It was Father’s Day weekend three years ago. I remember finishing the book Anything by Jennie Allen as my husband drove us to visit family for the weekend.
I cannot remember every word of my prayer that day in the car, but it would be the first time I would pray, “God, I want anything you have for me, for us. Nothing felt different at that moment, and God didn’t lay out my life’s plan all at once after I prayed, but that prayer would slowly change everything.
Fast forward to a couple weeks ago, I was sitting at church when they played a familiar song. It was a song that ministered to me deeply for a season, more so it was a song I used and declared over my family. For years I professed it, word for word, as our family vision statement.
At the time I whispered those song lyrics over my family, I didn’t quite realize the power in my declaration, the power at work in my prayer, because I was already knee-deep in the process.
Prayer initiates change in our lives even though we do not see immediate evidence of the process beginning. The process of change begins with the prayer. Although it is not yet tangible nor does it make sense, the prayer is at work through the process I am walking out.
Our process is how we posture our lives, our attitudes and our hearts to receive the promises of God.
Ladies we simply cannot break the promises of God.
God assures us of that,
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.” 1st Corinthians 1:20
Part of my “anything prayer” was a desire that my entire family would one day serve in ministry together. At the time of the prayer, it seemed like a far cry. None of us was serving in ministry.
What I have discovered is that although the time between the prayer and the praise is often long and difficult, the power of God is at work in the process. Not a day is wasted, not a day in vain, and God is never a day late.
We recently moved 1000 miles away from Florida to pursue the continuation of that whispered prayer. My husband now serves alongside an incredible ministry here in Northern Kentucky.
When that song played that Sunday morning, gratitude washed over me and a smile filled my face. In a split second, God showed me my whispered prayer and how HE was at work. All those years I was knee-deep in the process of His promises, He was faithfully working.
What I love about this week’s DECLARE scripture is that it reminds us about not only declaring and mediating on God’s word, but about the power in declaring God’s mighty acts from one generation to the next.
{Click on image to download scripture card}
Basically, tell your friend, your momma, your sister, your neighbor what God has done in your life. This magnifies His mighty works and activates what I like to call the power of praise.
It’s the infectious light we shine on a dark and hurting world when we share our stories and declare His faithfulness. We testify that we have just come through the storm, the struggle, the season of waiting, and we are still standing firm on the Word of God.
This, my friends, is the power of praise! And it’s MIGHTY powerful!
Those that know me know that I am OBSESSED, with a capital O, with a little scripture found in Revelation. It’s a powerful scripture with a powerful truth.
“They triumphed over him by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. They did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” Revelation 12:11
Want to know why I love this scripture so much?
The blood of the lamb has been freely given to us, so we can just check that one off our to-do list.
Yet, the word of our testimony is our power tool in hand to defeat the enemy. Who doesn’t want to kick devil butt?!
This scripture says that they (that’s us) triumphed over him (the devil) by the combination of the word of our testimony and the blood of Jesus.
This powerful combination of word and testimony allows us to trample and triumph over our greatest enemy!
Take a moment to shout “Amen” to that one!!
If that isn’t enough, the word of our testimony testifies to those mighty acts and wondrous works. It’s that “ this little light of mine” that shines forth to the next generation or just the girl next door that maybe there’s something to this God I know.
Maybe the God I serve holds power greater than I can wrap my mind around. I read with amazement the promises that fill up this book He wrote, a book that testifies chapter after chapter to His glory, His faithfulness, His loving-kindness (and the list goes on).
Maybe our prayers are more than mere words. Maybe they align and activate themselves once they have been whispered out, cried out, and shouted out. He hears our prayers and begins the process of change.
Maybe our process isn’t merely waiting, but instead we see a mighty God at work orchestrating all the pieces to fit together in just the right timing.
Maybe our praise is more than gratitude to a faithful God. Maybe it serves as our greatest testimony, our greatest story.
It is a beautiful, sometimes halting, process to move from prayer to praise, yet it is a process that a powerful and faithful God holds.
As you meditate on Psalm 145:4-5 this week, be encouraged that our mighty God serves with great power, faithfulness, and loving-kindness.
I pray you find that your declarations rise like sweet incense to a God more faithful than the rising sun, a God whose love and grace we simply cannot outrun.
