Talk is good but action is better?
It's fun and empowering to stand on furniture and declare things at the top of our lungs but why do we make declarations? What is the purpose behind them? What exactly is a declaration? What does making a declaration do?
We want to declare unity over our squad. Is that it? We scream it and so be it? Or is there more to it than that? Are we supposed to respond to the declarations we make? And, if so, how?
Is there something bigger behind it fuelling change and promoting action?
At camp we just did it and it was pretty easy to do with 200 people standing on chairs beside you. Our every day life is a lot different. We get that 'business as usual' thing in our heads and become less aware of the things that we have declared or should be declaring. It becomes less of a priority somehow.
Are declarations practical? How do we keep making declarations in our day to day life?
What is the purpose of those declarations? How do the words we speak affect us on a daily basis?
How are we affected by lies? How are we affected by truth? How do we protect ourselves from lies and keep ourselves focused on the truth?
How can we use the declarations we've already made and those we will be making on the WR?
How can we make sure that we don't forget to fight for the declarations we've made?
I want to hear what you have to say but here's a few thoughts to get you started…
Declarations are fighting words. We do not scream truths passively but with agression.
When we declare God's promises we are fighting the good fight with both fists flying. If we're going to make God-inspired declarations we have to be engaged in battle to some degree. Our eyes have to be open to the shifting of our own heart. We must be set on one goal, one purpose–to see the kingdom come in us so we can release it to 'the least of these'.
Driven by that goal we must feel extreme discomfort at our own apathy and lack of obedience. We must get so uncomfortable that the higher standard becomes our greatest goal and desire. We must desire to live as Jesus lived, to mimic his attitude towards the people he came into contact with, to feel the powerful pounding of his heart rattling in our chest and watch our eyes become blind to our agenda, our desires and our rights and open to see the way Jesus did when he looked upon the cross strewn hills of calvary.
We must become so aware of the intonations and contrasts between God's impact and that of human ambition in our lives that we are driven to stand on a chair and verbally renounce all of our former desires. Throwing aside all that hinders us and turning our faces fully towards God to embrace the abundance of life that he offers us freely.
