"The Little Things: 10 Affirmations to Self-Encouragement"- by Cequena Ball

Official Abridgement

We all need encouragement; it helps us to build our self-esteem and to believe in our true potential as we go about our daily work in life. It helps greatly when others are there to give us words of encouragement, to cheer us on as we go through our trials and setbacks. This is not the case for everyone. Some don't have family or friends to encourage them, and in other instances affirmations just don't stick. Regardless of this, there is a great power in our own words. As the scripture says, life and death are in the power of the tongue. The words you speak have power of the tongue. The words you speak have power, and this is why it is important to speak words of life to yourself.

That is what this book is about, speaking daily affirmations over yourself, to encourage yourself. I had to learn this because I didn't understand why I didn't believe the positive things others would say to me. I had to say it aloud to myself, and the more I did this, the more I believed in what I was saying, and the more I was strengthened. This book will help you strengthen your emotional and spiritual well-being. God wants this for you just as much as you want this, he wants you to prosper greatly!

- Cequena Ball

My Book Review

I struggled for years to learn how to fall in love with my flaws. Those flaws included my long chin, long feet, lazy eye, acne scars, crooked teeth, scoliosis, and a half-sleeved tattoo that I chose to get on my own. I had to learn early on to change the flaws that I couldn't accept and accept the flaws that I couldn't change. Working on the weaknesses that I could change was the only way that I would be able to fall in love with myself and know in my heart that I was beautiful. Making an effort to change the flaws that I couldn't accept enabled me to love the flaws that I couldn't change. So I started clearing up my acne and working with a dermatologist to remove my acne scars, I have braces to fix my overbite, and a year from now I will begin the process of laser removal for my tattoo. I realized that God created me perfectly in his image and that it was an insult to my Lord and Savior to look myself the mirror and tell him that he made a mistake with creating me. The flaws that I cannot change, such as my long chin, long feet, and scoliosis were no mistake in God's eyes so they should have never been a mistake in mines. The moment you wake up and decide today is the day you're going to receive affirmation of your beauty, read chapter 3 of Cequena Ball's book titled "I Am Beautiful/Handsome." In this chapter, she teaches you how to love who you are and change your attitude about yourself. She shares scriptures with you from God himself assuring that you are perfect because he selectively handcrafted you to be the one-of-a-kind alluring woman that he set out for you to be. This chapter confirmed my affirmation, and it will bless you with yours too.

A sense of humbleness came over me. I got in the shower, put on my military uniform, and headed out the door to my new 2016 Nissan Versa car. I started up my vehicle, and the feeling of gratefulness shifted my spirit as I drove to work. Gratitude was all I possessed for my Lord and Savior by the end of that day. Just three years ago, I was living in my grandparents home with no stable income, and an old 2004 Sebring Chrysler that was on its last wheel. It took me three years to realize that God had already blessed me with everything I had prayed for three years prior; My own home, a new car, and a career. My lack of contentment was blocking my abundance of blessings. God was not through with me yet. Being content with God's plan and purpose for my life has unlocked the door for many benefits to come my way. I have my Blog, I run my YouTube channel, and I am back in the studio to record new music and perform my original music live in front of an audience. I am gaining more fans and receiving a lot of support from all of the entertainment avenues that God has provided for me. I hope that by reading this chapter in Cequena's book, contentment does the same for you. She enlightens you on how important it is to be thankful and appreciative for all that God has done for you, she educates you on what it means to be content with the Lord, and she teaches you how to channel your negative thoughts into positives whenever you're feeling ungrateful or dissatisfied with where God has you in life.

In every chapter Cequena shares bible scriptures, personable testimony's from her life experiences, and prayers to help you restore a healthier relationship with God. Watching this astonishing young woman serve her purpose for God by allowing him to use her to preach the Gospel of the Lord through this book gives me a newfound sense of hope, inspiration, and purpose, By the end of this book, (In the words of Queen), you truly will feel loved, courageous, blessed, victorious, healed, beautiful, smart, strong, bold, fearless, confident, and joyful.

You can purchase this book directly from the author in person or on Amazon.com in paperback format for $6.99.

Cequena Ball is a mother of two beautiful children. Helping others be the best they can be has always been a passion of hers. She loves to share her testimony and her love for God. She currently has an Associate degree in Social work and is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa National Honors Society. Cequena will continue pursuing her educational goal of obtaining a Bachelor's degree in 2018.

Queen and Latifah

And she just so happens to be my best friend of 29 years. I love you, my sister and I am so proud of you. Continue to be a blessing to the world, my Queen.

Love always, your sister Latifah.

© Copyright