“Its heads give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets practice divination for money; yet they lean on the LORD and say, “Is not the LORD in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us” (Micah 3:11, ESV).

Here’s another reminder that knowing and declaring phrases from God’s Word doesn’t save you. All your declarations don’t do anything. They aren’t swords. They aren’t magic words. We don’t save ourselves. We already have a Savior. The Israelites are declaring that no disaster would come upon them. They are declaring the Lord is with them. Their saying it didn’t make it true for them.

You may think you are declaring truths of the Scripture, but everything in the Bible doesn’t apply to you. You can’t just find a verse and decide that’s your truth. Jesus is the truth. He’s the only one who gets to decide what’s true. Yes, God is with the believer. Yes, God protects from disaster. We can know that about God. But you don’t know the mind of God. God disciplines His children. Sometimes there may be a disaster. Maybe you live among a people full of sin and they have invited a disaster on themselves. You may see and feel part of that. If you are hidden in Christ, you will have protection from it.

There will be a level of protection and provision at all times, but it may look like disaster around you. It may look like lack and not abundance, but it will be enough and what you need. Not just what you physically need but what you spiritually need to be holy, to dwell with Him forever, to have your prayers answered to become like Jesus.

We don’t get to decide our future. God knows our future. Don’t fight His best plan for you by trying to declare your own visualized version of your future. Humble yourself before God. Put your faith in Him and His unchanging character, not in the thing you are hoping for.