Posted By: Kingdom Influence Media
A thoughtful biblical examination from Kingdom Influence Media and Ministries explaining why believers should stop saying “I declare and decree” and instead return to prayer, humility, and God’s authority. If you’ve ever questioned this phrase, this teaching goes deeper.
In recent years, the phrase “I declare and decree” has become popular in Christian spaces, often used as a way to speak desired outcomes into existence. While it may sound spiritual or faith-filled on the surface, this language deserves closer biblical examination. When we truly study Scripture in context, we see that declaring and decreeing is not presented as a right given to believers in the way it is often used today. In fact, careless use of this phrase can unintentionally place a person in a position of authority that belongs to God alone.
In the Bible, the power to declare and decree is consistently associated with God’s sovereign authority. God alone speaks things into existence. From the very beginning, creation itself was formed not by human words, but by God’s command. Scripture tells us that God said, “Let there be,” and it was so. This establishes a foundational truth: creation responds to God’s voice, not ours. When believers say “I declare and decree” over their own lives without submitting that desire to God first, they risk crossing a spiritual boundary that Scripture does not authorize.
One of the most commonly misunderstood passages used to justify this language is Job 22:28, which says, “You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you.” However, context matters. This verse is spoken by Eliphaz, a man whom God later rebukes for speaking incorrectly about Him. Using this verse as a universal permission slip ignores the larger narrative of the book of Job, where human reasoning is shown to be flawed when it attempts to speak for God without divine authority.
Throughout Scripture, we see a clear distinction between praying, asking, trusting, and submitting versus commanding outcomes. Jesus Himself modeled this distinction. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He did not declare and decree the avoidance of suffering. Instead, He prayed, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” This moment alone should cause believers to pause. If the Son of God submitted His desires to the Father’s will, how much more should we?
When believers insist on declaring and decreeing outcomes, they may unintentionally elevate personal desire above divine will. This is where the danger lies. God is not obligated to fulfill every spoken declaration simply because it is voiced confidently. Scripture teaches that God answers prayer according to His will, not ours. The Lord’s Prayer reflects this clearly when Jesus teaches us to say, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” This prayer does not place authority in human speech; it places authority in God’s reign.
Another concern is that declaring and decreeing can subtly shift trust away from God and onto self. Faith is not about controlling outcomes with words; it is about trusting God with outcomes, even when they differ from our expectations. When we claim authority that Scripture reserves for God, we risk stepping into a role that was never meant for us. That is not faith—it is presumption.
The Bible repeatedly emphasizes humility before God. James reminds believers that we should say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” This posture acknowledges God’s sovereignty and keeps believers aligned with truth. Prayer is meant to be a conversation rooted in dependence, not a proclamation rooted in self-authority.
Kingdom Influence Media and Ministries encourages believers to return to biblically sound language. Instead of declaring and decreeing, we are called to pray, ask, seek, knock, trust, and submit. God invites us to bring our requests to Him, but He alone has the authority to decide the outcome. When we allow God to lead, rather than attempting to lead with our words, we remain in proper spiritual alignment.
Faith is not about sounding powerful. It is about trusting the One who truly is.
Biblical References (APA Format)
The Holy Bible, New International Version. (2011). Zondervan.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. (2016). Crossway.
James 4:13–15, NIV.
Matthew 6:9–10, NIV.
Luke 22:42, NIV.
Isaiah 55:8–9, NIV.
Job 22:28, NIV (contextual analysis within the Book of Job).
