From The Pastors Desk:  The Affirmation of Faith 

            Do you really know what you believe?  If so, what are you doing to apply what you believe to your life?  How does what you believe affect your prayer life?  These are valid questions that every Christian should ask of himself or herself.

            The truth is, we live in an age when the church seems to be a mile wide and an inch deep.  The problem is that Christians have become shallow.  Theology is a term that has been relegated to musty college classrooms where it is discussed by crusty old men who have been shut away from the real world.  Theology (the study of God) should be of interest to every Christian.  What has happened?  Christians used to enjoy discussing truths about God.  No more. We now seem to be content with our small knowledge of our creator.

            And so I ask again, what do you believe?  Do you know?  One way to begin to turn the tide back to God in your personal life is a daily affirmation of faith.  In other words, daily repeating to yourself or in prayer to God what you believe.  Not just empty words, but words spoken in faith, trusting God to bring the reality to life in your daily experience.

            Many people have written affirmations of faith.  You may want to come up with your own.  If not, you may want to use the one that I am about to share with you.  I am not sure who originally wrote this one.  A pastor friend of mine who has since passed away shared it with me.  It has been an encouragement and help throughout the years.

 An Affirmation of Faith… Today I declare

•          This is the day that God has made.  I will rejoice and be glad in it!

•          I love you, God The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.  All others I love in you, you loving them through me.

•          The blood of Jesus Christ the son cleanses me from all sin.

•          This day I do not want Satan to have a particle of part of me.  This is my decision and I pray that you will deliver me from all evil.

•          Jesus Christ lives in me, even as the scriptures say, “Christ in you the hope of glory.”  I have hope in my life that God will be glorified in me because of the indwelling Christ in my heart.

•          I am crucified with Christ.  Nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

•          The Holy Spirit lives in me and fills me.  As he lives in me I will be filled with his fruit, minister with his gifts, and experience his mighty working and power in my life.  “Have thine own way Lord, have thine own way.  Hold oer my being absolute sway.  Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see, Christ only always, living in me.”

•          Today I pray that the government of my life (all of my relationships, all of my responsibilities, all of my situations, and all of my circumstances) be upon your shoulders, oh Christ.  And because your name is wonderful, I expect that you will do wonderful things in my life today.

             There are other statements that are longer and perhaps deeper.  But this one should help you to get your focus on God and help you trust him to do great things in your life throughout the day.  It deals with the effects of the life of God in us as Christians as he lives in us through the person of the Holy Spirit.  You can use it in your daily quiet time, on your way to work, or just when you have a spare moment throughout the day.

Let’s focus our attention on him so that he can focus his attention through us!

In Christ, Pastor Shawn

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