She had just been hit over the head and mugged on the street. Now she was on the other end of the line with Kenneth Hagin Ministries, sobbing.

“How could this happen to me?” she asked. “I confess Psalm 91 protection over myself every day!”

Maybe you’ve felt the same. You’ve confessed a scripture and then seen the opposite results and wondered why.

The man on the other end of the line was a young Keith Moore. He didn’t immediately have the answer to her question until he heard the Holy Spirit quicken it to him. The Holy Spirit told Keith to ask her why she had been where she was that day.

“Well, I was just running some errands in that part of town. I did have a check in my spirit about going there that day,” she recalled.

There it was. Her confession hadn’t worked because it was based on what the Bible calls feigned faith—presumption. The idea that you can ignore the Word of God to you and just confess scriptures over yourself is a grave misstep.

This woman was standing on a scripture while ignoring the warning God gave her. It looked like faith; it sounded like faith. She was even quoting scripture. But He checked her about going. and she wound up with a confession that didn’t come to pass because she was out of alignment.

At the 2021 Southwest Believers’ Convention, Keith Moore shared an anointed word over several days about the reasons Christians aren’t receiving what they’re confessing and how we can turn it around. He began his teaching with this:

“There have been too many situations in our camp where people confessed things that didn’t come to pass. Claiming things and they didn’t happen. And it hurts your faith. When you confess, confess, confess and it doesn’t happen; and then you do it again and again and nothing happens; eventually, you stop expecting. It can leave you bitter and affect those around you.”

If you’re ready to see EVERY confession you make come to pass, begin today by studying these 3 Reasons Why Your Confessions Aren’t Working.

1. You Aren’t Hearing With Your Heart

“Faith comes by hearing.”—Romans 10:17 (NIV)

Your confessions will only work if they are founded on the Word of God and rooted in faith. Where does real faith come from? (Find out if your faith is real HERE.)

Romans 10:17 (NKJV) tells us: “Faith comes by hearing.”

But here’s where most Christians get turned around. The hearing referred to in this verse is much more than having sound waves bounce off your eardrums or just having read the Bible. The kind of hearing that brings faith is the same kind of hearing Jesus was referring to in Matthew 11:15 when He said, “He who has ears, let him hear” (TLV).

We all have physical ears, so what did Jesus mean?

He was talking about the state of one’s heart. In the spirit realm, you hear with your heart. The condition of your heart affects your ability to hear. If you are bitter or unforgiving, or think you have it all figured out, you’re not hearing with your heart and you’re going to miss what God has to say to you.

When you’re closed off to the idea that you might be wrong about some things, you’re going to have trouble hearing from God—whether it be through His Word or through others. An unwilling heart makes a deaf spiritual ear, which causes your confessions to be led by the flesh, not by the spirit.

A willing heart, on the other hand, makes a hearing ear. But that’s only the beginning. You need God’s Anointing to hear a rhema word with your heart and then line up your confessions accordingly. A rhema is a spoken utterance by the Holy Spirit directly to you regarding a scripture or situation. (Find a Prayer To Receive a Rhema Word From God HERE.)

Keith Moore says, “Faith doesn’t come by reading your Bible—unless you heard from Him while you were reading.”

The same is true when you listen to a minister teach the Word.

Romans 10:14 asks us to consider this: How can you believe if you haven’t heard? Keith Moore says, “You can’t, and you won’t. There is no believing without hearing and there is no faith without believing.”

The verse continues, “How shall they hear without a preacher?” It doesn’t say, “How will they hear without a Bible.” In other words, the anointing on the preaching of the Word will cause you to hear in a way that brings revelation to your spirit. That’s why preachers are necessary. God ordained it that way. It’s not the person, it’s the anointing that causes you to see and hear.

But even then, faith doesn’t come by going to a meeting and hearing from preachers—unless while you were listening, you heard from God, which brings us to our next reason why your confessions are not working.

Watch Keith Moore teach at the 2021 Southwest Believers’ Convention about making bold and accurate confessions.

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2. You Didn’t Hear From God First

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” –John 15:7 (NKJV)

A good number of Spirit-filled believers have gotten into the habit of using certain terms very loosely. Terms like, “I’m believing.”

I’m believing God for this, and I’m believing God for that. It sounds very spiritual and faith-filled. But the question is…

Based on what?

The Bible is a big book filled with hundreds of promises for every situation. So how do you know what to stand on?

Just picking a set of scriptures out of the Word to stand on without hearing from God first is a recipe for confessions that don’t work. Faith doesn’t come from going through your concordance and finding verses about something unless He quickened one of them to you. When you stand on and confess a verse over your situation, it should be an anointed rhema to you.

Now, you can ask God for something that isn’t specified in His Word, but you cannot confess something into being just because you want it.

If you become more selective, you’ll become more effective.

Of speaking only what you hear from God, Keith Moore says, “Hearing from Him all the time and His living words living in you is what is supposed to motivate what you say. If you’ll say what He says, He’ll do what you say. He’s not obligated to back every idea you come up with. He is not obligated to fund every project you come up with or every venture you launch into. He’s Lord—not you.”

That can be tough to hear, but this is how we can begin to see our confessions come to pass every time!

3. You Aren’t Obeying What He Said

“Why are you violating the command of the LORD, when doing so will not succeed?” –Numbers 14:41 (NASB)

Just as we saw in the situation where the woman was mugged after she had neglected to obey God’s instruction not to go to a certain place, confessions won’t work when you aren’t obeying what He said to you.

A confession is only part of the equation, and while words are critical to your receiving, if they are preceded or followed by error in other areas, they will be ineffective.

Think about the Israelites.

There’s a reason God told us to remember what they did and warned us not to duplicate their mistakes. God said, “Don’t save the manna.” They saved it. God said, “Don’t gather on the seventh day.” They went out and tried to gather. This is why God called them stubborn and stiff-necked.

Maybe that’s where you’ve been. Ignoring the small promptings and corrections. The problem is, when you do that with smaller things, when it comes to the bigger ones, you’re likely to do the same thing.

That’s what Israel did.

God told them to go up and possess the land for He had given it to them. They said, “No, we’re not going up.”

So, in Numbers 14:25, God tells them to go into the wilderness. And what do they say?

You guessed it. In verse 40, they said, “We will go up to the place which the LORD has promised” (NKJV).

Can they have faith to go into the Promised Land now? They repented, right? They’re making a good confession, right?

No. Because God’s last instruction to them was to go into the wilderness.

They could confess all day long, “I can do all things through Christ and all things are possible to him that believes,” but they’re out of alignment with His Word. It sounds like faith, but it isn’t. It’s blatant rebellion.

That’s where we can get into trouble, too. Quoting scriptures while ignoring what the Lord told you to do, deciding to use your faith to do something else, expecting God to back it, and then getting mad when He doesn’t, is not faith.

If you aren’t obeying what He has said to you, your confessions will come up short.

Next time you need to stand in faith for something, consider these three reasons why your confessions aren’t working, and determine to take the right course. If you do it right, it works every time. But if you’ve been at a 50/50 rate in your confessions, it’s time to make some changes. Don’t just throw out confessions and see if they stick. Become stronger in your faith and bump your success rate up to 100!

Find out if your confessions are based on faith or presumption as Keith Moore continues his teaching.

Related Articles:

A Prayer To Receive a Rhema Word From God

© 1997 – 2021 Eagle Mountain International Church Inc. Aka Kenneth Copeland Ministries. All Rights Reserved.

Which job should you take?

Should you buy this car or that truck?

Should you move?

Is it time to open your business?

Should you move into full-time ministry?

Is it time to step away from something?

All of us face decisions on a regular basis—some big, some small. But we all want to make the right decisions! And we can.

However, we must guard against trying to find the answers we need through natural means. This often leads to overthinking, which comes from fear—fear of making a wrong decision. That’s why some decisions seem to torment people—fear is tormentor. But 1 Corinthians 14:33 (KJV) tells us that “God is not the author of confusion.” God has given us everything we need to make decisions with confidence. Here, we’re sharing how to know the answer to any question.

1. Seek the Wisdom of God

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” –Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

Some people say a prayer about their situation and then immediately jump on the internet looking for natural, logical answers to their question or problem. They allow fear of making a wrong decision get in the way of receiving the wisdom of God. This may seem obvious, but when you put yourself into a position where the wisdom of the world is competing with the wisdom of God, you’ll end up in a state of confusion.

There are several ways to seek the wisdom of God. One is praying in the spirit, which is God’s way of getting inside information to you. It is an important tool you can use to pray out mysteries and receive divine revelation.

Another is reading the Word of God and expecting the Holy Spirit to illuminate scripture relative to your situation. Finally, Proverbs 15:22 (NIV) says, “Plans fail for lack of counsel” and Proverbs 20:18 (NCB) says, “Plans will succeed when good advice is accepted.” God can and will speak through others. It is wise to seek counsel from those who operate in faith and wisdom, and who are not intimately connected with the decision you need to make.

Find 10 Scriptures About Making Decisions HERE.

2. Take Time To Fast

“Then [when you have fasted] your light will break out like the dawn, and you will be healed quickly.” –Isaiah 58:8 (CEB)

Fasting subdues your flesh and clears away the natural thoughts and fears that can cloud your judgment. It opens your spiritual ears to receive. When you fast, expect to hear from God—expect revelation from Him. As you do this, remember that fasting is laying things aside just to be with God.

Find a 6-Step Checklist for Fasting HERE.

3. Seek in the Right Places

“If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”—Jeremiah 29:13

Sometimes, Christians expect an answer to come a certain way—so they wait and wait. They want the exact words to drop down into their spirits, like it did the last time, or a door to open in just the same way. But God doesn’t deal with us the same way over and over. That’s why it is so important that we are tuned in to His still, small voice and quick to yield to the inward witness.

Bill Johnson once described the way God deals with us in an easily relatable illustration. He recalled how, when it came to Easter-egg hunts, when his children were young, he would hide the eggs in very obvious places—right out in the open so they could find them. But as they got older, he made it much more challenging. He met them at their level of maturity and capability. He expected more.

If you’re a mature believer and you’re looking for the answer to your question in the open, you’re missing it. You’ve outgrown the easy answers. Your seeking may need to mature, and the answers may not come as expected, but God isn’t hiding anything from you. You just need to learn to seek in the right places.

Watch Kenneth Copeland teach you how to let God guide you every day.

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Our limited thinking when seeking an answer from God can also be likened to the story of the man trapped on a roof during a flood. He had prayed and asked God to rescue him. Soon, a rowboat came by and offered him a ride. But he said, “No, I’m waiting for God to save me.” Then, the Coast Guard came and offered to rescue him. Again, he said, “No, God will save me.” Finally, a helicopter came and lowered a rope to bring him to safety, and again, he declined as he waited for God to show up with his answer. As the story goes, the floodwaters overtook him, and he met God in heaven where he asked, “God, why didn’t You save me?” And God said, “I sent you a rowboat, a rescue boat and a helicopter.”

Don’t be so convinced about how God will send the answer that you miss it altogether.

4. Listen To Your Inward Witness

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” –Romans 8:14 (KJV)

Your inward witness is one of the most powerful tools you have to find the answer to any question. If you spend regular time in the Word and in prayer, you will hear from God regarding your situation when you are intentional about listening. That’s why Kenneth E. Hagin said, “The No. 1 way that God guides and directs His children is through the inward witness.”

The inward witness is what gives you peace in your spirit regarding your decision. It will pull you in one direction or another according to the leading of the Holy Spirit. And it will sometimes go against what you thought, with your natural mind, the answer would be—which is why listening is so important!

This is a truth that a man from Texas knew well. Though he had only a fifth grade education and had come from a life of poverty, his ability to listen to the inward witness led him to become a multimillionaire through investments.

Here is how he described the process of seeking God for the answer to any question:

“When someone comes along with an idea for an investment, I don’t allow myself to think about it mentally. Instead, I go into my closet and pray. I wait as long as it takes until I hear something. Sometimes, it can take as long as three days. I come out for some meals and a little sleep, but mainly, I remain quiet and alone with the Lord until I know by an inward witness what I am to do.”

Wondering if you’re really hearing from God? Find out the 4 Ways To Know if You’re Hearing God’s Voice HERE.

God wants us to be led by His Spirit and know the answer to any question. And, as Kenneth Hagin said, “God has a better way than a hit-and-miss system.”

When you learn how to know the answer to any question, you will never fear making the wrong decision again! Whatever answer you need today, God is waiting to get the answer to you. There is an answer for every situation—now go find it!

Watch Kenneth Copeland and Greg Stephens talk about how divine direction comes from your covenant connection!

Related Articles:

10 Scriptures About Making Decisions

© 1997 – 2021 Eagle Mountain International Church Inc. Aka Kenneth Copeland Ministries. All Rights Reserved.

If you have a problem, God has the answer.

If you’re without something you desire, God is waiting to tell you what to do to receive it. Maybe that’s where you are right now—needing to hear from God about something but going day after day without the word you need from Him.

One thing you need to know is this: God has not gone silent on you. When you aren’t hearing from God, something is blocking the way, and clearing the path is critical. As Gloria Copeland says, “The answer to living a life of victory is hearing from God and doing what you’re told to do.”

There’s no reason to go year after year, or even month after month, without hearing from God on a particular matter. If you’ve been stuck in the same place, it’s time to consider these 6 Questions To Ask When You Can’t Hear God.

1. Do I Believe I’ll Hear from God?

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” –Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)

You may be praying and hoping to hear from God, but if you don’t really and truly believe you’ll hear from Him, you won’t. Perhaps you’ve convinced yourself that He has nothing to say or that He’s somehow holding out on you. He isn’t! But He does have a still, small voice. He isn’t going to chase you down. The key to hearing from Him is to spend time with Him in prayer and in His Word.

2. Am I Relying On Others To Hear for Me?

“God does not show favoritism.” –Acts 10:34 (NIV)

It’s easy to want to hear a word from the Lord through a prophet or a minister, but God didn’t make you to be dependent on someone else’s faith. A pastor, minister or prophet can build you up, but he’s not God. Don’t depend on someone hearing from God for you. Build your life in a way that you hear from Him on your own. God is no respecter of persons. He’ll speak to you as much as He’ll speak to anyone else.

Watch Kenneth Copeland talk about activating your ability to hear God.

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3. Am I Walking In Love and Forgiveness?

“If I have faith that can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.” –1 Corinthians 13:2 (NIV)

If you’re the kind of person known for snapping at people or speaking harshly, hearing from God is going to be more challenging for you. Likewise, if you have a critical spirit or spend time pointing out the flaws of others to make yourself feel superior, your times of hearing from Him will be fewer and farther between.

That’s because a person who is prideful, self-centered or holding a grudge has a hardened heart. It is a soft and tender heart that hears from God. So, if you’re coming to Him with a grievance and carrying on in prayer about how you’ve been done wrong, He’s just going to wait. Wait for what? For you to obey what He’s already told you, which is found in John 13:34 and Mark 11:25. In short, love and forgive.

There is no justification for treating people disrespectfully or refusing to forgive. The Bible is clear—your faith means nothing if you do not know how to love others. If you haven’t heard from God in a certain area, ask yourself, “Am I walking in love and forgiveness?” If not, make a change! And ask God to help you. He’ll help you soften your heart and clear the line of communication to hear from Him.

4. Am I Casting My Cares On Him?

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” –1 Peter 5:7

As long as you’re holding on to the care of a situation, it’s going to be very difficult for you to hear from God. If you have already made a decision (or are afraid of making a wrong one), there is no room for Him to speak.

So, ask yourself, “Am I casting my cares on Him?” And be honest in your answer. Some people have a hard time not being in control of everything all the time. This will be your greatest enemy.

One way to cast your cares on Him is to clear away the flesh by going on a fast. Set aside 24 hours, or another amount of time, to fast and only pray and listen regarding your situation. Don’t let anything else cloud your thinking during that time. Get to a place where there is nothing between you and the Father. Rebuke fear in your life, and actively resist the devil.

Another way is to pray in the spirit. As you turn over your prayers to the Holy Spirit, He will pray the perfect prayer on your behalf. Take the time to listen when you pray in the spirit. Ask for the interpretation. It draws you closer to God’s presence, and He doesn’t seem so far off. The magnitude of His goodness and holiness becomes more real, and you clear the way to hear Him.

5. Have I Neglected To Obey?

“Blessed…are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” –Luke 11:28 (NIV)

What is the last thing God told you to do concerning your situation?

If something is missing in your life, there will be instruction and correction. Most of the time, there will be multiples of each. Some people don’t like to hear the correction. They don’t want to believe there’s an area they need to fix. But it’s for your own blessing to obey God’s instruction or make His correction.

If you haven’t heard from God, consider that He may be waiting for you to respond to the last thing He said. Maybe you haven’t even acknowledged an answer He sent you through another person, and you’re still sitting and waiting.

Find out How to Find the Answer to Any Question HERE.

Obedience means we do what He tells us, even when we don’t understand it. We want some big assignment from God, but we don’t want to hear the little things He asks us to do. It doesn’t work that way. If Peter would have obeyed Jesus in the small things—“watch and pray”—maybe he wouldn’t have denied Jesus in the bigger moment. He would have been able to overcome the temptation.

That’s how important it is that when you hear from God, you obey what He says.

You can’t afford to procrastinate. Just do it. Don’t try to figure it out. Just take the next step. 

Of this Gloria Copeland says, “Ken and I have always found this is true in our lives. We are always able to take the next step. We might not see the whole thing through right now, but we can take the next step, and then we can take the next step. Pretty soon, you’re in the perfect will of God for your lives, hallelujah. We can’t let natural thinking hold us back.”

6. Am I Really Open to Hearing?

“He who has an ear, let him hear.” –Revelation 3:22 (NKJV)

Sometimes people pray about a matter and think they want to hear from God, but they’re really shut down inwardly because they’re afraid of what God might say. They don’t want to hear that they need to make a correction. They don’t want to hear a certain instruction. They’ve already made up their mind what they should or shouldn’t do. Or they fear making the wrong decision. So, they shut down and aren’t open to hearing from Him.

Gloria Copeland says, “A lot of people want to hear from God, but they don’t want to hear from Him when He corrects them. You’re not going to get directions and not corrections. That won’t work.”

Be open to hearing things you may not think you want to hear. But keep in mind—every correction or instruction brings you one step closer to that victory you want! So why fight it?

We hope these questions have helped you uncover why you haven’t been hearing from God. That thing you need an answer to? That desire you so long to see fulfilled? He has the next step ready and waiting for you. It’s time you heard it!

Watch Kenneth Copeland share the importance of hearing God with your heart.

Related Articles:

18 Powerful Scriptures About Hearing from God

© 1997 – 2021 Eagle Mountain International Church Inc. Aka Kenneth Copeland Ministries. All Rights Reserved.