Dominion, Not Diplomacy.
As a dedicated 911 operator, I received a call that I'll always remember vividly. It wasn't overly traumatic or intense, but it imparted a significant lesson that has stayed with me throughout the years.
“911, where is your emergency?” I asked, but there was no response. I repeated the question, my training kicking in, as I listened for anything that could help me locate the caller. Then I heard a woman’s voice. She wasn’t speaking to me—she was yelling, frantic, and desperate.
“You have three seconds to give me my keys back, or the police will be here!” she screamed, her voice trembling. I could hear a man’s voice in the background, though I couldn’t make out his words. What struck me was that her threat didn’t seem to faze him. The silence on his end must have frustrated her because soon after, I heard her tone shift. She started begging him to give the keys back, pleading with him to leave her house.
The line went dead.
Protocol required me to call back immediately, but each time I did, it went straight to voicemail. Finally, the phone rang through, and she answered, much calmer this time. “Never mind. He gave me my keys back, and he’s gone,” she said, almost dismissively.
I wanted to know if he had broken in or if she had let him in. “I let him in,” she admitted. “Everything was fine until he started acting crazy, trying to throw his weight around.”
After confirming she was okay and that he had truly left, I reminded her to call back if he returned. Then I hung up.
But that call stayed with me.
The Spiritual Lesson
As I sat there, the Holy Spirit gave me a revelation about spiritual warfare. That woman was begging and pleading for something that rightfully belonged to her—her keys—from someone who had no right to them. She was begging someone to leave who had no authority to be in her space in the first place.
How often do we, as believers, do the exact same thing?
We plead with the enemy over things that already belong to us. We beg and negotiate for peace, joy, authority, and freedom—things that Christ already paid for on our behalf. We allow the enemy to set up shop in places where he has no right to be and try to convince him to leave when, in reality, he should never have been allowed in at all.
Here’s the truth: The enemy has no authority over what belongs to you. Luke 10:19 reminds us, “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” Yet so many of us, like that woman, find ourselves negotiating with the very things we’ve been given dominion over.
We aren’t called to beg or plead for what’s already ours. We are called to stand firm in the authority God has given us, using the power of His Word to declare what is ours and to drive out anything that doesn’t belong. James 4:7 instructs us: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” It’s not about scare tactics or negotiation—it’s about recognizing who we are in Christ and walking in that truth with boldness.
Practical Application
Pray the Word of God: When you feel the enemy trying to encroach on your peace, joy, or freedom, declare Scripture over your life. Speak verses like Luke 10:19 or James 4:7 to remind yourself and the enemy of the truth.
Worship and Resist Fear: Worship shifts the atmosphere. It reminds us of God’s power and silences fear, keeping us anchored in His presence.
Examine Your Boundaries: Ask yourself, “Where have I given the enemy space he doesn’t belong?” Identify any areas in your life where you may have unknowingly allowed access, and take them back through prayer and repentance.
A Challenge for You
Take a moment to reflect on your life. Are there areas where you’ve been negotiating with the enemy over things that already belong to you? Have you allowed fear, doubt, or past mistakes to convince you that you must plead for peace, joy, or authority?
Today, make the decision to stop negotiating and start declaring. Take back the keys. Stand firm in the authority God has given you. Walk in His truth, knowing that what’s yours is yours—no diplomacy or negotiation necessary.
Because when we walk in His authority, there’s no room for negotiation.
