The Power of Affirmation

As Christians, we believe in the power of prayer and affirmations of faith in God. Not affirmations as the world do, meaning a statement said with confidence about a perceived truth, but affirmations built on the truth, the word of God.

Our faith in God gives us hope, comfort, and guidance in our daily lives. Through affirmations, we can strengthen our relationship with God, change our thoughts, patterns, and habits, and re-align our thoughts to align with God’s will and word.

What is Affirmation?

Affirmation is the act of affirming or the state of being affirmed, and to affirm is to state as a fact; assert strongly and publicly. Based on these two dictionary definitions, for believers, affirmations are truths rooted in scripture to meditate on and declare over your circumstances, yourself, and your relationships.

The principle of affirmation originated before the creation of man and was first used by God throughout the creation process and again during the baptism of Jesus. Throughout the creative process in Genesis 1, God affirms what He has done and calls it good.

“And God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. God saw that the light was good (pleasing, useful) and He affirmed and sustained it;” – Genesis 1:3-4 (AMP)

Affirmations help us anchor our faith in who God is and the promises in His word and reframe the circumstances, challenges, and opposition we face through the lens of His truth. You need to call out the lies presented by your history, experience, and pain, and those pushed by the devil, and exchange them for God’s truth. The power of affirmation lies in grabbing hold of God’s truth, hiding it in your heart, releasing it with your mouth, and expressing it through your words.

If you want to change your life, you must change your thoughts, patterns, and habits. When you change your focus, you change what is happening to you and make it work for you. If your mindset is where you used to be, that’s what you’ll see, more of the same.

Let go of the failures and shortcomings in your life. If your focus is on your past, it will become your future. There is something about the affirmation that changes your limitations. You must take the word of God, hide it in your heart, and release it with your mouth. God’s will for your life is hinged on your affirmation, acknowledgment, and acceptance of His will.

Examples in Scripture

You will hear something that will change what you say and the results you see if you are willing to act in faith on what you heard. The parable about the woman with the issue of blood is well-known among believers and is an example of faith and affirmation at work (Mark 5:25-34 NKJV).

In the story, this woman had suffered from a blood issue for twelve years. She had spent all her money, got no relief, and, from all appearances, no longer had any hope. Have you lost touch with your faith because of pain, betrayal, disappointment, and denial? Don’t let your experiences keep you from pressing on in faith. When things appeared hopeless, she heard about Jesus.

“When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. 28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” – Mark 5:27-28 (NKJV)

Hearing about Jesus and that He was a healer changed her confession and affirmation. She confessed that she believed Jesus could heal her and affirmed it with her words, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” She was affirming her faith and taking action.

The key to changing confession to possession is when a confession becomes an affirmation, and you act in faith. Confession says, “I believe God can,” while affirmation says, “I believe God will.” Stop expecting less and hoping for the best. Expect from God heaven’s best, and you won’t get any less.

How do you use affirmations?

What are you going to do with what you’ve heard? You must change the way you think. Just because you don’t have it all, or things don’t seem perfect, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t act. Confirm the word of God with affirmation and act in faith.

Focus on what you want, not on what you don’t want or don’t have. Don’t deny God the opportunity to bless you because of opposition. Be persistent. Decide to pursue Jesus no matter the obstacles, opposition, and opponents in your life. Act despite your fears. Don’t live your life looking for a guarantee. Do what you know to be right and true no matter what, and learn to see the obstacles as an opportunity.

The affirmations and actions of the woman above brought about the manifestation of her healing. Whatever you believe God for, keep affirming that He can and will do it according to His word. Your faith is not subjected to the obstacles in front of you, the opposition against you, or the opponents with bad intentions toward you. Don’t wait until everything is just right, act.

It doesn’t matter what you are going through or your challenges; it matters what you speak and affirm to be the truth in your life. You can and will have what you say. If you change your affirmations, you will change your manifestations. You are made in God’s image and after His likeness and have the same ability to speak life-giving words over yourself and your life. What you affirm, you permit to be. So you must confirm, confess, and affirm who and what God says, not what people or the world say you are.

God wants to do more for you than what you’re asking Him, but it starts with what you believe and affirm to be true. What do you believe God to do? What do you believe Him for? If you believe His word and affirm it in faith, you will see it produce fruit in your life. Affirm Gods’ will for your life!

 

Below are a few affirmations based on scripture that can help you understand what it looks like to affirm the word of God. Many of these are affirmations based on my favorite scriptures and use often.

God has given me this day, so I will rejoice and be glad.
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24, ESV
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” Philippians 4:4, ESV

God is with me no matter what this day holds.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NKJV

God has a purpose for my life, and I will walk in it.
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 NKJV

I will live this day surrendered to God.
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 NKJV
“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

I will seek opportunities to encourage and build up those God puts in my path today.
“Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NKJV

I can do hard things today because God is my strength, and I can do all things through Him.
“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1 NKJV
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 NKJV

God has the wisdom I need for the decisions I’m facing.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 NKJV

I am loved by God more fully than I can imagine, and nothing can separate me from His love.
“may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:18-19 ESV
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 NKJV

God has given me every spiritual tool I need to overcome the attacks of the enemy.
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11-19 NKJV

I am forgiven and set free from the weight of shame, guilt, and self-condemnation.
“He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” Psalm 103:12 NLT

I give God every worry and thank Him for His perfect peace and rest in it.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

Jesus set me free, therefore, I am free indeed. Sin can no longer rule me because Jesus set me free from it.
“For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2 ESV

Jesus took my sickness upon himself so that I could receive healing. I am healed by His stripes!
“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 NKJV

 

Writing this article and listening to this sermon series has strengthened my faith. I pray that it also helped to encourage you. Keep an eye out for my next article, where I discuss “Knowing Your Why.”

The information expressed above is excerpted from the sermon “The Power of Affirmation,” Part 1 and Part 2 preached by Dr. Lee A. Simpson.