A stonecutter may strike a rock ninety-nine times with a hammer, and there may be no evidence at all that the rock is cracking. Then on the one hundredth time, it may split in half. Each blow was weakening the stone even though there were no signs to indicate it.

Persistence is a vital link to victory. We must know what we believe and be determined to stick with it until we see results.

Knowing, speaking and obeying the Word of G.o.d is powerful and absolutely necessary in overcoming life's problems. Obedience is the central theme of the Bible. For many of us, our life is in a mess due to disobedience. The disobedience may have been the result of ignorance or rebellion, but the only way out of the mess is repentance and a return to submission and obedience.

If a person thinks he can live in disobedience, but speak G.o.d's Word to his mountains and see results, he will be sadly disappointed. Jesus' teaching in Mark 11:2226, the pa.s.sage in which He discusses speaking to the mountain, He also talks about releasing faith. Jesus said to constantly have faith in G.o.d; He spoke of prayer and the importance of praying prayers of believing. He gave a command to forgive and stated plainly if we do not forgive, neither will our Father in heaven forgive us our failings and shortcomings.

Mult.i.tudes of people who have accepted Christ as their personal Savior fall into the deception of trying to operate one of G.o.d's principles while completely ignoring another. Confessing the word of G.o.d is a positive princ.i.p.al that will bring good results, but unforgiveness is a negative princ.i.p.al that weakens our walk with G.o.d. When we mix positives and negatives we make no progress. I strongly encourage you to do your best to obey G.o.d in all things, not just the ones that are convenient to you at a particular time. We must do right when it is easy or hard, convenient or inconvenient. Obedience produces wonderful results, and it is the adjustment to all inharmonious circ.u.mstances in our life.

CHAPTER 70.

Speaking G.o.d's Language The Bible teaches us we can have what we say. To clarify, what we say must line up with G.o.d's Word expressed in the Bible and His will for us at that particular time in our lives. "Speaking to our mountains" is not a magic charm or incantation we pull out and use when we are in trouble or when we want something for ourselves, while we continue in carnality and a disobedient lifestyle.

As long as you and I are carnal (living by our l.u.s.ts and selfish desires), we should hope and pray for G.o.d not to give us what we say. As immature Christians what we think we want is not usually the thing that will be the best for us. We will be saying a lot of things that are our will and not G.o.d's will, simply because we cannot tell the difference yet. As "babies in Christ," we simply do not know how to talk yet, which is what the apostle Paul told the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 3:3).

It seems to me from my years in ministry and observations in the Kingdom of G.o.d, believers, even teachers of the Word, have a difficult time with balance. The doctrine concerning the power of words, the mouth, confession, calling those things that be not as though they are, and speaking things into existence, is one example in which I have seen people get off into extremes. It seems the flesh wants to live in the ditch on one side of the road or the other, but it has a difficult time staying in the middle of the highway between the lines of safety.

Extremes are actually the devil's playground. If he cannot get a believer to totally ignore a truth and live in deception, his next tactic will be to get him so one-sided and out of balance with that truth he is no better off than he was before. Sometimes he is even worse off than he was.

Wisdom is a central theme of G.o.d's Word. As a matter of fact, there is no real victory without it. I have dealt with many people over the years, both lay people and those in full-time ministry, who simply do not use any common sense. Wisdom does not operate in extremes. Wisdom is full of prudence, and prudence is good management. I believe we might say that wisdom is a combination of balance, common sense, and good judgment.

Wisdom is a combination of balance, common sense, and good judgment.

I believe very strongly in the power of speaking in line with G.o.d's Word, also referred to as confessing G.o.d's Word. I believe we should speak to our mountains, and I believe that in many, if not most instances the answer to our problems is definitely right under our nose (in our mouth). But I also believe very strongly in the maturity of the believer, the crucifixion of the fleshly nature by choosing to make the right decisions to follow the spirit, dying to selfishness, and the necessity for obedience and submission to the Holy Spirit.

Most teachers have a particular "bent" to their teaching-and rightfully so. It has to do with the call of G.o.d on their lives. Some are called to exhort and keep the children of G.o.d cheered up, to keep them zealous and pressing forward. Others may be called to teach faith, and still others prosperity. There are those who are called to teach almost exclusively on finances. Many have been called to teach and demonstrate healing. However, no matter what our particular pa.s.sion is, those of us who teach G.o.d's Word must teach the whole counsel of G.o.d's Word and not lean so much toward one area that others are totally ignored. New believers, especially, should guard against becoming lopsided toward a particular teaching and remember to stay balanced to avoid falling into one of the devil's ditches of extremes. However, mature believers should also guard against gravitating toward extremes.

The point is to learn how to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to see the will of G.o.d accomplished in our lives. Give your ear to wisdom. Follow G.o.d's system of "checks and balances" to help you stay balanced-a.s.sembling with other believers, seeking G.o.dly counsel rather than the wisdom of the world, for example. Your new way of living requires you stay on the narrow path, staying centered, not being swayed either to the right or the left ditch, keeping your eyes right on Jesus.

CHAPTER 71.

The Effect of Words The earth G.o.d created was not made from materials that could be seen. Genesis 1 tells us G.o.d spoke, and things began to appear: light, sky, earth, vegetation, plants yielding seed, and trees bearing fruit; the sun, moon, and stars; fish and birds; every kind of living creature: livestock, creeping things, wild beasts, and domestic animals. The earth and everything in it were all created out of nothing that could be seen and are today upheld by nothing that can be seen.

In Hebrews 1:3 we read that G.o.d is ". . . upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power. . . ." The universe that was created by His mighty words is still being upheld today by the same thing.

You might say, "Well, sure, Joyce, but that is G.o.d."

But we must remember we are created in G.o.d's image (Genesis 1:26, 27), and we are supposed to act like Him.

Paul stated we are to imitate G.o.d, to follow His example, see Ephesians 5:1. In Romans 4:17 we read that G.o.d ". . . gives life to the dead and speaks of the non-existent things that [He has foretold and promised] as if they [already] existed."

G.o.d's Word is His promise to us, and we should speak of those things He promised us as if they already existed.

Over thirty years ago G.o.d taught me the importance of speaking His word out loud. He told me that I needed to stop saying negative things and start saying positive things. I made sure my confessions were backed up by G.o.d's Word. I wasn't confessing that I would be the President or CEO of General Motors, but I was confessing that I would fulfill my destiny. I declared that I walked in love and all the other fruit of the Spirit. I claimed good health, prosperity, G.o.dly character, wisdom, generosity, and about 60 other things G.o.d placed on my heart. Today, all of those things are a reality in my life and I am still growing. We cannot expect to experience G.o.d's best if we are going to constantly verbally disagree with His Word. Remember, the answer to many of your problems is right under your nose. What have you been saying lately? How do you talk when you are having challenges in life, or when you feel the pressures of daily life? When Jesus like a lamb was being led to slaughter (when He died on the cross) the Bible says that He opened not His mouth. This is very significant because to me it indicates that Jesus realized He was better off to be quiet than to say the wrong thing. He knew the power of words!

Jesus realized He was better off to be quiet than to say the wrong thing. He knew the power of words!

We all have angels a.s.signed to help us, but the Bible says they hearken (listen) to the word of G.o.d. An angel is not going to a.s.sist us because we complain all day. They won't a.s.sist us due to our fearful, negative speech. Start saying what the Bible says you can have instead of just talking about your circ.u.mstances. If you will I believe that over time you will be amazed at the positive difference in your life. If you are anything like the rest of us I am sure you have tried being negative and seen the results, so why not give G.o.d's way an opportunity. He has blessings piled up just waiting for you to learn how to talk right!

CHAPTER 72.

Exchanging Fear for Faith We all know what fear feels like. It is tormenting and prevents our progress. Fear can cause us to shake, perspire, feel weak, and run from things we should face.

We should have a type of reverential fear of G.o.d we call "holy fear." It is a respectful fear of G.o.d that causes us to walk in obedience to Him because we know He is powerful and we should always do as He says. It is a right fear that realizes G.o.d means what He says and our lives always work out best if we follow His instructions.

There is also what I will term a "normal" fear that helps us in some situations. The purpose for feeling the fear described above is for "fight or flight" in emergencies. Sometimes we need the instant alertness and enormous boost of energy to handle immediate potentially dangerous situations. For example, I once had a friend who had a teenage son who suddenly had a convulsion. She lived about three blocks from a hospital and without even thinking about what she was doing, she picked up her son who was larger than her and carried him the three blocks. Her body produced extra adrenaline that enabled her to do something she could not have done normally. In this instance the fear she felt was a good thing.

But many people live daily with fear that is not from G.o.d but is Satan's tool to prevent us from living the good life G.o.d has for us. Second Timothy 1:7 tells us G.o.d has not given us the spirit of fear; He has given us a spirit of power, love, and a sound, well-balanced mind.

G.o.d wants us to live in faith. Faith is the leaning of our entire personalities on Him with absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness. It is the evidence of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality.

Faith operates in the spiritual realm. Many people are accustomed to believing only in things they can see and feel, but as children of G.o.d, to live in the fullness of the new life G.o.d intends, we learn to become comfortable living in the spiritual realm, one we cannot see. We don't see G.o.d because He is a Spirit, but we believe firmly in Him. We don't usually see angels, but G.o.d's Word says they are all around us protecting us. By believing in G.o.d and His Word and releasing our faith in Him to do as He promises in His Word, we can reach into the spiritual realm and pull things out into visual reality G.o.d wants us to enjoy.

As children of G.o.d, to live in the fullness of the new life G.o.d intends, we learn to become comfortable living in the spiritual realm, one we cannot see.

Satan delights in calling our attention to circ.u.mstances opposing the promises of G.o.d we know to be true in an attempt to make us fearful of the future. G.o.d, however, wants us to trust our present and future to Him and believe He is greater than any circ.u.mstance or threat from the devil. Great examples of men and women in desperate circ.u.mstances with fear filling their hearts who decided to put their faith in G.o.d appear throughout the Bible. The Bible gives us the many different accounts of the glorious deliverances each person experienced.

Once you become a Christian, you can still live your life being tormented by fears of all kinds unless you decide to live by faith. You must decide whether you will live in fear or in faith. You received Jesus as your Savior by faith; the next step is to learn to live by faith. It is the matter of the practice of making right choices, in other words, choosing faith in each situation that tries to bring fear to you. After you make the right choice, you may still feel fear trying to take you over, but despite the feeling, keep moving forward and taking the action corresponding with your decision.

Courage is not the absence of fear, but it is taking action in the presence of it. When G.o.d told His servants not to fear, He wasn't commanding them not to feel fear; He was telling them to be obedient to Him no matter how they felt. G.o.d knows the spirit of fear will always try to keep us from making progress in our walk with Him. He reminds us over and over in His Word, He is always with us; He will not fail or forsake us, and we do not have to bow down to fear.

Eleanor Roosevelt said, "You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do."

Only faith pleases G.o.d. We receive from G.o.d through faith. It is of utmost importance for the new believer in Christ to learn about faith and begin walking in it. Developing strong faith is done just like developing strong muscles: you exercise your faith little by little and each time you do it gets stronger.

Matthew 17:20 teaches us that all things are possible to him who believes. Even little faith can move mountains of trouble in our lives. If you have spent your life trying to solve all your own problems and have often felt frustrated and disappointed, you are on the brink of a new experience. In inviting G.o.d to become involved in everything concerning you, you will find what is impossible with man is possible with G.o.d. According to our faith, it will be done for us (see Matthew 9:29).

If you have lived in fear, it is good to know you can begin exchanging fear for faith in G.o.d. Remember all this learning of new ways takes time. Don't be discouraged and give up. Everything in the earth works according to the law of gradual growth. Little by little everything changes if we keep doing what G.o.d tells us to do. As we grow in understanding the depth of G.o.d's love for us and the realization we have been made right with G.o.d through the death and resurrection of Jesus, little by little we find it easier and easier to walk in faith.

CHAPTER 73.

Enjoying Life Many people have difficulty accepting this fact: They are free to enjoy their lives. The devil has done a good job of deceiving them. But the truth is Jesus came to free us from bondage; He came to give us the power to live life in abundance to the full, to the point of overflowing. It is G.o.d's will for us to enjoy our lives. Not everything will go just as we would like; we will still have difficulties. But enjoying life does mean we can rise above the misery in the world and share a resurrected life through Jesus and through the power of the Holy Spirit. It means we can enjoy life even while we are having difficulty or challenges in our own lives.

People who think knowing G.o.d is only a relationship involving following a set of rules have no idea how wonderful life can be for the person living in true relationship with and for G.o.d. G.o.d is our real life. In Him we live and move and have our being. Learning to enjoy G.o.d releases us to enjoy every single day of our lives.

Enjoy fellowship with Him. G.o.d is concerned about anything that concerns you, and the Bible actually says G.o.d will perfect what concerns you. He is working in your life at all times, bringing you more completely into His will.

Don't be afraid of G.o.d in a wrong way. It is true we should have a reverential fear of G.o.d, respecting Him and knowing He is all powerful and means what He says. But we should never be afraid of G.o.d becoming angry with us every time we make a mistake or of punishing us every time we fail to be perfect. G.o.d is merciful and slow to anger. He is long-suffering and knows our makeup. He understands our weaknesses and infirmities.

If you are like many other people, you have a number of areas in your life and personality needing change, and G.o.d will change them. But, the good news is you can enjoy G.o.d and enjoy your life while He is transforming those areas.

Although your life right now may not be the type of life you see for yourself in G.o.d, it is the only one you have at the present time. You need to start enjoying it! Find the good things in it. Accentuate the positive and learn to see the good in everything. Enjoy your family and friends. Don't pick them apart and spend most of your time being very busy trying to change them. Pray for them and let G.o.d do the changing.

Enjoy your work, enjoy your home, and enjoy ordinary, everyday life. This is possible if you trust G.o.d and decide to have a good att.i.tude. Keep your eyes on G.o.d and not everything wrong with you, your life, your family, and the world. G.o.d has a good plan for you, and He is already starting to work in you to transform you even though you may not yet be able to see outward results. Go ahead and rejoice ahead of time in looking forward to the good things to come.

Although your life right now may not be the type of life you see for yourself in G.o.d, it is the only one you have at the present time. You need to start enjoying it!