Affirmations- by Tom Faber

Words are never empty. They build or they break. They either breathe life or they drain it. Too often, people live under the weight of careless words that were spoken over them years ago. Maybe you still hear echoes of someone saying, You will never make it. You are not good enough. Nobody cares. Those words sink deep and try to set the tone of a life.

But Scripture tells us a different story. Proverbs 18:21 (NLT) says, “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” The way we use our words is not a small thing. Every day, you are either speaking death or life into your own heart and into the people around you.

That is why affirmations matter. They are not about wishful thinking or self-help slogans. They are about aligning your voice with the truth of God’s Word and declaring it until it reshapes your mind and your outlook. When you declare what God says about you, you push back against the lies of the enemy and remind yourself of who you really are in Christ.

Here are some affirmations rooted in Scripture to speak daily:

“I am a child of God.” (John 1:12)
“I am strong in the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:10)
“God is working all things for my good.” (Romans 8:28)
“I am forgiven and free.” (Romans 8:1)
“I have peace that cannot be stolen.” (John 14:27)
“I can do all things through Christ.” (Philippians 4:13)
“God’s plan for me is good.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

But affirmations are not only about what you speak over yourself. They are also about what you speak into others. Think about this: if you are not being encouraging to the people around you, you may be discouraging them without realizing it. Words land heavier than we think. A child carries them. A spouse replays them. A friend remembers them long after you have forgotten what you said.

Your words can be the difference between someone giving up and someone holding on. They can be the spark of hope in a dark season, or the cold wind that snuffs out a flame. Speaking encouragement, affirmation, and truth into the lives of others is not optional for followers of Christ. It is part of what it means to reflect Him.

Hebrews 3:13 (NLT) reminds us, “You must warn each other every day, while it is still ‘today,’ so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.” Affirming others is spiritual warfare. It pushes back against discouragement, deception, and despair.

So speak life over yourself, but do not stop there. Speak life into your family, your coworkers, your church, and your friends. Call out what God has put in them. Remind them of His promises. Lift them when they are sagging under the weight of the world.

Affirmations are not just for you. They are for the people God has placed in your path. When you choose words of life, you not only change the atmosphere of your own heart, you change the atmosphere around you.

Speak these over your own life

1. “I am a child of God.”
   John 1:12 (NLT): “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.”

2. “I am strong in the Lord.”
   Ephesians 6:10 (NLT): “A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”

3. “God is working all things for my good.”
   Romans 8:28 (NLT): “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

4. “I am forgiven and free.”
   Romans 8:1 (NLT): “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”

5. “I have peace that cannot be stolen.”
   John 14:27 (NLT): “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

6. “I can do all things through Christ.”
   Philippians 4:13 (NLT): “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”

7. “God’s plan for me is good.”
   Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT): “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Speak these into the lives of others

1. “You are loved by God.”
   Romans 8:38–39 (NLT): “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love… neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow.”

2. “God has a plan for your life.”
   Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT): “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

3. “You are not alone.”
   Deuteronomy 31:6 (NLT): “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

4. “You are gifted and called.”
   1 Peter 4:10 (NLT): “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.”

5. “God is working in you.”
   Philippians 1:6 (NLT): “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

6. “Your prayers matter.”
   James 5:16 (NLT): “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”

7. “You make a difference.”
   Matthew 5:14 (NLT): “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.”

Affirmations are not about empty positivity. They are about declaring what God says, both over your own life and over the lives of those around you. When you choose to speak life, you not only change your own perspective, you change the atmosphere in your home, your workplace, your church, and your community.