Should Christians Use Positive Affirmations?
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Should Christians use positive affirmations to boost success, resolve stress, or boost their self-worth?
What about using encouraging Bible verses to speak positive things over your life? Isn’t this very much like renewing the mind?
Using positive affirmations is a daily practice of one choosing certain phrases, thoughts and quotes to speak to themselves in an effort to boost their self-worth and defeat negativity in their life.
These positive affirmations are a self-help mechanism that stems from the idea that a positive mental attitude will help you achieve anything, therefore, you need to speak and think only positive things in order to achieve your goals.
To be sure, there is a biblical parallel that can be drawn here.
But isn’t that how the enemy always works?
He takes a biblical truth and then twists it to serve his own purposes and to lure people away from glorifying God to glorifying him….by means of glorifying themselves.
Should Christians Use Positive Affirmations?
Positive affirmations, like self care, makes us – fallen man – the center of our focus, which is humanistic – the worship of man.
This is where practices like this are so dangerous because they carry an element of truth to them, but twist them so that the object of our meditation and worship is no longer God, but a god we have formed of ourselves.
5 Reasons Why Christians Shouldn’t Use Positive Affirmations
Yes – the Bible does tell us that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45).
The Bible also instructs us to think on those things that are good, true, honest, lovely and of a good report. One could say that the Bible tells us to think about positive things.
But there is a significant difference between the practice of positive affirmations and Philippians 4:8!
1. Positive affirmations make self the focus
Just as we saw with self-care, positive affirmations are a humanistic idea, making ourselves the central focus of our daily meditation.
However, in God’s Word we are told to do just the opposite.
God’s Word instructs us time and again to keep our eyes fixed on Christ. We are took to Him for our validation, strength, help, and comfort.
We will not find these things in ourselves, and in just a moment we will see why.
2. Positive affirmations seek to affirm self
Positive affirmations are all about affirming ourselves, validating our own worth, and training our minds to believe that we have significance.
In Scripture, however, we read that we are to die to ourselves.
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Matthew 16:24
Yes, it is true, we all have worth and value, we all have significance. God has created us for a special purpose, which He determined before the beginning of time.
But our worth and value are not found in us, but in Christ.
This is why it is dangerous for Christians to use positive affirmations, they are a replacement of Christ’s identity in our lives!
I love this answer that Pastor John Piper gives to a woman wondering how to address those who are addicted to approval.
I especially like this part of his answer:
…our problem is that we have replaced God-centeredness with self-centeredness and God-focus with self-focus and God-regard for self-regard.
When we discover that – when we truly understand who we are in Jesus Christ – we are free from having to convince ourselves of our own significance and are able to focus on others, affirming others, imparting that value to those around us.
“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” Philippians 2:3 (emphasis mine)
3. Positive affirmations assume power in the positivity our own words.
James does say that the power of life and death are in the tongue.
What we speak has tremendous power, because it confirms what we already feel in our heart. That is why when we get a sense that something is wrong, very often we hesitate to speak it out loud because it somehow makes the situation real.
There is great power in our words.
But behind this power are two forces at work, because words in and of themselves are not powerful. It is what inspires those words.
Inspiration comes from two sources: God and Satan.
To assume that just the act of speaking words about ourselves to transform our thinking and achieve success has power, in and of itself, is to deny the power of God.
And this is danger we face when, as God’s children, when Christians use positive affirmations as a means of power to change or affect their future and destiny.
By attributing power to words, we deny the power of God who is greater than our words!
2 Timothy 3:5 says that in the last days people will have a form of godliness, but deny it’s power. People will look godly, say things that sound godly, but their very lives deny God’s power.
4. Positive affirmations are a technique for self-improvement
The central message of the gospel is that we cannot save ourselves. There is nothing we can do to help ourselves – we are hopelessly and helplessly lost.
There is nothing in us from which we can improve, and we certainly cannot improve ourselves.
Any worth and worth we have is in the fact that God created us.
Any significance we have is because of the blood of Jesus Christ.
Scripture has this to say about us: “The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one.” Psalm 14:2-3
This is repeated in Psalm 53.
Jeremiah says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9
If we think that that any words of man – who lacks goodness apart from God and who is at the very center of his being deceitful and desperately wicked – can improve upon our situation, we are not only wrong…
When Christians use positive affirmations, they exalt the power of man above the power of God.
We are putting our faith, hope, and trust in the words of fallen man, and trusting in our own power for success.
Do we not see how this offends God?
5. Positive affirmations have their roots in New Age, eastern religions, Buddhism, and yoga
Anytime I see a new trend like this explode in society, I like to go back and look at the origins of that trend, and here’s why.
While some may argue that as long as we use an activity as worship to God, it’s not important where that activity originated. Example: yoga
Some say that s long as we use yoga only as exercise, or we meditate on Scripture and worship God while doing yoga, it’s not bad.
But God said this: “When the LORD your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.” Deuteronomy 12:29-32
We are not to worship God in the way pagans worship their gods.
We are not to borrow their activities and turn them into worship of God. God has already prescribed in His Word how He wants us to worship Him, how we are supposed to live as dedicated children of God.
We are not to borrow activities from the world – no matter how good and nice they seem – and adopt them as our own personal practices.
Beware of using the Bible as a replacement for affirmations
The temptation would be, now, to take the concept of positive affirmations and “Christianize” it.
Taking the nice, positive, self-affirming, and uplifting verses of the Bible and making them our main focus, while speaking them over ourselves to make ourselves feel good.
For every nice, positive, and affirming verse in the Bible is a verse that reminds us that without Christ we are nothing and nobody.
Without Him, we are lost.
“…at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” Ephesians 2:12
For every nice, positive, and affirming verse in the Bible is a verse that reminds us that there is nothing in us that is good, our heart is corrupt, and everything we do apart from Christ is only worth of a dung heap!
“But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Isaiah 64:6
Yes, we need to know who we are in Christ, but we also must understand that being in Christ comes with certain responsibilities.
Being in Christ means that we live a crucified life.
It means that God’s Word is the final authority for every decision and activity.
Knowing who we are in Christ is realizing that as a child of God we must make decisions that reflect our royal lineage, we must reject those things that are in not in line with who we are as a royal son and daughter of God.
Embracing our identity in Christ means embracing more than good feeling.
It means embracing a life of sacrifice, commitment, loyalty to Scripture, and submission to God’s supreme authority over our life.
These verses are not meant to stroke ourselves and affirm ourselves, but to renew our mind so that our mind, our world-view and our entire life is in alignment with God’s Word.
“…and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:20-21
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Can I just say that you have been giving me a much needed beat down lol!
The past month I have been so stressed out and have been begging God to show me what’s wrong. Well He started putting stuff on my heart but I was too stressed to really get it. And then here comes you. I’ve been trying really hard to do “self-care” because I felt stressed…it only made me worse. I’ve been saying positive affirmations to try and help and reading self-help books. I should know better. I’ve had a strong walk with God for about 17 years or so. Not all “self-help” books are bad of course. I’ve used many to help get over traumatic events in my life…but God led me to read them…they didn’t replace God. Which apparently, in my ignorance, I’ve been doing.
At first I was mad reading your posts…but it was exactly what I needed. I was getting off course and God used you to pull me back on the right path.
THANK YOU!!!
WOW!!!! This was a great calling out in the body of Christ! I will never be the same after reading this. I see it everywhere in our Christian culture. Processing…Praying…Repenting…
Thank you so much for your encouraging words. Sadly, I too see it everywhere in our Christian culture. We’ve reduced God’s powerful Word to nice slogans – focusing on the pretties and forgetting the harder words God has spoken…..words that purge, rebuke, and cleanse. We need the WHOLE of God’s Word, not just the parts that make us feel nice about ourselves.
I think that there is a lot of truth to what you say here – however, I think you may have taken it too far. The beauty of the gospel is that we, when we commit our lives to Christ, take on Christ’s perfectness, we take on Christ’s sinless nature – we get the amazing blessing of being able to claim Christ’s record as our own. Yes, we must acknowledge that *without* Christ we are, in fact, nothing more than “a pile of dung,” but once we accept Jesus as our Savior then everything changes. And so I disagree that there is no place for positive affirmations in the Christian life. My understanding of the Gospel is that God wants us to delight in our new identity, remembering His graciousness every time we do. Sure, it would be sinful to say positive affirmations at the expense of praising God for who *He* is – but I don’t think it’s sinful in itself to meditate on bible verses that make us feel secure, loved, and at peace. To say that this is a sin seems very harsh to me. You risk turning people away from the glorious freedom that the Gospel gives – simply because of the misunderstanding that Christians must constantly self-deprecate. Yes, we are to die to ourselves, but more importantly, we are to claim new life in Christ.
Just my two cents!
I completely agree with you.
I completely concur! When we are beaten down by the devil with negative thoughts, it’s okay to allow ourselves to affirm ourselves to see ourselves as God sees us.We can easily use scripture and prayer in our affirmations. We just can’t substitute affirmation for our time with God.
Affirmation is different than leaning on God’s Word. Jesus used scripture to defend against the temptations of the devil, He didn’t use Scripture for self affirmation He used scripture quite in quite the opposite. See from my perspective there’s a difference when knowing you are “forgiven” compared to having to reaffirm to yourself “I am forgiven”. The latter reveals a lack of faith. And just as you mentioned about evil thoughts, when we are attacked by the devil we use scripture to tell the devil where he stands (a liar & powerless) not to self affirm us of anything but to put the devil in his place at least that’s how I see it. Maybe I’m wrong or just not making sense of it as other do. Either way God bless.
I totally agree! They went way too daft with it, like, it’s just not that deep. It actually confuses and complicated things when it rather simple. I don’t know why traditional Christians are always overly religious and making things hard. Less is more.
I agree with Katherine!
I’m a little behind on finding this article. I agree with this comment. The only catch 22 is, the world uses affirmations. As Christian’s, we’re using DECLARATIONS & Decrees. Stating what God says about us, what He promised us, etc. Things of the world always hv things so similar so you can’t pick it apart.
i read this article and was EXTREMELY DEPRESSED…what good is life without joy…knowing that we are as useless as we are hopeless…why are we even alive in first place?….my encounter with God on this page has brought nothing but sorrow…i have not benefited in any way.
I agree.
I agree, this really brought me down today. This has made me feel like well why work out, why eat healthy, why read books, why get out and be active, why try and better my health and mind. According to this it is all selfish, time consuming and all about myself.
I think affirmations can be a good thing as long as 1- we don’t take things out of context, like Philippians 4:13 usually is- and 2- we keep the focus on affirming our place in His kingdom, instead of how “good” we are here. Example- “I belong to Jesus” as an affirmation. Or “God has a purpose for me”. Or “I live for His will”. I think telling ourselves these things out loud, or even better, writing them, can actually override some of our brain’s desire to “be ourselves”. Just my two cents.
Agree 100%. If the Holy Spirit is within you – of course it’s uplifted by the word of God and the Scripture. God made us and said we were good, he sent us his Son to save us, lead us and remind us of hisWord. Affirmations are just restating his words to ourselves to combat the negative message bombarded at us everyday by a commercial society. I don’t understand why the author mentions God, Christ but fails to speak to the Holy Spirit enough. They are a trinity.
Unfortunately, you are choosing to look at this through the law instead of grace and your identity in Christ. Under the new covenant of grace God’s love is so positive and freeing. I feel you have missed your identity.. who you are … …and the life He wants for you under the blood of the new covenant. Let go and be loved!
I disagree. I believe that choosing not to embrace the modern culture of self-love, and instead embracing what the Word says about who we are – both about what we are without Christ, and the glorious miracle of who we become because of Christ, is true freedom.
I think that this article was an awakening to the subtle , deceptions of Satan in the use of God’s words . The same as he used in the beginning with Eve…”hath not God Said” ! Any deception to humanize and break our connection with God and to cause us to look “ within ourselves “for “power”he will use to deceive us. However with prayer , study and help from the Holy Spirit we will be lead into all truth. Grace and the law are balanced. Divinity is combined with humanity. With conditions of obedience met to God’s word we can do all things in Christ and through Christ alone!
Yes – the deception of the enemy is definitely subtle….and many are falling into his trap.
I think this article is biblical. The only *positive affirmation* we can *declare* is that Christ in His great mercy died for sinners and we can fall onto His mercy daily for freedom from — ourselves. We must continually be reminded that apart from Him we have no good thing, and there is no health in us apart from His grace. Further, we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength, whereas apart from Him we can do nothing, not even for ourselves. What do we deserve apart from His mercy? Nothing but justice, and we wouldn’t want that since His justice would be our punishment, and rightly so. We must in humility see ourselves rightly as He sees us, adopted daughters due to the sacrifice and atonement of Christ. Anything positive in our lives comes directly from Him because He is good, not us. I find it liberating to take all focus off myself and just ask Him, “What do you want of me today?” That’s NOT easy for me, but the Bible says I am only His bondservant. Better to be a slave of Christ than of anyone else, including myself. ? In sum, this article is not at all depressing, but reminds me that I have a Great Savior in Jesus. We have been crucified in Christ and we no longer live…true liberation for women.
Amen – yes. Apart from Him we can do nothing. The branch apart from the vine is dead and cannot bear fruit.
The Bible says Gods people are the apple of His eye Duet 32:10
The Bible says we are fearfully and wonderfully made Psalm 139
The Bible says we are precious to God Isaiah 43
Why are we of such high value to God? BECAUSE HE GAVE HIS SON FOR OUR SALVATION. SO YES, WE HAVE VALUE AND THE BIBLE WANTS US TO KNOW HOW PRECIOUS WE ARE TO GOD. DENYING OR IGNORING THAT IS DENYING THE INFINITE VALUE OF THE BLOOD OF CHRIST
Should we only take the verses in the Bible that you suggest that talk about how bad we are ? Total rubbish – scripture says that “all scripture is given by the inspiration of God” 2 Timothy 3.
ALL MEANS ALL
There is not one verse of scripture that talks about the “goodness” of man – it’s all in relationship to Jesus Christ and God Almighty
This warning about being careful of Biblical affirmations is complete RUBBISH
Trying to censor what people focus on in Gods word is exactly what the Bible speaks AGAINST.
Old time religion says I am a sinner saved by grace. The Word clearly states I was a sinner that has been saved by grace. I have a new identity based on a New Creation. Not something added to what was there originally but replaced. I am now a saint. Identity based on who I am, not on what I do or do not do. So this changes affirmations from being self centered. From being flesh dependent. To be Christ dependent. Christ centered. New Creation centered. Self abasement says Jesus did not hang long enough on the cross so my self belittlement in the name of humility helps to accomplish my once again “self centered ness”. Love your neighbor as yourself… love your self well my friend.As Christ Loves. With out reserve. Love others well in Spirit and in Truth. Not with haughtiness or sense of entitlement. But in admiration, with respect and healthy boundaries. This is a vital truth. To know about ourselves what He knows. We have value. Like a Cashmere sweater, or a new farmhouse table. Our worth is what was paid for us. When we know this truth and have a relationship with this truth in Christ Jesus, the fruit of this truth changes our behavior.
Yes, we have value because Christ gives us value. But without Christ we are lost, hopeless and doomed to hell. We must not forget who we are apart from Christ.
I always thought Yogas for exercise was okay. I can see your point here and agree mostly. I also know according to I corinthians 5:19-20 that we are to take care of our bodies because they are the temple where God resides. This means that we should not become gluttonous and unfit. God cannot use us if we are unhealthy and unable to move around much. He cannot and will not use us if we replace Him with food or any other thing or person.We are not to commit sex outside of marriage because our body belongs to Him. Let’s concentrate on the important issues in the Bible. Take care of our souls, minds and bodies and live for Him.
Oops I meant I Corinthians 6 not 5.
I don’t think it has to be either/or. Rejecting the world’s New Age doctrines doesn’t mean we have to become gluttonous or unfit. Just the opposite, the Bible has a lot to say about caring for our bodies. Not caring for ourselves doesn’t glorify God nor does it show gratefulness to God for creating us. It’s sad that the church looks at this as an either/or situation. Gluttony and failure to care for our bodies is as displeasing to God as embracing New Age and humanistic philosophies and practices.
Hi Rosilind, I think you are right, but I am confused now. Can’t I use bible verses to remind my self I belong to God and I only serve him? When I am afraid can’t I use a verse like 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”. When I have doubt can’t I use 2 Corinthians 5:7 For we live by faith, not by sight. What is Affirmation? – affirmation means to state something is true and you believe that is true… So you mean I can’t state true Word of God? God told me to meditate his Word Day and Night even when I am weak (“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”
Psalms 19:14, KJV) (Joshua 1:8). And the Holy Spirit taught me how to use Spitural Weapon (Word of God) against the devil (Matthew 4:1-11).
I think you are right about not to use Word of God for your desire, but it doesn’t mean that I can’t affirm the Word of God. I can affirm (state what is true) because it gives us the strength to fight against evil.
I believe there is a great difference between meditating on God’s Word and building His Word in our heart….as David the Psalmist said, “Your Word have I hid in my heart” and using His Word as a way to soothe our conscience and esteem ourselves. David went on to say, “That I might not sin against you.” His Word not only comforts, but it confronts and edifies. It warns and disciplines. My warning is that we not use His Word to build up our own esteem, but to esteem HIM. To not use His word as a soothing device, but to use it as a way to build a strong foundation for living for HIM – not ourselves.
Rosalind, your reasoning is so confusing and circular.
The scripture is TRUTH. Everything in it is TRUE.
You go on and on about not using the Bible to build ourselves up – and yet the word of God itself says “let this mind BE IN YOU, that was also in Christ Jesus”
What does that mind look like – it is THE WORD OF GOD – read John chapter 1
Every verse, every sentence of the Bible that we store in our hearts is right and what we should do because it is TRUE.
The affirmations from scripture are ALL in relationship to Jesus. There is NOT ONE affirmation that’s talks about the goodness of man. STUDY your Bible and you will find what I’m saying to be TRUE
FOR THAT VERY REASON ALONE – if someone focused ONLY on the affirmations for their entire life – they would still cast their crown at the feet of the Redeemer and Savior Jesus Christ.
STOP telling people what they should and should not focus on in scripture – let the Holy Spirit and God almighty influence the conscience of all, NOT YOU
Seriously – this whole idea of being careful about spending too much time on certain parts or versus in the bible – COMPLETE RUBBISH.
I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE READING THIS ARTICLE AND COMMENT SECTION – READ THE BIBLE EXACTLY AS YOU INTEND, ASK FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT TO GUIDE YOU AND THEN LET GOD BE YOUR TEACHER. IGNORE THIS AUTHOR.
Revelation 1:2
1 John 2:14
1 John 2:5
1 Peter 1:23
Hebrews 4:12
2 Timothy 2:15
1 Thess 2:13
Colossians 3:16
Colossians 1:5
Philippians 2:16
Ephesians 5:26
Galatians 6:6
2 Corinthians 2:17
Roman’s 10:17
And many many more – STUDY!!!
I believe you have completely misunderstood this post and what I was trying to say. There are many verses that build us up, and even commands in Scripture that we are to build ourselves up and our brothers and sisters by God’s holy Word. I believe this. But I also believe that we can be tempted to only look at the positive statements in Scripture while completely bypassing the commands and warnings of Scripture. Our Bible includes both warnings and promises. Promises that are preceded by commands that unlock those promises. Promises that remain unclaimed until we are willing to embrace the whole Word of God – both warnings and promises – so that we are living as disciples of Jesus Christ, and not just members of a Christian club.
Yes – the Word of God is affirming, but it is also sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
This post is meant remind us that God’s Word is not a positive affirmations book. It is much more than that, far deeper than that – and if we only take one part of Scripture – the part that appeals to us…the part that makes us feel good, while leaving behind the parts that make us squirm and come under conviction, we are misusing the Word.
This is a slippery slope but the author of this article did a great job presenting an all around ‘basic’ outline of the difference between the origins and the practice of this man-made doctrine of “affirmations”, compared to what scripture actually says about abiding in Gods word. By the way all those scriptures you mentioned are out of context.
So first things first, “affirmation” is a different kind of faith then the faith found in the Bible and they both exercise differently. The Faith in the Gospel is about faith in God. The overall Gospel message is meant to give us the knowledge of the truth and lead us to abide in that truth, Jesus Christ (1john 5:20). Of course scripture is also used to “training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passion’s”, ” to live self-controlled and upright and godly lives”, encourage us to “wait for our blessed hope the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” and how to walk in the Spirit, “Walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh”. Scripture never says to go about “affirming” instead it mentions words like “exhort”, “rebuke”, “instruct”, “hold firm to sound doctrine”….”hold firm to to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also rebuke those who contradict it”…. “and at the proper time manifested in His word through the “preaching” with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior”…. “As for you always be sober minded endure suffering do the work of an “evangelist” fulfill your ministry”…. “devote yourself to public “reading” of scripture”….. it uses language like that.
Affirmation is an unused word in scripture and a practice not mentioned. affirming involves conjuring up some “nice” words and speaking to yourself with these “positive” word’s to bring about some type of positive energy from using them, to enlighten your environment, uplift your mood, and pride yourself. But these words have no authority even if spoken by our own tounge. If I had to pick a Biblical comparison to illustrate this lawlessness it would be that of us swearing oaths by our tounge, which is a type of “affirmation” that what we have spoken is true and trustworthy, however Jesus told us to not even do that because after all, “for you cannot make one hair on our one head blk or white”. We have no authority or power regardless what words we use. So if we shouldn’t be affirming oaths(let alone taking oaths) why should we sit around telling ourselves “I am ___” fill in the blank, it just isn’t biblical but leads a person down the rabbit hole of pride and deceitfulness.
In the beginning was the Word, and the word was with God, and the Word was God.
Jesus is the Living Word. The more I study God’s Word and understand Christ’s perfection, the more I realize how insufficient I am in myself, and how much I need Him and His grace in my life.
When we study God’s Word in context, it shines a light on the fact that without Him we are lost and have no hope. I can speak all the positive scripture I want, but unless I allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in my life, those words will not change me.
Yes!! Those positive Scriptures must also be taken with the verses of warning and correction. They are both for our good!
I can see this is a sore spot. I was only saved, from the new age, to christ 8 months ago, and at that time I stopped doing affirmations, and I can tell you that my new life in Christ is SO MUCH MORE POSITIVE and freeing! As a former witch, I have to agree 100% with this article. Affirmations are practicing witchcraft. The fact that so many are up in arms about this article is that they love using affirmations. I admit. It made me feel powerful to use them. But I feel 1,000 more powerful relying on God, who is sovereign. We are to make humble, fervent petitions. Read the new testament and see how the apostles prayed. There was a humility about their petitions. And acceptance when the answer was “no.” Be blessed, brethren.
So this idea of affirmations is a new one to me. To help me understand it better I was Googling and found your site. I realize I’m a little late to the conversation but not so late that I think I can inquire your opinion on some of the matters. I’ve not had much time to do any looking into this at all since its a new concept to me for about 2 days now. I’m glad to see you have thought through it though. So from the start I said to myself if I want to speak any affirmations into or over my life I want them to come from the Bible so I did some searching. After finding one site https://gossipforjesus.com/biblical-affirmations/ that has a few helpful bits this morning I woke up thinking, is this something a Christian should be engaged in. This led me to your site.
Or the site I linked to above has affirmations and each one is tied to a Bible verse. As I read through the verses I feel the need to change the wording of the affirmation in certain situations. Some of them are self-focused but maybe not bad reminders; I am handsome, charming, gifted and beld. Eh. Others and these are the particular ones I focus in on are I flee youthful lusts ane pursue purity. Less of a this is who I am and more of a this is what I do. My thoughts are that this would be a good daily reminder of this is how I am going to live out this day. Is any of this acceptable based on your opinion? Trying not to focus on the “nice” verses but using them to remind myself of who I am in Christ and who I was before Christ and He is the only difference there.
As a side thought, is there value in just memorizing these verses and reciting them to myself every day? Would that be any different? Better? Worse?
Last question less related to this and maybe you have another article on it. At the same time affirmations were presented to me visualizations were too. Spend a few moments visualizing yourself succeeding today and doing this or that. Do you know anything or have any thoughts on visualization?
I completely disagree. I choose Bible verses that affirm God is in control. He is how I get through the day. A few examples|
Hebrews 13:5 Jesus says “I will never leave you, nor will I ever forsake you.
Psalms 55:22 when I cast my cares and burdens to God, He sustains me and I have peace.
Deuteronomy 31:6 He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
1Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
Romans 8:28 God promises to make something good out of the storms that bring devastation to your life.
Affirming God are the ultimate self affirmations..
…Affirmations are just restating his words to ourselves to combat the negative message bombarded at us everyday by a commercial society.
i agree completely
I am completely lost. I totally disagree with this article. A born again christian is instructed to renew his/her mind. One can do that by learning and quoting scriptures – an example is the scriptures that says that when one becomes born again, everything becomes new. All the old things have passed away. One could use this in a situation where one is tempted to go back to his/her old habits. So scriptural affirmations are biblical and very necessary.
I followed up that post with this one that explains on a deeper level why I believe that using Scripture to renew our mind is totally different than using Scripture for positive affirmations. Yes, we renew our minds, but renewing the mind and using scripture for positive affirmations are not the same thing.
Please view this post: https://rosilindjukic.com/5-ways-christians-misuse-positive-affirmations/
Wow! This post was such a Beautiful reminder that Christ is so amazing and deserves all the glory!
To be honest, I started practicing positive affirmations, always questioning and doubting the methodology. I always felt like I was trying to impose my will against the Creator’s one, and I believe my thinking was right. I don’t wanna clash with the Creator, it’s not may intention and I will loose for sure, so… I believe affirmations can be used to eliminate some bug code which has been embedded in our mind by the environment we’ve been exposed to since we were born. In that sense, they can alter our future, for instance, by eliminating wrong attitude we can change the way we look at the world (and life itself). We are all given opportunities or choices by the Creator: it’s up to us to pick them up or not. This is our freedom, the one we were born with and which is a grace. If we are victim of our past, then we may be blind and not recognise an opportunity which is right in front of us. That’s where I believe affirmations used, again, as a tool to remove bug code, are useful. Bob Proctor, one of the main advertisers of affirmations, died on Feb 2022, it seems due to Covid. On Youtube, you can find the affirmations to heal back from Covid: it seems it did not work on him…
What is even more powerful than affirmations is meditating on God’s Word, targeting specific areas of our life that need to be renewed or renovated. God’s word can do more than any affirmations could ever hope to do. Meditation on God’s Word (biblical meditation) is most powerful when done as you are falling asleep because as you sleep it begins to renovate your subconscious. You can read more about how to do biblical meditation here: https://rosilindjukic.com/tag/biblical-meditation/
If you are trying to stand up for yourself and get out of an abusive relationship, how does “I am worth nothing in and of myself”, “I cannot change anything”, and “I should think of the needs of others rather than myself” going to help? You just think you are worthless and standing up for yourself is wrong. Serve the abusive person, the narcissist. You can’t say “I don’t deserve to be manipulated and controlled” you say “God will rescue me if He sees fit because I can’t change anything”. And you sit there, wondering if you’re being tested. Wondering if God wants you to be stepped on and manipulated constantly. Does He? Where are the verses that say “get out of a toxic relationship with a narcissist”? I see “turn the other cheek”, “go the extra mile”, “wait on the Lord”.