Spring is here and I am so grateful to have flowers around for a short time.  May our lives be a sweet fragrance to Jesus and to one another. 

"Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you."
Luke 10:19

Have you ever wondered why the power that Jesus promised us just isn't totally there?  I have been wondering that myself and this morning came across some notes I had taken from John Paul Jackson.  He was saying that we are confusing power with authority.  We are crying out for power but what we actually need is authority.  I was confused about power versus authority.  

As authority increases the enemy will no longer be comfortable around us because demons cannot stand to be around godly authority.  Authority is only bestowed on us through relationship with Heaven.  It is the fruit of our relationship with God.  Character is important.  The fruit of godly character is holiness and godliness.  This allows God to true us with the authority He gives us.  I had observed throughout my life that those people with authority had a love for God and a godliness about them.  

I realized that Jesus wants me to walk in His authority.  It is the ability to rule after you have conquered; the ability to change things!