Affirmation

Thoughts on Encouragement and Affirmation

Before we are born from above, the flesh distorts every intention of God, since the flesh is antagonistic to God.  But after we are born from above, the spirit instills every intention of God, because the spirit knows the mind of God.  

Is it then that we have a limitless capacity for genuine encouragement and affirmation because these lead us toward life, and fire our desire to strive for excellence?  Is it then that we have a limited threshhold for pain and criticism, because unchecked, they ruin our inititative and at worst, kill us?  If we were made in the image of God, who is Himself limitless, excellent, and eternal, and He wants us to be conformed to Him, and He approves of this, will He not encourage and affirm this?  Doesn’t He set a threshhold of pain and criticism by saying, “therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  Doesn’t He affirm us by saying “I have called you, and whom I have called I have justified, and whom I have justified, I have sanctified, and whom I have sanctified, I have glorified....”  So, in the realm of flesh, there is criticism and condemnation because we can never measure up, but in the realm of spirit, there is encouragement and affirmation because we have died to the distortion of the flesh.  In the flesh, unchecked praise and affirmation leads to unchecked arrogance, just as absolute power corrupts absolutely, but in the spirit, encouragement is a motivator, and evidence of power is proof of our surrender to God.