Attitude of Authority

​The look . You most likely know it from childhood. One glance could stop a freight train dead in its tracks. The no-nonsense glare that didn’t just imply power, but radiated it.
 
I believe this ability is a gift God births in us along with the title “Mommy.” My daughter tried to give her younger brothers her look to no avail— she had no authority.
 
Authority. The word even sounds powerful.
 
We read in Matthew 28:18 that Jesus was given all authority on earth. Jesus then turned around and shared that authority with his disciples.
 
This week we read about two fathers. One, whose son was home sick, chose to trust that authority which gives the spoken word of Jesus power. His son was healed instantly. The other father had more trouble...

He was desperate. The disciples had tried but could not free his boy of the spirit. Upon Jesus’ rebuke, the father cried, “I believe, help my unbelief!” Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out screeching and throwing a fit.
 
The disciples had authority yet they failed to free the boy. They had authority, but their belief in that authority was now challenged. Had they grasped the attitude authority affords?
 
Have I adopted that attitude? Have you?
 
I exercise authority in my role as a parent, but do I have an attitude of authority over my emotions or moods? Or over my words, both spoken and thought? Over my perception of circumstance?
 
Am I walking in authority knowing I am the thinker of my thoughts, or am I letting those pesky worries steal my focus?
 
I have authority to proclaim the kingdom of God in all areas of my life. Do I proclaim it? Or do I make excuses? Excuses come between us and receiving what God has for us.
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Prayer and fasting keep me in tune with who God is and who I am in Him so that I can receive God’s love and power from a posture of complete surrender to His authority. (Maybe that is why Jesus answered the disciples’ confusion by sharing the need to pray and fast.)
 
 When I am surrendered, I can operate with an attitude of authority --

• Over my emotions (I can feel them, but they won’t make my decisions for me), and
• Over my thoughts (they may cross my mind, but I will take them captive and make them obedient to Christ).

 
I can claim kingdom authority in all areas of life. So can you.
 
So my question is: which father are you? Do you recognize Jesus’s authority and walk in it yourself? Or, like the other father, do you struggle?
 
So often, in my life, I struggle. To me, it can feel scary, bold, and completely out of my comfort zone to walk in the authority of Christ, but it is part of our call as believers to do it.
 
Can we, sisters, commit to try? Will you join me? We can be comforted in knowing that when we fail, just like the desperate father, we can cry “Jesus, help my unbelief!”...and He will.

Memory Verse: "'Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.'" Matthew 18:18, NIV

About the Author

Hi, I'm Martha Rudolph! I have been married for 14 years to my husband, John. We live Northwest of Atlanta with our four children, ages 13, 11, 6 and 6 (yes, that's right— twins!). Our family is on a journey that continues to teach me about God's love and faithfulness on the mountaintop, in the valley, and everywhere in between. I love being outside, sipping coffee, and finding quiet moments to steal away and write about how God reveals Himself through the course of everyday life.

Connect with Martha at her blog at: www.martharudolph.weebly.com

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