Speak Life: Developing Affirmations to Build Self-Esteem

Manifest is a word that is present in every space, from weight loss to wealth creation. We know that there is nothing new under the sun, and this principle, like others observed in culture and society, traces to biblical origins. In this manner, the power of affirmation is best exemplified in God at creation.

He observed the darkness, but was not overcome by it. Instead, He boldly declared the reality that He wanted to see, “Let there be light!” And when He wanted to see more, He repeated, “let there be,” until He saw, in that order, until creation reflected the heart of all He’d imagined.

Unpacking limitation and affirmation.

In a similar manner, our words reveal the content of our hearts and script the reality of our lives. When they are negative, they produce the fruit of what we’ve spoken. When we have experienced traumatic encounters, and harbor pain, we often form limiting beliefs, scripted out of our experience.

We summarize and conclude a facet of our experience, and partner with it as universal and unilateral truth. In essence, we place faith in a falsehood, which “produces after its own kind,” like everything else created. Words are alive, and when their rottenness bears negative fruit, this underscores our belief and transfers rancidity into every dimension of our lives.

The cycle repeats itself, reinforcing expectation and experience. However, we can disrupt dysfunctional cycles when we expose ourselves to actual truth, meditate and confess it, apply it, and activate it in our lives. When we experience the positive results of truth in our lives, we encounter its fruit bearing possibility, shifting expectation and altering life experience.

In this manner, affirming God’s truth, even when it appears contrary to our lives, reveals a reality bigger and significantly better than what we have experienced to date. Affirmation exposes us to the possibilities of something that seems new to us. But as God would have it, represents an unseen reality that has always been available through speaking, believing, and acting on His word. It’s just a matter of time and consistency before we also watch it manifest in our lives.

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. – Luke 6:45 ESV

Many who have experienced a form of trauma have an internal script populated by limiting beliefs. Left unchecked, such negative forces cancel our belief and involvement in God’s plan for our good when we permit and partner with them.

We don’t realize that our feelings of being stuck in a life rut are rooted in past experiences, whether traumatic encounters originating in childhood or another season of life. They threaten us with fear of going beyond what we’ve seen, heard, and perceived. We compensate for the threat by seeking stability in complacency and the familiarity that limitation perpetuates. It may mimic comfort, but it actually undermines our potential.

In Scripture, God gave His people the power to choose life or death. We have the invitation to believe and the opportunity to transform our God-given authority to produce good in our lives, beginning first in our minds.

While life’s trauma’s may have devastated us, we must respond when presented with the truth of wild possibility from God’s Word. Will we continue to agree with limitation? Will we break that partnership and initiate a new covenant, based on the life-giving power of God’s Word?

Although limiting beliefs generate self-fulfilling prophecy when we believe and act on them, our Father extends to us a different path. While it may be awkward to entertain a new reality in our lives, we demonstrate the faith of God when we follow the Holy Spirit, embracing the truth of God’s word and His heart for us.

Clearing the cache of limitation.

Listening to the Holy Spirit, even through the acknowledgment of our emotions and experiences, equips us to walk through the open doors of opportunity set before us. First, we have to reckon with self in the private spaces of prayer, reflection, and therapy to confront lies and limiting beliefs that have hijacked and imprisoned our identity.

Arresting the limiting beliefs doesn’t stop there. We have to clear them, and then, fill the vacuum. We need to replace them with more than just positive thoughts, but rather anchor our life confessions, in the truth of God’s word.

This alone has the supernatural power and practical application to liberate and launch us into what we didn’t know was possible. Yet, it demands that we examine what we monitor and manage what we look at, listen to, and allow to inform our perspective and perception. These influence what we believe, and therefore speak, and ultimately experience as reality.

Affirmation: power, purpose, and possibility.

Affirmation pierces the inflated bubble of limitation that expands in our hearts and minds. It positions us to arm and engage in spiritual battle, offensively wielding the sword of God’s Word. We dismember the limiting beliefs that populate negative self-talk. We build faith, based on the Word that equips us to what only God’s grace enables and empowers.

One practical approach to crafting an affirmation involves the following:

1. Pinpointing the area of limiting belief.
2. Locating a scripture that addresses that particular area.
3. Speaking the Word aloud, further personalizing our Father’s promises by placing our own names in the verses.

The Holy Spirit unveils our vision and perception to see rightly when we embrace His affirmation through the scripture. First, we encounter God as Almighty, above the confinement of our experiences. Then, He enables us to see ourselves, clothed in His strength, not only to believe, but also to experience what we have perceived as impossible and unimaginable.

By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. – John 4:17, ESV

He validates us throughout His word, telling the truth about who He really is and causing us to discover our true identity. When we affirm that identity, and medicinally apply the balm of our Savior to the places where limitation has wounded, we rebuild with God.

We architect His dream and desire, from a place of strength, anchoring our hope in the One who always knew the “us” inside. We begin to perceive everything differently, confidently outfitted for victory. This win was already settled, in Christ, long before traumatic encounters informed our thoughts about Him, ourselves, and others.

Affirmation fuels hope, hence the enemy’s attempt to disarm and dismantle. Hope is ferocious and dangerous to darkness. More than a wish, hope conveys expectation of a certain outcome. It revives hearts, fuels faith, and actively draws us into God’s dream for a future with Him.

Affirming God’s promises seeds the possibility of God’s purposes. Affirmation gives voice, defying those circumstances and securing the best of what God has always known was true, even when limiting beliefs kept us from imagining it.

Next steps.

Everyone’s journey presents unique challenges and opportunities, but the Holy Spirit remains close as companion and comfort. He actively guides, taking us on the trail through the Father’s heart. Yet, working with a counselor is an act of affirmation to enhance esteem and unlock one’s confidence. This is not only essential for life as a believer, but for life as a thriving human being.

As you learn to undo the work of accusing, limiting beliefs, and amplify the voice of affirmation, you may want to involve some in your family, friends, and faith community. The process of renewing your mind by activating the mind and the words of Christ over the very areas where you may have experienced trauma, yet want to transform your thoughts and your trajectory, needs to be nurtured with caring and safe people.

Consider your next move and the hope that you want to connect to for your future. Hold that close as you review our site in your search for a counselor. We will encourage and support you as you leap and launch into the next and best of what God has designed for the future you who awaits.