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!

...but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.... I have not found so great faith,...

— Matthew 8:8b, 10

There is potential in your life to come to a place of living in great faith.  God is always looking to use people who are living in faith.  In this verse, Jesus found a man who had great faith.  He said that the results of great faith would be “As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee” (Matthew 8:13).  Whatever great faith believes, happens.  Great faith will move the mountain, kill the fig tree, stop the storm, heal the leper, open the blind eyes.  It does not waver, it does not consider the natural evidence.  It believes one thing, it thinks one thing, it considers one thing:  the Word!  Great faith knows the Word is true, the promises of God are sure, and it is fully persuaded that God will do what God said He will do in spite of what natural opposition is there.  “Speak the Word only and my servant will be healed.”  Speak the Word only and your marriage will change.  Speak the Word only and your finances will change.  Speak the Word only and your health will change.  Speak the Word only and your children will change.  But speak the Word only-–not the problem, not the situation, not the lack, nor the symptom!  Speak the Word only!  We are moving into a time of great faith in the Body of Christ.  Revelation is being opened up to the Church like never before!  The Word is more available to us than to any other generation!  CD’s, DVD’s, TV, radio, Internet, churches, iPhones, Podcasts, and more, are all available to us in this day and hour.  Why?  We are going to need great faith to do a great work!  Don’t get caught in unbelief, don’t stay on a weak and little faith level-–come up to a great-faith and full-of-faith level.  We will give glory to God!