Many of us remember the Stuart Smalley character on SNL, espousing an affirmation something like the one found in our subject line. There are other real self emprovement gurus who many of us have studied with more affirmations we can say to get us revved up about life and our circumstances. From a philosophical standpoint, many of those sayings are helpfull and can get us excited from a psychological standpoint. But where does this lead us in a spiritual standpoint? How do we take psychological wellness training and use it to affect our spiritual well being? Bible study is of course the most important, for as we become more knowledgeable of Gods Word and His promises, the easier it is to tie those promises into our feelings of wellbeing from an earthly standpoint. God knows we have to live on this earth and He's got us covered! In a book I just picked up, The Power of Your Words, authors Gossett and Kenyon have written out a nice little Christian Affirmation as follows:
God is Who He says He is
I am who God says I am
God can do what He says He can do
I can do what God says I can do
God has what He says He has
I have what God says I have
It seems pretty simple doesn't it? Even very logical. But what it really comes down to is faith. If you believe in what God says in His Word, you must believe what the six preceeding lines say in that affirmation, no ifs, ands, or buts! God has made many promises to us. It is up to us to hold those promises faithfully in our hearts and count on them when things get tough. There are an encyclopedic amount of promises from God which I will be doing in a series, but let's take an overview based on the Christian Affirmation.
God is Who He says He is
The first thing we have to believe as Christians. If we don't believe in God then why follow Jesus, His son and second part of the Trinity.
I am who God says I am
Since you are a Bible professing, Jesus confessing Christian, you must believe what God says about you and your status in His Holy family.
God can do what He says He can do
Again, our faith in His Holy Word tells us this truth, all of the fantastic stories of God are not fiction, all of the things the Bible tells us of God's power since the creation denote a God whose existence fails to mortal words. He is and can do whatever He wants.
I can do what God says I can do
Here's where the practice of faith becomes more difficult for many of us. God has told us many a time what power we have through Him, but we often either forget or just don't store up the faith to acknowledge and act upon this truth." I can do all things through Christ who strenghthens me" wasn't written just to look good, He meant it!
God has what He says He has
This one is pretty easy for most Christians. We know that God intrusted us with HIS CREATION. It's all His and we are merely stewards, property managers in the modern vernacular. He also has the power He says He has so why doubt Him.
I have what God says I have
God has made us many promises as stated previously. He can give us all the power, fortune and blessings He wants. Much of the time, it comes down to how we use what He has trusted us with. You are responsible for earning the endowment of His promises. Your rewards may not come as wealth but as other increased responsabillities within the Christian community.
I like the Christian Affirmation because it helps to remind me of where I am in my Christian walk...that I need to be practicing faith most of all in my day to day life to realize more and more of God's gracious promises. But through living a life of faith, how glorious a life we can live until Jesus' triumphant return!
Until next time, may God bless and keep you, in Jesus' name, Amen
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