Declaration of Independence

The Christian’s Declaration of Independence

by

Tracie Ellen Markley

We, therefore, the Christians of the world, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge

of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do in the Name, and by Authority of the

Lord Jesus Christ, joyfully publish and declare, That we, as Christians, and of Right

ought to be Free and Independent people; that we are absolved from any Allegiance to

Satan and his kingdom, and that all spiritual connection between us and the Prince of

this world, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent people,

we have full Power to levy war against the Enemy and all principalities and powers,

conclude Peace in our lives, contract Alliances with other Christians, establish Commerce

and be blessed financially, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent

Christians may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance

on the protection of the Lord Jesus Christ, we mutually pledge to Jesus, our Lives, our

Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

 

I wrote those words several years ago around the 4th of July.  I was researching The Declaration of Independence and thought, you know, Christians should have their own declaration of independence in regards to our freedom in Christ, and the battle we wage against the enemy every day.  So, I wrote one based on the final part of The Declaration signed by our forefathers.

 

1 Peter 5:8-11 says, "Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.  And the God of all grace, who called you to be his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.  To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen."

 

If you've ever read about lions, or watched a Discovery Channel program about them, you would have seen that they attack sick, young, or straggling animals.  They choose victims who are alone or not alert.  (This is where I encourage you to plant yourself in a local church.)  When we're feeling alone, weak, helpless, and cut off from other believers, we can get so focused on our own troubles that we forget to watch for danger, and we become especially vulnerable to Satan's attacks.  If you are suffering, seek other Christians.  Call people who you trust and ask them to pray with you and for you.  Ask them to keep you accountable and don't cut off contact with them.  Keep reading God's Word!  It's your best defense.  We have a real enemy, and his name is Satan.  His goal is to destroy Christians and make our lives miserable.  We need each other in this battle.  We will have the victory, that is already promised to us.  But we need to make sure we don't allow needless casualties along the way.  If you see someone who is in a weak position, do something to strengthen and help them.  If you are in a weak position, allow someone to help you.  Don't try to go it alone.

 

While Paul was in prison, he wrote the following passage of scripture in Ephesians 6:10-18 ~ "10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."

 

Even though this was written over 2,000 years ago, it is just as relevant to us today, if not more.  Unless you live in a cave, you'd have to be blind and deaf not to realize that the world we live in is becoming increasingly unstable and dangerous.  Satan is very much on the move and we need to stay alert.  I'm not saying these things to frighten you.  We have no need to be afraid because God is with us wherever we go.  He already has the victory and so do those who believe in him.  However, I want to wake you up if you've been asleep to what is going on...not just in the natural, but especially in the supernatural realm.  No matter how strong we think we are on our own, we are much stronger when we are united with other believers.  We are all in this together, and as the years go on, we are going to need each other more and more.

The following was Paul's prayer for the church, and it is my prayer for you.  "17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.  18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.  That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.  22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." ~ Ephesians 1:17-23

He goes on to say, in Ephesians 2:6 ~ "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus."  Because of Christ's resurrection, we know that our bodies will also be raised from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:2-23) and that we have been given the power to live as Christians now (see verse 19 above).  As Easter approaches, I pray that we would realize the power of its' meaning.  That we wouldn't get caught up in all the "fun" of the holiday and miss it.  We have been given authority, through Jesus Christ, to kick the devil in the teeth.  When Jesus rose from the dead, I believe that was our Independence Day.  Take your rightful place and let's do what we've been called to do.  Who's with me?

Seasons

I've had a bit of writer's block lately.  Either that, or I have too much going on in my brain to be able to write anything that makes sense.  I think the latter is the true statement.  I have had much physical pain these last few months, which also makes it difficult to write.  However, writing what is on my heart seems to help.

I am very much what you might call a "people pleaser."  I want to make people happy, I want to help them in any way I can, I want to see them succeed.  I want to do my job and do it well.  What I've realized over the course of the past year is that in striving to please others, I've forgotten about myself.  It's easy to do when you're a mother, that's for sure.  But right now I'm talking about life in general, not motherhood.  People who are people pleasers also tend to be perfectionists.  They struggle with self-doubt and take on guilt if they don't complete a task, especially if they let someone down.  They worry that they are never good enough, or smart enough.  They worry about a lot of things.  As I've mentioned in previous posts, worry can do all kinds of negative things to your body.  The mind and the body are very much connected to each other.

The question I've been asking myself this week is, "Who am I trying to please, and why?"  The only person I truly need to be concerned with pleasing is Jesus.  That's not to say, "To heck with everyone else!  I'm just gonna please God and not worry about people."  Of course I'm going to keep loving my husband and my daughters.  Of course I'm going to keep helping and serving people.  It's how God designed me.  What I'm saying is that my focus has been in the wrong place.  I've been focused more on what people think of me right now rather than what I can be doing to please God.  But you know what I've realized?  It doesn't take much to please God.  What he wants from us is devotion to Him, our praise, thanksgiving, and an open heart.  Well, I can do that from my bed or couch.  : )

I've been feeling pretty useless in the ministry department these days.  I haven't made it to church much because I've been in so much pain.  I've been more concerned with what people think of that than what God thinks of that.  The truth is, it doesn't matter what people think.  I would much rather be in church than in bed.  God knows that, and that's what matters.  We go through seasons in life.  Some are longer and more difficult than others.  What God is looking for in us is how we respond to these seasons.  Do we lie around and feel sorry for ourselves?  Do we whine and pout to him about how unfair it is?  Do we kick and scream and demand that he give us an immediate answer to our questions about why we're in the season?  Or do we throw up our hands in worship and thank him that we are alive?  Thank him for our many, many blessings...  Thank him for our home and our family. 

As I go through this season, I've had many moments where I've "lost it", so to speak.  I've cried out to the Lord to rescue me from this pain and heal me.  There is nothing wrong with brokenness before the Lord.  He wants us to be honest with him.  However, even though there have been times where I've been angry and frustrated at the situation, I've never been angry with God.  He loves me.  His ways are a mystery to me, but I know they are higher than mine and that He has the answers.  He knows the big picture.  My job is to trust him, not to question him.

Whatever season you find yourself in right now, be it good or bad, always praise and thank the Lord.  He is just as worthy of our praise in the most difficult of seasons as he is in the most wonderful.  He loves you and he will never leave you.  His promises are true.  Ask the Lord to remind you of visions and dreams that he's given you.  If he's never given you any, ask him to.  He longs to give you the desires of your heart.  He will bring you out of your difficult season.  So start dreaming...