It is not too late to start this challenge today, and I highly recommend it.

Actually the correct quote is:

I am on Day 16 of this challenge, but you can start today.

There is no deadline to begin your 210 days. You would simply finish 209 days from today. So you have not missed out. Start today, in fact right NOW!

Are Affirmations Enough?
One thing that is striking me as I follow this challenge and it provokes a question:
Is simply affirming (repeating, declaring) something enough to change your life?

The answer is: No.

So when I declare: I am driving my faith by my words now, I am telling my brain to speak ONLY words that will build my faith.

This means that during the rest of the day I will be alert to speak faith words and avoid every conversation and comment that could be detrimental to my faith.

So what then is an affirmation? King David made many strong affirmations in the Bible. One of the outstanding ones is found in Psalm 103:2

“Bless the Lord oh my soul, and forget not all of His benefits”.

David made this affirmation in a time of great stress in his life (and if you remember David had a lot of those times in his lifetime). This was much more than an affirmation, it was a command to himself.

He was commanding his brain: You are going to bless the Lord whether you feel like it or not.

This is what an affirmation really is. So when I say: “I am driving my faith by my words now” I am telling my brain to send me positive instructions to put into action today! Instructions that will lead me to fulfill my why!

Are your words driving your faith today?

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You make that choice by deciding what thoughts to think and what thoughts you will allow to stay in your mind.

Every part of your being is related and affects the other parts. In the book of the Psalms 139:14 we find King David declaring:

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Science now knows that your thoughts play a major role in your health and well-being. In fact your thoughts send a chemical from your brain into other parts of the body.

• Negative thoughts send out toxic chemicals.
• Negative thoughts and words also drive you to negative actions.
• Negative actions form negative habits.
• Negative habits will cause you to fail.

Ok, now that we have the negative out of the way, let’s look at the effects of positive words:

• Positive thoughts and words send out healthy chemicals to your body.
• Positive thoughts and words inspire and motivate you to positive actions.
• Positive actions performed regularly create positive habits.
• Positive habits lead you to the success in life you are seeking.

Remember,

Today’s question is:
Are your daily habits leading you to the success you are desiring – or are they leading you to failure?

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David would have had no future without Goliath.

Joseph also confronted crisis conflicts that turned out to be the beginning of his career. Joseph faced being sold to the Egyptians and then thrown into prison. How do you think he felt during those long days and nights in prison?

These major challenges and conflicts could have made or broken David and Joseph. It all depended on their choices.

How many conflicts in yours and my life were designed to take us to a new level in our life’s journey? What choices did we make during these times?

Joseph choose to keep his faith even in the pits of the prison. He gladly interpreted the dreams for both the cupbearer and the baker yet he was immediately forgotten by the cupbearer when he was restored to his position. How would you react in the face of such injustice and neglect?

Joseph still did not lose faith.

How did David react when he was faced with the giant? All of Israel was trembling with fear, yet David maintained his faith.

David was confident in His God and so fear was not an issue in his heart.

This was not a challenge for David as much as an opportunity to prove the greatness of his God.

What would have happened if Joseph had have lost faith in the time of great testing? There would have been no one to represent his family in the time of famine Egypt.

Joseph’s faith not only promoted him, but saved his family and all the descendants.

What would have happened if David had have been as fearful as his brothers when facing Goliath? The army of Israel would have been wiped out completely.

Both of these men were promoted in a time of great testing. Not only were they promoted but they were both instrumental in saving their nation.

Both of these men choose to stand firm with their God when faced with great adversity. How could they do that?

John Di Lemme is often quoted as saying: Your daily decisions predict your future.

Today would be a good time to stop and consider the daily choices you are making.
Do you really want them to predict your future?

Will your daily choices lead you to a promotion – or a defeat?

Today is the day to choose whom you will serve.