We all know there are different kinds of prayers: petition (asking for oneself), intercession (asking for others), praise (telling God how great He is), lament (complaining and crying out our sorrows to God), and confession (admitting our sins to God), and so on. But one of the more neglected forms of prayer is affirmation.
Prayers of affirmation are telling ourselves (while God listens, of course) things that are true and helpful. They’re a way of obeying the command to focus on “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable . . . excellent or praiseworthy” (Philippians 4:8 NIV).
I’ve found affirmations to be an important part of my prayer life, and I have a number that I pull out repeatedly. For example, when I’m feeling troubled or stressed, I’ll often pray, “I’m in your hands.” It’s not a request; it’s a reminder of something I know to be true, and something that tells my heart and mind to settle down and trust in God. Another frequent affirmation is, “Here I am,” reminding myself that I’m always in God’s presence but need to be aware and available for Him to speak to me and use me.
Along with that prayer, I turn often to Bible affirmations such as the following:
- The Lord is with you, mighty warrior (Judges 6:12 NIV).
- In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety (Psalm 4:8 NIV).
- The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need (Psalm 23:1 GNT).
- The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1 NIV).
- When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your comfort delights my soul (Psalm 94:19 NASB).
- My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth (Psalm 121:2 NIV).
- In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28 NIV).
- When I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV).
- Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power (Ephesians 6:10 NIV).
- The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer (1 Peter 3:12 NIV).
You may choose to print out this list and keep it handy. You might memorize one a week, repeating it often throughout your day. You may even want to compile a list of your own affirmations—say, for times when you need courage or peace, or a list focusing on some recurring situation.
Whatever affirmations resonate the most with you, keep in mind that the best affirmations are those that counter the lies you tend to believe about God, yourself, and the world around you with the truth and beauty of what God says.
