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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
Positive confession is the practice of saying aloud what you want to happen with the expectation that God will make it a reality. It's popular among prosperity gospel adherents who claim that words...
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Steven Best
Supporter
I believe there is a definite place for positive confession, which begins with meditating on God's word (laws/commandments/exhortations. (Ps 1:1-3, Josh 1:1-8, 2 Cor 10:3-5). Proper meditation and confession of Scripture, speaks in agreement with the whole counsel of God's word, and builds trust, which is a confident self-awareness of God working his purpose in and through us (Phil 4:13; Rom 8:28-29) in all circumstances.
This is especially important for those who have been raised in households with predominantly negative attitudes, and abject poverty, or those who have become habitually dependent upon others for their provision, such as long-term, nondisabled welfare recipients. Studies have been conducted on this for decades, and the conclusion has always been the same. Those who went into work or problem-solving exercises with defeatist attitudes, set lower goals and seldom accomplished them. Those who went in with confident expectation and a solid work ethic, set higher goals and often reached above and beyond their own expectations. My own father modeled this for me, in that he truly believed God had created him, and it was not for failure. He held tenaciously to the Scripture that he could do all things through Christ who strengthened him, and rose from a broken home, alcoholic father, mentally ill mother, and foster care in the midst of the Great Depression, to that of a national sales manager for a Fortune 100 company, with five children having graduated college. He reminded us again and again that we had to work hard (Protestant work ethic) and believe in what we were doing, so that we could do it with God's help (blessing).
Unfortunately, charlatans of the health and wealth doctrine have espoused healing and financial miracles for all those who would "confess and believe," leaving a long line of dead, bankrupt and broken Christians in the wake of their so-called "scriptural promises," which had assured everyone God "promised them a miracle. ("Did God lie or did they?" Num 23:19 answers the question quite nicely.) Therefore, I believe it is extremely important, when forming confessions, to draw strong Scripture-based borders around our expectations, so our confessions of faith do not get out of balance. This requires looking at the whole picture.
Regarding illness, Job was healed, but only after experiencing great loss and extended suffering. Jesus said there was a sickness unto death and a sickness to the glory of God(John 11:4). In acts 5:15, as Peter walked through the streets, his mere shadow falling on the sick brought healing. Yet this incredible power is not again recorded anywhere in Scripture. Instead, 1 Tim 5:23 records Paul telling Timothy to take wine for medicinal purposes, and, in 2 Tim 4:20, Paul writes he'd left Trophemus, his companion, in Miletus, because he was sick. (What – no shadow – no laying on of hands?) These instances, taken together with 2 Cor 12: 9-10, clearly indicate that, for the believer, healing was not always a simple matter of confessing and believing.
Our confessions and meditations on Scripture are important aspects of our Christian walk, but must not be perverted into mystical, metaphysical formulas or vain attempts to manipulate God. God is with us at all times. He is with us in our highest highs and our lowest lows, and our positive confessions can be used to build our faith in those low times. Those of us who suffer persecution for the faith, sickness, disability or great financial loss, can confess that nothing will ever separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus, our Lord (Rom 8:35-39). If we feel condemnation, we can (and should) confess Rom 8:1 and 1 John 1:9, and if we doubt our salvation, we have 1 John 5:11 and a myriad of other witnesses. When temptation seems overwhelming, we have 1 Cor 10:13. If we feel inadequate to provide for our families, we have Phil 4:13 to remind us that we are not alone in this. These are proper positive confessions.
joyce whaley
Supporter
YES! I personally believe that as long as a fad or trend is not steering a person away from the total truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ why not duplicate it, now that’s only if it is reasonable and not cultish. I personally state affirmations based off the word of God over my life daily i.e., “The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear” Psalm 27:1 “God is able to make all grace, favor and earthly blessing come to me in abundance” 2 Corinthians 9:8 “The Lord will supply my needs according to his riches in heaven” Philippian 4:19. I even make my own positive confessions up based around the word of God example; I state over my life daily “the Lord provides for in abundance and before time therefore I have plenty” that’s based on Philippians 4:19. I’m always in the right place at the right time to receive the right information regarding the advancement of my life, that’s based off of Psalm 34:7. To me the problem most Pastors and Ministers have with the prosperity message is that people get so caught up in seeking things (stuff) that we forget that the word of God states “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33. Jesus became poor so that I would not have to become poor in spirit or naturally. So to desire to live a better life is fine just make sure you have your priorities in place. YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN FIRST ACTS 11 CHAPTER
Billy P Eldred
Supporter
My opinion on the correct answer to your question is "It depends." On what does it depend? Are you referring to the "name it and claim it" teaching where you make knowingly false statements in the hope or belief that God will hear them and provide them at your request. If so, then I believe you are deceiving yourself and possibly even taking the Lord's name in vain. However, if you are asking if making knowingly true statements (such as quoting scripture) has a positive benefit to you, then I believe the answer would be yes. Just as in the children's story on the little engine that could teaches, by having a positive attitude of expectation we can accomplice more, I believe has been proven time and again in our world. There really is power in positive thinking. Why? I believe that God designed things that way to teach us the power of Faith. Are we not showing positive thinking when we believe in God? Isn't hope a positive thought. Of course when it is accompanied by Faith, it is so much more than that. It is just my opinion that the power of positive thinking is one of those evidences God built into the world to lead us to Him. If one stopped to ask "Why does positive thinking have power?" Would the answer not be God?
James Kraft
Supporter
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, First Corinthians 15:1-4, For it is the POWER of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth, to the Jew first, and Also to the Greek. John 1:12 But as many as received Him to them gave He POWER to become the children of God. Acts 16:31.
Ellen Aranza
Supporter
Although I must confess I haven't read every answer in depth, I want to add my thoughts. I don't agree with the prosperity 'name it and claim it' teaching, but I do believe that Jesus came to give us LIFE, and that, more abundantly, along with trials and tribulations, which He has already conquered. We just have to stand in His FINISHED work that made us overcomers. Our God is a good God and Father, and He wants only to give good gifts to His children (though He probably has to withhold some gifts because we aren't ready to handle them). I do believe in speaking God's Word out loud, because I've experienced the power of it when I do that. FAITH COMES BY HEARING... We are to HEAR the Word, not only hear with our ears, but our spirit, so Rom. 10:17 might be interpreted to include both. The Word IS Power - Jesus IS the Word - I pray that we all get that. When our desires align with God's Word, there's no issue - we are to ask what we will, and He will give us the desires of our heart. Truly, the desires of our heart are for the things of our Almighty Creator - though we don't 'get it' until we "taste and see" His goodness for ourselves. (Ps. 34:8). Love you, brothers and sisters.
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