Author: T.L Osborn From "Healing the Sick"

It is often said, "Talk is cheap." Many spend their time in idle talk. When I was a child, my father would say to me, "You talk when you should be listening." A great percent of talking is done by people who should be listening. Wise men always observe more than they express. Their words are few, but they are weighty.

Marvelous victories have been won, than have been lost through "loose talk"—words spoken that were not needed. Jesus terms it "idle words," of which He says, "Man shall give account of every word thus spoken, at the day of judgment" (Matt. 12:36). Solomon said, "He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life" (Prov. 13:3). And James, who said the tongue is an "unruly evil," gave some advice well worth heeding when he said, "Be swift to hear, but slow to SPEAK" (James 1:19).

Many fail to receive what they pray for, because they fail to understand how important their CONFESSION regarding that thing is. Some who have been healed by the power of God find their pains and aches, and sometimes the disease itself, returning to their bodies. The majority of such people are wondering WHY THIS IS. We believe you will understand the WHY of this, and that it will never happen to you, when you are through reading this message.

We Unconsciously Confess What We Believe

Faith always talks about the thing prayed for as though it were already possessed, even before it is seen, heard, or felt.

You see, when you confess sickness, it is because you believe in sickness more than you do in healing. We confess with our lips what we believe in our heart. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." (Matt. 12:34).

Let me illustrate that: WE prayed for a sick man in home. God marvelously touched his body. According to God's Word, this man would RECOVER. I assured them of this thruth. As we left the house, the mother said: "Do continue to pray for him." By that very request she CONFESSED that she doubted God's Word, "They shall recover," for she implied that unless we cried long and continuously to God, He would not hear us. The Word meant nothing to her. She even went a step further: She began to "brag" on the devil,  and commend his faithfullness, instead of God's faithfulness. "As soon as you leave," she said, "the devil is sure to give him a severe test. I know the old enemy will do his best to steal my son's healing. Be sure and pray much for him."

I rebuked her sharply. Such utter foolishness. WHAT A CONFESSION to be given to the credit of the devil by one of God's children! She never confessed any confidence n God or His eternal Word. All her confession was in praise of the faithfulness of Satan. I am sure the devil smiled.

I replied: "It seems to me that you have more confidence in Satan than you have in God. You seem to be POSITIVE that Satan will come and try your son, but you do not seem to be so SURE of God's divine presence and assistance." Then I asked: "If Satan is faithful, is not God more faithful?" "Yes," she replied. Then I asked: "If God sends His angels, as His Word says He will, will you be fearful of Satan's power in the presence of God's angels?" This, of course, helped her, and she returned in the house encouraged.

How often Christians will pray and obey the healing Scriptures exactly, and then, when some symptom appears, throw the entire Word of God overboard, and begin to make CONFESSION of their sickness, thus annulling their prayer and its effects! God's blessings are hindered when we let our lips contradict His Word.

If a disease threatens your body, DON'T CONFESS IT! CONFESS the Word: "With His stripes I AM HEALED!" Say what God says! CONFESS HIS WORD!

Disease gains the ascendancy when you agree with the testimony of your senses. Your five senses have NO PLACE in the realm of faith. Confessing pains, aches, and diseases is like signing for a package that the Express Company has delivered. Satan then has the RECEIPT—your confession—from you, showing that YOU HAVE ACCEPTED his package. Do not accept anything sent by the devil. Even though your five senses may testify that it has come to you, REFUSE TO CONFESS IT. Look immediately to Calvary. Remember, you were FREED.