21 Verses to Declare Your Freedom
When discussing the Declaration of Independence, we often skip straight to the preamble. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal …” Many mistakenly think those are the first words of the Declaration of Independence, when in reality a very powerful introduction exists.
Authors write introductions to their books to educate the reader as to what they can expect. You could even say the introduction is the most important part of the book because it prepares the reader to read in congruence with the goals of the author. The introduction to the Declaration reads:
When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another … a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
This introduction is extremely important because it carries a profound spiritual implication within its political stance. It is a declaration of division and separation, two words that don’t always carry a positive connotation, unless it’s a separation from something harmful, like a stronghold.
When the Apostle Paul elaborates on strongholds, he is not referring to a physical building, a tower, or a fortress. He’s referring to a way of thinking, a personal worldview filtered through his intimacy with the Holy Spirit.
“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 ESV).
As we journey through life, we inevitably pick up some unwanted attachments, or strongholds. What are strongholds? Things that hold you strongly. If you happen to travel to the southwest part of the United States, you may come across the jumping cholla cactus. It doesn’t look as gnarly as some of the other cacti with large spikes like the Saguaro. In fact, from a distance it almost looks furry, but if you don’t mind your step and happen to brush up against it, you’ll quickly understand why people so desperately avoid them. The spines of the cholla have microscopic barbs and they attach so easily; it appears as though they “jump” onto your clothes or skin. As you can imagine, they are horribly painful to remove.
Much like the jumping cholla, sin tends to attach itself to our souls. We are exhorted to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles,” (Hebrews 12:1), but we are never prepared for the pain that comes from the separation. We are so pain averse that we’ll allow the sin to stay attached to our mind, will and emotions. Often we’d rather deal with the discomfort of its painful barbs rather than remove it from our lives and be free.
Yet to be a child of God, freedom is your right and your inheritance. As our nation’s forefathers declared, sometimes it become necessary to dissolve the bands that have held you in connection with your past mistakes.
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).
Sometimes you must grit your teeth and trust the Lord to walk with you toward freedom.
You must declare that you will no longer allow the enemy to dictate the course of your life. You must declare that you redeemed. This Independence Day, begin by claiming your independence over the strongholds of sin.
You can often start a good habit in 21 days, so here are 21 verses to declare over your life.
Declare one each day for the next 21 days.
- “I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done” (PS 118:17*).
- “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (PS 27:13).
- “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).
- “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
- “God’s plans are to prosper me and not to harm me. He is given me a hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
- “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).
- “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).
- “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Psalm 139:14)
- “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).
- “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).
- “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
- “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill” (Numbers 23:19)?
- “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten …” (Joel 2:25).
- “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord” (Proverbs 21:30).
- “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” (Isaiah 43:19).
- “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
- “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).
- “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).
- “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
- “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).
- “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
Many people gave their lives so that this nation could be free from tyranny and oppression, from strongholds. In a similar manner, Jesus gave His life for you to walk in freedom. You are free. You are under no obligation to sin. The sooner you realize that, the sooner you’ll be able to declare your own Independence Day, and it will be a celebration with all of heaven.
*All Scriptures are NIV unless otherwise noted.
