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.

Faith, Write 31 Days Challenge 2021

31 Days of Bible Affirmations – Day 13 – I Am Enough

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31 Days of Bible Affirmations - Day 13 - I Am Enough
31 Days of Bible Affirmations – Day 13 – I Am Enough

I Am Enough

I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]
Philippians 4:13 (Amplified Bible)

I never use to think I could write very well. My English teacher was not very impressed with me or my work. She picked on me at every moment. Eventually I lost interest in her lessons and just felt I wasn’t good enough.

I failed part of my English GCSE. This resulted in me having to retake my GCSE when I went to college to study my A Levels. As a result, the feeling of not being good enough to write carried through for the rest of my life. Even to the point when I started to host my own blog.

As you can probably imagine, this was not the only area where I felt I wasn’t enough. I felt inadequate in most aspects with what I have experienced in my life. Maybe you feel you have some areas in your life where you feel the same? Do you feel you are not strong enough? Or when it comes to raising children you don’t feel patient enough. Maybe you don’t feel you have enough experience to do your job.

When we struggle with these feelings of being inadequate and not enough, we need to remember we have someone with us. We have a God who lives within us who is able to help us perform whatever we need to do. Imagine what we can do once we let go of the lies that hold us back.

When we grasp hold of the truth we are more than enough because of Who is inside us, there will be no limits in achieving what God has called us to do. 5 years later I still host my blog and I know I am touching people with the words that I write.

When we grasp hold of the truth we are more than enough because of Who is inside us, there will be no limits in achieving what God has called us to do. Share on X
Something to think about…

Why not have a go at personalising Philippians 4:13. I love the amplified version of this Bible reading as there is so much that can be personalised. Each time we change the word I to our own name, or the word me to you, it brings a new meaning. You can also highlight certain words to emphasise a little more. Why not try it for yourself.

Lynne, you can do all things [which He has called you to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers you [to fulfill His purpose—Lynne, you are self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; You are ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses you with inner strength and confident peace.]

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 12 – I Am Not Alone

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31 Days of Bible Affirmations - Day 12 - I Am Not Alone
31 Days of Bible Affirmations – Day 12 – I Am Not Alone

I am not Alone

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
    and the flame shall not consume you.
Isaiah 43:2

At some point in our lives we will wonder whether God is here with us. Especially when we feel like we are suffering unjustly. Has He really forgotten about me? If He’s here, then why don’t I feel Him? Why do I feel alone?

It’s at times like these I need to remember to turn to scripture. I forget though. And that’s when I start to feel alone. If I turned to the Bible more often, it would provide me with the comfort and truth I need to know. God is always there.

He is there when I am in my darkest moments – Isaiah 41:10

God is there in every circumstance – Isaiah 43:2

He is there catching every tear – Psalm 56:8

Something to think about…

Why not have a go at personalising Isaiah 43:2 and re-write in your own words what you feel God is saying to you. I have chosen to write a poem to reflect these words today.

I Will be With You

I will be with you wherever you go,
Through the fire or through the snow.
I am with you in all of your life,
From the happy days and in your strife. 
I will be with you wherever you are,
Walking down the road or in your car.
I am with you in all of your days,
From start to finish in all your ways.
I will be with you wherever you’ll be,
Travelling on dry land or across the sea. 
I am with you to the end of your course,
From beginning to end I will be your force.
I will be with you come what may
From early morning to end of day.
I am with you to the end of time,
Just reach out your hand and you will grab mine.
		
© Lynne Cole

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 11 – I Am Heard

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31 Days of Bible Affirmations - Day 11 - I Am Heard
31 Days of Bible Affirmations – Day 11 – I Am Heard

I am Heard

In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.
Psalm 18:6

It can be hard to hear when someone you care about has suffered from sexual abuse when they were a child. How you react towards what they say to you can have a big impact on them. Being heard is the most important thing as a survivor of sexual abuse. It provides validation, which is an essential part in the healing process.

On Friday 10th September, I took part in an initiative called The Truth Project. This was set up by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. It is where survivors speak about their experiences of sexual abuse and how it has affected them later on in life.

The project also looks at how organisations deal with survivors on a day-to-day basis. The hope is that through people sharing their experiences it will be used to help promote change within the government, organisations and people’s views. Further information about the project can be read here.

When I spoke to the facilitators who were involved in The Truth Project, I felt heard. But not only did they hear what I spoke about, but they actually listened (this is quite an acquired skill). I spoke for two and a half hours about everything. EVERYTHING! They were compassionate and understanding and yet sensitive towards me in what I shared with them.

For the first time in my life I felt truly validated.

This is probably how David felt when he wrote Psalm 18. David cried out to God for help when he was distressed and God met him in his hour of need. He probably was down on his knees letting everything out that he felt and experienced. He most likely did an ugly cry too! And that’s ok. God takes us however we are, where ever we are and when ever. He has no limits when we need Him to hear us.

God takes us however we are, where ever we are and when ever. He has no limits when we need Him to hear us. Share on X
Something to think about…

Why not have a go at personalising Psalm 18:6 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 hear your cries of despair to me. I see your suffering and your pain. I am here and I am listening to you. Wherever you want to call on my name I will be here.

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 10 – I Am Wanted

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31 Days of Bible Affirmations - Day 10 - I am Wanted
31 Days of Bible Affirmations – Day 10 – I am Wanted

I Am Wanted

And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.
Mark 12:30

We have a longing at some point in our lives where we just want to be wanted. Not just needed, where we know we play an important part. But to be truly wanted, where we are desired for.

Growing up I felt anything but wanted. When I was wanted, it was all for the wrong reasons, as I mentioned in my previous post. The sexual abuse I suffered, along with the bullying I received, left me feeling unwanted, disliked and like an outcast.

I was brought up with a Christian background. However, even though I had a religious upbringing, I never really understood how much God loved me. In my eyes, I couldn’t really see how much God could love or want me due to what I had suffered. After all, I was damaged goods.

It’s taken me a long time to grasp that my past didn’t matter to God. He loved me no matter what. All God wants is me. He wants to have a relationship with me. He wants a relationship with all of us.

God wants to love us and be loved by us. This is why the first commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Because this is what He does with us.

Something to think about…

Why not have a go at personalising Mark 12:30 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.

Love me, Lynne, just like I love you. Love me with all your heart, your soul, your mind and every ounce of strength. I want you no matter what.

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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