Over the years I have grown to learn about the potency of God’s word, and even much more about the potency of praying and confessing God’s word over our lives. Pastor Mildred Kingsley-Okonkwo shares over and over how she continuously confessed and prayed God’s word over herself as she waited on God for her babies. I also heard of a woman’s testimony; how she claimed her victory by the power of God’s word. This woman was accosted by a principality who held on to her possession for a long time. Amid contention, this principality asked, “Why should I give this back to you?” At that moment she knew she had to say to this principality – “It is written….!” Sadly, she could not find scriptures in her memory to fight with or reclaim her possessions. So she had to go study and learn God’s word. By the next time, the principality returned, this woman of God was now armed with God’s word and able to possess her possession.
By no means do I plan to scare you with the story of the principality but it is the reality of the life we live in. The Bible tells us, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places”– Ephesians 6:12. Nonetheless, the good news to us and for us is that Jesus Christ has given us the power to overcome, to trample upon serpents and scorpions –Luke 10:19. Still about my dear Jesus, He showed an exemplary life of confessing and praying God’s word. When the devil came to tempt Him, our dear Jesus Christ overcame the temptations by confessing God’s word over and over – Luke 4:1-13. God’s word remains undefeated, hence we should imbibe praying and Confessing God’s word over our lives.
With all that said, I want to share a bible chapter that struck the chords of my heart this past week. All I share with you today and forever is to point you to an intentional relationship with God through Jesus Christ. So this chapter of the bible that caught my attention was Psalms 20. The whole book of Psalms contains potent words that we can confess and declare over our lives, one of which is Psalm 91. Oh! Psalm 91 is one of the popular Psalms of confession for God’s protection over our lives.
Now back to Psalms 20 as it opened up to me last week. This Psalms opens up by declaring answers to one’s prayers. It says,
"May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you " - Psalms 20:1
This you can personalize and declare – “May the Lord answer me in the day of trouble” Oh! What a privilege it is to be answered by the Creator of the earth, the one who watches over His children day and night. It is such a blessing to call on Him and be answered by Him, even much more in times of trouble. I know many of us do not envisage or plan for days of trouble but my dear, those days may come and we best believe should remember to declare this prayer over our lives ahead of time. We sure can bank our prayers, we can pray ahead of time. So again, my dear, I declare over my life and yours that the good Lord answers us in the day of trouble.
For the second part of this verse, there is some light I would love to share with you so that you can pray and declare with understanding. As I read, “May the name of the God of Jacob defend you”, Jacob’s interaction with Laban, his uncle came to mind. Laban deceived and cheated Jacob of his wages so many times. See what he said to his wives in Genesis 31:7, ” Your father (Laban) has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me. Throughout the same chapter, we see how God defended, and protected Jacob from Laban, how God gave Jacob wisdom for wealth and led him back to his father’s house. Therefore, when we pray that the name of the God of Jacob defends us, we declare that the same God who saved Jacob from Laban who cheated him multiple times defends and saves us from cheats and the devourer.
May He send you help from the house of God, and give you strength from Zion. - Psalms 20:2
May He remember all your gifts of grain given on the altar in worship. And may He be pleased with your burnt gifts.- Psalms 20:3
This verse 3 contains elements that remind me of about three biblical scenarios. In Genesis 4, Cain and Abel offered sacrifices to the Lord. While both presented their offerings simultaneously, only Abel’s was accepted (Genesis 4:4), as sin lay at Cain’s door (Genesis 4:7). Another scenario that “bursts” my brain is where Noah made burnt offerings unto the Lord(Genesis 8:20). The bible tells us that the Lord smelled a soothing aroma all the way in heaven! Genesis 8:21. As soon as God smelled the offering all the way up in heaven, He said in His heart, never ever will He curse the ground for man’s sake and never again will He destroy every living thing as He did in the time of Noah – Genesis 8:21.
Finally, we see how elated God was when Abraham willingly sacrificed his precious son of promise unto the Lord.God was so elated that He swore by Himself and profusely blessed father Abraham – Genesis 22:15-18. Oh! our good Lord loves sacrifices, He loves offerings but most importantly it matters to Him who gives or offers these offerings. This is why Apostle Paul concludes and admonishes us to present our bodies living sacrifices,Holy and acceptable unto the Lord – Romans 12:1 . It is first the vessel before the offering because when the vessel is presented Holy and acceptable unto the Lord, therin lies clarity and direction to know the acceptable offerings unto the Lord.
Therefore my dear friend, as you confess or declare this prayer, here is a good time to pause and ponder, “Am I like Abel or Cain? Am I like Noah or papa Abraham constantly living lives in obedience to the will of the Lord. If you determine that change needs to be made, please do not hesitate to call on the name of the Lord to help you. The beauty of the Lord that we serve is that He makes a way out for us. When Cain offered unacceptable offering unto the Lord, God told him,”sin lies at the door, and it desires is for you, but you should rule over it” – Genesis 4:7. God literally was showing and telling Cain that he had the power to rule over sin but sadly Cain turned a deaf ear. I Pray that you take heed my dear friend and turn to the Lord NOW! The power to rule over sin is available in Jesus Christ, come to Him Now!
With that said, you can proceed to declare and pray the rest of the chapter over your life. I trust the Lord to see to the manifestation of His word in our lives in Jesus name.
May He give you the desire of your heart, and make all your plans go well. - Psalms 20:4
We will sing for joy when you win. In the name of our God, we will lift up our flags. May the Lord give you all the things you ask Him for. - Psalms 20:5
Now I know that the Lord saves His chosen one. He will answer him from His holy heaven, with the saving power of His right hand.- Psalms 20:6
Some trust in wagons and some in horses. But we will trust in the name of the Lord, our God. - Psalms 20:7
They have fallen on their knees. But we rise and stand straight. O Lord, save! May the King answer us when we call.- Psalms 20: 8-9