Reclaiming Dominion: The Battle Begins in Your Heart

Reclaiming Dominion: The Battle Begins in Your Heart
There's a powerful truth woven into the fabric of creation that most of us have forgotten: we were made to rule and reign. Not over other people, but over our own lives, our days, and most importantly, our hearts.

Created for Dominion
From the very beginning, in Genesis 1:26, God declared His intention: "Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. Let them have dominion." Before any work was assigned, before any responsibility was given, identity came first. We were created in the image of the King of kings, which means we carry within us the capacity for authority and purpose.

But here's where most of us miss it: dominion doesn't start with action—it starts with identity.

We spend so much energy trying to do the right things, modify our behavior, and keep ourselves in check through sheer willpower. Yet we struggle and fail repeatedly because we're approaching it backward. We're trying to fix what we do before we understand who we are.

The Gift of Today
Consider this profound reality: every single day of your life was recorded in God's book before you ever lived it (Psalm 139:16). Today isn't an accident. It's not a mistake. It's a gift, intentionally designed by God and given to you with the expectation that you would exercise dominion over it.

"This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24).

These aren't just pretty words for a greeting card. This is a declaration of spiritual authority. When we understand that God made this day—not our enemies, not our circumstances, not the devil—we can choose to rejoice even when things don't go our way. We can have dominion over our response to the day.

Too many of us give credit to the wrong source. We blame the enemy for bad days, forgetting that he didn't create anything. If he had his way, we wouldn't be here at all. Every breath, every moment, every opportunity is from God. Even on the worst days, even in loss and disappointment, we can still say, "This is the day the Lord has made."

Where Dominion Was Lost
The tragedy of Eden wasn't just about eating forbidden fruit. It was about believing a lie that caused humanity to question their identity. Adam and Eve were already like God—they were made in His image. But the serpent convinced them they were missing something, that God was holding out on them.

"Did God really say...?" (Genesis 3:1)

With those four words, doubt crept in. Suspicion replaced trust. And suddenly, people who had everything began to feel like they had nothing. The enemy's strategy hasn't changed: he wants to convince you that you're not enough, that God can't be trusted, that you need to find your identity outside of your union with Him.

When they sinned, dominion was lost. But notice where it was lost first—not in their circumstances, but in their hearts. They hid. They covered themselves. They ran from God instead of running to Him. And we've been doing the same thing ever since.

The Heart of the Matter
Scripture is crystal clear about the centrality of the heart:

• "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34)
• "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it flow the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23)
• "With the heart one believes unto righteousness" (Romans 10:10)
• "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)

Everything flows from the heart—worship, obedience, faith, love, and yes, dominion. When the heart is misaligned with God, it doesn't matter how talented or capable you are. You'll never fulfill what you were created to accomplish.

This is why the new birth is so critical. It's not just about changing behavior; it's about transforming identity. Salvation reaches into the deepest part of who we are and declares: "You are redeemed. You are forgiven. You are a child of the King."

Neither Do I Condemn You
One of the most beautiful pictures of restored dominion is found in John 8, with the woman caught in adultery. Notice the order of Jesus's words: "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more."

He didn't say, "Go and sin no more, and then I won't condemn you." The freedom from condemnation came first. Why? Because Jesus understood that "go and sin no more" flows out of "I'm no longer condemned."

As long as we feel condemned, as long as shame holds us hostage, we cannot become what we were intended to be. The enemy wants us identified by our mistakes and failures. But God sees us as His children, filled with potential and purpose, redeemed by the blood of Jesus.

What you do is not who you are. You are a child of the King, even when you're not acting like it.

Taking Back Dominion
So how do we reclaim dominion over our hearts?

First, we must be born again. There's no shortcut around this. Repentance, baptism in Jesus's name, and being filled with the Holy Spirit aren't religious rituals—they're the gateway to restored identity and relationship with God.

Second, we must allow God to direct our thoughts and desires. Paul wrote about "girding up the loins of your mind" (1 Peter 1:13). This is battle language. We must be prepared to fight for control of our thought life, taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Third, we must stop running from God when we fail. The natural tendency after sin is to hide, but that's exactly the wrong response. When you make a mistake, run to Him, not from Him. Let Him restore you. Let Him love you back to wholeness.

The Day You Were Made For
You were created with a purpose. There are pages in God's book with your name on them, describing days you haven't lived yet and assignments you haven't completed. But you'll never walk in that purpose until you understand your identity.
Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). That day is coming for all of us. The question is: will you embrace Him now, or will you wait until it's too late?

Today—this very day—is a gift. It's an opportunity to exercise dominion, to walk in your God-given authority, to be who you were created to be. Don't waste it on condemnation, shame, or excuses. Take dominion over your heart, and watch how everything else begins to align.
This is the day the Lord has made. Choose to rejoice and be glad in it.