When you act on the Word, you act like it is so. James 1:22 says, "Be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."

The only Word that will do you any good is that Word you act upon. It is better to take only one Scripture and act like it is true than to do nothing.

If you diligently read and study the Word of God, and get it into your spirit, and put it into practice, IT WILL WORK.

This truth brought both Dodie and me off of the sick bed. Dodie was sick for almost a year. She did not get well by whining and crying around. She got well when she stood up tall, took the Word of God and drove the devil away.

At one time it looked as though I had lost my ministry. I was so sick and discouraged that it looked like I was not going to make it. I am telling you that DOING THE WORD—acting like it is so, brought us out, and set our feet on solid ground.

I am not talking about theory. I am talking about something that I know works.

You may say, "Well, how can I act like the Word is so?"

Consider Noah. Noah heard God say, "There is going to be a flood." What did Noah do? He did not say, "I've got faith. I am the greatest man in the world, and I have faith." No! Noah did not worry about having faith.

Noah just agreed with God, that there was a flood coming. He acted like it was so, and started building the ark. Noah did not have to say, "I believe that a flood is coming." The very fact that he was hammering on the boat told everything. Noah showed his faith by his works.

Somebody may have asked him, "Noah, do you have faith?" Noah could have replied, "Why do you think that I am building this boat? Don't bother me." You see, Noah acted like God's Word was so.

We are told in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews that Abraham heard from God and he acted like God told him the truth. Abraham had faith.

Moses acted like God told him the truth. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Jacob, and Moses are all listed in Hebrews, chapter eleven. They heard God's Word, and THROUGH FAITH they acted like it was so.

Source: The ABC's of Faith by John Osteen
Excerpt permission granted by John Osteen Publications