"Mom, Kaleb won't give me back my doll," Kaiah told me with her pouty face. So, like a dutiful mom, I intervened and stopped the three year old from pestering his older sister.
"Kaleb," I said firmly, "give the doll back."
"O-tay," was his reply and just like that, he returned the Baby Alive doll back to its rightful owner. Everybody was happy. Then, moments later I heard my name being called in surround sound... again. This time, the "victim" was his older brother, Kedar. "Moooom," he whined, clearly frustrated, "Kaleb won't give me back my caaaar!"
I knew the drill, so, I got up the second time, trying to put on my best serious "do what I say right this minute" face and told little Kaleb to cut out the shenanigans and give his big brother his car back. Once again, without protest, Kaleb relented and released the car back to Kedar.
It's always interesting to observe how Kaleb, who likes to confiscate the possessions of his older siblings just for kicks, blatantly disregards their pleading requests and demands, until I walk into the room. Without yelling or getting boisterous, all I have to do is speak the word and he listens.
It's because of the authority I have, that Kaleb obeys.
I'm reminded of the New Testament story of the centurion official (Matthew 8:5-13) whose servant was very sick. When Jesus offered to come to the centurion's house, he felt unworthy to have Jesus come under his roof. Yet, he understood the principle of authority and knew that if Jesus only spoke a word, his servant would be made whole. In verse 9 he says to Jesus,
"For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell
this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say
to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it.'"
In other words, he told Jesus, I understand what it means to be able to command it to be so, and see the manifestation of it... and you, Jesus, possess that power over all of the unseen, spiritual, natural and supernatural elements.
After hearing that, Jesus, the one with authority over disease, authority over
nature, authority over demons, authority over sin and authority over
death, was so impressed with this man's faith that He granted that request. The centurion official returned home to find his prayer answered; his servant was healed.
Today, I encourage you to believe in the authority and power of Jesus Christ. The same Jesus that spoke the words "Lazarus come forth," (John 11:43) thereby cheating death, is the same Jesus that has the power to speak life to your situation.
But you've got to believe that "Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (I John 4:4)
No matter how hard your situation seems, or how insurmountable the obstacle, with just one word the King of Kings and Lord of Lords can make it alright. I admonish you to hold onto your faith. Despite what it looks like or feels like, continue to believe that the power and authority that Jesus Christ possesses, is at work in your right at this precise moment.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!
Dianna Hobbs
