While in Mozambique, my team had this one really rough night! It was one of my best nights of sleep but most of my team did not experience the peace that I did.
I was woken up at 12:32am by one of my teammates because she couldn’t sleep. She was terrified. She asked me to check under her bed, the empty bunk above her, and other parts of the room. Nothing was there. And so I prayed. I prayed against fear, for peace, for angels’ protection around our beds, for the Holy Spirit to fill the place. I cast out anything not of God including fearful thoughts. It helped, but it still took her a few hours to fall asleep. In the other two rooms, other girls were experiencing similar things.
We woke up the next morning, and we told our hosts about the night and agreed to pray before dark over the house and the property. It was clear spiritual attacks were going on. Our host Johan decided he would anoint and pray over our rooms before dark. He didn’t agree to this just because he wanted to join us. In fact, Johan did all of the prayer and anointing. He did it because he had the spiritual authority over the property,, and the people in it.
This concept was something I never thought on before, but it is so true.
As the “man of the house”, Johan, had the spiritual authority to cast things out of the place, to guide those in his family, to pray protection over the place, and to look after the spiritual well being of the place. This authority was given to him by God because he is the head of the household. It is an authority he was aware of and used.
That night my whole team slept better than we had all month. Through the authority given to Johan by God, he was able to bring protection to the home in a way no one else could.
Spiritual authority is very important. It is something men need to be aware of and take ownership of. It is something that women must respect as well.
Spiritual authority was a part of my home growing up. My mom pulled plenty of weight in decision making and in the spiritual development of the family, but my dad was always the leader in this area of the family. He prayed over us after nightmares; he prayed over us before bed; he insisted on Bible Time every night before bed, and he made us pray as a family. He even prayed over our home before we moved into it. He was given spiritual authority over our family that I did not have. Nor did my mother or brothers.
I encourage men to take ownership of this authority for your families. Intercede for them. Use it to protect your house and family in the name of Jesus. Use the power and authority you have to bring your family closer to God. You are the man of the house! It is a gift and responsibility given to you by God and no one else has it. As Johan did in his home, use it in yours.
