“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).

When a centurion—a soldier in command of others—learned that a valued servant in his household lay paralyzed and suffering terribly, he hurried to Jesus. Addressing Him with the respect of a trained officer, he said, “Lord, my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”

Jesus replied, “Shall I come and heal him?”

The centurion answered, “Lord, I do not deserve to have You come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 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.” (Matthew 8:6–8).

Jesus was astonished. He turned to those following Him and declared, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” Then He said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And the servant was healed at that very moment. (Matthew 8:10, 13)

As believers, Jesus has transferred this same authority to us. The centurion had to seek Jesus out; we who follow Christ have already been entrusted with the greatest authority on earth—the power to overcome every force of the enemy that rises against us: financial pressure, health challenges, relational turmoil, fear, oppression, and anything else that opposes God’s purposes for our lives.

May we never hesitate to exercise the authority Jesus has placed in our hands.

Reflection: Do I exercise the authority Jesus has left in my hands to overcome any force levied against me!

Prayer: Lord Father, Almighty God of Abraham, Maker of heaven and earth, You have given us authority to trample the powers of darkness. Today I choose to use that authority to arrest and overcome every force that stands against Your kingdom in my life and overcome it. In Jesus’ name I pray!