We’re on day 3 of 21 Days of Affirmation. I can honestly say that I feel like I’m making a little progress with these. As I’m putting together my thoughts on each of them, I’m learning new things about the character of God and even about myself.
It’s so cool! There may be people at Kroger who think that I’m nuts talking to myself, but oh well. I’m still accepted, so ha!
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. -Philippians 1:7
Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. -2 Corinthians 3:5
The Philippians verse up there are words from Paul. He is speaking to all of God’s people and stating that we all share the same grace that comes straight from the Father. And I love what it says in 2 Corinthians about our competency. We ARE adequate to God. Not because of our own righteousness, but because of HIS.
Your worth should never be measured by anyone’s standards but God’s. And He says that you are adequate. This affirmation to me is a lot like being accepted. I need to remind myself that I am both. Praise God for His approval and love!
How have the affirmations been going for you? Even in you haven’t joined in the challenge, just reading them might brighten your day and remind you of some much needed encouragement.
I’m starting a new series today on something that I have always found difficult. If you’ve ever felt down on yourself or sought to really dig in and change negative thinking, you may have been told to say affirmations.
Affirmation, (noun)- emotional support or encouragement.
This is one of those things mentioned in Gary Chapman’s book The Heart of the 5 Love Languages. Words of affirmation is a biggie in that book. And he explains that some folks receive love better with sweet words. So your partner would benefit from knowing that so they can speak your looooooooove language.
But what about ourselves? How can we truly show that we love ourselves if we speak negativity about ourselves? I will be the first to say that I struggle with putting myself down on a regular basis. I have trouble actually believing positive words about myself, but straight from the Bible, these are the ultimate truths. This is precisely the reason that I wanted to do this series with you. It’s probably more for me than you! I would love for you to join me in challenging ourselves to speak these truths over us each day.
The challenge: each day that I post a new affirmation, say them to yourself OUT LOUD at least 5 times that day. This can be when you first wake up, when you’re driving down the road, when you’re laying down to sleep, when you’re feeling low, when you’re feeling great about yourself, or at anytime you please. Even if all 5 have to be said in the same minute! There is power in words.
Each time a new affirmation is posted, add that one to the list! And at the end of this little challenge, I pray that you begin to believe these truths about who are you are not only to yourself, but to Christ. I’ll be sharing some of my thoughts about each of the affirmations and I’d love for you to give me yours as well. Let’s get started!
To the praise of the glory of his grace, in which he has made us accepted in the beloved. -Ephesians 1:6
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! -Psalm 139:17
Even though we fall short of perfection (which is ok you know!), by His grace, we are completely accepted. It’s extremely hard for me to accept that I am accepted. If that makes any such sense at all. But the fact of the matter is that no matter what we have done and no matter what we will do, God will always have us.
His thoughts are always on us. They can’t even be numbered! It’s kinda like being in that beginning stage of love. You know, when you’re on the phone saying “no, YOU hang up”. God feels that way about us all the time.
When someone else says something bad about us behind our back.
When we wake up with nappy hair and stinky breath.
When our jeans fit too tightly.
When we were speeding the other day on I24. (this may or may not be a true story)
And even when we are hard on ourselves (which I am all the time), God still accepts us then.
How can we ever be worried about rejection with a love as amazing as that? I am going to ponder this very affirmation each day through this series.
Do you have trouble with feeling accepted by others? Do you find comfort in the fact that the only person’s acceptance that we need to worry about is God’s? Leave me a comment!
