Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image,

according to Our likeness;

and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky

and over the cattle and over all the earth,

and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Genesis 1:26

We were made to rule over the earth. I don’t know about you but ruling over anything right now seems way beyond my grasp. Powerless is a word that more effectively describes my present state of mind. So when this verse says I was made to rule over fish and birds and cattle, etc., I have to scratch my head. I am not ruling over dirty laundry or a sink full of dishes or a vehicle that breaks down or a dog that won’t quit chewing on everything and anything. Perhaps my dog needs to understand that she is a creeping thing and that I have been told to rule over her! No, safe to say, I don’t get this ruling thing.

If, I look at Jesus, though, I see how He ruled over the earth. He spoke to a storm and the winds and the waves stopped. He commanded unclean spirits to enter a herd of swine and they did. He had a couple of fish and some bread and increased them to feed thousands with some left over. He brought the dead back to life, He healed the sick, commanded a fish to supply Him with money to pay taxes, turned water into wine, and told a fig tree to die … and sure enough, the tree died. Wow, that’s ruling over the things of this earth.

We were created to operate in that same kind of authority and power. Paul was sent to tell people about this because God wanted us to “understand his wonderful and glorious mystery. And the mystery is that Christ lives in you, and he is your hope of sharing in God’s glory.” (Colossians 1: 27).

When Jesus lives in us, the same Spirit that lived in Him, is available to us, for us, with us. We are to rule over the things of this earth as Jesus did. We have been given the example, the gift of the same Spirit that operated in Jesus and we have been given the charge to rule. 

Joseph Prince writes this,

“We need to understand that since God’s greater purpose is for man to have dominion on earth,

it would include the lesser blessings such as health and prosperity.

Then, we will see ourselves as God sees us,

walking in dominion,

and we will walk in victory over our negative circumstances in the natural realm.”

It’s not OK to just roll over and accept whatever comes our way. Jesus didn’t. And He created us to walk in victory.

Father God, it is hard for me to see me ruling and walking in dominion. Most of the time I just feel powerless. Help me to exercise the authority You have given me and to use it for Your glory and honor. Help me to walk out the victory over disease that You paid for me to have. Forgive me for wavering and doubting and sometimes just rolling over and accepting it. Teach me to share in Your glory, in Jesus’ name, amen.

I would love to hear from you. Please let me know if I can be praying for you as well.

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pic credit: troybrewer.com