Spiritual Wellness

My grandfather’s affirmations are famous the world over for their positivity and rhyme.  My dad latched onto one that he said each morning of my childhood.  The word’s ring in my mind with the warmth of familiarity: I’m going to be happy today, though the skies may be cloudy and grey. No matter what comes my way, I’m going to be happy today!

Like this rhyme, affirmations help us tune in to God’s truth and reality. We might ask, what is God saying to me today?  Perhaps He is saying that our circumstances do not dictate our inner peace and joy?  This is true because as spiritual people, we live from our center in God.  He is the source of our existence. Yet, not every positive statement is a spiritual affirmation.  Some positive statements attempt mind-over-matter.

What’s the difference between ‘spiritual affirmations’ and ‘thought control?’  Thought control exalts self. It presumes that if I am powerful enough, my thoughts can conquer my circumstances.  My mind has power of my matter.  It’s humanistic. Spiritual affirmations exalt God. It presumes that if I am mindful of God’s truth, then He will empower me from within.  It’s spiritual.

When contemplating a particular affirmation, how do you know whether it’s humanistic or spiritual? How do you know whether it’s a spiritual affirmation or mind-over-matter?

The answer is in you.  It’s a matter of you heart. You can say to yourself, “I’m going to be happy today.”  This statement is neither spiritual nor unspiritual.  What makes the statement spiritual is the heart with which you say it. Is your happiness self derived?  Or, are you happy because of your connection to God?  Practicing Spiritual Wellness means that we confess our spiritual affirmations from a heart truly relies upon God.

In the video “Worried About Money?” I recommend the spiritual affirmation:  I will not fear, I will trust in God. When you think or speak this spiritual affirmation, focus on God.  Don’t focus on your fear.  And, though it sounds backwards, don’t focus on your ability to trust.  Instead, focus on God’s nature.  God is always with you.  God is always trustworthy.  God loves you.

Think about God’s character traits, and then say:  I will not fear, I will trust in God. Your focus changes from self to God, and that is the real key to Spiritual Wellness.

What is your favorite spiritual affirmation?

fear, mind, money, Positive, Spirituality, thoughts