Hey Reader,

For the last couple of weeks during my quiet time, I've been reading through the Gospel of Mark. At the same time, our time together in Ephesians has been amazing, and I've loved seeing how the Lord has been using both books to reinforce something I needed to be reminded of.

One thing that continues to stand out to me in Mark is the authority of Jesus.

By the time I reached Mark 11, the religious leaders were directly questioning Him: “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?” (Mark 11:28, NKJV).

As I sat with that question, I started thinking about spiritual authority in my own life.

There have been seasons when I've walked into situations fully aware of the spiritual authority I carry as a believer through Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit at work within me. And then there have been other seasons when I've hesitated, allowed circumstances or people to intimidate me, or simply needed to be reminded that I don't walk into those situations powerless. Yet Jesus Himself told His disciples, “I have given you authority...to overcome all the power of the enemy” (Luke 10:19, NIV)

And even there, Jesus quickly redirected their attention from the authority they had been given to the greater gift of belonging to Him.

Maybe you've experienced that too.

The truth is that sometimes we need to be reminded of what we carry because of Who carries us.

This ties so well into what we have been studying together in Ephesians.

Paul prays that believers would understand the incredible greatness of God's power toward us who believe, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion” (Ephesians 1:21, NIV).

Then we get to Ephesians 2, and Paul tells us that God “raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6, NKJV).

So here is what we know.

Our confidence isn't rooted in ourselves. Spiritual authority isn't about making ourselves feel powerful, proving something to someone else, or pretending circumstances aren't difficult. Our confidence comes from remembering the authority of Jesus and recognizing that our lives are now found in Him.

Reader, maybe there's an area of your life where you've been hesitant to stand on what you know to be true. Maybe something has intimidated you, discouraged you, or caused you to shrink back when God is calling you to trust what He has already said.

This weekend, go back to Ephesians 1 and 2 and let the Word remind you.

Pay attention to what Paul says about Christ, His power, His position, and then what he says is true about you because you are in Christ. Before Paul ever tells us to put on the armor and stand in Ephesians 6, he spends these opening chapters helping us understand who we are and where we are seated.

That's something worth lingering over.

So this Weekend in the Word, allow truth to remind you of your position in Christ. Not so you can walk into situations impressed with your own authority, but so you can walk into them confident in His.

Remember, time with God is time you will never regret spending.

In the Word with you, ​Rachel G. Scott​ Founder, Word & Seed Ministries​ Bible Teacher | YouVersion Partner | Christian YouTuber Want to take your Bible study even deeper?​ ​ Learn more about the Deeper Roots Women’s & Men’s Communities and join the waitlist for early enrollment access & updates. ​

​