More Than Enough
Affirmations from Jeremiah 17
Photo by Simon Wilkes on Unsplash
Beyond Face Value
“I am Enough” was the title of my morning affirmation sequence today. But it didn’t sit right. A tug at my heart, a nagging question comes up each time I hear that phrase. So, I searched out what the Bible says about it: Am I enough?
I turns out I am not the only one who has struggled with that affirmation. Aimee Joseph wrote about it for The Gospel Coalition. In her article, Enough with ‘I am Enough’ (February 15, 2018), she says the statement fails in two ways, “It does justice neither to the incredible beauty and potential in me because of Christ, nor to the scary caverns of envy and anger I harbor because of sin.”
Modern affirmations can easily turn focus inward toward self rather than upward toward the one who gives us self-control.
Truth is, I could say I am enough until I am blue in the face (from expending all my oxygen). That doesn’t change my need for God, who is more than enough.
The prophet Jeremiah warned us against thinking we are sufficient on our own:
This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. - Jeremiah 17:5 NLT
Modern affirmations can easily turn focus inward toward self rather than upward toward the one who gives us self-control.
The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve. - Jeremiah 17:9-10 NLT
I am thankful God does not judge me on what’s in my heart alone but on my actions, the fruit I bear.
The Mystery of Two Truths
The affirmation “I am enough” is far too simplistic for me to align with. Instead I choose to uphold the mystery of two truths:
On my own, I am insufficient.
In Christ, I am more than enough.
How do I find this encouraging? If I think I am enough without God, I deny that I am a created being. I did not will myself into existence. I deny that I was created to be in fellowship with my Creator and that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Lord, who said “Apart from me, you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
God’s word not only identifies our lack, but asks us to surrender it, and fills us with the fruitful riches of his Kingdom.
Therefore, I choose to reframe my affirmations to include the one who is more than enough and who enables me to do great things!
My affirmations based on Jeremiah 17:7-10
I join in oneness with God, Jesus the Word, and the Holy Spirit when I speak these words of truth.
But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. (Jer. 17:5)
I trust in the Lord.
The Lord is my hope and confidence. I hope in the Lord. I have hope and assurance in Him. I am confident in Christ.
Jeremiah goes on to offer us a visualization to add to our affirmations.
They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. (Jer. 17:8)
I am strong in Christ.
The Word lives in me and replenishes my soul. I am strong in Christ.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. (Jer. 17:8)
God is my provider. I have all I need in Christ.
Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit. (Jer. 17:8)
I am full of life in Christ.
I have a wellspring of life inside of me.
I will produce an abundance of good fruit in Christ. I will continue to produce fruit in Christ.
These are the fruits the Holy Spirit produces in me, and so I possess them as an integral part of who I am.
I have a spirit of love. I am loving toward others.
I have a spirit of joy that never ends. I choose joy in easy times and tough.
I have a spirit of peace. I am a peacemaker.
I have a spirit of patience. I extend patience to others.
I have a spirit of kindness. I am kind to everyone I meet.
I have a spirit of goodness. I am good to all.
I have a spirit of faithfulness. I am faithful to my word. I am faithful to my family. I am faithful to my friends. I am faithful in business.
I have a spirit of gentleness. I am gentle toward others.
I have a spirit of self-control. I control myself.
Rather than one statement, “I am enough” that requires nothing from us, I am grateful for God’s word that not only identifies our lack, but asks us to surrender it, and fills us with the fruitful riches of his Kingdom.
Reflection/Response: Do you believe you are enough on your own? Do you rely on a higher power to walk in your full potential? Maybe you’re mindset is somewhere in between. If this post stirred your heart or encouraged you in some way, I’d love to hear from you!