Prayer might be the most misunderstood assignment God has given His children. Why were we told to pray? Do we pray to get God to do something? Is prayer the act of “twisting the arm” of an unwilling Sovereign to get Him to do what He already said He would do? If God knows everything – and He is omniscient – doesn’t He already know what we need? If God is so powerful – and He is omnipotent – can’t He just perform what we need? If He loves us – and He does, endlessly – can’t He just act on our behalf to provide, protect, supply for our needs? Why are we commanded to pray? What is the purpose of prayer? Before we investigate, a quick study of the word “prayer” will be helpful.
We look first in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word for our English “to pray” is palal (Strong’s H6419). It has meanings that include: to intervene, interpose, pray, mediate, judge, intercede, intreat, and make supplication. What is clear in these terms is this – not all prayer is not asking for something or making supplication. Sometimes prayer is an intervention. Sometimes “to pray” means to take verbal action and intercede in a matter. Sometimes prayer is mediation – or acting on behalf of two parties to settle a dispute. Sometimes prayer means to bring judgment in a matter.
In the New Testament, several Greek words are translated “prayer” in our English Bibles. One is proseuche (Strong’s G4335). It can refer to a prayer to God or a place set apart for prayer like a synagogue. The word “prayer” can also be translated proseuchomai (Strong’s G4336). This word means to supplicate, pray to God, and to worship. Another word for prayer in the New Testament is deesis (Strong’s G1162). This word implies supplication and making requests.
Breaking down the word proseuche we get pros and euche. Pros means “face to face” and euche means “to wish, to desire, or to vow.” This is important to know because we tend to think of prayer as supplication only. Many do not think of prayer as making vows. Sometimes prayer is getting face to face with God and asking Him to do something. At other times, prayer is joining God in declaring a vow or a proclamation of God’s will over a matter. Making declarations of God’s will can be a form of prayer. Job 22:28 says something amazing. It would be hard to believe if it was not written in the Bible with chapter and verse.
Job 22:28 (AMPC)
You shall also decide and decree a thing, and it shall be established for you; and the light [of God’s favor] shall shine upon your ways.
Obviously, you cannot decide and decree something by faith that God has not provided by His grace. You cannot decide and decree a sinful thing. You cannot decide and decree something that is harmful to another. The requirement for deciding and decreeing is that “the light of God’s favor shall shine upon your ways.” You must be walking and living in ways that are pleasing to God and in accordance with His will and purposes. You must decide and decree things He favors. Again, we receive by faith what God has provided by grace.
In this Truth for Today set of Truth studies there will be 1) a study regarding the prayer of supplication and 2) a study regarding the prayer of declaration. The study in this post will investigate the prayer of declaration by approaching prayer from the perspective of an invitation to join the Godhead in governing the universe by declaration – by speaking words and making commands. It will view prayer as a calling to join God the Father, His Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit in the action of ruling and reigning over the universe and building the kingdom of God in the earth (see Matthew 16:18). Using “let it be” declarations that echo God’s creation of the earth and its inhabitants, dominion will be exerted by God’s sons and daughters in the earth. The purpose of a human call to prayer, in this post on the prayer of declaration, will be regarded as participating in “the family business” by exerting authority with decrees and declarations in accordance with God’s will.
Imagine a man named Smith has a farm and over the entrance to the farm is a sign that says, “Smith Farm.” He has crops and farm animals. He works his farm by planting, cultivating, and harvesting his crops and by caring for his animals. At some point, he has sons and eventually his sons grow old enough to help him. They are taught how to manage the crops and the animals and slowly they are given more responsibility for the everyday operations of the farm. Finally, Farmer Smith’s sons are fully integrated into all aspects of the farm work and business. Farmer Smith then changes the sign over the entrance to the farm to “Smith and Sons Farm.” The sons are fully participating in the family business.
Just as the Triune God is in the business of ruling over the universe (Hebrews 1:3), we will look at prayer as the Christian’s exercise of authority over creation. Prayer will be seen as joining in the work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as human sons and daughters might join a human father in his business and carry out the work and responsibilities of that business. How is this model for prayer developed and established in scripture? Genesis chapter one is the place to start.
Genesis 1:26-28 (NKJV)
26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Before the end of the very first chapter in the Bible, God states that humanity has an assignment to rule and reign on the earth. Our job as sons and daughters of God is to multiply by having children, and then subdue and manage the earth.
Genesis 2:15 (AMPC)
And the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and guard and keep it.
The second chapter of the Bible also states that humanity has the duty to take care of this earth – to “tend and guard” it. While this involves physical action, it also involves verbal declarations of God’s will.
In chapter three, we see our race’s tragic loss of dominion and authority over this planet. Satan attacked Eve with the lie that questioned God’s goodness and generosity, she and Adam succumbed to sin, and they died spiritually. When they died spiritually, they lost their spiritual connection to God and their place of dominion over the earth was transferred to Satan. How do we know that Satan took over the dominion of Planet Earth? We look to the confrontation between Satan and Jesus during the Lord’s forty-day fast in the wilderness. Satan arrogantly and belligerently stated that he was in charge of this earth. Consider his words as recorded by Luke.
Luke 4:5-7 (NIV)
5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.”
Satan claims that the kingdoms of the world had be given to him and he could do as he pleased with them. Jesus does not argue with him. Although Satan is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44), in these verses he is telling the awful truth. The writer of Ecclesiastes describes the grievous outcome of Satan’s rulership over the earth.
Ecclesiastes 4:1 (NASB 1995)
Then I looked again at all the acts of oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had no one to comfort them; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort them.
“On the side of their oppressors was power” refers the ruling and reigning of Satan and his demon hordes over this earth and its inhabitants. Although God provided protection for people who would love and serve Him, for most of humanity, Satan was sovereign. Consider the state of humanity during this time in verses from Genesis and Psalms.
Genesis 6:5, 6 (AMPC)
5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination and intention of all human thinking was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved at heart.
Psalm 14: 1-3 (AMPC)
1 The [empty-headed] fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable deeds; there is none that does good or right. 2 The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any who understood, dealt wisely, and sought after God, inquiring for and of Him and requiring Him [of vital necessity]. 3 They are all gone aside, they have all together become filthy; there is none that does good or right, no, not one.
But God. What a beautiful phrase. But God had a plan to regain authority and sovereignty for us and to reestablish our assignment to have dominion over creation. Isaiah prophesies concerning the coming reversal of earthly governmental authority.
Isaiah 9:6, 7 (TLB)
6 For unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder. These will be his royal titles: “Wonderful,” “Counselor,” “The Mighty God,” “The Everlasting Father,” “The Prince of Peace.” 7 His ever-expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule with perfect fairness and justice from the throne of his father David. He will bring true justice and peace to all the nations of the world. This is going to happen because the Lord of heaven’s armies has dedicated himself to do it.
Isaiah describes the coming of Jesus Christ to take control of the government of this earth. In Jesus, true justice is provided for the people of the earth. Chapter 53, the great redemptive chapter in the book of Isaiah, gives details concerning the reinstatement of our race as those with the rightful authority over the earth. This chapter explains how God, in the Lord Jesus Christ, accomplishes the forgiveness of human sin and the recovery of our place as God’s children in spirit and in truth. Receiving this recovered authority requires an act of faith on our part. We cannot be given assignments and use this authority until spiritual death is removed from our spirits and we are regenerated or born again. The Apostle John records a conversation he overheard between Jesus and a religious leader named Nicodemus concerning our need for a new birth.
John 3:1-8 (ERV)
1 There was a man named Nicodemus, one of the Pharisees. He was an important Jewish leader. 2 One night he came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a teacher sent from God. No one can do these miraculous signs that you do unless they have God’s help.” 3 Jesus answered, “I assure you, everyone must be born again. Anyone who is not born again cannot be in God’s kingdom.” 4 Nicodemus said, “How can a man who is already old be born again? Can he go back into his mother’s womb and be born a second time?” 5 Jesus answered, “Believe me when I say that everyone must be born from water and the Spirit. Anyone who is not born from water and the Spirit cannot enter God’s kingdom. 6 The only life people get from their human parents is physical. But the new life that the Spirit gives a person is spiritual. 7 Don’t be surprised that I told you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wants to. You hear it, but you don’t know where it is coming from or where it is going. It is the same with everyone who is born from the Spirit.”
These eight verses map out the route of a lost, spiritually dead, demon-dominated inhabitant of the earth to becoming a spiritual son or daughter of God. As our spirits are brought back to life by power exerted by Holy Spirit, we recover our spiritual life (we become alive to God) and the initial assignment to rule and reign on the earth. The Apostle Paul’s assessment of the new birth follows.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (NIV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
“The old has gone, the new is here.” The word “new” in English is translated from the Greek word kainos (Strong’s G2537). Among the meanings of this word provided by Strong’s concordance are the phrases “of a new kind, unprecedented, novel, uncommon, unheard of.” When we are born again, we are born spiritually as a new species of being that has never before been seen on planet earth. Instead of being Adam’s offspring, we become the offspring of Jehovah God. We acquire spiritual DNA. We are no longer dead spiritually in sin and trespasses; we are alive to God in Jesus Christ. The Apostle John claims that we become beloved children of God.
1 John 3:1 (AMPC)
See what [an incredible] quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! The reason that the world does not know (recognize, acknowledge) us is that it does not know (recognize, acknowledge) Him.
The new birth restores us to the position of beloved children of God. As our spirits are born again, they become alive to God. The spiritual death that was lodged in humans when sin was committed in the garden of Eden is undone when we become the new creation. We recover spiritual sonship with God who is a Spirit (see John 4:24).
In his letter to the church at Colossae, Paul explains how the new life God creates in us provides the path to recovery of authority and dominion. We are restored to spiritual life and the enemy is completely defeated. He has no hold on us and no more authority in this universe. We are free to take up the mantle of rulership that Jesus offers.
Colossians 2:13-15 (ERV)
13 You were spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were not free from the power of your sinful self. But God gave you new life together with Christ. He forgave all our sins. 14 Because we broke God’s laws, we owed a debt—a debt that listed all the rules we failed to follow. But God forgave us of that debt. He took it away and nailed it to the cross. 15 He defeated the rulers and powers of the spiritual world. With the cross he won the victory over them and led them away, as defeated and powerless prisoners for the whole world to see.
In the eighth chapter of Romans, the Apostle Paul skillfully expounds on our new status as born-again children of God.
Romans 8:15-21 (AMPC)
15 For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! 16 The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God. 17 And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory. 18 [But what of that?] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us! 19 For [even the whole] creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God’s sons to be made known [waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship]. 20 For the creation (nature) was subjected to frailty (to futility, condemned to frustration), not because of some intentional fault on its part, but by the will of Him Who so subjected it—[yet] with the hope 21 That nature (creation) itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and corruption [and gain an entrance] into the glorious freedom of God’s children.
When we are born again, we receive a spirit of adoption and call God “Abba” (a Hebrew term of endearment for a father like “Papa” or “Daddy”). We also become heirs of God. As Jesus is His eldest Son, or the First Born (Rom. 8:29) and heir to all His Father possesses, we become “co-heirs” or “joint heirs” with the Lord Jesus Christ. We are now a part of God’s family and invited into the family business. Recall the original intention of the Godhead in Genesis chapter 1. The assignment given to Adam and his offspring was to rule and reign over the earth. These verses in Romans 8 explain how we have been reinstated as the sovereigns of the earth by inheritance with Jesus Christ Himself. Isaiah prophesied that the government of the earth would belong to Jesus (see Is. 9:6,7 above) and Paul includes all Christians in the governmental mantle by inheritance. We share what Jesus has inherited with Him. We are recipients of the authority that Jesus recovered. Paul restates our inherited position to the Galatians.
Galatians 4:4-7 (MSG)
But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, “Papa! Father!” Doesn’t that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you’re also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.
We have been “set free to experience our rightful heritage” by becoming the children of God in the new birth. What was our “rightful inheritance”? I believe it is our original authoritative position described in Genesis 1:26, 28; 2:15. Our rightful inheritance is to rule and reign on the earth. The Apostle Peter explains our new position this way.
1 Peter 2:9, 10 (KJV)
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
We “shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” by joining Jesus in governing the earth as heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus. This government is filled with compassion and justice. Sin and strongholds are annihilated while mercy and truth bloom and flourish.
Isaiah 9:7 (TLB)
His ever-expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule with perfect fairness and justice from the throne of his father David. He will bring true justice and peace to all the nations of the world. This is going to happen because the Lord of heaven’s armies has dedicated himself to do it.
One of the expressions or actions of “ruling with perfect fairness from the throne of his father David” is making prayers of declaration of the clearly stated will of God. All kings and rulers are authorized to make decrees. Declaring the word of God over the earth, people, situations, circumstances and needs in this earth with the voice of authority is rulership.
Matthew records Jesus’ departure from this earth with a claim to authority and an assignment for His followers.
Matthew 28:16-20 (NLT)
16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
If all authority has been given to Jesus, and we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Jesus (Rom. 8:17), then all authority has also been given to us. We are to use this recovered authority to disciple the nations. In addition to the assignment given in Genesis 1:26, 28; 2:15, we are also to teach all the nations to obey God and disciple the nations. Making declarations, interceding, interposing, mediating in the will of God is a part of accomplishing this assignment.
Another description of discipling the nations and ruling with Jesus in His kingdom is found in Matthew 16. Here we see the church building program initiated by Jesus and stewarded by His co-heirs.
Matthew 16:16-19 (AMPC)
16 Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 Then Jesus answered him, Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are you, Simon Bar-Jonah. For flesh and blood [men] have not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, Petros—a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra—a huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it]. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven.
Matthew 16:16-19 (NLT)
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”
In verse 18, Jesus essentially said that He was recovering all that was lost and was moving forward with plans to implement His kingdom as the Godhead originally planned. In His kingdom, He governs. As joint heirs with Him, we also govern. In verse 19, Jesus stated that He has given us the “keys of the kingdom.” In giving us the keys of the kingdom, He reinforces the fact that we are included as a vital part of the kingdom building program. Phrases from Genesis 1:26, 28 and 2:15 describe our being given dominion over living creatures, filling the earth and subduing it, and tending and keeping the garden. Jesus refers to these duties, responsibilities, and privileges as “kingdom building.” These assignments are one and the same. In these verses in Matthew, He recalls us to our original position of dominion and our original assignment to rule and reign. And this time, Christian, nothing will stop Him.
Notice, in Matthew 16 above, the importance of verbally binding obstacles in kingdom building by declaring them to be improper and unlawful. Also notice, that by verbal decree, we establish what is lawful in accordance with the justice of God in the earth. We receive the keys to the kingdom and immediately begin our assignment with verbal declarations and decrees. We verbally decree “binding” (declaring to be improper and unlawful) to lawlessness and “loosing” (declaring to be lawful) to what is lawful and in keeping with God’s justice. We are rulers making decrees that enemy spirits, carrying out unlawful influence and actions on humans, must cease and desist in their efforts. Or we decree that justice and righteousness are loosed in a situation and what is lawful must be done through the action of the word of God, angels that minister, or both!
Is there a template or are there examples from the Godhead for making declarations in creating and maintaining this universe? Does God decree things He wants to see established in the earth? Absolutely. Again, we return to Genesis chapter 1. As God is creating our inhabited earth, He is speaking.
Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26, 29
3 And God said, Let there be light; and there was light.
6 And God said, Let there be a firmament [the expanse of the sky] in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters [below] from the waters [above].
9 And God said, Let the waters under the heavens be collected into one place [of standing], and let the dry land appear. And it was so.
11 And God said, Let the earth put forth [tender] vegetation: plants yielding seed and fruit trees yielding fruit whose seed is in itself, each according to its kind, upon the earth. And it was so.
14 And God said, Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be signs and tokens [of God’s provident care], and [to mark] seasons, days, and years,
20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly and swarm with living creatures, and let birds fly over the earth in the open expanse of the heavens.
24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creeping things, and [wild] beasts of the earth according to their kinds. And it was so.
26 God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth.
29 And God said, See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the land and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food.
Recall Farmer Smith who had a family business of farming and brought his children into the business. In the same way, the family business of God is to create by speaking what is desired into existence. There are other scriptures that verify God’s creative ability in His words.
Hebrews 11:3 (AMPC)
By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible.
Hebrews 11:3 (NASB)
By faith we understand that the world has been created by the word of God so that what is seen has not been made out of things that are visible.
In Genesis, God created the earth and its inhabitants by speaking words. There was no visible matter with which God created anything. He creates with His faith and His words. In teaching about Abraham’s faith in Roman’s chapter 4, Paul said the following about how God uses His words.
Romans 4:17 (NASB)
(as it is written, “A father of many nations have I made you”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.
Romans 4:17 (MSG)
We call Abraham “father” not because he got God’s attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody. Isn’t that what we’ve always read in Scripture, God saying to Abraham, “I set you up as father of many peoples”? Abraham was first named “father” and then became a father because he dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word make something out of nothing.
God calls that which does not exist into being with His words. “With a word [He] makes something out of nothing” according to the Message Bible. That is God’s method of creating and accomplishing His desires. He “calls into being that which does not exist.” It is very clear here that God rules by decree. Hebrews chapter 1 has more insight.
Hebrews 1:3 (ERV)
The Son shows the glory of God. He is a perfect copy of God’s nature, and he holds everything together by his powerful command. The Son made people clean from their sins. Then he sat down at the right side of God, the Great One in heaven.
Jesus holds everything in this universe together by His powerful command. Jesus makes a decree, and the universe obeys. Let’s look at the first part of this verse in the Amplified Classic Version and the Amplified Version.
Hebrews 1:3a (AMPC)
He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power.
Hebrew 1:3a (AMP)
The Son is the radiance and only expression of the glory of [our awesome] God [reflecting God’s Shekinah glory, the Light-being, the brilliant light of the divine], and the exact representation and perfect imprint of His [Father’s] essence, and upholding and maintaining and propelling all things [the entire physical and spiritual universe] by His powerful word [carrying the universe along to its predetermined goal].
Jesus, with powerful words, rules over the universe. It is upheld, maintained, and propelled by His decrees and declarations. We are His co-heirs. We, too, should be making powerful decrees and declarations concerning the universe we have inherited.
In the book of Ephesians, we are instructed to imitate God the way a child imitates his or her father.
Ephesians 5:1 (AMPC)
Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father].
Our Heavenly Father modelled the use of words to accomplish what He desired in Genesis 1. We should imitate God by managing the earth with our words, in the form of decrees and declarations. How does God respond when He hears our decrees and declarations of His word coming out of our mouths? God tells the prophet Jeremiah exactly how He responds!
Jeremiah 1:12 (NIV)
The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”
Jeremiah 1:12 (AMPC)
Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it.
The New International Version says God is “watching to see that His word is fulfilled.” In the Amplified Classic Version, we see God as “alert and active” in His pursuit of performing His word as it leaves our mouths. This is very good news. We are not just speaking into the air. The God of the universe is actively performing our commands that agree with His word. Consider the prophet Isaiah’s words in Isaiah 55.
Isaiah 55:11 (NASB)
So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the purpose for which I sent it?
Isaiah 55:11 (MSG)
So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They’ll do the work I sent them to do, they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.
The Lord says His words accomplish what He sends them to do. As heirs of God and co-heirs with Jesus Christ, God’s words accomplish what we send them to do, as well. According to the Message Bible, when we make declarations based on the word of God, we literally give the words an assignment. We assign promises of God to accomplish whatever is our prayer concern.
In Hebrews and Colossians, we see that the words themselves have power to accomplish themselves.
Hebrews 4:12 (AMPC)
For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.
Colossians 1:6 (AMPC)
Which has come to you. Indeed, in the whole world [that Gospel] is bearing fruit and still is growing [by its own inherent power], even as it has done among yourselves ever since the day you first heard and came to know and understand the grace of God in truth. [You came to know the grace or undeserved favor of God in reality, deeply and clearly and thoroughly, becoming accurately and intimately acquainted with it.]
In Hebrews, we see that the word of God is living, active, and powerful. It has energy and is effective. In Colossians, we see that the Gospel has its own inherent power. The word of God has the power to accomplish itself! When we speak the word of God, He watches over it to perform it, it does not return to us without accomplishing its assignment, and it has its own inherent power!
The Apostle Paul gives us some insight into to how the prayer of declaration can be made in his letter to the Philippians.
Philippians 4:6 (AMP)
Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.
Petitioning God falls in the category of the prayer of supplication. Making “petition with thanksgiving” could be interpreted as thanking God for a specific promise in His word and declaring it over the subject of the prayer. A few examples of “petition with thanksgiving” as declarative prayer follow.
Friends call to ask for prayer for their sick toddler, Sarah. You and your friends waste no time and immediately agree in prayer the according the following:
“Father, we lift this precious baby up to You and ask for total and complete healing for her little body. We thank You that, according to Exodus 15:26, You are Jehovah Rapha, the Lord that heals us. We declare that you are Sarah’s Great Physician, and you are effecting a cure and a remedy in her body right now. Thank you that Isaiah 53:5 states the by the stripes of Jesus we are healed and made whole. We decide and decree that the stripes our Jesus bore at the whipping post are more than sufficient to provide total healing and recovery for Sarah. In the name of Jesus, we bind all spirits of infirmity and we loose over Sarah perfect health and well-being.”
The request (prayer of supplication) is made in asking for total and complete healing. The thanksgiving and declaration follow (prayer of declaration). It is important to be specific and make “definite requests” (Phil 4:6 (AMPC)). Verbalize the actual chapter and verse you are basing your decree upon. Be specific with names, places, times, dollar amounts, and other details of the prayer request. When you state the chapter and verse in the Bible for your authorization to use your faith, it removes all doubt in your decree. When you specify details of the prayer request, God (Who watches over His word to perform it) will answer specifically. It is also important to be specific and write down your prayer and the date you prayed. After you pray and make your declarations, do not speak any words contrary to your decree. Continue to use your faith and be confident in God’s integrity to keep His word. Continue to speak blessing over the situation and do not speak any kind of cursing over the situation.
Another issue that comes up for prayer for most people is a financial need. There are many scripture verses that promise God’s faithfulness to supply our needs and be our provider. For example, you have a rent payment coming due for $900.00. A prayer that combines supplication with thanksgiving could be crafted as follows:
“Father, I ask you to provide me with the $900.00 I need for rent this month. I thank you that, in Exodus 22:14, Abraham called you Jehovah Jireh, the Lord our Provider. I decide right now that You are Jehovah Jireh to me. I decree this need is met in Jesus’ name. Lord, in Philippians 4:19 the Apostle Paul said that You would supply my needs according to Your riches in glory. Father, right now, I decree that you are supplying my need out of Your rich treasuries and not according to any earthly source. I bind any hindering spirit in Jesus’ name, you will not withhold or prevent the supply of the Father to me. I loose angels assigned to this need to be completely effective in bringing in this $900.00. I give you thanks now because this need is met now.”
This is just one way to craft a prayer that includes supplication with thanksgiving and decrees concerning a financial need. We should always invite Holy Spirit to guide us in prayer. It is also a good idea to write down the scripture verses that contain the decrees and declarations you want to make in a notebook or prayer journal. Pray and ask Holy Spirit to prompt you with the verses He wants you to meditate on and decree. Sometimes, Holy Spirit might prompt you to ask a trusted friend if they can suggest a verse or verses that would be appropriate for the prayer need.
This study only scratches the surface of the extreme value of the prayer of declaration. For further study, I suggest that you read and research, prayerfully, the Book of Proverbs. The importance of words and speaking is expounded upon in this book and will build your faith in the prayer of declaration.
Remember, making decrees is part of the “family business.” As an heir of Father God and a joint-heir with His Son Jesus Christ, we are given the great privilege to pray the prayer of declaration and use the word of God in prayer.