Psalm 91:2 says, “I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.’” If we will fix our eyes on God as our place to run for refuge and protection, He will surround us with His protection from threats and attacks of every kind.
The first epistle of John adds a very powerful promise in this regard: “The God-begotten are also the God-protected. The Evil One can’t lay a hand on them” (1 John 5:18 Message). The enemy can’t lay a hand on us as long as we stay in the “shade!”
The psalmist also gives us another important insight along this line. He makes it clear that this is something we say. It is more than a thought or something we know. God’s power is released by the words we speak: in our prayers, our declarations of faith, and our daily conversation.
God is our Refuge, our Fortress, and our Protector. He guides and keeps us, and we follow His lead.
There is something so powerful in saying just what God’s Word says about us. In the beginning of Scripture, God Himself created everything with His spoken words. Throughout the first chapter of Genesis, the Bible declares: “God said, let there be…and there was….” In fact, for each of the first six days of creation, everything that came into existence was the result of God’s spoken word.
Now we find the same principle in operation on our behalf. Our words set God’s power into action and become our means of abiding under the shade of His influence.
There is power in the words we speak when they come from a heart of faith in God’s Word. When our words totally agree with the promises God has given to us, we have taken the strongest position of faith possible: and faith moves God.
Those words, “I will say of the Lord,” can be our declaration preceding every promise God has given to us in the entire Bible. We can declare with confidence: “I will say of the Lord that He is my Protector. He is my Provider. He is my Healer. He delivers me from the hand of my enemies. He is my righteousness, my shield, my joy.”
We can find out in the Word who God says He is and boldly declare that He is that to us. In fact, Jesus is to us only who we say He is. He is our Savior only when we declare that He is. He is our Healer only when we say He is. He is our Baptizer in the Holy Spirit only when we say He is. We are the ones who establish how much of Jesus’ influence He can bring into our lives.
Who is Jesus to us and what are we saying of the Lord? Are we consistent in what we say? Are we letting the problems we encounter in life dictate what we believe about God’s promises? The answers to these questions will unlock a great deal of understanding if we’re not receiving God’s blessing on the level we desire.
We must begin saying of the Lord who He is in our life. Then watch Him rise up within our heart and our life to be all we have declared!
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Vikki and Dennis began as youth pastors in 1973 in Southern California where they received tremendous insight into the work of the local church. In 1976, they moved to Ft. Worth, Texas, to work with Kenneth Copeland Ministries. Vikki worked with KCM for three years before entering full-time ministry with her husband. Since that time, their relationship and involvement with Kenneth Copeland Ministries has continued. Vikki and Dennis have had numerous articles published in the Believer's Voice of Victory magazine.
Vikki has spoken in several nations including Australia, Japan, and Canada. She has ministered on television, radio, in women's conferences and marriage seminars. Her desire is to see people raised to a higher level of living through the Word of God. By acting on Gods principles, Vikki has obtained a testimony of victory and imparts encouragement to others.
Throughout the years, Vikki and Dennis have pursued new avenues of reaching people. The Lord has continued to expand their vision. Their dedication has affected thousands as they are impacting God's people with the love of God.