The earth and all that’s upon it belong to the Eternal. The world is His, with every living creature on it.

Psalms 24:1 VOICE

During our time of lockdown in South Africa, I was having a moment with Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit said so clearly, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof…” I went to look for the verse and found it in Psalms 24:1. I lingered there for a moment and experienced an overwhelming passion to have believers reminded of this truth.

Jesus Christ came to pay the full price for redemption and give us the keys to the Kingdom (Matthew 16:19). Holy Spirit reminded me, through an impartation of hope and passion, that the earth belongs to the Lord. It doesn’t belong to a virus or politicians. Not to demons or principalities. The earth doesn’t even belong to us (though we have been given stewardship of it). The earth belongs to God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth. Our Father owns the place. All of it. We have permission to act like it.

Authority from Our Father

Imagine for a moment that everywhere you place your feet, you’re aware that God’s presence goes with you, and you’re walking on His property. According to Romans 8, there’s nothing that can separate us from His love. What is there to fear?

Our Father delights in us (Psalms 18:19). Jesus made us worthy (1 Corinthians 6:11) and gave us authority (1 John 4:4). We have been crowned (Isaiah 62:3). He never said at a certain age this will be revoked. He never said you will only have these blessings when you’re married or once you have children. In the reality of God’s Kingdom, you, dear woman, are a carrier of His image and walk in His authority and blessings.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God’s] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:9 AMPC

Through every season, you are a member of the royal family. You are a treasure and carry the power to change the world around you. Whether the beauty of wisdom has crowned your head with silver, or you’re just finding your feet in the world of adulting, God has created you to walk in beautiful victory. He has given you what you need as you walk “out of darkness to experience His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9, TPT). And in the words of Aslan, “Once a king or queen in Narnia, always a king or queen” (Lewis, 2008).

Our King

Everything and anything that does not come from Him is trespassing in His Kingdom. To believe less than this is to say that the price Christ paid was not enough. When Jesus said “It is finished,” it was so (John 19:30).

I am not suggesting that we become arrogant about this authority. It is the very kindness and overwhelming grace of our Father that draws us to repentance.

Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 103:1-5, NKJV

It is because of the sacrifice of Jesus that we walk in such authority, and I do pray that we walk in it. When we realize Who He is and who we are, the natural response is one of complete humility in the presence of our King, and complete boldness in the presence of our enemies.

Our Prayer

Will you take a moment to pray with me?

Father, thank You for Your love and kindness in this moment. Thank You for strengthening our hearts and minds as we think on the things that You think about. You are so present with us. Jesus, eternity is not long enough to thank You for Your death and resurrection. You are worthy of it all! Holy Spirit, would You help us to walk on the earth in a way befitting to the Kingdom? Would You help us walk in boldness and confidence because of the blood of Jesus, and in humility and peace because it is not dependent on us? We depend on You! We ask that Your Kingdom come, on earth as it is in Heaven. You are worthy of every breath we breathe. We love You, Lord. Amen.

Reference:

Lewis, C.S. (2008). The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. [Kindle version]. Retrieved from https://read.amazon.com/?asin=B001I45UFC

Your Free Gift!

Download a free gift today – daily confession printable – to remind yourself who you are! You are valuable, you are His, and He has a great plan for your life!

Our Guest Writer – Meet Bianca

Bianca Barnard was born and raised in South Africa. A graduate of North-West University, Bianca has been serving in ministry since 2009. She has cultivated a love for sharing truths about emotional and relational health and the Kingdom of God.

Passionate about her coffee, Bianca is even more passionate about seeing people grow and walk in the freedom for which Christ paid the price. If you wanted to know a little about her heart, you can read Matthew 6:10, 1 John 4, and Isaiah 61. She believes that our words, whether spoken or written, have the power to impart hope, liberty, and healing to those who hear or read them. She recently started a social media management business (Worker Bee Socials) and is working towards seeing God’s Kingdom fill the earth in every area of life. Please visit BiancaBarnard.Life to connect with Bianca and gain encouragement as you lean in to the Father’s heart!

The post Our Father Owns the Place appeared first on Holly D. Murray.

Listen carefully: I have given you authority [that you now possess] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and [the ability to exercise authority] over all the power of the enemy (Satan); and nothing will [in any way] harm you.

“HOLLY! I NEED YOU!”

Hearing this yelled out is rarely a good thing. I was already on my way out the door, my youngest son having secured our pets in their kennel. My husband Keith had come storming in the front door moments before while I had been calmly dressing for the day. I heard him say that a rattlesnake had fallen into his office.

I have no idea what I was thinking when I threw my fluffy, gray robe back on and slipped into my flip-flops before heading outside. But before I rounded the corner of the office to find out more information, I heard his yell. I had no weapons in my hand.

We live in the country; so do snakes. About the only time I get any sun is when I’m outside cutting the grass. We keep the whole field in front of our house cut short to deter creating a hiding habitat for creepy crawlers. With all the cutting I’d done, I’d not seen one snake. Now I walked toward the very thing I work to avoid.

Creepy Things

His office door was open and I watched my husband, broom in hand, move items stacked closest to the door. He was watching closely, moving cautiously. He said he needed me to look for it as he reached down and began to move a couple of small boxes out of his way.

Leaning against the building behind the open door was my steel-tooth rake. Glancing around where I would need to place my feet before stepping, I grabbed the rake and pulled it toward me. I began pulling the few items on the floor of the office outside the doorway to where I was standing, watching carefully for any movement.

My husband shifted one of his saxophone cases and I yelled, “I SEE IT!” He froze. I had seen a sliver of silver flash as the body of the snake slithered further under the case toward my husband.

Using the Tools at Hand

Strengthening my grip on the rake handle, I carefully hooked the rake tines under the handle of the saxophone case and pulled it out of the door toward me, exposing the snake. Quick as a flash, my husband simultaneously pinned the snake’s body with a yardstick and stepped on the small, triangular head of the snake.

I didn’t scream. I fixed my eyes on the long, thin tail of the young snake as it shook, rattling, and then curled over the black shoe my husband had planted firmly on its head. Keith didn’t move.

When the snake stopped moving and keeping the body pinned with the yardstick, my husband moved his foot from the head. I hooked its lifeless body with the tines of the rake, carted it into a dense part of the woods, and flung it off the rake. I returned the rake where it didn’t belong, and came inside to dress for the day.

Strength

Coffee hadn’t given me strength this morning. I’d not fixed a cup yet. The only accomplishment for my time that morning was the time I’d spent in the Word of God and prayer. God was the source of courage I’d used.

Scripture works even when you don’t think to quote it. Jeremiah 1:12 (AMP) says, “Then the Lord said to me, ‘You have seen well, for I am [actively] watching over My word to fulfill it.’” It is God who fulfills the Word. My job is to have faith that He will do what He says.

[tweetshare tweet=”The Word works even when you don’t think to quote it. God fulfills His Word. My job is to have faith that He will.” username=”HollyDMurray”]

That realization takes the pressure off, doesn’t it? I must be obedient to do what He tells me and be faithful to walk in relationship with Him. This is simply knowing Him more by spending time praying and in His Word. While I am responsible for my part, He actively performs His Word! He never fails to keep a promise—even the ones we hope we never need.

Authority

Paul writes in Ephesians 1:19a (TPT), “I pray that you will continually experience the immeasurable greatness of God’s power made available to you through faith.” He goes on to say that this was the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. He writes that Jesus is over every authority forever. Ephesians 1:21 reads, “not only in this age, but in the age that is coming” (TPT). God’s power is available for us to use by faith. He gave us the authority to use it for a purpose. The enemy may wield his power in this world to bring trouble, but we have the authority to use God’s power! There is just no comparison!

I never want to tread on scorpions or serpents. I never want to see my husband do it again, either. But it isn’t just physical scorpions and serpents we have the power to tread on. Luke 10:19 says we have, “the ability to exercise authority over all the power of the enemy (Satan)” (AMP). The enemy of our souls wants us to believe that we are powerless against his schemes, attacks, and distractions. But take courage! God provides every tool that we need to conquer those troublesome things we face. We can exercise our God-given authority over anything the enemy tries to use, even the creepy things!

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves who we are so that we can remember the authority we have been given. Click here to download this free printable to remember you are His!

To read more from Holly, get a copy of her book, Believing for a Miracle, on Amazon.

The post Authority Over Creepy Things appeared first on Holly D. Murray.