CREATE TO REALTE #4
AFFIRMATION ZONE
You can google the word 'affirmation' and get so many results, “17 affirmations that can transform your life”, "affirmations to attract your soul mate”. Multiple studies have been conducted on the benefits of 'self-affirmation'.
What does this tell us?
People want to live a life of affirmation, we want to be affirmed, we want to be encouraged, we want support from those around us, we want to feel empowered and be able to share that with others.
Why?
Because God created us to thrive, to be in community and to live life in the Affirmation Zone.
GOD IS THE FATHER OF AFFIRMATION
God is a father, our heavenly Father and we see in scripture multiple occasions where He is affirmative with His children. We have great examples in scripture, showing us proof of living in an affirmation life, and that God wants us to live a life of affirmation.
Mark 1:11:”and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are beloved Son, in You I am well pleased”.
Matthew 6:9-13: “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen”
Romans 8:15: "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."
Revelation 3:20-21: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."
SETTING THE TONE FOR LIFE IN THE AFFIRMATION ZONE
God has given us great examples of how we should set the tone for life in the affirmation zone. Our greatest example is that of the life of Jesus. Jesus life on earth was lived in the affirmation zone, with God and with others. He was intentional of the words He said: compassionate and truthful with the woman at the well, bold and assertive when dealing with the moneychangers in the temple, humble and meek in the Garden of Gethsemane.
- POWER OF THE TONGUE
God created the world and everything in it by simply speaking. Genesis 1:3:"Let there be light" and there was light. Genesis 1:6: "Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.”. Genesis 1:9: "Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”, so on and so forth, God spoke and the world was created. Being children of God and created in His image, our words have power.
Taming the tongue. James 3:8:"But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison."
Proverbs 15:4 “A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”
Ephesians 4:25: "Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,”for we are members of one another."
Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”
1 Peter 3:10 “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.”
Philipians 4:8-9: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."
Proverbs 4:20-24: "My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you."
Colossians 4:6: "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."
Rice test: A Japanese scientist tested the power of affirmation. He spoke positive words to a jar of rice, the rice stays pristine, like it was freshly cooked. While the rice that is spoken negatively to is moldy, to quote “The “You’re An Idiot” rice turned mostly black.
Our words have power, so we need to be mindful and intentional of how we use our words, that we are setting the tone, affirming each other, as God affirms us.
FLATTERY IS NOT AFFIRMATION
Flattery is defined as excessive and insincere praise, especially that given to further one's own interests. Often flattery is used as a way to avoid 'hurting someone's feelings', or getting what we want, but we see in the scriptures below that we need to to avoid flattery, because it is not of God, it is not done in love.
Proverb 28:23: “He who rebukes a man will find more favor with a man afterward, than he who flatters with the tongue”
Proverbs 29:5: “He who flatters his neighbor spreads inept for his feet”.
Job 17:5: "He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail."
Matthew 16:23: "But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
SPEAK IN TRUTH AND LOVE
Proverbs 27:6: "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful."
Proverbs 27: 9: "Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel."
Philippians 2:5-18. Can do attitude. When we put on the mind, attitude like Christ, we will look at turmoil, difficulties with a mindset of obedience, humility, and joy knowing Christ has reigns in victory because the best affirmation empowers people to deal with reality, weighty rather then heavy.
HEAVEN IS NOT JUST AN AFFIRMATION ZONE, IT IS THE AFFIRMATION ZONE
Throughout scripture, we see glimpses of heaven and when we get to the book of Revelation, we see the ultimate, everlasting scene of heaven, an eternal affirmation zone. Every day, every minute, every second is an affirmation zone.
Revelation 4:5: "And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God."
Revelation 4: 11: “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory all honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created”.
Revelation 5:9-10: " And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."
Revelation 5:12: "Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing."
Revelation 19:7-9: "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God."
ARE WE LIVING A LIFE IN THE AFFIRMATION ZONE?
God has called us, as His children, to live a life in the affirmation zone, to thrive in His affirmation and to affirm each other. We see in Mark, chapter 6 how Jesus went into his 'hometown' and the people doubted him, "isn't this the carpenter?", "isn't this Mary's son?", verse 5 says "Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them". Building an affirmation zone is IMPORTANT, Jesus, the Son of God was not affirmed, people doubted Him and their lack of affirmation limited the miracles and wonders they experienced.
Let us choose to live a life in the affirmation zone: speaking in truth and love, challenge, obedience, wisdom. Take time today to speak affirmations over people around you, those you love, those you struggle to connect with. You will begin to see changes, in yourself and others. God created us to be relational, interacting with each other in affirmative, creative, intentional ways. Read through scripture the many wonderful, empowering affirmations God speaks over us.