Self- Affirmations have received a bad rap within the christian community. They are covered in a cloud of confusion. People wonder their origin or their intent and many times written off as arrogant, silly and even new age.
Words are important. As Christians we believe God create the universe and our earth as we know it with His spoken word. Add special intentionality and care to words and they become a blessing. Blessings are monumental throughout the bible. As early as Genesis 25:31 Jacob is tricking his brother for the first born blessing, then in Genesis 27:19 tricking his father to receive precious words of blessing.
Words of blessing are not just for others. King David in a state of war defeat and his own army men wanting to stone him 1 Samuel 30:6 says he encouraged himself in the Lord. I believe King David gathered all the truths he could think of from his faith and relationship with God and spoke it over himself until he was strengthened. Much like “self-affirmations” of today King David spoke encouraging faith filled words to himself the way any good friend would do for a beloved downcast loved one.
Faith filled words are pleasing to God and good for us too. What we believe is critical. Look at these examples of faith, just in Matthew chapter 9. Jesus is impressed with, points out, and rewards the people who believe the yet to be seen.
Matthew 9:2 A group of people bring a paralyzed man laying on a mat to Jesus. Seeing their faith Jesus heals the man.
Matthew 9:18 A leader of a synagogue came and knelt before Jesus. “My daughter has just died,” he said, “but you can bring her back to life again if you just come and lay your hand on her.” With this confidence in the miraculous power of Christ, Jesus and his disciples got right up to go to his daughter. When they arrive at the little girl’s home Jesus removes the crowd of unbelief around her Matthew 9:24 and then brings the child back to life.
Matthew 9:22 A woman with an issue of blood for 12 years, was according to old testament law Leviticus 15:25, considered unclean. Any object she touched for those 12 menstrating years was also considered unclean. Can you image; in pain and unable to be around society or even touch anybody or thing?! However, she scandalously goes into the crowd because she believes “if only I can touch Jesus’ clothes I will be healed”. Jesus turns around to see her and says, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” This woman’s world was transformed in a moment. After 12 years, she is free from mess, pain, exhaustion, and now able to rejoin family, friends, and society.
Matthew 9:27 Two blind men follow Jesus. Jesus turns to them and asks do you believe that I can make you see again? Jesus heals them with the words, “because you believed it will happen.”
Matthew chapter 9 finalizes with a reminder our faith is not the only way God works on our behalf. Christians don’t need to swing to the other extreme as if all good in their lives depends on themselves. Affirmations are not another Christian rule to follow Galatians 3:12-14. Salvation does not rest on us and our ability to live faultlessly or believe perfectly. God is still the author of miracles.
Participation, cooperation and acts of liberation. We can participate, or like a small child cooperate with words of affirmation, however there are times by Gods merciful kindness we are simply rescued from our traps and strongholds even without request. In Matthew 9:32-33 Jesus forces a demon out thereby restoring the mans voice. God is compassionately for us. He is pleased to be involved with the details of our lives in lots of ways.
It is with this balanced understanding of the miraculous power of God and the relationship we have been invited into (because of the work of Jesus on the cross) I present to you…
Affirmations are a way to participate or coraporate with God and the good things that he has for you, your life, your walk with him, and the world around you.
Science has told us that words of affirmation are powerful for transforming our minds which produces transformed hearts and lives.
Words of affirmation cause changes in the brain. A study published in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience used MRI to reveal that practicing self-affirmation activates the reward centers in your brain. Simply say to yourself “I got the promotion” and it’ll light up the same reward centers that respond to highly pleasurable experiences. Self-affirmation creates new neural pathways changing the brain and resulting in: increased positivity and feelings of happiness. Additional published studies also confirm affirmations are useful for: stress reduction, achieving academic success, and increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables and healthy physical activity.
The brain loves to simplify instead of ongoing analyzation. In an effort of efficiency, cognitive shortcuts are made within the brain. Now quick, easy, snap decisions instead of rigorous analytical assessments about everything frees up energy for other tasks or decisions. This productivity, however, may lead to lack of thinking, or biases and beliefs without justification.
The beauty of affirmations is that they hijack the cognitive bias simplification process for your benefit. Affirmations teach your brain a new way to think about the world. Repeat positive, life giving, nourishing, self-assured phrases to convince your brain that you’ll achieve your goals, celebrate a promotion, maintain target weight, live with Joy, for examples, then your brain starts to subconsciously search for signs in life that will make this true. Gradually, you’ll become conscious of those signs and notice the evidence or needed tools to achieve your goals.
The best affirmations are stated positively, specifically and in the present tense; this gives your brain clear tangible specifications to process for you.
What scriptures, words of faith or encouragement can you start speaking over your self today?
Child Of Abba 