As people of prayer, we know how important our praying is. But recently the Lord has been moving on me about how important our saying is!

It's not just what we pray, it's what we say that comes to pass. And the Spirit of God is letting me know that the time has come for us to start saying some extremely important things.

Over the years, we've known a little about what Jesus meant when He said, "Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matt. 18:18). But we've operated more on the negative side of that truth than the positive side.

We've been more familiar with binding the works of the devil than we have with loosing the works of God. How do you loose the works of God and set in motion the good things He wants to do?

You do it the same way He does it. You speak them out. Actually, saying things before they happen is God's trademark. Again and again, He tells us:

I have declared from the beginning the former things…they went forth from My mouth and I made them known; then suddenly I did them, and they came to pass.
(Isa. 48:3)

I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end and the result from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure and purpose.
(Isa. 46:9-10)

Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
(Isa. 42:9)

That is God's mode of operation. He always says something before He does it. His Word always precedes His hand.

We're Created in His Image
As children of God, you and I are partakers of His nature. We're made to be just like Him. And if we're going to be like Him, we're going to act like He acts. We're going to declare things about the future. We're going to say them and then see them come to pass. It's a family trait!

Not long ago, my husband prophesied during one of our services and said, "In prayer, there is coming a new anointing on the Church to proclaim and declare things and to command them to come forth."

As a praying person, you ought to expect that anointing to come on you. Don't just leave all the saying and declaring to those who stand in the prophetic office. This anointing is for you as a child of the most high God!

When you're praying along in tongues and English words come to you, say them! Don't just skip over them. Declare those things because when you do, things in the spirit realm start moving. As amazing as it might seem, the fact is, is your words activate the power of God.

I used to think it was the other way around. I used to think the power of God would fall and then somebody would start speaking. But that's not the way God works. If you read the Bible, you'll see that someone would always start speaking first, then the Holy Spirit would go into action.

Utterance always activates the supernatural. That's why the devil wants to shut your mouth. If he can stop you from declaring the things of God, He can stop you from receiving them.

It's no wonder that in Acts 4, the early Church prayed that the Lord would "grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word…and that signs and wonders may be done…" (vv. 29-30). There had to be a speaking of the Word, there had to be a declaring before signs and wonders could happen.

Nothing Has Changed Since Then
That's the way it was then and that's the way it is now. So we need to start speaking and declaring. First thing in the morning now when I get up, I start saying things. What do I say? I say things like, "Money cometh to me now! I am the head and not the tail. I am above and not beneath. I am an overcomer."

You'd better be saying those kinds of things too.

I know that sounds strong, but I don't mind being strong with you about it. God is being strong with me. So is my husband. I woke up the other night coughing and he said to me, "Lynne, you'd better get up and deal with that."

I said, "Yes, I'll get up and pray."

"No," he responded, "don't you be praying…you'd better be saying!"

I'm telling you right now, God wants His people to start talking. He wants us talking His Word, saying what He says about us, saying what we want to come to pass. When we pray and the Holy Spirit shows us things to come, He wants us to declare those things and put them in motion.

In Isaiah 48:6, the Lord speaks about a time when He will show His people "specified new things…even hidden things [kept in reserve] which you have not known." Bless God, we are in that time right now! God is showing us secret things He's kept in store for the last days.

But He's not showing them to us just so we can know them. He's showing them to us so that we can declare them, speak them forth and loose them into this earth!

So, don't be shy. Speak up! Start acting like a child of the God who declares the end from the beginning. Put things in motion with the words of your mouth. Keep praying…and keep saying…and we shall see the glory of the Lord!

Excerpted from the newsletter Prayer Notes by Lynne Hammond
(Minneapolis: Mac Hammond Ministries)
All rights reserved. Used by permission.