I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.—Psalm 81:10 MEV
I am your only God, the living God. Wasn’t I the one who broke the strongholds over you and raised you up out of bondage? Open your mouth with a mighty DECREE; I will fulfill it now, you’ll see! The words that you speak, so shall it be!—Psalm 81:10 TPT
In other words make your decree with God’s promises for how its going to be in 2023!
- Make your decree so you can walk in His ways—the path. He has an assignment for you in 2023!
O that my people would once and for all listen to me and walk faithfully in my footsteps, following my ways.—Psalm 81:13 TPT
- Make your decree so you can walk in victory and freedom—dominion over your adversaries—the flesh, the world, the devil—saying NO to their influence on you in 2023!
Then and only then will I conquer your every foe and tell every one of them, ‘You must go!’—Psalm 81:14 TPT
- Make your decree so you can be fully satisfied in 2023!
But I will feed you with my spiritual bread. You will feast and be satisfied with me, feeding on my revelation-truth like honey dripping from the cliffs of the high place.”—Psalm 81:16 TPT
MEV translation says it this way, “But I would feed them with the finest of wheat, and with honey out of the rock I would satisfy you.”*
*The finest wheat, the fat of the wheat, that makes the finest bread sweetened with fresh honey—the writer envisions a bees’ nest found in a rocky cliff filled with fresh delicious honey.
As you start the year off with 21 days of prayer and fasting make sure you conclude with a mighty decree—God’s promises in your mouth that you write down and confess over your life for the remainder of 20223. Here is a good focus statement for 21 days. Keep in mind these words…
Keep trusting in the Lord and do what is right in his eyes. Fix your heart on the promises of God and you will be secure, feasting on his faithfulness. [4] Make God the utmost delight and pleasure of your life, and he will provide for you what you desire the most. [5] Give God the right to direct your life, and as you trust him along the way you’ll find he pulled it off perfectly!—Psalm 37:3-5 TPT
How do I make my decree for 2023?
STEP 1: Your first step is to listen for the still small voice
Now is a good time to get rid of the noise, clutter, and drama that is around us and listen for the Spirit of God speak! He will speak to you through the scriptures. Keep your Bible open and handy…
Remember Elijah’s experience at the cave, he was running in fear because of a voice (Jezebel) and we find him hiding in a cave…
And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; [12] and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. [13] So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle (signifying respect) and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”—1 Kings 19:11-13 NKJV
When he heard the still small voice (the margin of the KJV Reads “a delicate whispering voice”) he wrapped his face in his mantle, this signifies respect. Friends, there are many voices around us clamoring for our attention, but we need to respect and give attention to that still small voice within, the voice of the Holy Spirit.
It all begins in prayer—paying attention to that still small voice—that is when the Holy Spirit will quicken a promise from the Bible to you. Capture them, write them down—this is your decree for 2023!
STEP 2: BOLDLY DECREE, SPEAK, DON’T BE SILENT
Notice God’s instructions to Israel when they crossed the Jordan into the promised land…
….their gate of entry was the valley of Shechem (mile wide valley, a natural giant amphitheater) with Mt Gerizim (blessing) on the left and Mt Ebal (cursing) on the right.
Now it shall be, when the LORD your God has brought you into the land which you are entering to possess, that you shall put the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal.—Deuteronomy 11:29 MEV
The Levites spoke over the tribes from the mount of blessing (Gerizim) and the mount of cursing (Ebal) as they walked through the valley of Shechem into the promised land. Joshua exhorted Israel to choose life and blessing! He made covenant and built a memorial at Shechem and gave them this charge.
If it is displeasing to you to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve, if it should be the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites’ land where you are now living. Yet as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”—Joshua 24:15 MEV
The starting point for God’s people to take possession of the promised land—was to open their mouth and speak God’s Promises.
This commandment which I am commanding you today is not hidden from you, nor is it far off. [12] It is not in heaven, that you should say, “Who will go up for us to heaven and bring it to us, so that we may hear it and do it?” [13] It is not beyond the sea, so that you should say, “Who shall go over the sea for us and bring it to us, so that we may hear it and do it?” [14] But the word is very near to you, in your mouth, and in your heart, so that you may do it.—Deuteronomy 30:11-14 MEV
So, make your decree for 2023 so you can…
…walk in His ways and fulfill your assignment!
…walk in victory and freedom!
…be fully satisfied as God’s promises come to pass!
ONE MORE STEP THAT WILL HELP YOU: Fasting!
How to do a 21 day Daniel fast? Its a partial fast not a total fast. Change your paradigm—“eat to live NOT live to eat”
I ate no tasty food, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all until three whole weeks were fulfilled.—Daniel 10:3 MEV
Daniel said to the King, “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.”—Daniel 1:12 MEV
Isaiah 58:6-11 outlines the purpose and benefits of fasting…
The purpose of fasting…
- It moves your flesh out of the way.
- It amplifies what God is speaking to your Spirit man—the still small voice.
- It gets your eyes off you and upon those around you.
The benefits of fasting…
- Removes the yoke of oppression.
- Releases compassion for others.
- Speeds up physical healing to chronic issues.
- Enables you to hear the voice of God when you pray.
- It enlightens the dark places in your life with—answers, solutions, clear directives from the Spirit of God.
- Restores your spiritual strength and stamina to run your race—a well watered garden, an ever-flowing spring!
- It opens doors for ministry opportunities to rebuild and a restore!
Finish Strong! 