Overcoming Negative Declarations

In our previous study we learned the overflow of deceptive thinking and believing can easily funnel into what we declare about our self or someone else. You have personal experience I’m sure in watching your words, and because your words are containers of power, you can speak life, death, good fortune or loss. I trust you’re changing how you respond in certain situations through the choice of your words.

The problem is when we continue to believe deceptive thinking—the lies. At some point they easily transfer to personal declarations if we haven’t changed not only our thinking but our speech. This is why we need to watch our personal declarations.

We’re quick to jump at others’ declarations and point out how wrong they are, but do we tell ourselves the same thing or do we just keep going along speaking conflicting personal declarations? We won’t help others if we don’t make some changes first in our own thinking and speech.

So, what are some contrary declarations you may still be making? They can be statements both negative and judgmental, even condemning about yourself. Do any of these sounds familiar? “I’m so fat, no one will ever love me”. “I’ll never have any friends”. “I’ve made too many mistakes for God to love me”. You may not have said those words, but you probably thought them. The problem in speaking those thoughts to yourself is you created a mindset to believe the lies on which they’re based. Okay, you may be overweight. That doesn’t mean you won’t ever be loved or that you’ll always be overweight. To say and think that God won’t love you because of all your mistakes disqualifies the Cross and its power for you. Man’s mistakes didn’t stop the Cross or redemption that Jesus ushered in. We’re not more powerful than God. The contrary declarations spoken to yourself or by others to you are subject to change. Start with changing your declarations.

TRUTH: You can change what you say to yourself by changing your focus. What you focus on will lead to what you believe. You can counter what others say by focusing on what your Heavenly Father says of you. When you eliminate the contrary declarations and keep focusing on Jesus and His Word, you’ll be able to conquer (that means WIN) the battle and overcome contrary declarations. Whether the declarations were said directly to you or just popped into your mind, you don’t have to let them stay and build a fort, or nest. You know the truth of WHO you are, and WHAT Jesus did for you.

Understand also the enemy loves to throw contrary thoughts into your mind. Anything that wasn’t included at the Cross should not to be entertained in your mind. In other words, don’t think the negative, contrary thoughts. Don’t allow those thoughts any power by speaking them.

APPLICATION: Each day you can make a conscious decision to not only be willing but to give up any thought that doesn’t line up with God’s truth and the Word. You know God’s truth brings life. You know who you are in Christ Jesus. You’ve been set free from any and all judgment and condemnation because Jesus took ALL condemnation on Himself for you. You are His dearly beloved child.

Stand strong and firm in your personal declarations. Don’t be snared by negative thoughts, and don’t feed yourself the negative lies. You are an overcomer! Revelation 12:11 says so: “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony.”

And, finally, be encouraged with John 16:33, NASB “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” YOU ARE AN OVERCOMER in every way.

Reinforce your thinking and declarations as you speak these scriptures into your life. Put them into practice and you’ll be strong in the Lord and in the power of His ability in you.

Proverbs 18:20-21 NASB – “²⁰ With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips. ²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Make It Personal: I will choose to watch and change my words to speak life, not condemnation or death.

Proverbs 12:13-14 NASB – “¹³ An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, But the righteous will escape from trouble. ¹⁴ A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words…”

Make It Personal: I will not be snared by bad words, but I determine to speak good, life-giving words that will satisfy me and others.

Proverbs 21:23 NASB – “He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.”

Make It Personal: I will guard both my thinking and my mouth.

Colossians 4:6, ESV – “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

Make It Personal: I will speak with gracious words to others that minister life and not death.

Revelation 12:11 NASB – “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony.”

Make It Personal: The words of my testimony will line up with who I am in Christ Jesus and what He has done for me.

John 16:33, NASB – “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Make It Personal: I am thankful that in Jesus Christ I have strength, courage, and peace to overcome any obstacle because He is IN me.

ASK YOURSELF

How are your becoming an overcomer of your own thoughts?

How are you overcoming the negative thoughts of others?

In what ways are you learning to speak words of life and not death?

How are you continuing to overcome contrary declarations you’ve made about yourself?