...I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; — 2 Corinthians 4:13b

We have taken time to study and meditate on the Word of God.  We have heard the Word and continue to hear the Word, so our faith is strong and growing.  We are no longer considering or seeing the problem, symptom, or situation, but we are seeing the promises of the Word of God.  We are now believing with our heart.  Since we believe with our heart, we will now speak what we believe.  Out of the abundance of our heart, our mouth will now speak (Matthew 12:34b)!  We are now calling things which are not as though they were (Romans 4:17).  We are releasing the force of faith with power!  What is in us, in our heart (spirit and soul), is coming forth with total agreement!  What we are speaking is a reality, what we are saying is fact!  God said in the midst of darkness, chaos, and the void, “Let there be light” or “Light in Me, be,” and light was (Genesis 1:1, 2).  If He had spoken about chaos, about the void, about darkness -– light would have never been.  But God has light in Him; He believed light in His heart and spoke it with His mouth and it became!  If you believe in your heart, healing will become, abundance will become, victory will be in your life.  It matters little what you see in the natural; what you believe in your heart will change it!  Cooperate with the spirit of faith.  Believe it in your heart and speak it with your mouth.  This will put into operation the law of faith.

Let [God’s words] not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.  For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. — Proverbs 4:21-23

The Word gets in your heart by meditating on it daily -– chewing on it, mulling it over in your mind, using your imagination to “see” it happening, even muttering it to yourself when you wake up, make a meal, drive to work.  Where are the places you could pop in a CD or plug in your smartphone earbuds to hear good teaching during the day?  Then, as you set your heart to hear the Word, be aware that, at the same time, the enemy is after that Word (Mark 4:15).  The devil doesn’t want it to bear fruit in the ground of your heart, because then his days with you are over!  Guard that Word by being aware of the thoughts going through your head.  Is there anything contradicting what the Word says?  Cast it down and speak the Truth.  The effectiveness of this can be easily proven.  Try this:  count to 10 in your mind and somewhere in the middle of counting, speak your name out loud.  What happened to the numbers?  They vanished.  Guard your heart and the Word you planted and are cultivating there, by speaking that Word out loud.  It doesn’t have to be spoken to anyone but yourself and the devil.  Don’t allow the birds (thoughts) to build a nest in your hair as they fly over (through) your head!  Speak the Truth out loud instead!

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. — 2 Peter 1:19

We know that once the Word gets deep in our hearts, the spirit of faith will speak it out of our mouths.  The enemy gets involved, not only in trying to prevent the Word from growing roots in your heart, but also by trying to twist your words from being full of faith to being words of fear, doubt, and unbelief.  It’s as if you’ve been placed in a courtroom.  Jesus (the Word Himself and your God) stands as your Advocate on one side of the bench.  The devil (although a defeated imposter) stands on the other side as your contender.  He tries his best at convincing you, the one who decides the outcome, that God’s Word will not work for you.  He throws circumstances, feelings, thoughts, and cares your way to pretend that God’s Word is not the Truth.  The Word stands forever settled in heaven and is making its appeal to your heart while Satan is bombarding your mind, emotions, and will.  Just as Jacob wrestled with the angel until he was blessed, you too can wrestle with God’s promises until you are fully persuaded of them.  Don’t give up in mid-stream!  Press deeper into the Word and quote it back to the enemy.  Day will dawn and light will come.  Your victory has been already paid for by the Blood, and the Truth is sure.  Your faith is the victory (1 John 5:4)!

And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. — Acts 6:8

We are revisiting Stephen, a man who was full of faith.  This verse tells us that Stephen must have been full of the Word (see Acts 7) to be full of faith.  No Word = no faith.  Little Word = little faith.  Full of Word = full of faith.  Stephen stood out among the others because he was full of faith.  Notice the results of living a life full of faith:  he did great wonders and signs and miracles among the people.  He did-–Stephen did.  How did he do them?  God chose him to do them?  God picked him as a sign-doer?  As a miracle worker?  No!  Stephen himself chose to live his life full of faith and the result = signs, wonders, and miracles.  This is good news, because it means I can choose to be weak in faith, strong in faith, have little faith, or be full of faith.  The choice is mine!  I can sell out to the Word; I can read it, study it, I can hear it and hear it.  I can consider the promises of God rather than the problems of the world.  All Christians want to live in power and victory, but few want to take the time to build their faith through spending–-investing-–time in the Word.  You will be full of something!  It can be fear, worry, doubt, unbelief, or faith and the promise.  What you consider, what you think on, will be what you are filled with.  You, too, can be a person full of faith and power; you, too, can be worry-free, you, too, can be a person full of faith and doing great wonders and miracles among the people.  Choose to be full of the Word!