“Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy.” Luke 10:19

Jesus has already given us Authority over the enemy. We have the freedom and the privilege to boldly ‘claim’ our authority over the enemy whose sole mission is to ‘steal, kill and destroy’; To steal our healing and our inheritance which has already been won for us in Christ Jesus, to literally deceive and seduce us into circumstances that would take our lives, and to cause destruction and division among family members and all of humanity.

Yet, Jesus has already won the victory, He won the victory for us: “The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.” John 10:10,11

WE ARE THE HEALED

We practice claiming our healing as well as all the truths of our faith found in Sacred Scripture, until it becomes our lifestyle; a new habitual working part of the mind.

We daily practice living in the victory that Jesus won for us.

“In the Name of Jesus I claim that by the stripes of Jesus I am healed.”

“In the Name of Jesus I claim that Jesus has borne all my grief and carried all my sorrows.”

“In the Name of Jesus I claim that Jesus was wounded for all my transgressions.”

“In the Name of Jesus I claim that Jesus was bruised for all of my iniquities.”

“In the Name of Jesus I claim that upon Him was the chastisement that makes me whole.” see Isaiah 53:4-6

God has given us authority over the protection of our healing. Prayer with action is essential. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith.” 1Peter 5:8,9

The enemy will launch a full-on counter attack through old patterns of behavior. He has been observing us all our lives and is trying to persuade us to permit him to gain entry through the doors that we once opened out of our ignorance of Sacred Scripture and ignorance of our true identity as Sons and Daughters of God. He does this through suggestion. Suggestions that he places in our thought-life in hopes that we will live in agreement with them, once again.

We must begin the practice of the principles of St.Ignatius of Loyola who teaches us to ‘be aware, understand, accept/reject.’ Be aware of the stirrings of our heart, (what is it that I’m giving much of my attention to in my thought-life? Do I spend most of my time on co-pilot? Or are my thoughts intentional and disciplined by God?) Understand if it is from God or the enemy. Now take appropriate steps to accept it as coming from God, or reject it as coming from the enemy. “In the Name of Jesus I submit myself to God, I resist the devil, and he must flee.” see James 4:7.

We begin to become familiar with Scripture as we allow the “Spirit to help us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.” Romans 8:26

We can pray Sacred Scripture, the very Words of God, over our life that they may accomplish in us what they proclaim, command, and create.

In the Name of Jesus I claim that the Lord my God is my faithful God, who keeps His covenant and merciful love toward me because I love Him and keep His commandments. see Deuteronomy 7:9

In the Name of Jesus I claim that God has been my God for eternity, He is my guide forever. see Psalm 48:14

In the Name of Jesus I claim that as for me and my household, we will serve you Lord. We will keep your Word so that we may live and never see death. see Joshua 24:15

“In the Name of Jesus I claim that the Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.” see Isaiah 61:1

These are a few examples of allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us how to pray Sacred Scripture over ourselves and our immediate family members, (only those whom we have the authority to pray over in Jesus’ Name. Unless we have been given permission by our Bishop within a deliverance ministry etc.)

It is important to claim these truths with our words, and then take it a step further and engraft it into our hearts. Meditate on it’s meaning and visually ‘see’ Our Lord rescuing and protecting our family all the way into heaven. We may also ask Jesus to do this for all souls. We have to ask Jesus to do it, and we can thank Him in advance for rescuing and protecting all souls, since we lay persons have not been given the personal authority to do this on behalf of anyone except our immediate family members; our spouse and children only.

Meditation produces a knowing in our hearts that cannot be shaken by any outward sign or circumstance, otherwise it is only memorization. Meditation firmly implants the truth so that the ‘thief’ cannot steal it from us.

We also begin the practice of offering our Lord praise and worship for His goodness toward us in this same way, since praise and worship has the power to cast out all wicked and evil spirits.

It is so good Lord to know that You are always near, nothing can shake me or draw me away from Your peace. see Psalm 16:8

It is so good Lord to be thankful and secure in Your Presence. It is so good Lord to receive Your gifts, how very good You are to me. see Psalm 140:12,13

It is so good Lord to know that You are all I have, and You give me all I need; my future is in Your hands. see Psalm 16:5-11, Jeremiah 29:11-13

Today is the Feast of of Saint Gregory the Great. One of my favorite quotes by him gives instruction on how we ought to live. He is ‘begging’ us to fulfill our mission to learn the Truth of God in Sacred Scripture:

“Study, I beg you, and each day meditate on the words of your Creator, learn the heart of God in the Words of God, so that you may long more ardently for eternity.” (Saint Gregory the Great, “The Sacred Writings of Gregory the Great.)