Why I Make Declarations - Part 3

By Steve Backlund

Declarations are biblically-based faith statements about what is true even when it may not be  my experience yet (or not fully my experience). It is the activation of the Romans 4:17 principle of “calling those things that are not as though they are”. Much of what I am experiencing now is because of what I said 25  years ago when it seemed ridiculous. In my last blog, I gave four reasons why I make declarations, and today I share four more:

• Declarations help me overcome anxiety.
• Declarations help me to abide in Jesus’ words.
• Making declarations is taking up the sword of the Spirit.
• Declarations pull down strongholds, demolish arguments, and take thoughts captive.

Let’s get right into this exciting content:

1) Declarations help me overcome anxiety - “​​Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). The phrase “with thanksgiving” is the key to overcoming anxiety and experiencing the peace that “surpasses all understanding”. My most powerful declarations start with the words “thank you”. This thanks is fueled by focusing on my past prayers, my biblical identity, and God’s promises: 

• “Thank You, Jesus, you are working in my family.”
• “Thank You for revival increasing in my nation.”
• “Thank You for solutions being released into that family situation.”
• “Thank You for the financial provision coming.”

2) Declarations help me to abide in Jesus’ words - “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’” (John 8:31-32) One of the best ways to abide in the word is to speak the truths of the Bible out loud. This is what Joshua was instructed to do: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8). As we take portions of scripture and make faith-filled declarations about what we are reading, the word will become rooted in us and cause freedom and good success. For instance, if I am reading Joshua 1:8, I will make declarations like the following: 

• I am radical in speaking God’s word.
• I love to meditate on God’s word, and it is changing my life.
• God is empowering me right now to live a life in obedience to His word.
• I am prosperous and have good success.

3) Making declarations is taking up the sword of the Spirit - “And take . . . the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). It is called a sword because we are supposed to “kill” something with it. In the Old Testament, there were literal giants in the Promised Land that needed to be defeated. In the New Covenant, the giants we are to kill are mindsets like shame, fear, unworthiness, hopelessness, perfectionism, discouragement, and the victim mentality. We gain insight into how to use the sword of the Spirit by noting where the sword is in the description of the glorified Jesus in Revelation 1 which says “He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength” (Revelation 1:16). As I declare truths like the following, I am taking up the sword and increasingly defeating the negative mindsets  trying to defeat me: 

• I am 100% loved by God and worthy to receive all His blessings.
• There is always a solution.
• All things are working for good in my life.
• Thank you for the gift each of my family members are in my life.

4) Declarations pull down strongholds, demolish arguments, and take thoughts captive - “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). 

Declarations are a major weapon of warfare in dismantling strongholds developed by agreement with feelings and past experience. Because “faith comes by hearing” (Romans 10:17) and our words contain “grace to the hearer” (Ephesians 4:29), we not only dismantle these negative strongholds, but more importantly, we establish positive mindsets which propel us to victory and blessings. Every time we say declarations like the following, we are participating in high-level spiritual warfare that captures lies and pulls down strongholds:

• I greatly influence nations in a positive way.
• Our city is a place where people get radically saved.
• My prayers for my family and nation are working exponentially.

These are some of the reasons I make declarations. My book, Declarations, gives 30 biblical reasons for declaring truth. Also, this week’s podcast will add good fuel to your declaration fire.