"THE POWER OF TESTIMONY" — How to Speak Life, Declare Truth, and Walk In Freedom and Purpose

2026-02-02

I speak to you tonight as a man who has lived both sides of the coin — the glitter of corporate success and the raw, hollow dark of losing everything. I want to tell you a story not to gain your sympathy, but to hand you a practical, spiritual map: how a voice, a decree, and a relentless trust in God can turn ruins into purpose. This is a message about identity, authority, and the voice-activated kingdom God made for you to operate in.

From prestige to a pit: why identity built on success collapses

I was a vice president in global logistics, traveling the world, making things happen. People trusted my handshake more than contracts. Then a merger, a firing, unsuccessful attempts to restart, and a string of failed jobs stripped everything away. We went from cars and houses to a 300-square-foot apartment. The result was not just financial loss — it was a collapse of identity.

When success defines you, losing it becomes an identity crisis. I found myself in a catatonic depression. There were days I don’t remember. I would slam my body against the glass windows upstairs and wish the fall would look like an accident. That was rock bottom.

The first stirrings: a small voice, books, and the grocery of hope

What shifted was small at first. A voice saying "Get up." A walk to a bookstore. I read Think and Grow Rich in a day and then Power of Positive Thinking. They lit cognitive pathways again. That momentum brought me into a business opportunity where I could teach and train people — and there, in repeated failure and sudden, fragile success, the Spirit began to speak louder.

The turning point: a supernatural visitation and a clear call

One afternoon a vision came: my living room melted into a stage packed with people. Hours later, at 2 a.m., a warm white light and an audible voice touched me. God spoke, calling me by name and revealing a purpose:

"Howard Olsson, I've given you incredible gifts and incredible talents, but all these years you've done nothing with them... I want you to give hope and courage to those that have lost it but don't know where to find it. I will use you to touch and impact millions of lives."

He also said something raw and honest: you will only reach hurting hearts if you have felt that kind of hurt. Those words changed the narrative of my losses — they were not wasted; they were preparation.

Core teaching: We live in a voice-activated kingdom

God created by speaking. You are made in His image. That means your words carry creative power. This is not metaphysical fluff — it is practical spiritual mechanics. Life and death are in the power of the tongue. When you speak, you move heaven’s machinery.

Here are the essentials I teach and live by:

Declare, don’t just wish. Saying "I hope things get better" is not the same as declaring "I will walk in health and provision." Declarations are active statements that align your voice with God’s promises.
Resist with a word. When temptation, fear, or depression shows up, speak. Say "No" to the lie, "No" to the temptation, and immediately backfill with God’s truth.
Backfill the space you clear. When you remove a stronghold, don’t leave an empty house. Fill it with worship, Scripture, prayer, and community. Otherwise the same pattern will return.
Obedience unlocks grace. When God calls, do the next thing. Even small acts of obedience create momentum and invite supernatural enablement.

Practical steps to start declaring change today

Start a daily 5–12 minute routine: read a promise, declare it aloud, thank God for it as if it is already done.
When a lie or temptation comes, speak it out loud: "In Jesus’ name I say no to fear; I receive peace." Practice the sound of your authority.
Keep a small declaration list: health, provision, marriage, children, peace. Speak one or two items several times each day.
Find a small community or accountability partner to pray declarations with you.

Decrees, declarations, and corporate prayer: how a 12-minute call became a movement

What began as a simple idea — a 12-minute daily call to speak God’s promises over a nation — started with no audience. I turned on the camera for one person, then ten, then hundreds. The form was simple: a short, focused time of decreeing Scripture back to God over our cities and nations, followed by a short teaching nugget. Consistency matters. In four and a half years I delivered over 1,200 back-to-back services — the spiritual equivalent of 25 years of Sundays — because the work was His and I answered yes.

How you handle spiritual warfare

You will face resistance. Spiritual battles often show up as anxiety, addiction, depression, and fear. They are real because the spiritual realm is active. You don't need to be afraid of demons; you need to understand your authority.

The steps are simple and powerful:

Identify the lie or stronghold.
Verbally rebuke it: "In Jesus' name, you have no place here. Go."
Fill the space with Scripture, worship, and declarations.
Teach family members to use their authority; the recovery must be reinforced at home.

Identity and destiny

The deepest work you will ever do is rediscover who you are in God. He knew you before the foundations of the earth. He made you in His image and likeness to speak, create, and govern. When you begin to understand that identity and act on it, you will step into a life that is greater than your previous definitions of success.

If you have ever wondered whether your pain had purpose, hear this: your scars are not accidents. They are preparation. God often allows a stripping so you can carry others out of their pits. That is the ministry of testimony: you speak what God has done in you to guide someone else to freedom.

How to begin tomorrow

Start small. Speak one declaration each morning. Say "No" to the first lie that confronts you. Sit with Scripture and ask God to speak. Obey the first small thing He asks, and you will find grace to do the next. The miracle zone is entered through obedience.

You do not need a special anointing. Jesus said the things He did, you will do also. The difference is faith and practice. Use your voice. Practice daily. Fill your home with truth.

I love you. God loves you far more. He has given you authority and a voice. Start speaking life over yourself and those around you. Begin today.

Blessings, Howard Olsen
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