Morning Prayer - You Have Given Me Authority

Jesus,

I come before you as the day dawns, and in my mind, I travel to the synagogue in Capernaum. I watch you as you teach. Not like the scribes, who merely repeat old truths, but with authority.

Your word is alive, full of power and authority.

When you spoke, the people were amazed. You bring a new teaching, one that is not just theory, but a power that changes lives.

For all who listened to you, it was a true experience of the living God. Even the impure spirit crying out from that man recognized your power. But you commanded it:

“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” (Mark 1:25)

And the spirit had to leave. Your word was enough. Just as decisively, you told another spirit:

When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” (Mark 9:25)

Lord, You Speak with Authority

Lord, today I ask that this same authority would echo in my heart. Remind me that this is not just a story from the past, but a reality for today, for my life. For you are the one who called your disciples and gave them this same authority.

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. (Matthew 10:1)

You confirmed this when you gathered them around you again.

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases. (Luke 9:1)

You Have Given Me Authority Over All Evil

And this promise, this authority, applies to me as well, doesn’t it, Lord? You said:

“I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” (Luke 10:19)

This is not my power, but yours, working in me. It is a sign that your kingdom is here, among us.

“But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Luke 11:20)

Your apostles lived this out. Your power flowed through them, healing the crowds.

Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed. (Acts 5:16)

This power was so tangible that it even worked through handkerchiefs!

so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. (Acts 19:12)

Today, I want to submit myself to you, God. To give you the first place and to resist the lies of the enemy.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

Thank you for coming into the world with one purpose: to destroy the works of darkness and to bring light.

The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. (1 John 3:8)

May your authority be visible in my life today.

Amen.

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