Dear Friends,

Last month, I began speaking to you about how to obtain the healing that Jesus purchased for you in redemption. We saw that we need to renew our mind to the truth and align both our heart and mouth with that truth. In today’s letter, I want to add the next two points: 1) hold fast to your confession and 2) let patience do its work.

Once you have renewed your mind concerning the healing Christ purchased for you, and once your heart and mouth are aligned with God’s promises, it’s time to dig your heels into the bedrock of your faith and decide to never budge from that position. Hebrews 10:23 says, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised).” The words “hold fast” are derived from the Greek word katecho, which is a compound of the words kata and echo. The word kata carries the force of something that comes down so hard and so heavily that it is overpowering and dominating to the point of being subjugating. When this force arrives on the scene, it conquers, subdues, and immediately begins expressing its overwhelming, influencing power.

The second part of the word katecho is the word echo, which simply means to have and carries the notion of possession. When kata and echo are compounded into the word katecho, it portrays seizing something with all one’s might and keeping it firmly under one’s control to ensure it never escapes. It portrays someone who finds the object of his dreams and then holds it down — taking control of it, dominating it, and even “sitting on it” so it doesn’t slip away!

This is the attitude you must have if you want to see God’s promises come to pass in your life. Once you’ve deeply embedded them into your heart and renewed your mind to them, you must wrap your arms around them and determine to never relinquish them. You must “katecho” God’s promises for healing so they won’t be able to get away from you. Hebrews 10:23 could be interpreted, “And let us hold fast to our confession, tightly wrapping our arms around it and embracing it with all our might….”

The words “hold fast” imply there is always a fight to stay on track with God’s promises. When it comes to healing, you must cling to God’s promises with unwavering determination. Without a conscious effort to hold tightly to God’s promise of healing, experiences or negative voices will try to steal it from you.

Hebrews 10:23 goes on to say, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith….” The word “profession” is from the Greek word homologia, which is a compound of homo and logia. The word homo means one of the very same kind, and logia is the plural form of logos, which means words. When these two words are compounded, they form homologia, and it is translated here as the word “profession.”

Let me give you a clear illustration of the word homologia. I am a writer and have written many books. My words are my thoughts, convictions, and beliefs printed on paper. If you read my books and agree with what I have written, in essence, you are in agreement and are harmonizing with me. If you take my viewpoints and begin to hold it in your heart and soul as your own conviction, it won’t be long until you and I are fully aligned in our thinking and believing. Then if you share that information with others, you will not be just repeating, or parroting, what you read in my books. You will be speaking from your own heart about what you believe. At that juncture, our ideas are not just parallel — they are united, and we are fluently speaking the same language of conviction!

Similarly, when a believer “confesses” or “professes” God’s Word from a heart of conviction, his words are not hollow or superficial; rather, they emerge from a profound well of conviction within his soul. After a period of renewing his mind, he finally begins to see things the way God sees them. From that place of heartfelt conviction, he then begins to declare his faith. Because he internalizes God’s Word so profoundly that it harmonizes with his own innermost being, the person’s words transcend the mere repeating or parroting of familiar phrases. Instead, he boldly articulates his faith from a place of authentic belief!

Many people make the mistake of merely repeating what they have heard someone else say without ever developing any depth of faith or understanding of their own. They say the right things, but because these words come only out of their mouths and not out of their hearts, their confession produces no results. It’s essential that your faith infuses your speech. For your confession to be impactful, it must resonate inside the depths of your heart as it comes out of your mouth.

So how do you avoid making mechanical, mindless confessions concerning God’s will to heal?

• First, choose to believe what God says about healing. Commit your heart to believing His Word, no matter how crazy it may sound to your natural mind.
• Second, ask God to make His Word real to you — so real, in fact, that if anyone even implies that what God says isn’t true, you’ll think that person is out of his mind!
• Third, pick up your Bible and do some serious study and meditation. Sow the Word into your heart until you and God are aligned on the issue.
• Fourth, once that alignment comes into being, open your mouth and start declaring the Word of God over your body!

Often people let go of their confession of faith for healing because the devil or other people tell them, “This thing you’re believing for isn’t ever going to happen. Surely it would’ve materialized already if it was meant to be. You’re wasting your time — you need to forget it, let it go, and move on with your life.”

Instead of surrendering or backing down, or giving in and giving up, you need to dig in your heels, drive down your stake, and tell the devil that you are not going to move from your position of faith. It may take a while for that promise to come into manifestation, but if you fill your heart and mind with the truth of God’s Word about healing and health, renew your mind to it, and hold fast to your confession of faith, God assures us that perseverance will lead to tangible outcomes.

James 1:3 says, “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” The word “patience” in James 1:3 describes the heavenly force that God releases inside you in such a moment when your faith is being tried. This word originates in the Greek word hupomone, a compound of the words hupo and meno. The word hupo means under and here it depicts one under a heavy load. The word meno depicts the resolve to stay put, abide, and not move. When these words are compounded to form the word hupomone, the word “patience” would be better translated as endurance.

The word hupomone carries the idea of abiding; defiantly sticking it out regardless of the pressure mounted against one; keeping a position; remaining in one’s spot; or staying put. It also signifies “staying” power; “hang-in-there” power; or the attitude that holds out, holds on, outlasts, perseveres, and hangs in there, never giving up, refusing to surrender to obstacles, and turning down every opportunity to quit.

The word hupomone pictures one who is under a heavy load but refuses to bend, break, or surrender because he is convinced that the territory, promise, or principle under assault rightfully belongs to him. Thus, James 1:3 declares that a supernatural power is released in you the moment you choose to push back against the enemy’s assault. Rather than face the fight on your own, you can be sure God will join Himself to the one who chooses to push back against the enemy’s attack. The Lord will fill that person with the supernatural ability to stay put, remain in his spot, keep his position, and maintain the territory he has gained as he outlasts any assault.

Let’s take this into your own story. If you are believing for healing, when you make a bold proclamation of faith — whether it be for healing and health or for any other blessing — the devil is listening and will likely devise a “test” to see if he can put you under enough pressure to make you back off from what you have confessed. But if you make the choice to push back against the attack, saying, “Devil, if you doubt my resolve, just watch as I cling fiercely to the promises God has made to me,” God will respond by filling you with so much hupomone that you will be able to stay put, not budge, hang in there, never give up, refuse to surrender to every obstacle, and turn down every opportunity to quit. That’s the message of James 1:3!

Indeed, when the devil sees God has filled you with hupomone — that is, an unshakeable resilience that never backs off — he’ll retreat. It’s often after such a retreat that the manifestation of your confession swiftly follows. I cannot tell you how long this process will take, but I can tell you that God responds to your decision to push back by filling you with hupomone, which endows you with all that is needed to stay steadfast until the fight is finished and you are standing healed and healthy. If you exercise this kind of endurance, you have the key to receiving healing, deliverance, prosperity, protection, peace, joy, healthy relationships, and countless other blessings.

The RIV (Renner Interpretive Version) of James 1:3 says:

You need to know — really know, and never forget — that difficult situations come to see if you are serious about your stance of faith and if your faith is really all it claims to be or if it will break under pressure. But finally…when those tests let up, and your faith is still standing strong, it will have proven your faith to be real. When you push back to resist the tests that have been sent to break you — that pushback triggers a release of divine endurance that fills you from the top of your head clear to the bottom of your feet! It’s a supernatural endurance that will enable you to bear up under any heavy load, and it will give you the ability to stay put, to keep your position, and to never surrender. I’m talking about a power that will enable you to hold on; hold out; never give up; neither bend nor break; outlast; persevere; and stick it out. This power will strengthen you to hold on to whatever promise or territory is under assault.

For anyone who doesn’t know why his faith is not working — and he doesn’t seem to be able to find anyone who can help find the answer — James 1:5 gives the best possible advice: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” God is more than willing to answer this question for anyone who is really willing to hear the answer. This verse promises YOU that if you ask God the reason for a delay to prayer, He will give you the answer you need. So today, in addition to holding fast to your confession and letting patience do its work, draw near to the heart of God, ask Him your questions, and be willing to hear the answers. Anything He tells you is for your good and is intended to speed up the process of receiving healing or whatever else you’ve been praying for!

I’ve covered a lot in this letter, but next month I have more to share about what else must be done to obtain the blessing of healing. I am pouring out to you what I believe the Holy Spirit wants me to share to help you, and my prayer is that it is helping you move forward into the manifestation of healing and health that Jesus purchased for you on the Cross.

Please be sure to let us know how we can pray for you. As a matter of fact, we are waiting to hear from you right now. Just call us at 1-800-742-5593 on any weekday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. CT or write to us at prayer@renner.org. We are already praying for you, but when we hear specifically how to pray, it helps us to pray more effectively.

We love you and thank God for you — Denise and I bless you and pray you’ll enjoy a wonderful Christmas season with loved ones this year!