I’ve mentioned this before, but a friend suggested I add to my Bible reading declaration. For years now, I have (almost always) declared these truths before I read scripture, and I have found it has revolutionized my communication with the Lord.
My original prayer, for many years has been from Psalm 119:18.
Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. – Psalm 119:18 NASB
This I have done since the 80s, but not with any great consistency. Then recently, after listening to a series by Keith Moore called My Sheep Hear My Voice, (this I highly recommend–link below,)I added John 10:27 as a prayer of thanksgiving.
“I thank you Lord and I am your sheep and You said that I hear your voice.” (My prayer from John 10:27.)
Recently a friend suggested adding Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians to my preparation to be in the Word. This is a prayer I have often used when praying for others, but just the thought of adding this gem when he suggested it filled me with anticipation.
Before I put this down on paper, I want to state, these are not magic words. If you repeat them they will not magically force God to tell you secrets. God is not a genie in a bottle who bends to our commands. He is the sovereign Lord of the universe. But we must understand that once He has said a thing, it is unchanging. He does not have one will and desire for us, and then write down something else in His Word. His Word is His will.
When we speak His Word in faith, believing that He only speaks the truth, and His will does not change, I can fully expect that He will honor His word.
The purpose of the declaration is not to twist God’s hand up behind His back, or to remind a forgetful God of His will and promises. The point of the declaration is to remind me of His will and great precious promises and cause faith (which comes by the hearing of the anointed Word of the Lord) to rise up in me so I may step into the manifestation of His will.
Ok – so here is my (non-magical but faith filled) prayer/declaration.
Father, I thank you that I DO hear your voice and I know it. I thank you that as I read Your Word today, I will see Wonderful things. As I call on You, I will hear and understand great and mighty things that I have not known before.
I thank you, Father of glory, that You are giving me a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of You. I thank you that the eyes of my heart are being enlightened so that I will know experientially what is the hope of Your calling, what are the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in me, and what is the surpassing greatness of Your power toward me because I believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of Your might.
I’m putting this in the front of my Bible so I can speak it in faith every time I jump in.
Here are the scriptures used in the above declaration:
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; – John 10:27 NASB
Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. – Psalm 119:18 NASB
‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ – Jeremiah 33:3 NASB
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might – Ephesians 1:17-19 NASB
Thanks for stopping by.
Blessings
Ben