by Kenneth Copeland

One effective way to begin developing faith in God’s love for you is by reading through the Bible and substituting the word Love for the word God. That’s a perfectly scriptural thing to do because the Bible doesn’t just say that God has love. It says He is Love.

So you can say when you read Psalm 23, for instance, “Love is my Shepherd. I shall not want….Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil because Love is with me. Love prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies….”
If you’ll meditate the Word that way for a while, you’ll come to the point where you can’t think of God without thinking of love. The two will absolutely become so united in your mind that the very thought that God might not love you will seem preposterous. How could God not love you? He is Love!
With that fact settled, you can develop your faith further by acknowledging just how great God’s love for you truly is. You can spend time meditating on the fact that God loves you just as much as He loves Jesus.
“Whoa…I’m not sure I can believe that,” you might say.
You can if you believe the words of Jesus because He’s the One who said it. When He was praying for us as His disciples in John 17:23, He said to the Father, “…thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”
What’s more, three verses later Jesus told us that same love has been put in our hearts. That’s right! He said, “I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them” (verse 26). That’s powerful!

Learn to think on the things of God—what His Word says about you and your situation. Refuse to allow thoughts of sin or defeat of any kind in your life. Live alive unto God listening to and responding to the Word of God and the Spirit of God. When you replace the devil’s words with God’s Word, you can continually live in the blessing and favor of God.

Look at what Proverbs says wisdom (His Word) will do in our lives:

1. Life, healing and health. “For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh” (Proverbs 4:22, The Amplified Bible).

2. Length of days and years of life worth living. “For length of days, and years of a life [worth living], and tranquility [inward and outward and continuing through old age till death], these shall they add to you” (Proverbs 3:2, The Amplified Bible).

3. Favor and understanding. “So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man” (Proverbs 3:4).

4. Guidance. “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:6).

5. Abundance. “Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9-10).

6. Riches and honor. “Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour” (Proverbs 3:16).

7. Happiness. “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding” (Proverbs 3:13).

8. Peace. “For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee” (Proverbs 3:2).

9. Security—you shall not be afraid. “Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken” (Proverbs 3:25-26).

10. Gracefulness, beauty and glory. “She shall give to your head a wreath of gracefulness; a crown of beauty and glory will she deliver to you” (Proverbs 4:9, The Amplified Bible).

Then these benefits will belong to us according to God’s Word. God doesn’t intend for us to live like the world and then pray to receive a miracle when we get into trouble. Thank God, He will deliver us when we get into trouble, but we are called to live so much higher than that—as high as the heavens are above the earth. If we’ll place our lives in God’s hands, obey Him and begin to live that holy life, most problems will be avoided. For example, it’s wonderful to receive a miracle when you’re sick, but it’s better to walk with God and live in divine health and stay well (Proverbs 4:20-22).

By choosing to live as a born-again believer, and by spending time fellowshiping with God in His Word and in prayer, you are choosing to open up your spirit to Him so that you can walk responsive to His Spirit—that you stay ALIVE unto God.

As you walk alive unto God, the Holy Spirit will tell you what adjustments are necessary to make you pure and holy like your heavenly Father.

So, choose life. Choose the Word—and watch the blessings overtake you.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

When temptation (solicitation to evil) comes, you have the power, authority and privilege to say, “No! I’m crucified to that. I rebuke that thought in Jesus’ Name.” You are resisting the devil (James 4:7). This scripture says to submit yourselves to God and resist the devil. When you’re being obedient, you are submitting to God. Satan will flee. Peter says to resist the devil steadfast in the faith (1 Peter 5:9). He describes the devil as our adversary going around (masquerading) as a roaring lion looking for someone who will let him have place in their lives. Well, keep moving devil, I’m not the one! The Bible says give the devil no place (Ephesians 4:27). Take action immediately against temptation.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled (2 Corinthians 10:3-6).

Don’t allow disobedient, immoral or wrong thoughts to linger in your mind. Immediately replace thoughts of disobedience, immorality, doubt, defeat, discouragement or fear with the Word of God.

Control your thought life with the Word of God and let Philippians 4:4-8 be fulfilled continually in your life.

Rejoice in the Lord always—delight, gladden yourselves in Him; again I say, Rejoice! Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness—your considerateness, your forbearing spirit. The Lord is near—He is coming soon. Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything by prayer and petition [definite requests] with thanksgiving continue to make your wants known to God. And God’s peace [be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding, shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things—fix your minds on them (Philippians 4:4-8, The Amplified Bible).

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

Ephesians 5:25-27 tells us that Jesus the Anointed gave Himself to sanctify (set apart) and cleanse the Church with the washing of water by the Word. (The Holy Spirit washes us with His Word.) He does this to present to Himself a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish. Ephesians 1:4 adds that He chose us before the foundation of the world to stand before Him holy and without blame in love. First Thessalonians 3:13 says our hearts are to be established in this holiness. First Thessalonians 4:7 says we are called unto holiness.

First Peter 1:15-16 says, “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy’” (New International Version). Ephesians 5:1 says, “Therefore be imitators of God—copy Him and follow His example—as well-beloved children [imitate their father]” (The Amplified Bible).

The Bible ties the manifestation of God with our walking in holiness. Hebrews 12:14 says we are to follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). Romans 3:23 lets us know that sin brings us short of the glory—which is His manifested presence.

God wants His people to live a holy life because holiness is the only thing that will enjoy victory in the earth. God wants His people to live like He lives, being a total success. Holiness will bring life and peace to us.

We do as God says because His ways are our only deliverance while we live in the earth. The earth is not dominated by God’s will unless the Church walks in its authority to proclaim what God says. (Do you wonder about that? Let me ask you this. Were the Dark Ages God’s will? No, the earth experienced that time of darkness because the Church became, for the most part, inactive and ruled by religious tradition instead of the Word of God.)

We resist sin by the power of the Holy Spirit Who lives in us. If we do not resist, we will be swept into misery right along with the world. We will be victims of Satan’s attempts to kill, steal and destroy.

Learn to speak Galatians 2:20-21 to keep your body obedient: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God….” I do not frustrate the grace (divine favor and blessings) of God. Sin frustrates God’s grace because it hinders His favor from working in your life.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

…even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:19-23).

We have been made free from sin so that we can yield our bodies to God as servants of God in holiness.

We are to yield our bodies to righteousness unto holiness. Ephesians 4:24 says we are to put on this new man who after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Holy means pure; separated unto God for divine purpose and use. Hebrews 12:10 tells us that we are to be partakers of His holiness. First Corinthians 3:16-17 tells us we are the temple of the Spirit of God, that to defile it causes destruction, and that the temple which we are is holy.

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 6:14-18, 7:1).

Kenneth Copeland Ministries