Life Affirmations Through a Christian Lens
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The more I press into doing what the Lord asks of me, the more I find myself entrenched in a battle for my mind!
As I press into being faithful to the call on my life, I find myself in the place where my time is melting away. In many ways. I am in a bit of a standstill. The fear and uncertainty and lack of knowledge (in how to do certain things) in many ways paralyzes me. I find myself giving in more easily to distraction (as a way to “cope” with my emotions). I need to be mindful that the enemy would love nothing more than to see me stall out, to become consumed in other matters and pursue other good things rather than specifically being obedient to the call. THAT is the first thing I am responsible to.
I need to find ways to stay focused and less “consumed/distracted” by other things. I need to remember where my heart is called to be aligned.
Almost twenty years ago, I began the season of my life on Young Life staff. What beat in my chest, my identity (in that season) finally found a resting place. I joined a ministry and a staff whose primary focus and mission was to share Jesus with teenagers, specifically those who wouldn’t darken the doorways of a church. I found a place to belong, one in which I hadn’t trained for (I spent 6 years training to be a teacher), one in which I had no personal experience (I had never heard of YL prior) and yet one in which I finally found a place for my heart to beat in turn with his.
I tell you all this background to understand how this action step for now was first trained up in my early years of ministry. In those years. I was under amazing, godly leadership. I learned many powerful lessons in those years! One of the most powerful tools I learned was in writing Life Affirmations. I have pulled this tool out of my toolbox numerous times in the last 20 years.
I did it as a woman starting out in ministry and reorienting all my many hats to be led and fed by Him. I did it when my husband walked away from the Lord. And I did it as a mama struggling with anger and identity in parenting.
I am again in a season where I need to spend some time realigning in order to stay the course marked our for me. For I feel the tug of distraction, haze, misplaced focus and lack of intention fighting for my attention.
I probably should spend some time focusing on what is behind my emotions and tackling those. And this would be a valid use of my time, especially as I bring those things to the Lord to heal.
But for now, I am going to fight this battle for my mind with the sword of the spirit – the Word of God! I am going to take who God calls me to be, what He’s asking of me and rewrite those statements (those struggles) using the Word of “I AM” to speak new life in those places that have been a battle- the places where His name and power already carry the victory!
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 NIV
Just as God spoke the world into being, HIS WORD continues to carry LIFE. Let it speak to those broken places of your life! Let it penetrate; let it breathe life to your dead bones!
For although we live in the natural realm, we don’t wage a military campaign employing human weapons, using manipulation to achieve our aims. Instead, our spiritual weapons are energized with divine power to effectively dismantle the defenses behind which people hide. We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One. Since we are armed with such dynamic weaponry, we stand ready to punish any trace of rebellion, as soon as you choose complete obedience. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 TPT™
As Christians, we tend to hide behind our own self-imposed walls. There is this common belief that Christians (it’s most often church people who fall into this) have it all together or should; thus leaving many to “put on” this persona that belies our “true self”. For MANY years, I had the masses fooled! People thought I had it all together, when deep down I was this insecure, fragile, broken woman. It wasn’t until my personal world imploded that I began to find strength in the woman behind the veil.
PRAYER: I choose today to lay my self-imposed defenses aside. I choose to destroy the lies that stand in the way of me becoming who You call me to be. You have given me the tools for breakthrough. I press in, choosing obedience over comfort, choosing to align with You and Your BEST plans for my life!
Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. Ephesians 6:13-18 MSG
I learned my inner turmoil wasn’t simply a battle of my flesh. I wasn’t meant to win this battle on my own. My strength was never meant to showcase a warrior woman – my weakness is turned into strength through MY SAVIOR! HE is always the ONE I was meant to showcase! His Name carries the victory and as an added bonus of being HIS, He has given me all the tools to carry His name and HIS WORD onto the battlefield! I now carry the victory because I belong to Him!
And we pray…
“We pray because our own solutions don’t work and because prayer deploys, activates, and fortifies us against the attacks of the enemy. We pray because we’re serious about taking back the ground he has sought to take from us.”
– Priscilla Shirer, Fervent: A Woman’s Battle Plan to Serious, Specific, and Strategic Prayer
I read and prayed through Priscilla Shirer’s Fervent when the responsibilities on my plate were truly more than I could handle. I had four children (one an infant) and elderly, sick parents in my home to care for – on top of a home and marriage to tend to. The Lord has the way of putting exactly the resources you need at any given time, into your hands. This one came with a phone call from a dear friend, telling me a book was on its way. And THIS book gave me the prayers when I was oftentimes too tired to try to figure out how to battle on my own. It gave me focus and a place to anchor my prayers in the Word!
In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might. Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. So stand firm and hold your ground, HAVING TIGHTENED THE WIDE BAND OF TRUTH (personal integrity, moral courage) AROUND YOUR WAIST and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (an upright heart), and having strapped on YOUR FEET THE GOSPEL OF PEACE IN PREPARATION [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news]. Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s people”. Ephesians 6:10-18 AMP
“God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called.”
– Christine Caine, Undaunted: Daring to do what God calls you to do
He has equipped us for the battle. Our strength is not because we are so powerful, but because we have been “empowered through [our] union with Him”. Our daily battle is not with those who surround us, but with the powers of darkness. We have ALL the tools we need to “resist and stand [our] ground”! We have the tools to walk victorious!
ACTION: Today, spend some time journaling about your priorities and any places where you need some refining work. Or if you feel the struggle directly in front of you (I know many days like that), write those areas of struggle down; be honest and think through how you want things to be different.
Tomorrow, I will share how to take those places of battle and rewrite them so they are full of LIFE, victory, and the Living Word.
Please comment below (scroll to the bottom of the page) on any areas you need to speak LIFE into (i.e. parenting, being a godly spouse, prioritizing time with the Lord…).
Scripture quotations marked TPT are from The Passion Translation®.
Copyright © 2017, 2018 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc.
Used by permission. All rights reserved. ThePassionTranslation.com.
This has been a trying year for many, especially because of the pandemic. Love your action step to tie it all together. Am looking forward to doing this journaling activity and seeing what action steps come next to build upon that.
That’s awesome Lana! I would love to hear how the process goes for you and any feedback!
I pray for continued blessings on your journey blessing those teenagers with a voice and/or listening ear. As a motivational speaker/mentor, I have learned over the years the youth need someone they can trust. Not only to listen to them, but take action on their behalf if they cannot do it themselves. They have found that in you. Bless you.
Thank you Stefanie for your kind words! Always a work in progress, right!
“We pray because our own solutions don’t work and because prayer deploys, activates, and fortifies us against the attacks of the enemy. We pray because we’re serious about taking back the ground he has sought to take from us.” …..WOW! That quote really resonated with me…I found myself scrolling back up to reread. I feel like I need to print it out and put it on a cabinet (it’s too important to let it get lost on a cluttered fridge door)…thank you for sharing!
Wow! Thank you Emily! Those thoughts are hitting me afresh just reading them! The enemy is constantly on the prowl, seeking to steal, kill and destroy – but GREATER is HE that is in me than he that is in the world. Jesus carries the victory! Bless you Emily!
Amen to all of this! I have internally struggled with as well, but God is always working through each of us even in those moments of weakness. I definitely need to prioritize more quiet time with God – by simply being present with Him and sharing what is on my heart.
That sweet intimate space with Him – what a precious gift! Thank you Shelby!