Gratitude determines your focus.
By E. Ken Harmon
Affirm is an exciting word that means to state something with confidence and declare its truth; it's all about asserting or confirming agreement. This powerful term embodies the act of acknowledging and supporting a specific belief or idea. But here's the catch—sometimes we end up affirming beliefs or statements that might not align with the divine principles or truths endorsed by God. This intriguing discrepancy prompts us to explore important questions about the intentions and content of our affirmations.
So, what's the purpose of an Affirmation Prayer? At its heart, an Affirmation Prayer is an empowering tool designed to keep you laser-focused on your spiritual path and the uplifting aspects of life that resonate with God’s will. Sounds simple, right? Absolutely! While the idea might seem straightforward, putting it into practice can be a bit more intricate than it first appears. You might be thinking, "Thanks for the explanation, Ken, but I'm still not getting it." Don't worry, that's a common reaction! Let me break it down further for you to make it crystal clear.
Psalm 118:24, "This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it," bursts with gratitude, joy, and a powerful recognition of God's sovereignty!
The psalmist joyfully acknowledges the day as a divine gift, encouraging us to embrace positivity and gratitude no matter the circumstances.
Affirmation Prayers energize our thoughts with this positivity, reinforcing our faith and trust in God's plan. This uplifting practice shifts our focus to the abundance of blessings, building resilience and hope in the face of challenges. Affirmation Prayers ignite our core truths and values, elevating our spiritual journey and well-being by centering our thoughts on positivity and divine connection!
This is "The" Day
Hold on to this, the concept of a day is like a wonderful gift God has created just for you! And it's not just any day—it's "the" day. It's as if God is saying, yesterday is behind you, tomorrow isn't guaranteed, so embrace "the" day I'm giving you right now! My absolute favorite line in the serenity prayer is, "Living one day at a time."
A day is a beautiful journey that starts with the morning, flows through the afternoon, and winds down in the evening. So, when you wake up, you're at the exciting beginning (or maybe mid-day if you're a teenager) of your day—your special gift!
That the Lord has Made
Genesis 1:5 highlights the moment when God crafted morning and evening, calling it "day." Isn't it exciting to grasp the origin of your day? If this concept of a day truly is a divine gift from God, then, like all His gifts, He has a special purpose for bestowing it upon you. Equally thrilling is considering what your focus will be as you navigate and embrace this amazing gift known as 'day.'
Let Us Rejoice
I've discovered that "Us" inspires "me" to surround myself with people who infuse my life with vibrant and uplifting joy! As someone trained in both sociology and pastoral counseling, I can confidently say that our environment truly shapes us. It hasn't been easy, but I've had to part ways with some I cared about because they were draining and overwhelming me. God gets it. He consistently warns that your social circle will either elevate you (towards Him) or drag you down (into discouragement, depression, etc.). This might be why Hebrews encourages us to not forsake meeting together as a body of believers (Hebrews 10:25). Let's embrace the joy of community!
"And" Be Glad in it
This isn't a command—it's a passionate declaration of his desire for us! God wants us to kick off our day by praying and declaring that we "will" fully enjoy his gift. James 1:17 proclaims, "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above." The word "and" is a powerful conjunction. It links A to B, meaning A and B are inseparable. God generously gives us the gift of "day," and he includes the conjunction "and" with it.
Why is this so crucial? God knows there's a real adversary out there aiming to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10b) how you live your "day." After all, what's the point of physically making it through your "day" if you're emotionally, cognitively, and spiritually drained? Let's embrace the day with joy and gratitude!
Change "I Won't" to "I Will"
Some interpretations of Psalm 118:24 suggest, "I will rejoice." McGonigal explores the power and influence of "I will" versus "I won't" statements. By saying "I will" or "I won't," you determine your focus. Saying "I won't watch porn" still keeps your attention on porn, while "I will honor the Lord with my eyes" shifts empowers your thoughts to Jesus. What you declare you will do with God's gift called "day" is much more impactful than what you choose not to do.
Saying "I won't be depressed" lacks the impact of "I will enjoy my day."
Similarly, "I won't disrespect my husband" is insignificantly different than, "I will honor my husband." "I won't be depressed" is insignificantly different from "I will enjoy my day." The Spirit empowers your will so long as your will aligns with God's will. What you "will" do with the Spirit's help is significantly more powerful than what you won't do (John 14:16).
Every morning, you affirmation prayer is to declare, "This is the day the Lord has made," celebrates the creator of the gift while "I will rejoice and be glad in it" is a reminder of what your God desires with your gift. Bottom line, "I will" speaks life! It is a boldness to not let your day be disrupted by perceived bad news, negative thoughts, and external happiness which, more often than not, dependent upon what others do, or don't do.
Note: While this is not a "Christian" book with some crude language. Howver, it's principles are biblically strong.
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