Does It Work?

There is a segment on our local news station called "Does It Work?" The point of the segment is to test a product that viewers have requested a testing of, and then the news person tells if the product works or not--also giving it a star rating from 1 to 5 stars. I have actually avoided quite a few bad purchases by watching this segment, so I tune in regularly. I always love to see if the newest and greatest gadgets really do work in real life.

Why is that important you ask? It brings me to what is burning in my spirit today.
I have tried to be very diligent in having a quiet time. Usually this occurs while my 3 darlings are doing their daily afternoon restings upstairs. That's the time when the television is turned off, all is silent, and I can hear Him the best. He has really been hammering on one major point with me lately, and that is spiritual authority--believing that if I command a mountain to move, it will. Believing that if I ask something of Him, it will be done (within the realm of His will for my life of course). Please bear with me as I take you through a recent lesson learned in this area.

About 7 months ago, I dug up a talent of mine that has been hidden in the back of the closet for over 9 years. I absolutely love playing the violin and was classically trained from the age of 8 until the age of 17. After pulling out my beloved 4 stringed beauty, I was amazed that I could still recall some of the concertos I used to perform--by memory of course--and would get tickled pink when I would be able to play them with every appropriate forte and pianissimo. My violin is a story of God's handiwork in itself, but I'll save that story for another time. Moving on...
The whole reason I pulled the violin from the closet was because God put a worship team smack dab in the middle of my path. The worship leader of a small local church invited me to play and be a part of that ministry. I was thrilled to put it lightly. Of course I had to dust off the sweet-sounding baby and try her out--make sure she still worked the same and I hadn't faded too much over the years in ability. It was music to my ears--and hopefully to my Father's. After playing on the worship team for several months, I had frustrations. My violin was beautiful and a very worthy-to-be-played instrument, but it wasn't getting picked up as well and the sounds were not as equal as I would have liked. Not that I cared really what the congregation thought, but I wanted to blend more with the group and not stick out like a sore thumb. Unity, ladies and gentlemen--that's what it's all about. The answer, to me, was so easy. I knew that if I had an electric violin, I could just plug right in like the guitars and unity would totally be achieved!
I began to pray: "Father, I would love to have an electric violin. I am going to start looking, and when I find one, I'll let you know."
As I was perusing the internet, I stumbled (purely not by accident I assure you) onto a website that was clearancing out a Hohner mint green electric fiddle. Not the typical color choice of musicians, but it was very cool and affordable! I did the correct amount of checking on the brand and type before making my request known to Him. As I laid in bed one night, I said, "Abba, I found the violin I want. It's $300 and I know we do not have that kind of money right now. Please, Abba. I am asking for the money to pay for this so I can praise you even more with the talent you gave me."
His answer was so very clear--"Melissa, the money is in the mail."
Ok, that's awesome God! Now....what's the timeline on that? No answer. Hmmmm....ok, this is obiviously where patience comes in.
Well, about 2 weeks later, I went to the mailbox and discovered an odd letter from an old dentist we used to go to for our regular cleanings. I opened the letter and in it was a check for $326.xx--we had apparently overpaid him at some point and he was reimbursing us.
AMAZING. STUPIFYING.GLORIOUS.
I did my "praise you Father!" dance and ordered the mint green electric violin that very night.
I have been playing it and doing so with my whole heart every Sunday that I step on that stage. I jokingly refer to it as "God Green" when people ask me about the unusual color. The instrument is a fine one for sure.
Funny how even when He gives us such great things, He offers us a chance to receive even MORE.
This all winds back to what He has been hammering me with. Spiritual authority is what it is all about. God has been kindly and gently teaching me to spread my wings and fly in Him. I have begun to see the miracles and wonders that can happen when you simply speak to the mountain, walk on the water, and meet Him in His courts.
About 10 days ago, I felt the tug of the Holy Spirit about this whole electric violin thing. I have suddenly had the urge to give it away to a young lady who is just beginning her musical journey on the violin. She plays with the youth worship team at our church, and she takes private lessons from the same teacher who I had the privilege of studying under. She borrowed my minty green baby about 3 weeks ago and fell in love with it. I have heard her mention several times that she'd like one. Well now I was on a mission--one from God. I originally sought out to just buy her a new electric violin, not give her mine. I checked on Amazon, Ebay, 3 music sites, and no luck in the price range I was wanting. Then it appeared. Ebay had it. A woman from Maryland listed her used Zeta electric violin for an unbelievable price. I watched it and waited. I told John and my parents about it and how excited I was--that I would be able to get this and give this sweet young lady mine which is newer. I knew all along it would take a miracle to get this. Not that it was hugely expensive, but again--we did not have the money for it. An amazing twist--my dad secretly put a bid in on this Zeta on my behalf. When he finally told me what he had done, I was shocked and slightly embarrassed. I guess feeling that way was because I don't ever expect that kind of gift from my parents. It's just too much. Coming to terms with his generous offer and getting the plan into action, we waited for the end of the Ebay auction. In the final hours of bidding, the price jumped. I actually began to worry a bit. With 2 hours left on the auction, I shut the computer down and hit my knees.
"God, I just thank you that this is my Zeta. I praise you that I can come before your throne and ask things like this of you and you see it as good. I give you ALL of the glory and honor for allowing me to win this auction, and in turn being able to give away the mint green violin that you provided the money for in the first place. I just want to spend the rest of my life harboring a giving spirit. Please, Lord, teach me to give more and more and more! Open the doors and give me the opportunities to bless others. I speak to the auction and say that it will not go any higher--that I will get this Zeta for the price it is listed at now. I praise you Father that I can speak to this auction and it will have to obey."
You know what? For the first time in a long time, I truly believed what I prayed. I took that spiritual authority He has given me and I ran with it.
The wonderful ending to this is that the price did not go any higher. I spoke to the mountain and the mountain moved!
I am the proud owner of a Zeta electric violin.
I am the proud giver of a Hohner mint green electric violin.
I am the proud daughter of a blessed and very generous dad and mom.
I am the proud servant of the Most High.
I am a strong Christian woman with spiritual authority.
So this all circles back to my original comment about "Does It Work?" I can honestly say that I have tried, tested, and come out on the winning side of this one. YES! The God-given spiritual authority within each of us DOES WORK! It's free too...my kind of deal. It will never wear out, doesn't require batteries, works anytime day or night, and it is mighty powerful. I give it 5 out of 5 stars!
Matthew 17:20
He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."