God wants us to learn to practice faithfulness. Jesus said, "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Mark 8:34). To deny yourself is to disregard your flesh, your own desires, ambitions, and interests.

We read in Galatians 5 that, "the spirit lusts against the flesh and the flesh against the spirit." This simply means that the desires of the outer man are in direct opposition to the desires of the inner man. To follow Him we must deny the desires of the flesh (or body), and we must follow after the desires of our inner man - our spirit who has been reborn in the image of God.

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their hear: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness (Eph. 4:17-24).

We are to follow after the part of us that is made after God. This will lead to the highest and best life possible on earth.

Many have heard the Word of faith and have tried to walk in the integrity of God's Word without putting their hearts into it. They want the good things - health, prosperity, victory, and blessings - without giving themselves to God and serving Him with their whole heart.

Jesus said, "This people draws nigh unto me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me" (Matt. 15:8).

You can confess the Word of God from now until Jesus comes, but if your heart is not right, it will not come to pass.

Excerpt permission granted by
Eagle Mountain International Church, Inc.
aka:  Kenneth Copeland Ministries