If you would have told me a few years ago I would be regularly writing about daily affirmations, I would have laughed…well, not really, I was in a pretty bad place mentally so I probably would have just mumbled something to change the subject.
If you would have told me before then though, I really would have laughed and probably hollered “Get thee behind me Satan!” I would have considered daily affirmations New Agey gobbledygook. Well, not only are they not gobbledygook, they in fact are Biblically based and I’m going to show you the importance of daily affirmations..again because the Lord knows I need a continual reminder.
The Importance of Daily Affirmations
Let’s start by reviewing a good working definition for affirmations. An affirmation is a declaration that something is true.(Daily Affirmations for Self Esteem) So daily affirmations are daily declarations of the truth. That sounds pretty important doesn’t? So important it is attacked on a daily basis; anything to keep us from the truth which will set us free.
The truth of who we are, what we have, and what we do is attacked from the moment we wake up until we finally fall asleep at night. These attacks come from within and without and they constantly try to erode the truth which is in us.
One of the important things to consider with our daily affirmations is that we need to begin our day with The Truth. I was surprised last year when I read my Bible all the way through how often the word, “truth” is preceded by the word “the”. Our culture screams the word “truth” but always in the context of “your truth” or “her truth” and “my truth”. Well, according to the scriptures, there is “The Truth”.
And that one truth sets the tone for the rest of our day. How do many of us begin the day with these or some variation of these words, “I’m tired…I’m worried about…I’m afraid of…What if…Oh no…Ugh…”
Now envision a day where we wake up and begin thinking, saying, pondering, meditating, and contemplating The Truth.
See what we did there? We started the day proclaiming the truth, proclaiming Truth. John 17:17 states, “…thy word is truth.” Anything or anyone that comes up against that truth of our day, that comes up against Truth is a liar. And we all know who the Father of Lies is. Period.
When I put it that way, it doesn’t seem so hard to pick apart the lies from the truth, does it? Trouble is, first thing in the morning may not be the best time for many of us to start sifting and sorting. Eyes barely open and it has already begun?
A great practice is put reminders: notecards, sticky notes, etc. on our nightstand, bathroom mirror, bedroom door, anywhere we can settle our bleary eyes for the briefest moment and read the Word of Truth. It’s a no-brainer at that point.
So we’ve started our day intentionally proclaiming, repeating, even just reading the truth. For some of us, this is one of the first battles of the day, setting our mind on the truth. Now what? We continue what we’ve started…
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:2)
…take every thought captive to obey Christ… (2 Corinthians 10:5)
…love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. (Matthew 22:37)
Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? (Isaiah 43:18-19)
The thing about daily affirmations is that they are not a once and for all, that’s why they are called “daily.” We need to constantly bring our heart and mind back the truth we started our day with. The lies do not and will not stop and therefore neither should the affirmations. During our day we need to keep bringing ourselves back into the presence of Truth.
Bringing ourselves back into the presence of Truth, reminding ourselves of the truth is harder for some than others, did you now that? Not everyone is a set it and forget it mind. This struggle is so real for some of us y’all; the struggle of remaining and recollecting ourselves back into the truth.
And as we discussed above, the importance of daily affirmations, biblical daily affirmations, lies in their source of truth. These are not some “feel good” quick burst revelations like an energy drink effect.
Daily affirmations are a lifestyle. They are a choice to daily meditate on the truth and goodness from God above.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
Clare says
Thank you for your post. I don’t quite pick a daily affirmation but I do pick a word, phrase or line from the scripture I have used for my daily prayer to take with me through the day. It really does “feed” my spirit throughout the day…
Michelle says
I started my day with this beauty.
“Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.”
Wow!
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Jenny says
What a GREAT way to start the day Michelle! It’s amazing the power behind God’s Word; not only the moment we read it, but the ability to buoy our spirits the rest of the day if we keep returning to it.