Tuesday, April 18, 2006 · no responses · comments closed

Don’t you love it when the Holy Spirit gives you a chance to practice something you’ve just learned?

Yesterday evening, I posted a short quote from Dutch Sheets’ new book Authority in Prayer. I enjoyed the excerpt from which I pulled the quote, and I added the book to my “need to get and read list.” Beyond that, I didn’t give it too much thought.

This morning, I had to do something I was dreading. I had no good reason to dread it, but those of you who have had problems with anxiety or panic attacks know that the lack of a good reason for fear doesn’t make the fear any less real. My emotions were about to get the better of me in spite of my mind saying, “There’s nothing to be afraid of.” So, as I was on my way, I prayed. I said, “Help me, Jesus!”

Immediately, I heard the Spirit tell me, “Take authority.” And I saw the page on CBN.com where the excerpt was posted.

I started laughing. I thought, “Good one, Holy Spirit!” But I knew that was the solution. In the excerpt, Sheets tells of endless problems he encountered while waiting to check into a flight that would take him to a speaking engagement. As he became more frustrated, and it looked as if he would miss his flight, he asked the Holy Spirit to do something. He writes, “But [the Spirit] was trying to teach me something. No, you do something about it. Move in the authority I have given you and command the demonic hindrances of your assignment to be ineffective. Declare that you have favor and will get to your meeting on time.” Sheets prayed, and suddenly a new line opened, and off he went to his flight.

How could I do other than obey? So I took authority. I prayed aloud, declared I would not be held back my fear and dread, and went on my way rejoicing. (Good, loud worship music helps too!) The fear was gone.

Don’t you love it when you get to practice what you’ve learned?