Who holds the POWER?!

It's amazing how others assume power over our lives & we in turn render ourselves powerless. When the truth of the matter is, there is not another person on God's beautiful, green Earth who has authority over who/what we are, who/what we are becoming, who/what can enter into our lives, and who/what can be taken away from our lives.

It is my own personal belief that it is impossible for someone to take something away from us unless we allow it, especially if it was never originally given to us by them anyway. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent".

My employer may remove me from my position but I still have the skills to perform the job; skills that will be carried on to the next place of employment. A man may stop loving me or end a relationship with me, but that doesn't mean that I no longer possess the capacity to love again. A coworker, friend, family member, or even some random person may say or do something rude, annoying, or inconsiderate but their behaviors do not dictate my mood or tempo. There are some things that are internal. Some things that simply cannot be taken away. The devil cannot take my peace because Philipians 4:7 says, "and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus". The devil cannot destroy my mind because it is written in Romans 12:2, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will". And as the song says, the devil cannot take my joy because "This joy that I have... the world didn't give it to me and the world can't take it away!".

Webster's Dictionary defines power as legal or official authority, capacity, or right; possession of control, authority, or influence over others. Let us be mindful of WHO we give power and authority to in our lives. It's okay to "take back what the devil stole" but we must ask ourselves, how did he get it in the first place?! ;)