Welcome to another episode of the Health for the Spirit, Soul, and Body Blog from Doxa Missions! We're excited to have you here as we explore how to "speak life with faith" and how this powerful practice, grounded in God's word, can transform your circumstances.
Faith statements are more than just positive thinking; they are declarations rooted in the word of God, calling things that are not as though they were. This practice, when understood and applied, can bring about real change in our lives.
The Power of Faith Statements: Speak Life with Faith
What exactly is a faith statement? Simply put, it’s speaking about things according to what God’s word says, not according to how things currently appear. The Bible teaches us to call things that are not as though they were. This concept is beautifully illustrated in Romans 4:17 (NKJV), which says, “(as it is written, ‘I have made you a father of many nations’) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.”
In this verse, God is speaking to Abraham, telling him that he will be the father of many nations. At the time, Abraham was old and had no children with his wife Sarah. From a human perspective, it seemed impossible. But God called something that wasn’t yet visible—Abraham’s descendants—as though it already existed. And because of Abraham’s faith, it eventually came to pass.
When we speak a faith statement, we’re not denying the reality of our circumstances. Instead, we’re choosing to speak according to God’s promises, rather than the facts of our current situation. This is crucial to understand: faith statements aren’t about ignoring reality, but about acknowledging a higher reality—God’s word.
"Let the Weak Say, 'I Am Strong'": A Faith Statement in Action
One of the clearest examples of a faith statement is found in Joel 3:10 (NKJV): "Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, 'I am strong.'" Here, the Bible instructs us to declare strength, even when we feel weak. This isn’t about pretending to be strong; it’s about speaking God’s strength into our lives.
The phrase “Let the weak say, ‘I am strong’” shows us that faith statements align our words with God’s word, regardless of how we feel. If you’re feeling weak, you might be tempted to say, “I’m exhausted,” or “I can’t go on.” But the Bible encourages you to declare, “I am strong,” because that’s what God says about you.
This doesn’t mean you’re ignoring your feelings or pretending they don’t exist. Instead, you’re choosing to speak God’s truth over your situation. When you declare, “I am strong,” you’re inviting God’s strength into your life. You’re making room for His power to be made perfect in your weakness, as stated in 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV): “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
The Apostle Paul’s Example: Speaking Faith in the Storm
The Apostle Paul understood the power of faith statements. In Acts 27, Paul was on a ship caught in a terrible storm. The situation was dire, and the crew was terrified. They had thrown everything overboard in a desperate attempt to stay afloat. Yet, in the midst of this chaos, Paul made a bold faith statement. He said to the men, “Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me” (Acts 27:25, NKJV).
Can you imagine how those sailors must have felt? They were convinced they were going to die, yet Paul told them to “take heart,” or in other words, to be of good cheer. He wasn’t blind to the danger; he knew how bad things looked. But Paul chose to speak a faith statement based on God’s promise.
Paul’s words must have seemed ridiculous to those men at the time. But Paul was not speaking out of fear or desperation. He was speaking out of faith, calling things that are not as though they were. He was declaring God’s promise of safety, even when everything around him suggested otherwise.
This is the essence of a faith statement: it’s not about being naive or ignoring reality. It’s about choosing to believe and declare God’s promises over your life, no matter what the circumstances look like.
How to Make Your Own Faith Statements: Speak Life with Faith
You might be wondering how to apply this to your own life. How can you make faith statements when everything around you feels like it’s falling apart? It starts with knowing God’s word. The more you immerse yourself in scripture, the more you’ll understand what God has promised you. Then, you can start making faith statements that align with His word.
For example, if you’re struggling with illness, you might declare, “By His stripes, I am healed” (Isaiah 53:5, NKJV). If you’re facing financial difficulties, you could say, “My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19, NKJV). If you’re feeling afraid, you might declare, “God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7, NKJV).
The key is to speak these statements out loud, even when your circumstances seem to contradict them. Remember, you’re not denying reality—you’re speaking a higher truth over your reality. You’re calling things that are not as though they were, just like God does.
Be of Good Cheer: Embrace the Power of Faith Statements
You may feel like your ship is going down right now, just like Paul and the sailors in Acts 27. You might feel overwhelmed by life’s challenges, and everything in you wants to cry out in despair. But instead of giving in to those feelings, I encourage you to make a faith statement. Start declaring God’s promises over your situation.
In times of weakness, don’t focus on the storm around you. Instead, focus on the One who has power over the storm. Speak life where there seems to be death. Speak strength where there is weakness. Speak provision where there is lack. And above all, be of good cheer, knowing that God is with you and that He has the final word in your situation.
Faith statements are not just hopeful wishes; they are powerful declarations grounded in the unchanging word of God. So no matter what you’re facing today, choose to speak life with faith and watch how God moves in your life.
We’d love to hear how you’ve seen the power of faith statements at work in your life. Share your experiences or thoughts in the comments below, and let’s encourage one another in our faith journey!
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