Dominion Is Received, not Taken

A few nights ago (Thursday) I awakened during the night with a cough and a hot, tickling throat that I’ve always associated with the onset of a cold. I got out of bed and began to listen. Many Scriptures were brought to my mind as I felt the love of God enveloping me.

I knew that the Christ that is living me cannot be sick and that I in my true identity have dominion over my physical body. The tickling stopped and I went back to bed and slept. The next day (Friday) was normal, except for a feeling of congestion in my sinuses. My husband and I attended a fancy dinner that night with a friend; all was well.

The following day (Saturday) I exercised vigorously for 45 minutes and then visited a friend with whom I shared the experience related above. Not long after we parted I began to have cold symptoms again. My first thought was that I shouldn’t have shared with her. Now she would see me sick, and what I told her would have no validity. It was as if I were trying to protect God’s reputation by not allowing myself to become ill. I tried very hard to recall all the Scriptures spoken to me that first night, to do anything at all to rid myself of those symptoms. The result was a stuffy head and a headache, but nothing that could be observed by an outsider looking at me. I went to church the next morning (Sunday) with no obvious ailment, relieved that my friend hadn’t seen me sick. I took a nap that afternoon, got over the headache and awakened Monday (yesterday) feeling good, just not as energetic as usual. I started to exercise in the afternoon but opted to take a nap instead. I slept well last night and awakened this morning feeling surprisingly energetic and whole, in spite of what seemed to be failed efforts to renew my mind and stay in a place of peace during the whole ordeal.

I got quiet inside and began to listen to hear from the Spirit. Very soon I realized that I don’t have to TAKE dominion. It was given to me in the beginning and has never been taken from me. It ceases to operate only when I become unaware that I have it. It is with my mind that I become AWARE of truth. And it is that awareness which activates or brings that truth into manifestation in my body. It is already operating in my true identity.

That’s why Paul admonishes us to look at the unseen and think only on that which is true. When I experience a symptom of illness (or any lack of harmony) in my body, I don’t have to scream at demons or do anything at all except keep my mind stayed on the truth of spiritual being (which I am)—in my true identity there is no such thing as lack of harmony. Because I (in my true identity) have been given dominion over my body, all I have to do is recognize this truth. That dominion enables me to reject whatever is attempting to come upon me that is not according to the truth. I don’t have to pray, meditate, read Scripture or do or not do anything else. I just have to maintain my awareness (consciousness) of the truth. Whatever is in my consciousness is what is manifested in my experience.

I must not be double minded—aware of two things at once. That makes me unstable and unable to receive anything from the Lord (my true identity) (James 1:6-8). Whatever I manage to receive comes from works, not grace, because I (while saying that I’m trusting God) am attempting to receive whatever I need from outside my Self—which puts me under the law (having to do or not do something in order to receive from the law god I’m trusting in). It is the awareness of truth on the inside that manifests that truth on the outside without any effort on my part. Yes, I do listen to the still small voice of Spirit for any instructions, but I don’t put my trust either in my ability to hear or carry out those instructions. I do what I feel to do while keeping my mind stayed on God, always keeping my awareness on the truth of Spirit being.

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee [the one who gave me dominion, not on my ability to take it].

This revelation gives new meaning to the invitation given by Jesus:

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

I understood that I had been laboring to maintain a healthy body rather than just living in the awareness that my true body cannot be other than healthy. I was laboring to take dominion over this body rather than resting in the awareness that dominion has been given to me and will be manifested as long as that truth is in my awareness.