Being Affirmed in Christ.

A Spirit of Affirmation

The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines affirmation as ‘ 1. To assert strongly, make formal declaration; 2. To confirm or ratify (used in law related to judgment)’.

However, the Spirit of affirmation has two other important qualities viz, encouragement and praise.  As Christians, it is important to use this gift in ministry as Christ himself did with his disciples.  Also it is another way of combating the power of the evil one and giving people ‘the hope to which they are called’.   Scripture itself gives us encouragement.

When a person is affirmed, not only is encouragement and praise given, but also it can have, as the dictionary meaning suggests the qualities of ratification or confirmation and strong assertive characteristics.

Recently I came across this mp3 Christian affirmation series.  There are a total of three series featuring over 200 minutes of Christian affirmations. These mp3 affirmations are a great way of maximizing your time as for example you can listen to them while walking, exercising, gardening or doing the housework and they will help you feel wonderful but also accpet the truth of the affirmation in your heart so it becomes your reality.  For example: I know at an intellectual level that Jesus loves me. However lately when life has been very tough, it is easy for the worries of the world to cloud this truth from my heart. I find that knowing and affirming myself at a heart level is a great help to stay focused and not allow temptation and despair to enter into my heart.

What I like the most with the Christian mp3 affirmations is that they require no concentration. You just listen to them and as we tend to do your mind can wonder off thinking about other things however you hear enough to feel great. Every day a different affirmation or Bible promise will just stick with you. Every affirmation set also comes with background music. 

I agree that affirmation is a gift that needs to be used regularly.  However, my own experience of it is it not only needs to sound plausible to the one who hears it, but is in fact delivered with SINCERITY from the one who GIVES OR SPEAKS IT.  This is vital when it is used in interpersonal relationships, and essential in counselling.

I think that it is also important that we constantly are affirmed by Jesus in prayer, so that He heals the whispers of the evil one, (the lies we have listened to about ourselves) which we have allowed to enter our beings, and that our body mind and spirit soaks in the truth that Jesus offers us in affirmation.