The concepts of decreeing and declaring are found throughout the Bible and are important spiritual practices for Christians. At the most basic level, to “decree” means to make an official decision or statement, while to “declare” means to say or announce something clearly and publicly. When we decree and declare God’s Word, we are speaking out His promises, truths, and blessings over situations and circumstances by faith.
Here are some key things the Bible teaches about decreeing and declaring:
1. God gave mankind dominion through our words
In the creation account, God said “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion…” (Genesis 1:26). After creating mankind, God blessed them and said “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion…” (Genesis 1:28). Being made in God’s image, our words have power and authority to shape the world around us.
Deuteronomy 30:19 says “…I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life…”. Proverbs 18:21 warns that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue”. Just as God decreed the world into existence through His words, we are to use our words wisely and purposefully to align with His will.
2. We are to declare God’s Word
Isaiah 55:11 tells us that God’s Word never returns void but accomplishes His purposes. Hebrews 4:12 says that God’s Word is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword. When we declare Scripture through faith-filled words, we release the power of God’s Word into situations.
For example, when facing sickness, we can declare healing scriptures like Isaiah 53:5 “By his wounds I am healed”, Psalm 107:20 “He sent out his word and healed them”, and 1 Peter 2:24 “By his wounds you have been healed”. Our declarations bring God’s reality into the natural realm.
3. We have the authority to decree God’s will
Jesus said in Matthew 18:18, “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” As believers filled with the Spirit, we have the authority to decree God’s will and Word on earth through prayer and declaration by faith.
For example, when facing demonic oppression or strongholds, we can decree “No weapon formed against me shall prosper” (Isaiah 54:17) and “Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Our declarations based on God’s Word break strongholds and release freedom.
4. Our words create spiritual realities
Both good and bad words have creative power. Proverbs 18:20 warns that “From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.” Jesus said in Matthew 12:36 that “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak”.
So we must be intentional to speak words of life, blessing, praise, truth, and thanksgiving. As we declare God’s Word, our words release His kingdom and shift spiritual realities around us. Psalm 2:7 says, “I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you”. Jesus is the ultimate example of decreeing our identity and destiny in God.
5. Decrees and declarations must be rooted in faith
It’s not just the words we speak, but the faith behind them. Mark 11:23 says, “Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.” Our declarations have power when they come from a heart of faith.
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” True faith is believing God’s Word even when we don’t yet see the manifestation. So we decree and declare His promises because we have faith in His character and His Word.
6. Decrees and declarations transform us
Every time we declare God’s Word, it changes us by renewing our minds (see Romans 12:2) and becoming more rooted in our faith. The more we decree and declare Scripture, the more it shapes our inner man to align with truth. As we speak forth God’s blessings for others, it also keeps our hearts from negativity.
As Psalm 19:14 says, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Our declarations should flow from a transformed heart and align with God’s truth.
7. Declarations in prayer release God’s power
Some key examples in Scripture of decrees and declarations through prayer include:
- God declaring “Let there be light” to manifest creation (Genesis 1:3)
- The centurion declaring to Jesus “Only say the word, and my servant will be healed” (Matthew 8:8)
- Peter and John declaring “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” to the lame beggar (Acts 3:6)
- Paul declaring to the slave girl with a spirit of divination “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” (Acts 16:18)
When we boldly decree and declare the truth of God’s Word in Jesus’ name, breakthrough happens! Declarative prayers voiced in faith are powerful and effective (James 5:16).
8. Corporate decree and declaration release spiritual authority
There is increased power and authority when believers come together to decree and declare God’s Word in unity. Jesus said “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:19).
As the body of Christ declares the truth together, strongholds are demolished, breakthrough happens, and we release the rule of God on earth as it is in heaven. We can declare the reality and hope we want to see happen through unified decrees.
9. Daily declarations strengthen our faith and clarity
Starting and ending our day declaring God’s truths and promises over ourselves and our lives helps strengthen our trust in Him. When we start the day declaring “This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24), it sets our mindset and focus. Decreeing blessing and protection over ourselves as we fall asleep also guards our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7).
Habakkuk 2:2 encourages writing down the vision God gives so we can run with clarity. Writing down and declaring daily confessions of our identity, calling, and beliefs reinforces our convictions. Keeping Scripture declarations where we can see them also renews our minds to His truths.
10. Celebrate testimonies of decrees and declarations coming to pass
Revelation 19:10 reminds us that “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” When we declare God’s Word and then testify of its fulfillment, it builds faith and gives Him glory. This strengthens us to continue decreeing His truth for greater manifestations of His kingdom.
The more we document examples of declarations that came to pass, the more it emboldens our resolve to speak His Word alone, no matter how impossible circumstances seem. We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11). Our faith declarations have power!
Conclusion
Decreeing and declaring God’s Word is an important spiritual discipline that unleashes His truth into situations and transforms us in the process. As we boldly decree and declare His promises, blessings, and kingdom realities in faith, we align our lives on earth with His purposes. When done in unity with other believers, we release even greater authority and power.
We are called to steward our words well. Daily declaring His Word establishes our hearts and minds in His truths and awakens our faith. As we declare the superiority of Christ over any problem and decree His redemptive outcomes, great fruit emerges. By God’s grace, our declarations manifest His goodness, deliverance, and purposes on earth.