Who is Your Authority?
- Katina Wilkins
- Aug 8
- 5 min read
Who am I letting be the authority in my life?
This is the question the Lord was asking me and it got me thinking. Who do I look at for approval? Direction? Warnings?
When we are kids (even babies), we didn’t know what is right, good or bad for us. When we saw things and we wanted to touch it, play with it, maybe even put it in our mouths. This is how we learned and grew. We didn’t know what could harm us. That’s where others, like parents and caregivers, step in to teach us what is good, where to go, and what is safe. As we get older, we listen to our peers for that information. Nowadays, the internet and social media have become the authority. But are they always right?
How the people around us define what is good can be conflicting. For example, for me, getting good grades and following the rules was highly praised by my parents and teachers, but was ridiculed by my peers, beckoning teasing and name-callings like “good two shoes” and “teacher’s pet.” This left me confused on whether I should try harder or not try at all. Which voice should I listen to? Whom did I want favor from most? We all have choices in the voices we listen to. Some voices are for us, wanting our best, and others want to see us fail.
Unfortunately, the voices in our youth—good or bad—get incorporated in our psyche (and sometimes our identity) and become the compass by which we live. These voices are not always accurate. Like have you ever met someone who thought they owned the world but had no common sense? Maybe they were never told “no” or were told over and over how good they were without any direction or discipline. This can lead them to a false sense of entitlement or self-delusion. Or what about people who have all the talent, skill, and knowledge but are paralyzed to put them to use? Maybe they were teased by their peers or their bar was set too high leading them to doubt their abilities and contributions. There are so many examples of voices from the past that haunt our present thoughts and behaviors. As adults, we have the ability to evaluate the accuracy and choose of whom to listen.
As I ask myself, I ask you, what voice are you listening to? Are any of them accurate? Were your influencers wanting to see you succeed or fail? Were they frustrated with you and now you can only see the bad in yourself? Were they jealous of you? Were they disillusioned or working within their own insecurities?
What about the people who surround you now? Do their words matter? Afterall, people help determine norms, right? What is socially acceptable and what is weird? Who should have this authority? Norms today are changing quickly. Are there any right answers? Even scientific "facts" keeps changing. Are we supposed to eat eggs or are they bad for us? We can’t even figure out what is “good” medically, not to mention socially, emotionally or mentally. This can lead us to follow our own hearts, putting authority on themselves, which is a choice, too.
So, who is your authority?
Is it yourself? Childhood relationships, influences and experiences? Internal dialogue based on past experiences and things we watch and listen to? People around you currently who impact your livelihood or status? Or is it God’s word? And if it is God’ word, is it His direct word or those interpreted by man? Even church leadership can lead us down the wrong path when we make them the ultimate authority. God’s words can be easily distorted when sifted through human mouths and worldly perspectives.
The best example of what authority to we should follow is seen in the life Jesus. Jesus’ authority was God. He didn’t listen to the crowd. Some were cheering for Him and others were trying to kill Him. Even when He had tons of followers, many were there for their selfish gains and easy outcomes (like food and healing miracles), and they turned away for the hard commands (like laying down self and serving others). They didn’t want to follow God’s authority; their authority was in themselves as they wanted things from Jesus that made them feel good and life easy.
As true followers of Christ, we should follow His example. Jesus’ authority did not come from His mother, stepdad, siblings, followers, or peers. It didn’t come from the religious leaders of the day. He didn’t even seek approval and direction from His 12 closest friends. He never said, “Hey Peter, what do you think of this idea?”
When Jesus needed guidance, He stepped away and prayed. He got His approval, direction, and warnings from straight from YHWH. He didn’t ask others what they thought of what God said. Even when they doubted, Jesus held fast to His Ultimate Authority.
So again, who do YOU allow to have authority in your life? It’s a choice. You can choose to listen to childhood voices, current peers, internal voices, or you can go to God’s direct word. It’s awesome when all of them align. But when they don’t, one voice has to have supreme authority above them all. Whose voice is it for you? Whose do you want it to be?
Need help in figuring this out? Let’s walk through it together until you figure out how to focus on the One True Voice. Schedule a free strategy session with me to come up with a plan.
Lord, help me to ignore all the voices that do not come straight from You. Help me to determine which are speaking truth and which were meant for harm. Bring me closer to You in your word so I can know that truth. You have made me wonderfully and for such a great purpose. Please don't let anyone steal that from me or misdirect me. As the sheep know its shepherd's voice, may I always recognize and heed when I hear Yours. Lord, I put You today as my Ultimate Authority. Nudge me when I start to second guess or go astray. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen
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