"Prophetic Declarations"

By Contributing Writer Evangelist Shane Perry, Sr.

Prayer is the most powerful tool available to us as it relates to changing our lives through the words we speak. Prophetic declarations are often viewed in a different light than prayer. When in fact, the ability to decree future events in your life is not only a legitimate form of prayer, but one of the most practical and effective ways to engage in this acetic practice. Using this form of prognostication gives you the opportunity to bring a shift in the atmosphere of your city, church, home, and personal life.

A popular colloquial term that best describes this unique spiritual articulation is known as an "affirmation". Affirmation is derived from the Latin word "affirmâre" and means to make firm. When we make prophetic declarations, what we say becomes firm in the spirit first. Then, it's only a matter of time until what we have spoken in the spirit realm manifest itself in the natural. It's important to note that when you speak a prophetic declaration, you speak it in the present, as if you already have it (Mark 11:23-24). It’s imperative to understand that your present declarations are becoming your future manifestations. What you say today is creating your tomorrow.

“It’s imperative to understand that your present declarations are becoming your future manifestations. What you say today is creating your tomorrow.”

An important thing to remember when putting these decrees into practical application is to use the word of God as your basis. So when I declare a thing over my life, I speak it in the now with applicable biblical context to back what I'm saying. The next step is to identify your problem, find the proper scripture to apply to that situation, and speak the antithesis of what you are going through. You may be dealing with sickness or disease today. The worst thing you can do is complain about what you’re going through. I often teach a simple method for identifying and consequently changing my current state of affairs. When you find yourself complaining about something-- stop and ask yourself, "What do I want?" If I'm sick, talking about how bad I feel or what the doctor said is not the path to shifting from malady to health. When I can clearly define what I want, I can create a biblical counter confession using the prophetic declaration model. Here is a great example:

I am aware that this can seem a little crazy but it is a powerful spiritual truth that will revolutionize your health, family, living situation, relationships, and finances. I have found that after making these declarations, it is important to literally act like you already have it. Earlier we referenced the scripture Mark 11:24, this verse states that whatever we desire, when we pray, we should believe that we receive them and we shall have them. So there it is, whatever you speak you should give God a prophetic praise for your prophetic declaration. You should walk like you got it, dance like you got it, talk like you got it, because in your spirit it is already yours! I often say that every prayer session should turn into a praise session. I may not see it yet, I may not feel it yet, and my life may be going in the opposite direction of my prayer, but my praise says no matter what it looks like, in my spirit I already got it! Therefore I know that it will come to pass in my life.

The Bible substantiates this claim of prophetic declarations in several verses of scripture. Proverbs 18:21 reveals that death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Job 22:28 says we can decree a thing and it will be established unto us and the light shall shine upon our way.

I implore you today to identify the areas of your life that you are ready for God to invade. Ask yourself this one question—“What do I want?” Whether it is health, deliverance for yourself or a loved one, financial breakthrough, or a complete overhaul of your life, find the scriptures that relate to your desires and speak it as if you already have it in the present tense. Then praise God for it until what's in the spirit manifest in the natural. Remember, it's already done!

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