Faith, Write 31 Days Challenge 2021

31 Days Of Bible Affirmations – Day 18 – I CAN Stand Firm

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31 Days of Bible Affirmations - Day 18 - I Can Stand Firm
31 Days of Bible Affirmations – Day 18 – I CAN Stand Firm

I CAN Stand Firm

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:1-3

We are always going to face difficulties, and when we do, it’s painful. I find that when I am trying my hardest to run this race that God has set before me, that is when the enemy runs alongside me and he tries to trip me up. I struggle to stand firm.

When we go through times when we struggle, our faith is always the first thing that takes a stumble. Do you have something you feel is holding you back from keeping you in the race? Or is there a situation you are going through right now and you just need some encouragement?

It’s ok if we stumble through these moments. As long as we keep turning back to God with how we are feeling with what we are going through. When we open ourselves up fully to Him, that’s when He can do a deep work in us to place us back into the race He wanted us to run. 

This year has been the year for me in moving forward with what I have been called to do. I have been working through growing in my gifts and trying to develop a character that would help me carry out my calling. 

The one area I struggle with is how I perceive myself and what I feel God and others think about me. That’s why I decided this month to set myself this challenge. To develop Bible based affirmations about how God sees me and what His heart is for me. Hopefully, by declaring Bible based truths over myself it will begin to shift a mindset I have in how I perceive myself. 

So, what’s holding me back?

Well, the enemy hates when we move forward in our faith with something and I feel that he has been using anything he can to try and get me to give up. I am now on day 18 and I did feel a little demoralised because I know I’m so behind. I’m tired and part of me just feels this is going to be another thing I will fail at again. 

It’s similar to getting a stitch when we are running. We get over the halfway mark and then bang, the pain hits. It’s so easy at this point to want to give up. The only way to beat the pain is to stand firm and run through it. It hurts to start off with, but then our body gets stronger as we persevere.

This is what I am going to try and do with my writing. I’m going to persevere through the pain barrier and stand firm in what I want to achieve. The only thing I need to do is to keep focussed on the finishing line and not worry about how long it takes to get there. I CAN stand firm.

Something to think about…

Why not have a go at personalising Hebrews 12:1-3 and re-write in your own words what you feel God is saying to you. You could also use my version and change to your own name. 

Lynne, you are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, throw off everything that hinders you and the sin that so easily entangles. Lynne, keep running with perseverance the race marked out for you. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of your faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

If you enjoyed reading my thoughts on today’s Bible affirmation then why not catch up on my other thoughts for previous days.

Faith, Write 31 Days Challenge 2021

31 Days of Bible Affirmations – Day 17 – I am a Light of Hope

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31 Days of Bible Affirmations - Day 17 - I am a Light of Hope
31 Days of Bible Affirmations – Day 17 – I am a Light of Hope

I am a Light of Hope

Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
Isaiah 58:10

One thing I have always had when times are tough is hope. When all else fails, I am still clinging on to it. How, or why, you may ask? To have hope, is to want something to happen. I believe that no matter what trials I go through, on the other side is a good thing waiting for me. There has to be, or what is the point?

I have already mentioned in a previous post that God wants to use us as a light to shine in the darkness of other people’s lives. We need hope to be able to do this. Without hope, there is no light. With the hope we have it instils into others a sense of it too.

When we start that hope in someone else, we produce a light that penetrates into their darkness. As we help shine a light in someone else’s darkness, we also extinguish the darkness from our own lives. Its a virtuous circle to be in (not a vicious one).

One way we can be a light to other people is to encourage them. This does wonders for the soul. It provides self-confidence and motivation and has great healing benefits with the way that it can restore the body and mind. This is exactly what happened when I received an encouraging comment from one of my readers. It confirmed to me that I am a light of hope.

Lynne, thank you for sharing and for exposing your innermost desperation as a child and into your teens. God has done an amazing work in your life and out of the darkness, he has used you to help and bless others, bringing the light of hope.

How can you be a light of hope to someone today?

Something to think about…

Why not have a go at personalising Isaiah 58:10 and re-write in your own words what you feel God is saying to you. You could also use my version and change to your own name. 

Lynne, I want you to help those who are in need and are hungry for something different in this world. When you do, you will be amazed at how brightly your light will shine out of your own darkness. And when it shines Lynne, oh how it will radiate into their darkness.

If you enjoyed reading my thoughts on today’s Bible affirmation then why not catch up on my other thoughts for previous days.

Faith, Write 31 Days Challenge 2021

31 Days Of Bible Affirmations – Day 16 – I Am Seen

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31 Days of Bible Affirmations - Day 16 - I Am Seen
31 Days of Bible Affirmations – Day 16 – I Am Seen

I am Seen

She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”
Genesis 16:13

Have you ever felt rejected or mistreated? Hurt or forgotten? Have you ever been in a situation so painful you just want to run away? All you want is for someone to come alongside you and to be seen. Instead you just feel lonely and abandoned.

When I was 15, I remember sitting on the steps of an old disused building thinking what was the point? I was being bullied so much and I was trying to process what I had been through when I was younger. I was getting threats from other children wanting to beat me up after school. None of the teachers ever noticed what I was going through.

I remember sitting on those cold steps with a piece of glass in my hand and I just wanted to end it. I had a connection with this building. It was abandoned and derelict and no use for anyone. I felt like a little child so lost and worthless.

As I sat there contemplating what to do, I remember feeling I wasn’t on my own. I felt God was there with me pulling me from those steps and telling me to go home.

I felt seen.

In Genesis chapter 16, Sarai was mistreating Hagar so much that she couldn’t take anymore. As a result, Hagar felt so distressed that she ran away to the desert. Whilst she was in the desert, God had seen what she was going through. He met her where she was a guided her back home.

This God is able to see people in every situation, from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. Especially when we are at our lowest. God is still the same today as He was with Hagar. He never changes. I have felt this on a number of occasions. He can do the same for you too.

Something to think about…

Why not have a go at personalising Genesis 16:13 and re-write in your own words what you feel God is saying to you. You could also use my version and change to your own name. 

Lynne, I have seen you. I see you in every situation you are in. You are not alone. I have plans to bless you because of what you have suffered.

If you enjoyed reading my thoughts on today’s Bible affirmation then why not catch up on my other thoughts for previous days.

Faith, Write 31 Days Challenge 2021

31 Days of Bible Affirmations – Day 15 – I Am A Mighty Warrior

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31 Days of Bible Affirmations - Day 15 - I Am A Mighty Warrior
31 Days of Bible Affirmations – Day 15 – I Am A Mighty Warrior

I Am A Mighty Warrior

When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.” “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of my Midian.” The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”
Judges 6:12-14

There has been a calling in my life which I have felt for a long while.  (I have previously shared that I have chosen to stand for justice for all those who have suffered sexual abuse). I also knew that my calling was going to be a battle fighting against the status quo. With this in mind, and knowing what odds I am up against, it’s only natural to feel inadequate. 

There have been lots of times where I have felt overwhelmed by what lies ahead. So many people are blind to what is going on around them. Some of which, sadly, is by choice. Others choose to ignore because that is what is easiest. 

When I am faced with the enormity of what I am up against, part of me is scared to make myself known. I feel a little like Gideon and question God if He’s got the right person. It would be so much easier to slip quietly back into the background. 

But God sees me as a mighty warrior.

So how do I keep going in this battle? With God of course! I can’t fight this battle on my own. However, God believes in me and He knows what I am capable of. Also, with God beside me and His strength within me, I can do so much more. I am a mighty warrior – watch out people! 

Something to think about…

Why not have a go at personalising Judges 6:12-14 and re-write in your own words what you feel God is saying to you. You could also use my version and change to your own name.

Lynne, I am with you, mighty warrior. You do not need to doubt yourself. I know there is a big battle out there, but you need to remember I am always on your side. You have my strength which I have given you. Use it in my name, mighty warrior.

Something to listen to…

If you enjoyed reading my thoughts on today’s Bible affirmation then why not catch up on my other thoughts for previous days.

Faith, Write 31 Days Challenge 2021

31 Days of Bible Affirmations – Day 14 – Songs of Affirmation

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31 Days of Bible Affirmations - Day 14 - Songs of Affirmation
31 Days of Bible Affirmations – Day 14 – Songs of Affirmation

Songs of Affirmation

On the days when it’s hard to focus and everything feels like it’s caving in I listen to worship music. Music is a great way to help lift the soul and to bring us out of the dark times. I find listening to songs of affirmation really help me to regain my thoughts to shift my focus back to where it should be. I have listed below a few of my go-to songs that help lift me up.

Lauren Daigle – You Say

Lauren Daigle’s music is really powerful, but ‘You Say’ especially speaks to me when I struggle to believe who I am in Christ. Let these words especially sink into your heart today…

You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
You say I am held when I am falling short
When I don’t belong, oh You say that I am Yours
Shattered – Blanca

This song for me describes exactly what its like to be a survivor of sexual abuse. It’s also a beautiful reminder of what God can do for us when we feel we are at our lowest of lows. He can restore!

How Deep the Father’s Love For Us – Stuart Townsend

This song sums up exactly what God did for us to show us how much he actually loves us. Stuart Townsend has written beautifully how much Jesus suffered on the cross and how much pain was inflicted. It brings to mind for me that Jesus knows how much pain we have gone through ourselves. Yet he chose to die to take all this pain away.

Who You Say I Am – Hillsong Worship

As someone who didn’t see their dad much growing up because he was too busy working, this song speaks to me. It shows me how much God loves me as His own child.

If you enjoyed reading my thoughts on today’s Bible affirmation then why not catch up on my other thoughts for previous days.

Encouraging hope in a broken world

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