“You can’t have much to declare until you have discovered yourself from God’s word. It is your private discoveries that will leverage your public declaration.”
Have you ever noticed a sign reading “Nothing to declare” at the airport? It refers to those passengers who aren’t carrying anything in their luggage that is worth declaring to customs. In the same vein, many people do not carry much in their spiritual luggage compartment that can be effectively discharged or declared, either as a blessing to others or when confronted. Suicidal thoughts and their associated symptoms come from an empty spiritual compartment.
I remember driving to church one evening and narrowly missing a road partition that could have resulted in a fatal accident. As I swerved the car back to the left for stability, I heard these quiet but strong words of the scriptures in my inner man (my heart), and without hesitation they came out loudly and audaciously from my mouth, “For He shall give His angels charge over me in all my ways so that I should not dash my foot against a stone.” (KJV, Psalms 91:11-12, paraphrased). I didn’t need to call my pastor for that. It was in the recesses of my spirit awaiting use and was easily discharged at the point of need.
As believers with great intentions to make a mark and leave a footprint on our world, we must load up with the Word so that we can make positive declarations of blessings in the direction of others, or when confronted. Jesus made a discovery and loaded up in Luke 4:17, and when all eyes were on Him in verse 20, He was able to declare what He had found! What have you found that is worthy of declaration?
Luke 4:20-21 – “[20] And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. [21] And he began to say unto them, this day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”