I know this woman who had smoked cigarettes from an early age. She tried to quit time and time again, but she just could not stop. She was constantly saying, "I'll never break this addiction. It's too hard. And even if I do, I know I will gain so much weight." This went on for years. One day someone told her to change what she was saying and call things that are not as though they were. She started saying, "I don't like to smoke. I can't stand the taste of nicotine. I'm going to quit and not gain any extra weight." She said that day after day. Even when she was smoking and enjoying it, she would say, "I can't stand to smoke." She wasn't talking about the way she was. She was talking about the way she wanted to be. One morning about three months later, she noticed her cigarette tasted funny, almost bitter. She thought she got a bad pack. It got worse and worse. Several months later, it had gotten so bad that she couldn't stand it anymore. She stopped smoking, and do you know that she never gained one extra pound? Today she is totally free. She broke that addiction, in part, by the power of her words. She prophesied her future. She declared her freedom!
Maybe, like this woman, you have spent years saying negative things over your life. "I can't break this addiction, Joel. My marriage is never going to make it. I'll never get out of debt." No, you've got to send your words out in a new direction. You are prophesying the wrong thing. Get in a habit of saying what God says about you. Every day declare that you are free! You are more than a conqueror! You are a victor and not a victim. Put words to your faith and watch what God will do on your behalf.
This weekend, as we celebrate our freedom in America, let's celebrate our eternal freedom. Let's declare freedom over our lives and our loved ones. Here's a freedom declaration you can say today and every day:
"Because of Christ, I am blessed. I am prosperous. I am strong. I am healthy. I am talented. I am creative. I am confident. I am secure. I am disciplined. I am focused. I am free from the past. I am free from fear. I am free from condemnation. I am free from addictions. I am free from lack. The right people are in my future. The right opportunities are headed my way. I will accomplish my dreams. I will overcome every obstacle. This is my year! Things have shifted in my favor. I am the redeemed of the Lord, and I say so today. I am free in Jesus' name!"