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“I used to feel so far from God, like I had to work my way back to Him after periods of inconsistency in my time with Him, seasons of unbelief or self-sufficiency, or other sins. I was also convinced God had lost His patience with me.Then I’d try harder and eventually fail again.

Finally, I’d get defeated and wonder, “What’s the use in trying?”

But now I know it’s not about trying harder. It’s about turning sooner. It’s about confessing sin and turning back to God’s gift of grace.

Grace is God’s “undeserved favor.” We don’t have to earn it, and we cannot lose it when we act undeserving. Grace is God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Yes, grace cost a lot, but Jesus already paid for it. Because you see… it is “by grace [we] have been saved, through faith—and this not from [ourselves], it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8). And God’s grace not only saved us from eternal hell, it saves us from the hell we put ourselves through daily with guilt, shame, self-loathing and condemnation.

Some people ask if grace is a license to sin. A confident woman knows that it’s not. Instead, she realizes grace is the security of knowing God’s love is guaranteed for her because she trusts in Christ. Really understanding His sacrificial gift accomplishes the opposite of granting a license to sin. When we grasp what Jesus did for us, we want to return the gift of His life by offering ours to Him, even if our offering isn’t perfect or even perfectly consistent.” ~ From Chapter 10

Our word for the week is GRACE
Download and print our word for the week in a PDF or in MSWord.

Our verse for us this week: ”It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourself; it is the gift of God -” (Eph. 2:8)

Our prayer for us this week: Lord, thank You that I can approach Your throne of grace with confidence and receive mercy and find grace to help me in my time of need. Because of Your mercy and forgiveness, my guilt-induced doubt is replaced by grace-induced confidence. Help me trust You with all my heart and not lean on my own understanding, acknowledging You in all my ways so You can make my path straight. Those who know Your name trust You, Lord, because You have never deserted those who seek Your help. In Jesus’ Name, amen. {See Hebrews 4:16; 1 John 1:9; Proverbs 3:5–6; Psalm 9:10.}

Let’s Chat: What is one area of your life where you need to receive more of God’s grace and give yourself more grace too?

Please click “share your thoughts” just below this post and do just that. {If you are reading this via email please click here to return to my website to connect with us!}

I wish we could sit in a coffee shop and chat today. 

I’d love to talk with you about things that may be weighing you down. They always seem to lighten when shared with a friend.

I’d tell you about the year I let my problems pile up… and how all that pressure almost took me down. It’s all in chapter 9 of my book, A Confident Heart, including the story about  the time I accidentally took my dogs medicine. Yes ma’am. I sure did.

At the end of every chapter, I also share a prayer – weaving my tangled thoughts and somtimes-consuming concerns with His Words and wisdom. Praying in this way helps me to take my cares to Him with confidence, knowing when I pray His Word I am praying His will for me {and others}. Here’s the prayer that was birthed out of my piling up and tumbling down year:

Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. When concerns consume me, remind me that You are with me, holding me by my right hand and guiding me with Your counsel. Though my flesh and my heart may fail, You are the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Help me turn my burdens over to You, knowing that You will take care of me.

Because You are my shepherd, I shall not be in want. You promise that when I dwell in the shelter of the Most High, I can rest in the shadow of the Almighty. You are my refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life; You stretch out Your hand against the anger of my foes, and with Your right hand You save me. Thank You for making known to me the path of life and filling me with joy and peace in Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen. {See Psalms 139:23–24; 73:23–26; 55:22; 23:1; 91:1–2; 138:7; 16:11.}

From A Confident Heart by Renee Swope, Chapter 9
© 2013 by Baker Revell Publishing. All rights reserved.

Over the past few years God has been changing me and rearranging me. He’s taught me how to use prayer to turn my worry into worship. He’s also given me a practical way to physically hand Him my concerns! Since we can’t chat in a coffee shop today, I’d love to share them with you through this short video message:

Message Notes: You can download my “Video Message Notes” in a PDF here or in a Word doc here.  They include the points of my message, verses and blanks to fill in. {If you’d like to watch more FREE Confident Heart videos based on my book, click here.}

FREE DOWNLOADS:
Download my “Printable Prayers Collection: How to Pray for Those You Love from Head to Toe.” Today, I’m offering “Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe” {click here to download}

YOU CAN also RECEIVE ”Praying for Yourself from Head to Toe” and “Praying for Your Children from Head to Toe” when you sign up here to enter your name and email.  Then come back so you can enter to win today’s giveaway below!

 

TODAY’s GIVEAWAY:
Share one thought or something you want to apply after reading today’s devotion, blog post or hearing my video message. Click “share your thoughts” right below this post and do just that.

Enter to Win one of 4 copies of A Confident Heart, OR the grand prize which includes A Confident Heart book PLUS a coffee shop gift card and a Godiva chocolate bar. 

$40 in Confident Heart Resources {FREE}!! When You Purchase A Confident Heart this month, you can receive over $40 in FREE RESOURCES and EXCLUSIVE downloads.

CLICK HERE to find out how!

Update on My Mom:
Thank you for your prayers for my mom. She’s had ups and downs but her kidney pain is less and less each day. Ive been concerned she had gotten pneumonia because she started running a fever, coughing, has had pain in her lower lung and some breathing issues {plus she has a history or pulmonary embolisms and has been off of her blood thinners for surgery.} We’ll be seeing her doctor on Monday to check on her kidney and lungs. I think she’s okay but it will be good to hear the doctor confirm that.

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Beloved: greatly loved; dear to the heart.

There is a reason God calls us His be-loved.

Because we don’t have to “do” anything to be loved — by Him.

When we live loved…

We can be still…. stop striving and remember that He is God.

We can choose to find resting place for our restless hearts in HIM

We can stop scurrying and hurrying because “doing more” doesn’t define us

We can rest secure knowing His banner over us is LOVE.

You are loved…not because of what you do but because of who you are.

HIS {greatly loved, dear to HIS heart} beloved!

Our Word for the week: Beloved
Download our word for the week in a PDF or in MSWord. Be sure to print it and post it all over your house or office so you can remember you are God’s be-LOVED!

Let’s live loved in His PROMISE for us this week: “Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields [her] all day long, and the one the Lord loves rest between His shoulders.” Deuteronomy 33: 12, NIV

Today’s Assignment: Start or continue reading chapter 9. As you read, highlight or underline things you want to remember, promises your heart needs to hear. Take time to journal what God is showing you.

Connecting in Community:
I would love to know what one or two things you’ve read so far in Chapter 9 that you feel God is speaking to your heart about. Are there verses or sentences you’ve underlined or highlighted? Click “share your thoughts” just below this post and do just that.

{If you are reading this via email please click here to return to my website to connect with us!}

If the message of A Confident Heart has touched your life

there has NEVER been a better time to SHARE IT with someone else!

I wanted to bless YOU with a gift {worth more than the price of the book}
when you give away what you’re receiving as you learn to live in the security of God’s love and the power of His promises. I felt like chapter 8 was the perfect time to do this so…

When you purchase A Confident Heart between May 1- June 10th
You will receive over $40.00 in FREE RESOURCES
to help you live with a Confident Heart! {See resource list below}

To receive your $40 in Resources:

Email a copy of  YOUR RECEIPT to –> PreSummerPromo@gmail.com

Once we receive your receipt, confirming your purchase between May 1-June 10th, we’ll send an email with details on how to access the FREE downloads.

The purpose of this promotion is to bless YOU for blessing someone else!
Our hope is that someone who needs to know just how much God loves them, will receive a copy of A Confident Heart {from you} and discover they are chosen, accepted, pursued, loved {unconditionally} and created for a God-given purpose only they can fulfill!

Here is a list of the $40.00 in FREE RESOURCES you will receive:

• “When I Say… God Says…” 31 Promises from Chapter 12  {Exclusive Promo Printable}
• Confident Heart Scripture Prayers {Exclusive Promo Printable}
• Rest Assured - Message on MP3
• Letting God Fill My Empty Places - Message on MP3
• Don’t Throw Away Your Confidence - Message on MP3

{Find detailed descriptions here}

And there’s More!

Each person who buys a copy and sends in their receipt will also be entered to win:

A copy of our new P31 Real-life Devotional Bible for Women , one of (3) Panera gift cards or one of (2) P31 Store certificates.

 

If the message of A Confident Heart has impacted your life, there’s never been a better time to share it with someone else. I want to bless YOU {with a gift worth more than the cost of the book} when you share with someone you know what you’re finding in the security of God’s love and the power of His promises.

When you purchase A Confident Heart between May 1- June 10th, you can receive over $40.00 in FREE RESOURCES. {See the special list below}

The purpose of this promotion is to bless you for blessing someone else! Our hope is that someone in your life who needs to know just how much God loves them, will receive a copy of A Confident Heart {from you} and begin to discover they are chosen, accepted, pursued, loved {unconditionally} and created for a God-given purpose only they can fulfill!

All you need to do is SAVE YOUR RECEIPT &  ENTER your NAME & EMAIL in my right sidebar where it says “Pre-Summer Promotion.” Once we receive notification from you, saying you have purchased a copy of the book between May 1-June 10th, we’ll send an email with instructions about how to send us a copy of your receipt and details to let you know how and when you can access the FREE downloads.

Through Saturday, May 11th - A Confident Heart  is on sale for $6.99 at Lifeway.com. That is a sweet 50% discount and with my $40 in resources – that is quite a deal! Click here to buy it before this sales ends!

 

HERE are the $40 in FREE RESOURCES you could receive:

Chapter 12 – “When I Say… God Says…” 31 Promises {Printable}
Countless readers have said the Chapter 12 chart of promises is their favorite take-away of the whole book! This printable PDF includes the chart in Chapter 12 with  31 different “When I say–God says” statements and promises to help you exchange your most common and crippling self-doubts with God’s transforming truths.

Confident Heart Scripture Prayers {Printable}
A beautiful compilation of prayers from the end of each chapter in A Confident Heart  we’ve put together a “Praying God’s Promises” printable PDF so you can print them, post them and carry them with you! “Praying God’s Word is one of the most life-changing ways to live in the security of His promises. “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14 NASB). We can be confident when we pray His Word, we pray God’s will and through the power of prayer His promises are engraved on our hearts.”

Rest Assured- Message on MP3
Ever feel anxious, scattered or depleted? Jesus invites us to bring our rest-less hearts to Him: “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28) Through powerful Biblical teaching and practical life applications, Renee shows us how we can “rest assured” in Jesus by replacing worries that make us weary with God’s perspective and peace. In this one hour message, Renee will help you rest in His presence and rely on His plans as you learn to:

• Depend on the certainty of God’s promises despite the uncertainty of your circumstances
• Improve your relationships by embracing grace-based expectations of yourself and others
• Turn worry into worship by focusing on “what is” instead of “what if”
• Live with a confident heart in Christ by exchanging fear-filled thinking with faith-filled believing

Letting God Fill My Empty Places - Message on MP3
Do you ever measure your worth by how well you’re doing at work, at home, or in your relationship with God? Does is sometimes leave you feeling empty and uncertain that you can ever do enough, or be enough? Weaving powerful truths with practical life applications, in this 50-minute message,  Renee shares insights from her personal struggles with performance-based living as she helps you:

• Identify what makes you feel empty and ways to let Jesus fill you
• Find lasting contentment and confidence in God’s unfailing love
• Experience greater joy in the people, positions, and possessions God’s given you
• Stop striving to please and start believing because God’s promises that you are “enough”

Don’t Throw Away Your Confidence - Message on MP3
Ever feel like you’re not good enough, smart enough, or gifted enough? Do the critical words you say to yourself, or hear from others, make you question your worth? Renee Swope offers the voice of a friend who candidly, and humorously, shares her struggles and victories in overcoming self-doubt. Identifying the most common triggers of insecurity, Renee will  help you:

• Break free from the comparison trap and embrace the unique woman God created you to be
• Exchange critical “against me” thoughts with scripture-based God is “for me” thoughts
• Learn from conflict and grow more confident through it
• Replace alack of self-confidence with lasting God-confidence

There’s More!

Each person who buys a copy and sends in their receipt will also be put into a drawing for additional GIVEAWAYS!

These giveaways include a copy of our new P31 Real-life Devotional Bible for Women with devotions written by our Proverbs 31 Ministries writers {including me, Lysa TerKeurst, Karen Ehman, Glynnis Whitwer, Micca Campbell and many more!}

Also, thanks to my friend Donna Bostick, I’ll be giving away (3) Panera gift cards and (2) P31 Store certificates to additional winners.

 

You’ve Already Got What It Takes

{Confident Heart} Conference Call

Recording Available

Click HERE to LISTEN TO THE CALL 

***

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS you’d like me to to answer after the call,
please click “Share Your Thoughts” below and I’ll do my best as time allows.

I know you sometimes feel ordinary but you’re not.

You are one of a kind ~ a unique and beautiful blend of all God wants you to be.

You may feel invisible … like you’re just one of millions of others.

But there’s no comparison. God sees you friend.

And when God sees you, He sees someone He loves.

Listen as He whispers…”You are precious and honored in my sight …. and I love you.” Is 43:4

He also sees someone He knows.

“You have searched me, LORD, and you know me.” Ps 139:1

Since God knows you, has a purpose for you and loves the way He made you, I’m confident He wants you to feel the same way. Watch, listen and let Him sing these truths over your heart today. {And if you’re reading this in email, click here to watch it online.}

You really are…

Beautiful

Loved

Cherished

Chosen

Treasured

Sacred

You are His!

May God’s sweet affirmations replaceall those comparisons. As you identify, understand and embrace who HE created you to be, I’m praying you will be able to say with confidence, “Lord, You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb, I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Ps. 139:13-14)

***

 Want to find out more about who God created you to be?
Here’s a link to a FREE Spiritual Gifts Assessment  to see what your gifts are!

It’s FREE for everyone!

***

ENTER TO WIN:  I’m giving away  5 copies of the personality assessment that I talk about in my book A Confident Heart {on sale now for $6.99} 

In chapter 8, I share an in-depth section about personalities and how our unique traits play a key role in our God-given purpose. Today’s giveaway is called Wired That Way Personality Profile and includes a time-tested profile with definitions, instructions to eliminate confusion, a detailed explanation of your scores, and a handy team-building chart that shows how the different Personalities interact. To enter:  Share a little bit about what God is showing you as you continue to read chapter 8, or today’s blog post and/or music video.  Simply click “share your thoughts” below. And let me know if you’ll be on our Conference Call tomorrow night!
 

FREE Confident Heart Conference Call

Thursday, May 9th,  at 9pm EST

Topic: You’ve Already Got What It Takes 

Sign Up Below:

When you say: I feel worthless.

God says: You are precious and loved by Me.

You are precious and honored in my sight, and… I love you. Isa. 43:4

~From Chapter 12, A Confident Heart

Have you taken a peek at Chapter 12? I have included a chart of 31 of our most common whispers of doubts and truths God wants to speak into our hearts to set us back into a place of living in the security of HIS promises! They are just like the one I posted above.

No matter where you are in the book, I hope you’ll turn to Chapter 12 and  let them speak to your heart and into your doubts today.

I just finished speaking to these amazing women in Miami. I am at Expolit with my family attending a Spanish book convention where my book is being released in Spanish and Portuguese this week! I did a break-out session for women and now I’m heading into a luncheon where I am keynoting. Then I have five interviews with radio stations from Miami, Spain, Honduras, and other international outlets and then a book signing this afternoon.

I am so honored to be here with Wendy Bello from Proverbs 31 Spanish Ministries and with Paulo from Editorial Patmos, who is releasing my book and invited me to be here. {And Im not sure why Aster is making that funny face. I think that she was saying Cheese }

Updated Sunday: Here is a fun video from my Spanish publisher capturing my time at Expolit. If only I could understand all that is being said. One thing I know is that I have fallen in love with the hearts of these people!!

FINAL NOTE: Lifeway is offering my book for $6.99 {50% off }now thru May 11th!   AND it’s just in time for my MAY promotion where you can receive $50 in FREE RESOURCES when you buy a copy for yourself, a friend or your mom for Mother’s day!

So be sure to SAVE YOUR RECEIPT: I will share details here when I return from Expolit! Click here to purchase.

Facebook Party winners announced in the post below this one.

Today, my friend Kimberly is here to openly share her struggles with condemnation and how it has made her see herself so differently than God does. She’s written something for us below, but first I want to share this powerful 2 minute video she filmed with her church to capture what God was teaching her about the destruction of condemnation and the healing power of His grace:

{If you are reading this post via email, click here to return to my blog to watch the video.}

From Kimberly…

A few years ago, if you would have asked me if I believed that God loved me, I would have told you, “Yes.” Realizing His great love for me has been one of the sweetest truths I have ever come to know.

BUT, if you had asked me if I believed God could use me or would even WANT to use me… well, I would have hemmed and hawed and never really landed on an exact yes or no. Why? Because I felt unusable. My sins and mistakes disqualified me. I looked at myself and saw all of my flaws. I saw deep insecurities. I saw my too often short temper. I saw a lack of discipline, a lack of Biblical knowledge. I saw lack upon lack, failure upon failure.

“Jesus loves me? Yes. He died for me. But Jesus would like to use me. Ummmm…seriously? I think not.”

I love how He corrects our wrong thinking through His Word.

As I sat reading the Bible one day, heart heavy from discouragement, God led me to read John 3:17. It comes right after John 3:16, one of the earliest verses we ever learn about how God loved the world so much He sent His only Son Jesus to die for us so that, believing in Him, we could have eternal life. John 3:17 goes on to tell us more:

“For God did not send His Son Jesus into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

I felt the Lord urging me to look up the definition the words “condemn.”

Condemn- 1. to pass an adverse judgement on; disapprove of strongly, censure; 2. a) to declare to be guilty of wrongdoing; convict b) to pass judicial sentence on; inflict a penalty upon c) to doom; 3. to declare (property) legally appropriated for public use; 4. to declare unfit for use or service. (Webster’s Dictionary)

That was exactly how I felt. Unsafe. Unlovely. Unusable.

Convinced that Jesus wanted to wrap caution tape around my life to keep people back. “Stay away from this one. I love her, but she’s still too messed up to be of any use to me. Better stand clear of her.”

The words of John 3:17 coupled with the last definition released a flood of truth and healing over my heart. The Father was whispering tenderly to me. He did not see me as I saw myself. He did not see a condemned building…someone dangerous. Someone unlovely. Someone unusable. He saw someone He loved so much that He would send His only Son to die a shameful and excruciating death for her. He sent His Son to save me. To forgive me. To heal me. To set me free, fill me up, and USE me.

The tears began to flow as He let me know that I am usable. And not only does He find me usable. He wants to use me. I am not the same woman I was 13 years ago.

• I have been forgiven of all of my sins. (1 John 1:9) (even the “big bad” ones)
• I am a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
• I am complete in Christ. (Colossians 2:10)
• I have purpose in Him. (Ephesians 2:10)

Let these sweet truths wash over you today. Jesus did not come to label you unusable. He loves you and He has a purpose for your life that is of great use to His kingdom!

Thank you so much Kimberly for sharing your heart and being so honest with us today. I got so much encouragement from your transparency and writing. So many of us can relate to what you shared.

Let’s Connect: So friends…How about you? Do you believe God loves you, yet struggle to believe He could ever use you? Do you struggle to believe He would want to use when you look at your  flaws and failures?  I’m so thankful for Kim’s message that sets the stage for some real life transparency and hope today.

Do you know someone who feels condemned and like God can’t use them or love them? I’d love to share the truth of God’s unfailing love with them. My book is on sale today through May 11 for $6.99 at Lifeway.com! I know many of you have given it to friends and I want you to be able to do that more now than ever {especially at this price!} after watching the redeeming work Jesus is doing in your lives as we read it together. Click here if you’d like to get a copy for 50% off .

{PS. Save your receipt! I’ll be offering some FREE resources to those who buy a copy of A Confident Herat in May. Working on the details of the special promotion and will post them here by the weekend!}