The most significant battle I fight is the daily battle I fight to live with a renewed mind.
When Joshua was faced with the overwhelming leadership challenge of being Moses’ successor and the guy personally responsible for leading three million people into the Promised Land he was obviously shaken. The battle in his mind was fierce.
Why would God encourage him with the words, “Be strong and very courageous…” (vv. 7, 9) if Joshua wasn’t grappling with weakness and fear? Why would God have commanded him, “Do not be afraid…” (v 9) if fear wasn’t a major obstacle to him fulfilling his God-given assignment? And, why would God challenge him, “Do not be discouraged…” if discouragement wasn’t something that could potentially take Joshua out of the game?
Interestingly enough, God’s answer for the battle going on in Joshua’s head and heart was twofold:
1) His presence. “…as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you…” (v 5)
2) His Word.
God’s answer for the battle going on in Joshua’s HEAD and HEART
was for him to thoroughly saturate them both with the WORD of GOD!
“Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
—Joshua 1:7-8 NIV
God’s command to Joshua was simple and straightforward:
- Read My Word. (Implied in the first phrase of v 8.)
- Speak My Word.
- Meditate on My Word.
- Study and Memorize My Word. (See NLT and NET)
- Apply and obey My Word.
Only then would Joshua “be prosperous and successful.”
Today, in the constant battle that takes place in my head and in my heart, I’m still desperate for these two essentials: God’s presence and God’s Word. I’ve often written and said, “I don’t read God’s Word daily because I’m super spiritual. I read it every day because I’m incredibly desperate. I need God. I need His presence. And, I need His Word. I need His guidance.”
That’s why based upon God’s command to Joshua, as well as other Scriptures that speak to the importance of reading, meditating on, memorizing, studying, and declaring God’s Word over your life (Psalm 119:13; Isaiah 42:9; Romans 4:17; 12:2; Hebrews 13:5-6), a few years ago I created a series of declarations that I make over my life on an almost daily basis.
Over the years, I’ve been asked several times to share that list. I’ve hesitated to do so for several reasons. The biggest reason being that it’s very personal. These declarations were created out of my own desperation and personal experience. These declarations reflect passages I desperately need to hear myself speak over myself. Your experience may be different. There may be other passages that are essential and important for you.
By the way, I regularly review this list and tweak it as needed. Further, I attempt to memorize at least one passage of Scripture each week and incorporate those passages as declarations over my life, as well.
With that said, here’s a somewhat edited list of the personal declarations (with Scriptural references) I’m making over myself in 2024. Maybe it will encourage you to create your list of declarations…
My 2024 Personal Declarations and Affirmations
- I am a dearly loved child of God! I was loved, accepted and chosen by God before He created the world. My Father delights in me (John 1:12; 3:16; Rom 5:8; 8:16; 15:7; Eph 1:4,11; 2:4-5; Matt 3:17).
- I am a new creation — a brand new person. My old life is gone. A new life has begun. My God makes everything new. Because of that, I am a new man with a new attitude, outlook, a new marriage, a new life and a new future (2 Cor 5:17; Rev 21:5).
- I am a devoted and sacrificially loving husband. I am “courteously reverent to my wife.” My love for Janet is “marked by giving, not by getting.” I love my wife as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her. My love for Janet “makes her whole.” My words “evoke her beauty.” All of my attitudes and actions are designed to “bring the best out of her.” I champion her dreams! I cheer her on when she takes steps of faith and obedience. I listen, grieve with her and provide grace when she falls or fails. I run to extend forgiveness whenever it is needed. I am her best friend and closest ally (Ephesians 5:21-28 MSG).
- I am a good dad and granddad. I love, laugh, play, have fun with and enjoy my children and grandchildren. I provide an example to my kids that they can follow. I do not “exasperate them by coming down hard on them. Instead, I take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master.” When Jesus calls me home, my children will say with confidence, “Dad loved Jesus well. He loved mom well. He loved us well” (Ephesians 6:1-4).
- I am a good friend. A good friend “loves at all times.” I will be faithful and diligent in my relationships providing love, grace, mercy, encouragement, affirmation, challenges and accountability to the people God has placed in my relational world. “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Prov 17:17; 27:17; Ephesians 4:29-32).
- I am resilient. No weapon fashioned against me will succeed. Every voice raised up to accuse me will be silenced. This is my heritage as a servant of God! I lovingly persevere in the face of challenges, setbacks, obstacles and criticism, developing tough skin while maintaining a soft and tender heart (Isa 54:17).
- I am an overcomer! I am “born of God and overcome the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even my faith”! At the end of the day, I overcome. I am “more than a conqueror through the one who loved me and gave Himself for me”! I will not go silently. I will stand defiantly against the evil one, every demon, this world, my flesh, every challenge and every critic, pointing faithfully to my redeemer and the source of strength (1 Jn 5:4; Rom 8:37).
- I am a man with a purpose — created on purpose, for a purpose. I am God’s masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God planned for me long ago (Pro 16:4; Jer 29:11; Ps 33:11; Eph 2:10).
- I have the mind of Christ. I choose to fill my mind and fix my thoughts on things that are true, noble, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, authentic, compelling, gracious — the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not to curse. Whatever is lovely, good, virtuous and praiseworthy — I fill my mind and fix my thoughts on these things (1 Corinthians 2:16; Philippians 4:8).
- I am healthy — spirit, soul, mind and body. I am fit. I am strong. I am in the best shape of my life. By the stripes of Jesus, I am healed. By the word of God, I am whole. I honor Jesus with the spirit, soul, mind and body He has given me by eating things that fuel me for excellence, by exercising to gain strength, increase flexibility, endurance and longevity, and by resting in a way that reveals my trust and faith in God (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24; Psalm 107:2; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Timothy 4:8; Philippians 1:20).
- I am wealthy and generous. “My home brims with wealth and a generosity that never runs dry” (Psalm 112:3 MSG).
- I am a wise builder. “Wise people are builders — they build families, businesses, communities. Through their intelligence and insight their enterprises are established and endure” (Proverbs 24:3 TPT).
“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established;
4 through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” (NIV)
- I am more than blessed. “God Himself will fill you with more. Blessings upon blessings will be heaped upon you and upon your children from the maker of heaven and earth, the very God who made you” (Psalm 115:14-15 TPT).
- I am just, merciful and humble. “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8 NIV)
- I am successful (Joshua 1:8). “Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed” (Proverbs 16:3 AMPC).
- I am focused and I am a finisher! “I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (Philippians 3:13-14 NLT).
- I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13).
Because of Jesus, I am holy (Hebrews 2:11).
Because of Jesus, I am capable (Philippians 4:13).
Because of Jesus, I am creative (Genesis 1:27; Exodus 35:35; Romans 12:6; Colossians 3:23).
Because of Jesus, I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Habakkuk 3:19; Ephesians 6:10; Psalm 29:11; 46:1-3; 73:26; Isaiah 40:28-31; Nehemiah 8:10).
Because of Jesus, I am steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58)
Because of Jesus, I am making a difference (Matthew 28:19-20; Ephesians 2:10).
Because of Jesus, I am never alone (Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5, 9; Isaiah 41:10; John 14:18).
Because of Jesus, I am in the right place at the right time.
Because of Jesus, every dream that God has given me is coming to pass (Ephesians 3:20-21; Psalm 37:14).
- I am happily married to the woman of my dreams. Janet and I are a living picture of God’s ability to resurrect, restore, revive, heal and transform our lives and our marriage. We love one another completely, sacrificially, unconditionally, whole-heartedly and joyfully! Our love for one another provides security and strength to each other. Our love sets an example for our family and honors the Savior who gave His all for us.
- I am free and clear (Philippians 4:19).
- I am taking steps daily to live in the home of our dreams — [at this point I speak out loud a specific description of the home Janet and I are believing God for in 2024].
- I am thinking, working and writing daily to complete three manuscripts for books by the end of 2024.
- I am a prolific and best-selling author. My books inspire people to live the life God always meant for them to live.
- I am a creative, engaging and excellent communicator. The talks I share honor Jesus and inspire people to live their God-given potential. My speaking provides another income revenue stream that helps me move in the direction of fulfilling every dream God has given me.
- I am taking steps towards my dream career — a career engaged in energetically and enthusiastically writing, speaking, sharing and investing in others in a way that honors Jesus and makes a difference in people’s lives.
- God is my infinite supply. Large sums of money come to me quickly and easily. My God supplies all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. I am joyfully and energetically earning, saving, giving and investing over _____ [I actually specify an annual amount of income I am believing God for this year] a year or more in a way that glorifies God and serves others (2 Corinthians 9:6-12).
The God who started this good work in me has promised that He will be faithful to carry it to completion. If I’m not dead, God is not done. He will complete His purpose and plans for my life (Phil 1:6; Ps 57:2).
These are the promises of God over my life!
This is the word of God over my life!
I declare all of this in the mighty name of Jesus!
That’s it. That’s my list of personal declarations.
The renowned pastor and scholar D. Martin Lloyd-Jones once wrote:
“Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself?” —D. Martin Lloyd-Jones
By making these declarations over my life I am intentionally moving from listening to myself to talking to myself. I’m coming into alignment with the writer of Psalm 119 who made this decision:
“With my lips I recount [declare – ESV] all the laws that come from your mouth.” —Psalm 119:13 NIV
“I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us…” —NLT
“I’ll transfer to my lips all the counsel that comes from your mouth…” —MSG
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by whatever you’re facing, God’s prescription for your peace probably includes the same prescription He gave Joshua:
1) His presence. One moment in His presence changes everything.
2) Your heart and head saturated with His Word.
“The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”
—Psalm 119:130 NIV
“Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.”
—Psalm 119:165 NIV