Article by: Lindsay Roberts
My grandmother was quite a character. Her name was Pauline, but we called her Grandma Charlie. Charlie was my grandfather’s name, and my niece lovingly called him Grandpa Charlie. So if he was Grandpa Charlie, she was Grandma Charlie, and the name stuck. From then on, Pauline was Grandma Charlie to every one of us.
She has been in heaven many years, yet I will never forget this unforgettable woman. She was short in stature but stands tall in my memory, especially for the unique way in which she kept in touch with us.
She lived in Alabama and would often write letters to us. However, it was a challenge for our family to read her entire message. There were four of us: my mom, Patricia; my sister, Stephanie; my brother, Harry; and me. My father died when I was twelve.
Instead of sending each of us a letter, she would write just one four-page epistle and mail each of us only one page. What a hoot!
At the bottom of my page it might read, “Your Grandpa Charlie, he…” and that would be the end. I would phone my mom and say, “Did you get the page that said what Charlie did?”
“No,” she would answer. “I received the part that talked about her neighbor. She must have sent that to Stephanie or Harry.” So I would phone them.
With each letter, we would go through the same routine, and we’d chuckle at our grandma.
We’d call her, and she would laugh and say, “I knew you were wondering who had the next line.”
Her personality was reflected not only in her words but in her actions. Mailing four-page letters, one page per person in four different directions, always brought us laughter to share with each other. Grandma knew exactly what she was doing. It was her way of expressing her personality and everyone got a good laugh out of it.
There’s No Mistake
That’s how it is with God. His character and nature are found in the Word. And He loves to express who He is. How do we know that the still, small voice we hear is coming from our Father? Very simply. After spending time with Him, we recognize His personality. He says, “Go here. Turn there. Call this person,” and you know it is not anyone but your heavenly Father.
The more you read Scripture, the more you know the Almighty. Why? Because God talks like He writes, and He writes like He talks. As a result, you will begin to identify His voice.
He Can Perform It
It is through reading God’s Word — a collection of His letters to people — and having continual fellowship with Him that enables you to understand His ways and know Him personally.
At times the Holy Spirit will give you amazing revelation, and you’ll say, “Oh, my word!”
In reality, however, it’s not your word, but His. As the truth of Scripture becomes buried in your heart, you will actually be exclaiming, “Oh, His Word!”
According to Proverbs 18:21, Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. The Lord has given us power to speak life and death, but we are required to line up our words with His declarations, and then He can bring it to pass. As the prophet Jeremiah wrote, Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it. [Jer. 1:12]
The Word Made Flesh
Knowing God is a combination of hearing, reading, and doing His Word — and receiving Christ, who is the Word made flesh.
The Creator provided more than the tangible, touchable, readable Scriptures. He sent His Son Jesus, the Word clothed in the form of man. The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. [John 1:14]
Mixed Signals
Some people give the Lord mixed signals. They declare, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Then Satan does something to trip them up, and they say, “Oh, I knew that would never work.” Their second statement then has the right to cancel out everything they have declared. As a result, their faith can waver or even be destroyed. It’s the double-minded, wishy-washy state James 1:8 talks about: A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. And faith cannot live and operate in wishy-washiness. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. [Rom. 10:17], and God’s Word isn’t double-minded or wishy-washy. Remember, the words of your mouth must be acceptable in God’s sight. They must line up with His Word.
Over His Head
If you desire to overcome stress, make it your objective to first be overcome, engulfed, completely surrounded, and immersed in the power of God.
In the book of Ezekiel there is a practical demonstration of how to become fully immersed in the things of God. The prophet describes a vision in which he was brought to the door of a house:
Behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. [Ez. 47:1]
Then the water began to rise. When he first measured, the waters were to the ankles (v. 3). Soon, the waters were to the knees (v. 4). Then, the waters were to the loins (v. 4).
Finally, it was over his head. The waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over (v. 5).
That’s how the Word should cover our life — totally. So completely that we are swimming in it.
Here’s the Danger
Some people only want to wade into spiritual waters ankle deep. They are satisfied with just a little sprinkle — a little blessing here, a little anointing there. Just enough so they don’t lose control. Here lies the danger. If you walk in water only to your ankles, Satan can target almost all of your body. Knee-deep is better, yet you can still turn around and run.
I lived in Florida long enough to learn that when you’re in water up to your shoulders, you had better know how to swim. Many are trying to serve God with their heart, soul, mind, and strength, but they are still insisting on keeping their head above spiritual waters so their head can still be in control and make all the right logical, carnal, and fleshly decisions.
But spiritually speaking, God wants us to take the plunge. Get all the way under the power and authority of God in every area of our lives. I believe God wants us to totally submerge ourselves in His ways. At that stage satan’s point of attack becomes buffeted by God’s anointing.
I like the phrase, “Get under the spout where the glory comes out.” That’s how you become totally anointed, totally blessed, totally rewarded, and totally immersed in the things of God.
Deep Waters
God encourages His people to venture beyond the shoreline and move into the deep. When Peter, James, and John were fishing on the Sea of Galilee and had caught nothing, Jesus appeared and said to Peter, Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch. [Luke 5:4] And although it was not the usual, traditional way they had always done things, when the Lord spoke, what was the result? They caught so many fish their nets began to break!
And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. [Luke 5:7]
Deep spiritual waters can bring great miracles.
A Daily Infusion
A friend once remarked, “I love Christmas. I wish it could be every day of the year.”
That’s exactly how I feel about being in the presence of the Lord and immersing myself in God’s Word. The traditional church service of one hour on Sunday just doesn’t seem to be enough. We need a daily infusion from above. We face problems every day — sometimes throughout the entire day. I’d like the presence and anointing of God to be with me all day so that I could make godly decisions in the face of devilish attacks.
Satan knows his time is short. The signs are everywhere that Jesus is about to return, and it’s as though the devil is getting nervous. It’s as if Satan knows he has only a little time left, and now he is really pouring on the pressure.
So how does Satan pour on the pressure?
He attacks finances.
He sows discord and strife.
He lies about friends and family.
He fosters jealousy and hatred.
He torments minds with fear.
Satan understands enough about the personality, character, and nature of God that he will do anything to stop you. That’s why, when you are about to open your Bible, he will whisper, “You’re too tired,” or “Why don’t you wait till later?” or “Do you really understand that stuff?”
Well, about the time those feelings hit, we need to defend ourselves against the onslaught of the devil and construct a wall of protection built on a foundation of the Word.
Spiritual Warfare
Thank God, He has given us the weapons to win the battle.
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. [2 Corinthians 10:4,5]
It’s not possible to defeat the strongholds of the devil by fighting in the flesh. Oh, it would be something to fight satan with a sword — or even a baseball bat. But this is a spiritual conflict that must be fought with spiritual weapons.
We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. [Ephesians 6:12]
The Invisible Foe
Since Satan doesn’t fight fair, we must fight smart — with faith and with the knowledge of God. What can exalt itself against the Word?
Is it sin? Is it sickness? Is it stress?
Is it disease? Is it poverty? Is it a court case?
No, according to the Word of God, the answer should be — nothing. Absolutely nothing should have the power to defy what God says. By confessing, declaring, and believing the Word, we can come against Satan’s attack.
But we make the Word of God ineffective if we start doubting, worrying, fearing, or confessing the problem instead of the solution. We must know the battle is with Satan, not with people. I repeat, We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. [Eph. 6:12]
Our fight is with the devil. To win we must exercise the weapons of our warfare. It’s not a flesh fight; it’s a faith fight. And the battle is the Lord’s when we use our spiritual artillery according to the Word.
It is war. And we are going to be victorious.
Today, consider stepping out of your comfort zone and becoming totally immersed in the Word of God.
Lindsay Roberts is host of the daily television broadcast “Make Your Day Count” and co-host with husband, Richard, on their nightly program, “Hour of Healing”. She is the author of several books including Stressless Living and four books in the Make Your Day Count Devotionals Series. She and Richard, along with their three beautiful daughters, make their home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. For more information about Lindsay Roberts go to www.makeyourdaycount.com.
