Category: Faith and Spiritual Growth

Sometime ago I was introduced to “Biblical Affirmations” by Craig Groeschel on The Craig Groeschel’s Leadership Podcast.

It should not have been a new concept to me. But I will admit that the idea of “recapturing affirmations” from what at the time was thought of as simply positive affirmations and self-image boosting was an interesting idea to me but not necessary for the Christian life.

What I did not realize was that this practice of biblical affirmations was not simply Christian positivity. Rather, exercising our memory of God’s truths from the scriptures. Oddly enough affirming Biblical truths in my heart and mind was a radical concept for daily renewal in spite of my history of being raised in the church.

Maybe the mix of new age, the dawn of self-help culture, and Tony Robbins ruined my idea of positive affirmations and affirming one’s beliefs in this way. But what does the enemy do best. Kill, steal, and destroy. Don’t let the enemy keep you from this powerful practice of aligning your beliefs to God’s truths.

Reconnect with your deepest convictions and align them with the scriptures. This is an excellent devotional practice. Keep in mind our emphasis on biblical. Affirmations are rooted in scripture and sometimes are simply scripture itself.

Here are some examples of biblical affirmations:

1. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)
   • “I am uniquely created by God and have value and purpose.”
2. God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)
   • “I walk in boldness, love, and self-control, knowing God is with me.”
3. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)
   • “With Christ’s strength, I can overcome any obstacle.”
4. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1)
   • “God provides all my needs; I lack nothing in Him.”
5. I am more than a conqueror through Him who loved me. (Romans 8:37)
   • “In Christ, I have victory over every challenge.”
6. God’s grace is sufficient for me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
   • “No matter my weakness, God’s grace empowers me.”

Craig’s affirmations are great. I will link to them here because I adopted them for myself. But if you are not in the habit of affirming these beliefs with deep conviction then this can quickly become a religious exercise. So test your heart.

That being said, I want to encourage some degree of caution and direction with this practice. Affirmations can be powerful but we must make sure they align with truth. I’ve often seen believers affirming what they thought to be true when in fact the affirmation was a regurgitated mantra from other religious practices and not from God. This is why, without going into great detail, I think the practice of positive affirmations has been tainted and quite dangerous. As Christians our identities are founded in Christ and not in the words we repeat to ourselves. There is no mystery to this practice other than receiving what God has already freely given to us.

One thing I recommend doing is recording yourself saying your affirmations and then listening to them back. Listen to your heart. To your conviction. Let that convict you.

Another step to this journey for me and one I think you should consider is creating a affirmations movie. This is something you put together for yourself to remind yourself of the truths and vision God has for your life in a movie format.

This does take some effort, but it is a concept I find very interesting and to implement it in daily reflection could be quite powerful.

If you struggle with the thoughts you have in your mind. Consider talking them through with a mentor or coach. It is incredibly helpful just to hear yourself say some of the thoughts you have churning in your mind.

I hope this encourages you to reflect and ponder your thoughts and beliefs and to not let the enemy take hold of your precious thought life with lies. You can take them captive.

Be blessed!

If I could give any piece of advice about walking with God to anyone. It would be.

Slow down and listen.

The biggest mistake I believe we can all make is that we expect God to “keep pace” with our busy lives and we are going to just “fit HIM into” OUR schedules.

WRONG!

The secret to waiting, listening, and hearing God’s voice is slowness.

There really is no way around it.

God’s timeline is not our timeline and we so often go off on OUR timeline and start dictating to God how things will go when we ought to pause more often than not and just hear what He wants for our lives.

Life naturally get noisy. We get distracted. Our thoughts get clouded and we can’t expect to keep the noise and hear the small still voice of God.

Maybe we are afraid to slow down and hear God’s voice because we think we know what He’s going to say. But is what you have in your mind really true?

My friend, don’t forget the period of time in which you live is the most gracious period of time God has granted in history.

We have so much opportunity to just believe and trust. God is not sitting there waiting to strike you down the moment you come to Him to listen to Him.

He is giving you this time to slow down and come to Him.

While there will be the moment in History that we see Jesus coming on the clouds and time will be up. It is not yet.

So, what are we to do.

This is often the most difficult thing in this life. I myself have struggled greatly to be with God and to just sit.

So here are a few ideas and I hope you consider ways in which you can slow down and pause and listen… and wait.

Practical Steps to Hear God’s Voice

1. Have you built into your schedule a time of devotion? If you’ve never heard of the idea. What would it look like for you to start each day with 10-20 minutes in silent prayer and scripture reading and then to reflect? Take even the moments you need to journal.
2. Memorize scripture. I kid you not. The power of memorized scripture is real. I have gone through seasons where I tuck the scriptures away and then the moment will come that God uses the scriptures to remind me of his Character or to share with someone else his goodness. Don’t underestimate the power of memorizing the scriptures.
3. LOOK! This is a slightly nuanced approach to prayer, but it is simply the approach of looking for how the spirit might be prompting you or presenting to you His will throughout the day. Ask God to make plain in your heart his guidance and test what you encounter by holding those promptings up to the scriptures. If you are new to the faith I encourage you to seek wisdom from others as well as you discern the voice of the spirit.
4. Turn off your devices. I’m not just talking about your phones, iPads and computers. I even mean the fridge if you must. Hear me out. I had this mini fridge that hummed at a particularly annoying pitch and on one hand I knew it was causing a distraction, but on the other hand, I wasn’t willing to unplug it. It was empty. So, maybe there are things that are literally a distraction for your mind and you don’t even know it. Remove them. Silence really can do wonders to draw your focus.
5. Godly Counsel! Seeking Godly counsel about your circumstances or your struggles can help hone your sense of the truth and the voice of God. Seek wisdom from Godly, biblical believers, mentors, and pastors.
6. Humble Yourself. I can’t not say this, but in some sense, you may be keeping yourself from hearing from God because you are in the way. Man, I think of the tax collector and the pharisee before God. The tax collector in his humility when home justified before God. [Luke 18:9-14] Take stock of your heart and prepare it for hearing from God. You may not be ready to hear what He has to say until you humble yourself.

Final Thoughts

Hearing God’s voice isn’t necessarily about doing more or checking off more boxes. It’s about aligning yourself with His heart by becoming more sensitive to His desires. We don’t just stumble into hearing God’s voice. We intentionally go to Him in humility and spend time with Him. He is a relational God. Gracious in his ways with us. I hope you are encouraged to slow down and hear his voice to quiet the noise and be still with Him.

There’s something extraordinary that happens when we humble ourselves before God through fasting and prayer. It’s not just about skipping meals or spending a little extra time in prayer. It’s about surrender. It’s about saying, “God, I trust You more than I trust myself.” When we combine fasting and prayer, it’s like putting our faith into overdrive. We’re opening ourselves up to God’s power, clarity, and breakthroughs in ways we never imagined.

Why Fasting and Prayer Matter

From the earliest days, fasting and prayer have been a powerful combination for those seeking God. Whether it’s Moses fasting on Mount Sinai, Daniel crying out in Babylon, or Jesus Himself fasting in the wilderness, the Bible is packed with examples of people drawing closer to God through these practices.

Fasting clears out distractions. Prayer connects us to the One who holds all wisdom and power. Together, they help us shift our focus from the things of this world to the eternal.

• Moses fasted 40 days and nights, and God gave him the Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:28).
• Daniel fasted when he needed wisdom and insight (Daniel 9:3).
• Jesus fasted before starting His ministry, showing us the importance of preparing spiritually for what lies ahead (Matthew 4:1-11).

Fasting Without Prayer is Just a Diet

Let’s be clear: Fasting without prayer is just a diet. It’s when we pair fasting with intentional, focused prayer that the power comes. Why? Because fasting helps us quiet our flesh, and prayer allows us to focus on God’s voice.

• Fasting humbles us. We’re saying, “God, I need You more than I need my next meal.”
• Prayer aligns us. It connects us to God’s heart and will for our lives.
• Sensitivity increases. With our hearts tuned into God and our distractions minimized, we start hearing God’s voice more clearly.

Together, fasting and prayer bring spiritual clarity and empower us to stand strong in the face of challenges.

What Happens When You Fast and Pray?

You Experience Personal Transformation

When we fast, we’re taking an honest look at ourselves. The things we try to ignore or push aside are suddenly brought to the surface. It’s in these moments that God reveals areas of our hearts that need transformation.

God doesn’t just want us to go without food—He wants us to break free from sin, selfishness, and anything that separates us from Him.

• Isaiah 58:6 “Is this not the fast I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?”

Unlock Spiritual Breakthroughs

Some things won’t change without fasting and prayer. Jesus said it clearly in Matthew 17:21 when His disciples couldn’t cast out a demon. He told them, “This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

There are battles in our lives—whether it’s overcoming sin, seeking deliverance, or interceding for others—that require a level of spiritual intensity. Fasting and prayer give us that extra push.

• Matthew 17:21 “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting”

You Gain Clarity in Decision-Making

When life feels overwhelming, or the future is unclear, fasting and prayer give us the space to hear God’s direction. Just as the early church fasted and prayed before major decisions (Acts 13:2-3), we too can gain clarity when we dedicate time to hear God’s voice.

How to Start Fasting and Praying

It’s easy to overcomplicate fasting, but really, it’s about being intentional. Here’s how you can start:

1. Set a Purpose: What are you seeking? Whether it’s wisdom, healing, or deeper intimacy with God, having a clear reason helps you stay focused.
2. Choose Your Fast: Decide how you will fast. It could be a full fast (water only), a partial fast (like the Daniel Fast), or even fasting from non-food items like social media.
3. Prioritize Prayer: Without prayer, fasting loses its power. Schedule times to pray throughout your fast. Spend time in Scripture, worship, and listening to God.
4. Prepare Yourself: Before fasting, prepare both physically and spiritually. Start with confession and ask God to purify your heart.

Fasting and prayer are not just ancient practices—they still transform lives today. Think of the countless testimonies from people who have fasted and prayed for breakthroughs in relationships, health, finances, and spiritual growth. God still moves in mighty ways when His people seek Him with their whole hearts.

Make Room for God to Move

Fasting and Praying are both practices God commands us to do as Christians. We see God move in His mysterious ways more clearly when we open ourselves to the spirit through these practices and prioritize Him above our physical need. Set aside time, humble yourself, and watch what God will do.

Are you ready to take a step of faith? Start by fasting and praying today—whether for a meal, a day, or a week—and experience the transformative power of God’s presence!