul tells us to dwell on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable.

Gratitude allows us to do just that —­ it trains our minds to focus on God’s goodness, even in difficult circumstances.

The Great Morning Revolution
by Tara Beth Leach

11/15/2025

Modern psychology backs up what Scripture has been telling us for centuries: Gratitude has profound benefits. Robert Emmons, a leading expert on gratitude, has demonstrated that gratitude is closely linked with emotional healing, personal growth, and greater over-all well-­ being. His research reveals that people who keep gratitude journals or regularly practice thankfulness experience significantly improved mental health and resilience over time.

But the benefits of gratitude extend beyond the emotional. Neuroscientist Alex Korb explains that expressing gratitude activates neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin — the chemicals in our brain responsible for feelings of happiness and contentment. Korb says that gratitude can make us feel better instantly.2 By choosing gratitude, we can actually rewire our brains to be more positive and hopeful. Gratitude helps us reorient our thoughts toward what is good and noble rather than dwelling on negativity.

The Great Morning Revolution
by Tara Beth Leach

11/14/2025

Gratitude invites us to shift our perspective from what is lacking to the abundant blessings that surround us, often hidden in plain sight. By adopting a stance of gratitude each morning, we open our hearts to the endless possibilities of grace and prepare ourselves to encounter God’s goodness woven throughout our daily lives.

The Bible calls us to practice gratitude consistently, reminding us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to “give thanks in all circumstances.” This is an invitation into a life marked by the presence of God.

Gratitude opens our eyes to the blessings around us, drawing us closer to the heart of God, who is the giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17).

The Great Morning Revolution
by Tara Beth Leach

11/13/2025

The 10 l***r story from the gospel of Luke reminds us that gratitude begins with an acknowledgment of God’s presence in our lives. Rooted in the Latin word gratia, meaning “grace,” gratitude is more than a fleeting emotion; it is a profound state of being that embodies thankfulness and appreciation. Gratitude is a transformative force that has the power to reshape not only our hearts and minds but also our bodies and spirits.

When we cultivate a grateful heart, we step into a rhythm of life that aligns with the ways God created us to live.

The Great Morning Revolution
by Tara Beth Leach

11/12/2025

Every time you laugh with a friend, vent over coffee, or send a silly meme, you’re not just boosting your mood—you’re doing something your body recognizes as survival-critical. You’re triggering oxytocin (the bonding hormone), reducing cortisol (the stress hormone), and giving your immune system a high-five.

So here’s your longevity assignment this week:

Text someone you love.
Plan something to look forward to with someone fun.
Call an old friend or colleague and ask to grab a waffle.
Your body, and your new besties, will thank you.

Vanessa Van Edwards, Science of People

11/11/2025

California Poppy
Eschscholzia Californica

“Beneath the sun’s embrace, the poppy finds its radiant purpose.” The author of this quote is unknown, but it’s not hard to envision these beauties glowing in the sun. It is said that when Spaniards first saw California hillsides covered in the golden poppies, they called it the “land of fire.”1 That is radiance.

Is it not the same with us? Are we the most radiant when we’re actively experiencing the Son’s embrace? On the days we make ourselves attentive and available to Jesus, aware of His precious embrace, we are the most radiant. Most alive. Most content with who He is and who He made us to be.

We are children of the King. Fearfully and wonderfully made. Deeply beloved. Radiant in His presence.

The Way of the Wildflower
by Ruth Chou Simons

11/10/2025

Changing the way we feel about ourselves is not about embracing worldly forms of self-love, nor is it about simply adopting healthy lifestyle changes; it’s about aligning our thoughts with God’s thoughts about us.

The Way of the Wildflower
by Ruth Chou Simons

11/09/2025

Parry’s primrose is a bold magenta flower that lives high up in the mountains, even at levels that are considered the alpine tundra. It loves wet roots and is often found growing along streams and waterfall ledges.

After a hard winter in the mountains, when the snow finally melts, it barely seems possible that such a beautiful flower could exist in such a hard place — but there it is. A lovely reminder to keep our eyes open to what only God can make possible.

The Way of the Wildflower by Ruth Chou Simons

11/08/2025

When we look at the impossible circumstances of our lives through the lens of self-reliance, we will either hustle harder or give up in defeat. But when we look at the impossible circumstances of our lives through the lens of God’s power and strength, we will stop measuring our likeliness to accomplish the impossible by our own strength and instead look to Him.

We’re saved by the impossible, amazing grace of God.

When God gave seemingly impossible instructions to His people in exile through the prophet Jeremiah, His word to them was,

Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for Me?

The Way of the Wildflower
by Ruth Chou Simons

— Jeremiah 32:27

11/07/2025

In the darkest moments of our life, when we feel unseen, disregarded or abandoned, we can remember that the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it (John 1:5). Wherever the Light of Christ is, there is hope. This isn’t just a good-sounding Christian slogan. This is truth. And sometimes it’s helpful to speak this out loud over whatever you are facing. Remember, lies flee in the presence of truth, just like darkness flees in the presence of light.

Jesus is “the way, and the truth, and the life.”

30 Days with Jesus
by Lysa TerKeurst and Joel Muddamalle

11/06/2025

“Mother’s Cover,”
Dona Maddux Cooper

“When you were small and just a touch away,

I covered you with blankets against the cold night air.

But now that you are tall and out of reach,

I fold my hands and cover you with prayer.”

Address

4300 S Louise Avenue
Sioux Falls, SD
57106

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 8pm
Tuesday 8am - 8pm
Wednesday 8am - 8pm
Thursday 8am - 8pm
Friday 8am - 12pm

Telephone

+16053347713

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