The Power of THE Word

As many of you know, around 17 weeks pregnant with our baby Kate, I received a phone call that my genetic screening had returned abnormal and showed an increased risk for our baby to have Down's syndrome.  Landis and I were called to the doctor for an ultrasound where we saw a beautiful film of our perfect baby girl. We trusted God for her perfection throughout the rest of the pregnancy and now today, she's just that - perfect!

Well, here in pregnancy #3, I once again received the same phone call that my genetic testing had come back abnormal for a different (worse) genetic disease. This time, I didn't even cry after hanging up the phone but instead became angry - not at God - He's never the bearer of bad news - but at the Devil. I thought to myself, "Why would the enemy attack with lies AGAIN when he knows he has been defeated already?"

I began to talk to the Lord about this second attack. This time, I knew what God's Will was for this baby. I knew she would be whole and perfect and that God would reveal that to us at the ultrasound.  So my talks with the Lord wasn't about begging or pleading with Him to make this baby perfect. He was already working on that because that's His nature - that's His Will.  I wanted God to strengthen me in whatever way He wanted during this battle. A battle that would ultimately take place in my mind.

And....that's where I think the Lord is taking me with this blog because that's where He began to show me some things. During those 5 days between hearing the negative words from the doctor and yesterday when God's Word was proven true, I had to rely on the Spirit of God for peace but more than anything, I had to hear God's Word (His Truths laid out in the Bible for us) louder than any seeds the doctor planted in my mind.

In this mind battle is where so many people (even Christians) get deceived and let their guard down.

Here's an example of what I mean....because Landis and I had been through this negative "screening" process before, we knew that even after a perfect ultrasound that the doctors would offer us other forms of testing to "prove" that the baby was okay or to find the problem areas.  This time, we knew we would be offered an appointment to Wake Forest for "genetic counseling" and a "high risk ultrasound."  We knew BEFORE we entered the doors of the doctor's office yesterday, BEFORE we saw the ultrasound, that we would deny this extra testing and this is why....

There is NO TRUTH outside of God's Word - NONE.  The first screening was a lie from the Devil so we were not going to give the Devil anymore chances to plant negative seeds (contrary to God's Word) through these extra tests and appointments.  God says in His Word that His Will is a perfect, healthy baby - every time! Does the enemy attack babies in utero? YES! He will steal, kill, and destroy any chance he can get.  But, in this body of mine, the Devil has no authority because Jesus reigns inside of me.  I will not release ANY authority to this horrible enemy but instead trust (with a pure, confident, non-wavering heart) in Jesus to shelter this baby, make her perfect, designed for His purpose in this world.

Tests, news, reports from doctors are often times in direct conflict with what I just shared.  When you hear news from the doctor, it is often negative and speaks a "sentence" over you.  Often times more information is needed and more tests are run and it's a sad process that beats us up in our minds if we let it.  I'm writing this blog today to encourage all of you to get God's Word in your hearts so strong, so loud that anytime in your life that you face a doctor's report, that you will hear God's report louder.  You will know what God's Will is and you will take authority in Jesus and claim your heavenly Father's will over anything a doctor tells you. That takes faith - and I know it's hard.

In my situation, many parents would opt for more testing. They would want to know every detail about this baby inside of them and they may or may not receive more bad news. Some people would say, "But, doesn't it drive you crazy that you could know all this other information and be 100% sure that everything is okay. What would a few more tests - just to make sure - hurt?"  Well, that's where the faith walk comes in.  Yes, sometimes saying NO to all this "information" could be hard because the information would give you facts right then (whether good or bad) - faith requires that you EXPECT what you cannot yet see. You trust in God for the finished product BEFORE you have evidence of that finished work. Faith isn't easy but it ALWAYS results in a blessing.  Psalm 22:4-5 says, "In You our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them.  To You they cried and were rescued; in You they trusted and were not put to shame."

This verse reminds us that when we put all our trust and faith in God, He WILL RESCUE US!  The scriptures do not teach us to put half our trust in God, while also seeking every worldly confirmation that we can - it says to cry to your heavenly Father and trust Him.

Trusting in God, the authority of Jesus that we have been given, and through the power of the LIVING Word of God is the ONLY way to defeat the enemy both in battles in our mind and in our physical bodies.

How do I know this?  Because I've seen the Word of God come to life over and over in my life, especially since I've had children.  The Word of God and the authority through Jesus in me has now saved all three of my children.  Luke was cured of allergies through the Holy Spirit and Word of God. Kate fought negative doctor's reports during my pregnancy and was born in a position that normally injures babies - she was born perfect without one bruise. And, now, this third baby received a terrible report at 18 weeks but has already proven to be perfect.  These attacks did not come from my Father in heaven, but from the enemy; however, my GOOD, GOOD Father rescued us EVERY time! All because we trusted in Him....and Him alone....

As I was asking God to strengthen me even more in His Word over the last few days, I heard this question in my Spirit, "Why did I leave you with the Word of God?"  I told the Lord, "That seems like such a simple question. You left us your Word so we would know your Will and your Ways."  And God whispered again, "Because my Word has POWER. It's a living Word."  Yes, yes, yes!!!  I began to get excited and knew I had a research mission. I love it when the Holy Spirit gives me "homework" that will grow my roots and foundational beliefs deeper. I began to research in the Bible all the scriptures that tell us that God's Word is living and has power and this is what I found....

Hebrews 4:12 - "For the Word that God speaks is ALIVE and FULL OF POWER, it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow (of the deepest parts of our nature), exposing and analyzing the very thoughts and purposes of our heart."

Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 4 - these scriptures teach us about how Jesus defeated the temptations of the Devil. He defeated him by telling the Devil what the scriptures said.  I encourage you to read these scriptures on your own.  Jesus is our example of how to use authority to defeat the enemy. If He used the Word of God as His weapon, so should we.

Jeremiah 23:28-29 - "The prophet who has a dream, let him tell his dream; but he who has My Word, let him speak My Word faithfully.  What has straw in common with wheat (for nourishment) says the Lord?  Is not My Word like fire that consumes all that cannot endure the test? says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks in pieces the rock (of most stubborn resistance)?

Hebrews 6:5 - "And have felt how good (beautiful, excellent, useful, comforting) the Word of God is and the mighty powers (for performing miracles) of the age and world to come."

1 Peter 1:23-25 - "You have been born again, not from a mortal origin (sperm, seed) but from one that is immortal by the ever LIVING and LASTING Word of God.  For all flesh (mankind) is like grass, and all its glory (honor) like the flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower drops off.  But the Word of the Lord (divine instruction, the Gospel) endures forever. And this Word is the good news which was preached to you."

1 Thessalonians 2:13 - "We also thank God continually for this, that when you received the message of God (which you heard) from us, you welcomed it not as the word of mere men, but as it truly is, the Word of God, which is effectually (able to produce) at work in you who believe (exercising its supernatural POWER in those who adhere to and trust in and RELY on it."  This is one of my favorites - the Word of God always has power but we have to RELY on it to see that power manifest and produce.

I share these scriptures with you for this reason...the next time you hear a doctor give you negative news.  Just remember - those words are DEAD as soon as they are spoken then replace those words with ANY of the LIVING, POWERFUL Words from the divine book of scriptures - the Holy Bible.  I challenge you to memorize verses that speak to you personally so those living Words can rise up in you at times when your Bible is not physically with you.  The Holy Spirit is smart, very smart - when you make deposits of the Word into your Spirit, He will bring them to your remembrance in the perfect timing that you need them. I'm a witness!

And...one last thing that God showed me over the last joyful week...one night at bedtime I was reading Kate the scriptures about Jesus and Peter walking on water.  Kate always enjoys the scriptures but on this particular night, God was speaking to me.  This awesome testimony of Jesus' power can be found in Matthew 14:22-33.  When Peter first starts walking on the water toward Jesus, his faith is strong. While his eyes are focused on Jesus, he is able to maintain that miraculous walk on the water.  Then, in verse 30, it says, "When he (Peter) perceived and felt the strong wind, he was frightened, and as he began to sink, he cried out, Lord, save me!"  When Peter took his eyes off Jesus and allowed the circumstances to affect him, he began to sink.  As I read this I knew what God was telling me.  If I allowed more tests on this precious baby, I was allowing the winds and waves to be felt and my faith would be weakened. God told me loud and clear - keep your eyes on Jesus and this miraculous walk to a whole, perfect baby will be complete!  Oh, thank you Lord! I love it when that Word jumps out at me and speaks right to my heart - it's ALIVE, for sure!

When you continue to read these scriptures in Matthew, verse 32 says, "And when Peter and Jesus got into the boat, the wind ceased."  The presence of Jesus brought calm, brought peace to the raging storm around them.  Yesterday after the ultrasound, we sat down with the doctor. As we expected, she explained our testing options, all the negative things that could still be possible, and then asked us what we planned on doing next.  We very calmly explained to her that we would do nothing else but wait on the Lord to complete His Work in me and the baby.  The doctor looked at me and Landis and said, "You all are so calm. I dreaded this conversation all day but you all have made it easy. Some patients get very emotional and even angry but you had your minds made up already."  Landis and I looked at each other, smiled, and said, "It's the joy of the Lord and when we have God's Word, we can be at peace." We told her that God had created perfection in baby Kate and we trusted that He would do it again with this baby girl.

As I drove home yesterday, I thought about how different the thinking that Landis and I have is compared to the world's thinking. As we sat in that doctor's office, we were walking in the Spirit, not allowing the flesh or emotions to take over. When the doctor was telling us about all the different reactions people have when they hear that negative news, I felt sorry for them because I know that they, too, need the Word of God to comfort them, give them peace, and help them overcome the Devil's lies. Friends, turn to the Word daily - read the Bible, study the scriptures, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal them to you personally. You see God knows what tomorrow holds for you and He will share the perfect scriptures with you at the perfect time if you just get still (shut out the world's noise), listen, and learn from your Creator. Why? Because there's POWER in everything He says....

Love you all,
Toddy