Jesus said, "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks," (Matt 12:34). Negative words can both reveal the condition of your heart, and reinforce whatever is already in there, be it good or bad.  Here are some common negative confessions that may be shaping you into a loser.  If you find one that you use, read the biblical reference right after it, and start confessing God’s Word instead!

"If anything bad can happen, it will," (Murphy’s Law). Actually, good things come to the believer in Christ! Matt 7:11/ "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

"It Never fails..." "You can’t win." "If it isn’t one thing it’s another." The Bible says in Rom 8:37/ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

"I can’t... I just can’t do it." Phil 4:13/ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

"Knock on wood..." (i.e. "I better not say anything positive, or the whole thing is likely to blow up in my face and make a liar of me"). Mark 5:36/ "Do not be afraid; only believe." Rom 10:10/ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

"My best just isn’t good enough." 2 Sam 22:33/ God is my strength and power, and He makes my way perfect.

"This isn’t working! I quit! I’m outa here... I don’t need this!" Grow up and stop running away from your problems. Stick around and beat them through Jesus! 2 Cor 2:14/ Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ...

"The rich get richer and the poor get poorer." This is the loser’s way of explaining why other people are doing better than himself. Phil 4:19/ And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

"The boss, authority, government... will always rip you off (exploit, cheat you)." This is not true, especially if God is with you... Rom 8:31/ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Here’s a couple more..."You can’t fight city hall," and "Challenge authority." Some folks just have an attitude about any kind of authority. The Bible instructs us to take authority, not to murmur against it. Luke 10:19/"Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

"Life is rotten (excrement happens)—get used to it!" Life is great—get born again and start appreciating it! Blessings happen to the Christian. Eph 1:3/ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Rom 8:28,31-32/ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

"The doctor said he never saw anyone with as bad a case of ___ as me." "Oh yeah, I had that once, too—it’s the worst..." Fish stories that grow with each telling are quite common whenever the subject turns to sickness. I don’t mean to belittle anybody who is genuinely hurting, but let’s quit bragging about the devil’s works and start looking to God for healing instead. Exod 15:26/...I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians [the rest of the world]. For I am the LORD who heals you." Matt 8:17/..."He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses."

Copyright © 1999 Kim Harrington, Masterbuilder Ministries. All rights reserved.