Recently, my husband accidentally stumbled across some affirmations I had written in my journal months before we left for our family vacation. He shared his surprise that I had begun to mentally prepare for the trip long before we left.
We were planning to spend 12 days visiting his family in Germany and then taking a mini 8 day trip to Italy and Greece with our children. That trip was rigorous visiting a total of four cities and a new Airbnb every couple of nights.
I had read that we tend to remember events based on the emotions we attach to them. When you come home from a vacation all you have left is memories, right? Knowing I am not a born traveler and tend toward safe comfortable places where both my feet are on the ground, my journal affirmations came from a place of knowing the trip would challenge and stretch me.
Affirmations
I first read about affirmations in Hal Elrod’s book, The Miracle Morning. My initial reaction was one of feeling like they were silly. I felt like it was the philosophy that everyone is a winner – everyone gets a trophy for trying – you know, positive thinking mumbo-jumbo.
But when I began to pay attention to my thoughts I began to realize how much negative chatter went on in my head. I realized I would never talk to another person the way I talked to myself. (You are so stupid, I can’t believe you said that. Or, you know this plane is going to crash, right?)
An affirmation is a statement that declares something to be true.
Ephesians 2:22-24 encourages us to replace stinky thoughts with truth. One of the definitions of the name Satan is accuser. (Rev. 12:10-11). He is also called the Father of lies (John 8:44). We don’t have to believe the worry, anxiety and fear that loops through our heads. Jesus came to set us free from the power of the enemy. Freedom is found by replacing the lies of accusation, shame, and insecurity with words of truth, light and hope.
While reading the book of 1 John I noticed that in the middle the book, John summarizes the purpose of the letter he was writing. He also specifically mentions each age group, clarifying that no one was exempt from the truths. As I looked at the verses I realized they were affirmations. John is assuring us of the truths that we need to tell ourselves.
5 Affirmations from 1 John
- Your sins are forgiven through Jesus
- You know God who has been from the beginning
- You are strong
- The Word of God lives in you
- You have overcome the evil one
These are some strong statements. Statements that I want my soul to believe. I wrote these on my mirror in the bathroom so I can remember who I am. I’m finding that focusing my mind on truth isn’t a one time experience. Left to its default my mind is soon swimming in a pool of what-ifs and if-onlys. Especially when I am in a HALT moment (hungry, angry, lonely, tired). It’s a daily, sometimes hourly, sometimes moment-by-moment choice to think on what is true. (Phil. 4:6-8)
As for the family trip? It was fun and it was stressful. There were long lines, lots of people and tight spaces. We loved well, laughed often and cried together (or maybe it was just me who cried. What happens in Rome stays in Rome. Just sayin’. ) We made great memories. And, I found new freedom by doing the hard and uncomfortable thing and standing up to my fears and coming out the other side alive.
How about you? Have you tried affirmations? Have you found them helpful?
1 John 2:12-14
I am writing to you, dear children,
because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
14 I write to you, dear children,
because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God lives in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
Father in heaven,
I thank you that you are the same unchanging God from the beginning of time to now. I thank you for your loving kindness and limitless love. I thank you that Jesus stands in my place, that I am forgiven for my sins. I am strong. I choose to replace negative thoughts with the truth of your Word. I thank you for giving me truth and life and bring defeat to the accusations and lies the enemy tried to defeat me with. Amen.