Every year you, me, and everyone else celebrates a self-proclaimed holiday, your “Birthday”. Some plan months in advance, while others treat this day just like the day before. Me? I’m guilty of planning my birthday extravaganza months and months in advance. For my 22nd birthday, I attended two nightclubs the weekend before and drove to Atlanta to attend parties the weekend after. The “turn up” was real!!!!! It took me 3 months to plan my 22nd birthday, and it ended within 3 days! While the memories were bliss, to me, I had nothing to carry with me for the remainder 362 days. Me being me, I had to come up with a new birthday tradition…..
Drinking and partying was never my thing. Don’t get me wrong I did it, only because that’s what everyone did! For my 23rd birthday, I was ready to make a change, a meaningful change. After all, Proverbs 28:19 clearly states: work your garden- you’ll end up with plenty of food, play and party and you’ll end up with an empty plate (MSG). I finally reached the point where I wanted a full plate, for the entire year!
Soooo, for my 23rd birthday, I spent weeks looking for the perfect “Birthday Scripture”. This scripture would be the declaration I chose to speak over my 23rd year! According to Job 22:28 (KJV), thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee…,IF I DECREE IT, IT WILL HAPPEN!!!!!! Let me give you an example of how things shifted…
My 23rd birthday scripture was Hebrews 11:11:
Hebrews 11:11 (NIV)
11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she[a] considered him faithful who had made the promise.
That year, I decreed and declared I would have the faith of Sarah!!! Whenever a situation occurred where I needed faith, I quoted my birthday scripture. Because of my declaration, I saw the hand of God move that whole year! My most memorable moment would have to be the day I purchased my car! At this time, I a was college student making $600 a month, my credit was great (thanks to student loans), and no one would co-sign for me. Even though I thought I would never be approved, I went to a dealership with my Godmother. Shockingly, they approved me, but not for what I wanted. In addition to the ugly car, they wanted to charge me $230 a month without a warranty and would only give me $500 as a trade-in for my car. I LEFT! I later noticed they had a gorgeous 2008 Chrysler Sebring. That weekend I went home and confessed Hebrews 11:11. Went back on Monday and was initially told I could not have the red Sebring and they refused to give me more for my truck! Refusing to accept that, I spoke to a manager. In a matter of 20 minutes, my truck was worth $1200, I was approved for the car I wanted, and my car note was $231 (with a 2 year warranty)!! Oh keep in mind, I only made $600 a month. My faith out weighed ALLLLLLL my circumstance. Finally, my faith matched that of Sarahs!
For age 24, I chose Mark and Deuteronomy 11:24:
Mark 11:24
24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Deuteronomy 11:24
24 Every place where you set your foot will be yours: Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the Euphrates River to the Mediterranean Sea.
As Mark 11:24 says, everything I prayed for came to past. I prayed for my business, my family, friendships, a job, and much more. Guess what! I got it all, and then some! As for Deuteronomy, I understood it to mean my territory would be enlarged. Again, I saw the fruit of my declaration. Fearfully Fierce (my business) has had multiple contracts and phenomenal deals, which I NEVER asked for! Much like Fearfully Fierce, everything I’ve prayed for has been given to me in abundance!
SOOOOOOOOOOOO, with my birthday only ten days away I’ve prepared myself for my 25th year. What did I choose this year?
I choose Micah 6:8-
Micah 6:8 (NIV)
8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly[a] with your God.
My 25th year is dedicated to “MAINTENANCE”. God has literally given me his best, in every area of my life! I have amazing friends, a thriving business, joy, happiness, peace, favor and most of all “A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD”! I got it! But the question is, will I keep it and what will I do to keep it? According to Micah, all I have to so is WALK HUMBLY WITH MY GOD! WOW! To me, this means stay in my word, continue to give him glory, remain in prayer and overall seek after him!
Think about it in natural terms:
It’s easy to buy a plant, a dog, have a child, purchase a car and start school. However, in order to be successful in the previously stated, one must work at it, one must water it, feed it, care for it, repair it, and study for it; If not, it may starve, be fostered to someone else, be repossessed, or fail! I personally refuse to let my gifts slip out of my hands or even DIE! I seriously can’t image Fearfully Fierce failing. Actually, it doesn’t have to be! One must work just as hard to keep it as they did to get it. Even if you didn’t work hard to get it, work your hardest to keep it!
I encourage you guys to command your years, months, and days just as I have. It will literally set you up for what is to come. The word says: No word from God will ever fail (Luke 1:37) For those who do not know, the BIBLE IS God’s word! Declaring his word will do nothing but produce your confession!
In closing, I encourage you to apply this concept to your life. And I promise you things will change!
With love and encouragement,
Shan
P.s. Commanding Your Morning by Cindy Trimm is a book that put me in this mindset. It is an awesome a quick read. I encourage everyone to read it! It discusses the power of your thoughts, words and actions! Again, it a powerful read!
LoveByEncouragement 