Stories about hope

“The God loving Girl’s 24 Positive affirmations.”

I have a new planner and I love it. It’s small enough to carry around with me and has enough room to really plan my day, week, and month. It also has several pages dedicated to “self-help”. Very useful tips and thoughts. As I reviewed the pages and read some of the tips, I found a page called “24 Ways to be kind to Yourself.” I was struck by the “self” part. 

I am a woman of faith. I believe in Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God and have put my faith in him. I do still get wrapped up in “self”. It’s not a new thing to struggle with selfishness. 

My husband gave a message to the youth Sunday. The gist of it was “Deny yourself, take up your cross, and Follow me.” His scripture reference was Matthew 16:24

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.” He spoke of following Jesus even when He leads you down a road you do not like. By His grace, through study of His word, through my family, my friends, my church, I have stayed behind Him. Following where He has led me, even down some roads that I didn’t want to go.

As I put my faith in Jesus, many years ago, this may be the most difficult thing I encounter. To put myself behind the things of God. Some of those roads were dark but I chose and continually choose to love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. To put Him first and myself not first. “Love God, Serve others”. 

The “24 ways to be kind to yourself” from my journal were good, positive, affirmations. And talking about yourself or thinking about yourself in a more positive light is an excellent practice. I tend to say things like “I am so stupid, or I am not “this way”, or “I wish I was that way”, or “I wish I looked more like that girl, rather than I look like I got hit by a bus this morning” you know what I mean, you do it too. 

So, as I read the affirmations, I couldn’t help but hear the words of God (the words in the scriptures) and yes, I believe it is perfectly fine to read, affirm, and say the kind thoughts about yourself. Because God created us in His image, we shouldn’t think more highly of ourselves than we ought, but we also shouldn’t be so hard on ourselves that we punish ourself for our shortfalls. Know there are kinder thoughts that God your Father thinks of you.

I took each affirmation and went to my Bible to see what God has to say about things. I did this for ME, but maybe it will bless YOU. Digging in and studying the scripture is my favorite past time. This is more topical digging. To really dig in you need to do Bible exegesis. Take the verse in context, study what it meant in the time it was written and see how it applies to today. Literal definition of exegesis, “the critical interpretation of the biblical text to discover its intended meaning.”

I didn’t dig very deep – but I did take the thoughts in my journal and counter them with the thoughts of God. 

Here are the “24 for Ways to be kind to yourself “ and my counter thoughts from scripture:

*My past is not a reflection of my future. 

“’For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’”  Jeremiah 29:11

*I am smart enough to make my own decisions.

“’Now if any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5

*I’m in control of how I react to others. 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control: against such things there is not law.” Galatians 5:22

*I choose peace.

“Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

*I am courageous and stand up for myself. 

“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still” Exodus 14:14

*I will succeed today.

“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8&9

*I deserve to have joy in my life.

“Count it all joy, my beloved brethren when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

*I am worthy of love.

“For I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore, I have drawn you with lovingkindness.” Jeremiah 31:3

*I approve of myself and love myself deeply.

“But HE WHO BOASTS IS TO BOAST IN THE LORD. For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he who the LORD commends.” 2 Corinthians 2:18

*My body is healthy, and I am grateful. 

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price; therefore, glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19

*I don’t need someone else to feel happiness.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25

“Happy are the people whose God is the LORD!” Psalm 144:15

*I am allowed to take the time to heal.

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you do not grieve as do the others who have no hope.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13    

“Heal me, LORD, and I will be healed; Save me and I will be saved, For You are my praise.” Jeremiah 17:14

*My imperfections make me unique.

“And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I rather boast about my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may dwell in me” 2 Corinthians 12:9

*My potential to succeed is limitless.

“Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be established.” Psalm 37:5

“The mind of a man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.” Proverbs 16: 3 & 9

*I forgive those who have hurt me.

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other; whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the LORD forgave you, so also should you (forgive). Colossians 3: 12 & 13.

 *I’m allowed to make mistakes; they don’t make up my whole story.

“For we all stumble in many ways, if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.” James 3:2 

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another; and pray for one another so that you may be healed” James 5:16

*I’m doing my best and that is enough.

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily as for the LORD rather than for men, knowing that from the LORD you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. Colossians 3:23 & 24

“Let’s not get tired of doing what is good, for at the right time we will reap a harvest – if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

*I have the power to create change.

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7

“Finally, be strong in the LORD and in the strength of his might.” Ephesians 6:10

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

*I will not compare myself to strangers on the internet.

For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each of you must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. Galatians 6:3 & 4

*I am enough.

 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 (so you are more than enough)

*I let go of all that no longer serves me. 

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14

*I can do absolutely anything I put my mind to.

“I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

*I am worthy of respect and acceptance.

“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” John 6:37

“For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.” Romans 14:18

*I am free to create the life I desire.

“Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” Proverbs 3:5&6

And perhaps you should also hear:

O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
 Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them,
 the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. Oh, that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain. Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?
  And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting! Psalm 139