Affirmation
by Graham Slattery
As a teacher of secondary school children, I really like to use affirmation. Why? I love to see it fill the emotional tanks of those I am teaching. It also has such power for good. Of course, it has to be truthful and sincere, otherwise it can end up being a bit meaningless.
In this period of lockdown, affirmation and love have been so important. The children I teach have been producing, on the whole, some really good work. Some have been producing even better work than usual. It has been a real delight to lavish praise at a time when positives are so needed.
The bible is full of affirmation and God is a good, good Father, who loves to build us up and encourage. Look how He operates at Jesus’ baptism; “You are my son, with whom I am well pleased”, and at His transfiguration, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him”. Would He withhold such affirmation from us, for we too are His children?
Of course, it is good to address our sin issues to get right with our heavenly Father, but sometimes we get so caught up with the sin issue that we forget how much He loves us. Today’s verse is not the only one like it in the Bible.
May we then in these trying times know that we are loved beyond measure. There is nothing we can do or not do to change that. And may others know it too.
Prayer: Thank You, Father, for Your amazing love for us. As we meditate on so many things during this period of reflection, may we not forget how much You love us and are for us. We don’t deserve it, but You lavish Your love on us anyway. Thank You. Amen.
Graham Slattery Graham and his wife Lynne live in Liverpool. They have worked at Ellel Grange as Prayer Ministers since 2015 and currently host Explore B. They have 2 grown up children. Graham teaches Latin and Ancient Greek at Secondary School level. His desire is to see more people healed and aware that they are greatly loved and valued by God.
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