You might have heard before that words have the power to make or break one’s spirit. I discovered the truth of this in my healing journey. My self-discovery journey hasn’t been without a lot of trials and error but one thing that was constant and still is, is my faith in God and the use of affirmations, and more specifically biblical ones. I found ten powerful verses on self worth that spoke to my spirit, my situation and that carried me through the dark times.
Being a spiritual Christian, I’ve come across so many scriptures on how God loves us and we are made in His image but I had never paid attention to this until I was down in trenches, feeling so lost and empty. Why would God create me in His image just so I can suffer and be miserable? This was one of the questions I asked a lot, but I later found that this wasn’t the truth. I had just drifted away from my connection with Him so much that I was seeking that acknowledgement and connection from the wrong places.
So going back to the source of where and why I was created I started my search for who I am in the Divine space called life. When I picked the bible and found the verses that resonated mostly with me I wrote them down on post its, journaled around them and repetitively scripted them as I recited them. These words brought so much light and meaning to my life gradually and so in this article I will share with you these ten powerful verses and how they helped me rediscover my self worth.
Facing the Truth
I think I might be depressed – a very hard sentence for me to verbalize but the one that got me seeking help from my coach. I knew what I was feeling was mostly my dissatisfaction with life – my life but i was so down and empty. It was just before I ended a serious relationship which I thought was leading to marriage, I had poured my all into this relationship and my work, neglecting myself in the process. So, when I on that faithful February morning picked the phone after my sister had tried countless times to get through without success, I couldn’t help but choke on a cry with those words coming out.
She asked if i wanted to go see my GP. I said no because I didn’t want to be put on medication but I knew I needed help. I sought out a coach and found an amazing one who helped me navigate my challenges. My work with her included a lot of deep inner work in trying to understand why I felt, expressed, and treated myself the way I did.
In one of the sessions, she asked if I would want to try affirmations and I said yes, I love using them. At this point i wasn’t using them as well to have such great impact. She asked which I used, and I shared some of the ones I recited. Looking at me she asked aren’t you a Christian?
“Yes, I am,” I replied.
“Then what about finding a couple from there to affirm?” she asked.
“This time when you do so look yourself in the mirror and affirm those words to your image” she added.
Hold on! Why hadn’t I thought of this before? So, when I got home after that session, I got my bible out and my laptop on and started my search. I found a lot, but these spoke more to me.
Understanding the unconditional love God has for us as his creation
- Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV):“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
- Genesis 1:27 (NIV):“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
My reflections showed that I was undervaluing, disrespecting and neglecting myself and my own needs. These showed up in the ways I allowed others to talk to me, treat me and disrespect my time and efforts. How could I allow this to happen, when I wouldn’t allow it to happen to the people I loved or even those who treated me that way. I know that I am unique and that I am complex but that is how God intended each and everyone else to be. No one is superior to the other he loves each and every one of us equally as we are created in His image.
Embracing our uniqueness through God’s words
- 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV):“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
- Ephesians 2:10 (NIV):“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
The cultures I have grown up in have had their impact on me in ways that either helps you step proudly into who you are or end up being lost as to your true self. At a very young age most children in African societies are taught to not ask to many questions, so moving to Denmark where children were encouraged to ask questions and be more curious, I felt very confused in a lot of situations, as I had to put on a different hat in different settings always.
So, this rediscovery journey made me question my identity and until I learned to navigate and embrace both cultures equally I dint really have a voice. I found comfort in these verses as well when I came across them, they taught me I am special for a reason, I am chosen and being prepared to do good. I clang on to them and where possible exchanged the “Yous” with “I/Me” example is 1 Peter 2:9 now read
“But I am a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that I may declare the praises of him who called me out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
Loving ourselves
- Ephesians 5:29 (NIV): “After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church.”
- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV): “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
Working through accepting my uniqueness meant learning to love every aspect of my being even the parts I felt were unlovable. This meant loving my thick kinky hair and not wishing to have fine European hair, loving my accent because not only do I speak one but four languages. Loving my fuller curves and most importantly my brown skin.
I started affirming these and respecting my body as Christ treated the church. There were hard days and a lot of bad hair days, (no pun intended) but I have learnt to talk with respect to my afro hair and appreciate its coarseness and everything about it that makes me look like the person I am externally. I realized the more I worked through it the easier it got to being comfortable in my skin.
Silencing the voice of insecurities and fear with God’s promises to us
- Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV):“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
- Romans 8:37-39 (NIV):“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
There were also times when I questioned myself, what the point of all this was and then I consoled myself with the fact that if I was blessed to be alive that day that meant I still had a purpose and my life had meaning so Jeremiah 29:11 became one of my favourites, which at some point was even my whole year’s affirmation. When the doubts came, and I recited this to myself I was reminded that nothing I am going through was meant to harm me but to bless me. If these doubts were coming from my inabilities, I would lean on the next two.
Accepting and knowing who we are as individual
- Philippians 4:13 (NIV):”I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
- Matthew 10:29-31 (NIV):“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Adopting the winner’s mindset – a can do attitude, I started saying yes to trying more things, challenging myself and believing that if I thought I could or couldn’t do something either way I was right (Henry Ford). I started believing in myself more and more and what I am capable of. The things I wasn’t able to do I sought help and then I got the help needed. This increased my confidence and self-belief with everything I achieved.
What I have learnt
These bible verse though not exhaustive and may not resonate with everyone have helped me through some very dark times. Yes, using them as affirmations when you are so down can be tough but there is one thing I always do when I use affirmations. I think of myself telling my inner child – or picture you are speaking these words over an innocent child. The warmth and concern you would use is the same that needs to be applied to you when you read these over yourself. It takes practice and it won’t happen overnight but when done consistently this becomes a creates a change and part of our dominant belief.
My encouragement is that you find bible verses that speak to your spirit if these don’t. You don’t need to find ten just the one that really covers everything going on with you will do. Affirm these day and night with the belief and faith that you are truly worthy and see miracles happen slowly.
It is my fervent hope that you try these as you grow in your self-discovery journey and if you have any comments and questions, please feel free to share in the comments. Wishing you all the very best.
Love & Light
Sheila Daisy