I have heard people say…
That if you believe in God and Jesus Christ as the Son of God, you should not be saying ‘Affirmations’ as you are in effect ‘lying’ and not speaking the truth.
I challenge that,
and this is why.
“Life and Death Are in the Power of the Tongue”
Proverbs 18:21 (NIV) 1 says that there is life and death in the power of the tongue. The essence of this proverb lies in conveying the profound impact of spoken words. And, we will ‘eat its fruits’.
Language possesses the power to uplift and breathe life into individuals and circumstances, yet conversely, it can also inflict harm and devastation upon them.
You are going to have peaks and troughs in your life. But what are you saying / affirming/ declaring? What are you saying about others, and more specifically about yourself and your situations?
Are you saying things or having thoughts that are unhelpful? Notice when you do and acknowledge that was probably not from God and look at positive words to declare over your life and situations instead.
Maybe you have come across affirmations in books or online and tried reciting them for a while without noticing significant changes in your life? How amazing would it be to witness more positive transformations through affirmations?
Affirmations or declarations should have the ability to boost your morale during tough times.
But, before you even think about making declarations over yourself, evaluate what is in your heart. What you believe and think about yourself and your situation comes from your heart.
Matthew 12:33 (NLT) says “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognised by its fruit. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.” 2
Why should you bother to try affirmations?
Because, once you get your heart right, it works.
“I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.” (Mark 23 NLT).3
Studies also indicate that reflecting on your core values and beliefs can reduce stress, decrease defensiveness, enhance receptivity to information, and promote healthier decision-making in such scenarios.
A study conducted by the University of California Berkeley and published in the 4 journal Behaviour Research and Therapy found that daily affirmations are also actually linked to improved mental health.
Study’s co-author and psychology researcher Eli Susman explained that self-affirmations are “essentially a practice of being a caring friend to yourself when reflecting on moments that evoke being hard on yourself”.
The students were told, “You’re invited to allow your eyes to close … Bringing to mind a recent mistake or a failure, or something about yourself that has been bothering you lately, or has made you feel unworthy, unloved, or not enough … and notice what arises in your body as you bring this to mind.”
“Sending kindness and warmth to yourself by bringing one hand to your belly and the other to your chest with the energy of hugging yourself, allow yourself to embrace what arises in your body.”
According to Dr Zachary Ginder, 5 a psychological consultant, self-affirmations “when practised daily to the point of habit formation, touched with self-compassionate, positive, self-affirming talk or reflection can improve self-compassion and reduce stress and other mental health challenges.”
How declarations could help
You might face challenges that affect your self-esteem – from negative feedback at work, challenges at home, and financial woes. During these times, it can be tough to remain calm and receptive or make the right decisions. You might become defensive react impulsively or miss out on valuable insights.
When your self-esteem is shaken, remembering your fundamental values and what you hold in your heart could help us look beyond immediate concerns about your self-image. It can serve as a reminder of your inner strengths, support systems and what the living words in the Bible say. This reflection shifts our focus to something we deeply value – whether it’s nurturing relationships or fostering creativity – which holds more significance than the current challenge.
This broader outlook makes us more inclined to accept negative feedback or unsettling yet beneficial insights. It enables us to adopt a more insightful and long-term viewpoint, rather than getting caught up in fleeting negative emotions.
What to do, to put it into practice:
- Evaluate what is in your heart, what are you thinking and feeling about yourself or your situation
- Say positive declarations about yourself and your situation
- Believe it will be so
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