“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”
Hebrews 10:35-36 (NIV)
Have you ever thrown away your confidence? One night I was cleaning our kitchen and found this little rubber thingy on our counter top. It wasn’t until after I threw it away that I realized it was the power button for our TV remote control. As I dug through the trash to find it, I sensed God showing me that’s how easily I throw away my confidence—without recognizing it.
It’s usually very subtle. Sometimes I’ll be thinking about something I want to do or sense God calling me to, and a feeling of uncertainty comes over me and whispers to my heart, You can’t do that. You’re not good enough. Out of the blue, I’ll just get that awful, insecure feeling.
Too many times in the past I’ve gone along with it, tossing my confidence into the trash without even thinking.
So, maybe I should ask again. Have you ever thrown away your confidence?
We throw away our confidence each time we say negative things to ourselves. We trash our security when we allow accusation and condemnation from others to define us. And it breaks God heart.
Can I share an important message and invitation with you? It’ll only take 3 minutes, but it’s the most important part of today’s post. And it’s part of today’s give-away, too. Please click the arrow to watch.
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Renee Swope – A Confident Heart Book Trailer from SoundPost Productions on Vimeo.
(If you’re reading this post via email, please click here to view my book trailer)
Can you tell I’m a little passionate about sharing this message with you. It’s because I want you to experience the freedom and confidence Jesus gave this girl – freedom I’d never known – freedom that came as I learned to live in the power and security of God’s promises!
I know what it’s like to feel stuck in a cycle of defeat. I know how much “hopeless” hurts.
As I wrote A Confident Heart, I looked back and saw a pattern in my thinking that led to the pattern of my doubting. And those patterns led me to trash my security and become paralyzed with self-doubt.
But over time, I learned that I could ask God to show me when I’m tempted to throw away my confidence and then help me throw away my insecurities instead.
• When self-doubt whispers, “I can’t do that. I’m going to fail and look foolish.” I’ve learned to throw away that lie away and hold onto this truth (sometimes I even say it out loud): “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6, NIV 1984)
• When self-doubt whispers, “I’ll never change.” I throw away that lie away and claim this truth: “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in [me] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6, NASB)
• When self-doubt whispers, “This is too hard for me. I don’t have what it takes to…” I toss that thought and hold onto this truth: “No, in all these things [I am] more than a [conqueror] through him who loved [me].” (Romans 8:37, NIV)
Oh friends, how I long for you to join me in living with A Confident Heart. I want your life to be transformed through the Truths God engraved on my soul to share with you in each chapter.
That is why we’re praying over each book and each person who reads it, asking Jesus to use His words on each page to change your life as you read them. To make hope rise again in your heart. To bring encouragement where discouragement has settled. And set you free from any and all cycles of doubt and defeat so you can live with A Confident Heart!
Will you pray with me? Lord, I want to become a woman with a confident heart in Christ. Will you help me recognize when I throw away my confidence, and remind me to throw away my insecurities instead? I want to persevere in Your truth so that when I have done Your will, I will receive what You have promised. When doubt or insecurity tells me I can’t do something, I will remember that all things are possible to her who believes. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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A Confident Heart Give-Away
Enter to win 3 copies of A Confident Heart as well as a gift card and my message, “Don’t Throw Away Your Confidence” on CD- by clicking on “Share Your Thoughts” below. I’d love to know one thing in the book trailer or in my P31 devotion that you could identify with, also is there someone or somewhere you’ll share today’s post? We’d love for others to hear about A Confident Heart through you! And to make it easy, there are “Tell A Friend” buttons just below this post.
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Last week’s winners of the “Contagious Confidence” winners
which include a copy of “A Confident Heart” along with “Confident Heart” sticky notes that have quotes and promise from my book and Starbucks gift cards are: Kelli Wommack, Debra and Stephanie Melton. We’ve got your email from your comments so we’ll be in touch to get your address.
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Fear of failure! So many times I have turned down opportunities because of the “what ifs.” I did the 7-Day Doubt Diet. It really spoke to me. I sent it on to my daughter, She ordered it! I know this book will bless every woman that reads it.
I really related to your devotion this morning- in fact, I had a really bad last night because I let my self-doubt convince me that I wasn’t good enough. I really appreciate the daily devotions- I look forward to reading them each morning. Thank you for allowing God to use you to minister to all of us. I would love to win your book, fo myself and for my friends. God bless you!
I have struggled with self-doubt for most of my life! And I have called it all the things you talk about (worry, fear, etc.). I loved when you talked about turning around and seeing your shadow on the wall and how God told you that you could only see the shadow when you turned away from “the light”! What a great description of self-doubt – turning away from The Light, even briefly, takes your eyes off of Him! I am going to order your book today (hope I can still get a signed copy!) and I can’t wait to start reading it! Blessings to you and on your ministry to all of us!!
In your devotion you mentioned that someof the arguments you had as a newlywed were b/c of your lack of confidence and having certain doubts, that resonated within me. I can’t really be called a newly wed anymore-6 yrs & 2 kids later:) But I do know that I think this has been something that has caused some problems within my marriage. There were other things that I need to take to heart and work as well but too many to count. I think this devotion is shouting to me that what I have been calling “fear” is really just not trusting God-I have been doubting that HE can get me through situations or help me to accomplish things. Such a wrong thought pattern but I am going to write up some notes and try to take action trusting God to work in me and through me.
Thank you, Linda
Each day you encourage me to live with confidence. When I don’t speak up or step out for fear of looking foolish, failing, or not fitting in I try to remember I am only playing to an audience of ONE, my Father, who always delights in me when I am following in His word! I can’t wait to read the book and share it with my friends!
I struggle with the meanie-me thoughts too, and too often listen to those thoughts rather than God’s promises for my life. I soooo desire to overcome that struggle and to be more confident with God’s help. I would love to win your book, and I plan on passing it along to share with others… plus I’ve shared your webpage link with friends at work and on facebook. Thanks for much for your encouragement and sharing your life stories.
Love your sister in Christ,
Kathy
I struggle with self doubt daily. I think I’m not good enough. I look forward to reading this book!
The book looks like it will be a great resource for those of us who struggle with insecurities.
I love your devotions but I am really having trouble putting this into practice. I am 54 and have lived in the shadow of self-doubt for so many years that I can’t seem to pull myself out. I have gotten so afraid of disappointing my husband and family that I have become almost inactive. My housework and my marriage are suffering because I second-guess every move. At my job is the only place i feel confident about what I am doing. My head knows that God is with me and that He is powerful enough to pull me through anything but my flesh is so very weak. Thank you for exposing your doubt and fear and also your faith in the One in whom we can do all things.
I “pre-ordered” your book “A Confident Heart” and recieved it Monday. Thank you so much for signing it personally and for the scripture. I have been struggling with confidence in a new business adventure and it seems you wrote this book for me. Lack of confidence has held me back and caused me to sabotage great possibilities in my life. I would love to share this book with some wonderful women I know that could use more God confidence as well but can’t afford to buy more books right now. I think t his would make a fabulous small group study. Thank you so very much for sharing yourself with the rest of us so that we might grow as well. I have hope now that soon I will have God confidence!!
Thank you and God bless you!!
Oh and I plan to share your book and website on fb!!!
Renee, I only just recently found your blog and it has already greatly encouraged me. I have been struggling with every single one of the things you mentioned as common struggles, not good enough, having nothing to offer and disappointing someone. I am a newly wed and I have discovered my insecurity and fears growing where trust and love should be. It is a daily battle with so many ups and downs, it is exhausting. But I am also discovering that God’s love and faithfulness to me is so much larger than my insecurity and stunted confidence. Thank you for your last two posts, they have spoken straight to my heart issues, and God is blessing me by your words.
The Lord has been working on this area of doubt and self-defeating words. Thank you so much for this message. There is a difference between pride, self-confidence and God confidence. I think I misunderstood this and confused the ideas. I believed that these negative thoughts were actually godly~ humble and meek.
I’m beginning to realize that the opposite is true; these thoughts are not from God and actually are derailing much of what He is trying to do in me and through me. I am excited to glean more from your book.
I will email this to my family and friends. God bless you as you minister to others of God’s abundant
truth in our hearts.
I can definitely identify with this topic as I have struggled with a lack of self-confidence my entire life. Looking forward to reading your book.
Wow, this is something that I’m struggling with on an ongoing basis, like so many women. I’m so thankful that I saw you on Facebook this morning and read your story. I can’t wait to get my hands on your book and learn more of what God is speaking to you about. He knows our deepest fears and wants to set us free from bondage. Keep writing, Renee!
Your email on a Confident Heart came at just the right time! Criticism from a family member over attempts to help them through a difficult time, changes in my husband’s work demands causing him to be away from home for longer periods of time, launching three adult children creating an empty nest, and experiencing the disappointment of friends walking away from a once treasured ministry combined to form a caldron of introspection, dismay and dejection recently. Reading your “Encouragement for Today” made me realize I have thrown away my God-confidence. Thank you for helping me pick my emotional and mental focus “out of the trash” and place it back up on God’s promises and character through His word. Thank you for allowing God to speak through you!
I have lived with worry most of my life. It wasn’t until about a year and a half ago when I did a bible study with some ladies from church that I realized this is not what God wants from me. It’s hard to not worry daily, but I pray about it and move on. I would love to win your book.
“We trash our security when we allow accusation and condemnation from others to define us”…I have been trying to find words to explain to myself what happened to me…As a young woman, wife and mother I was growing comfortable with who I was and confident that I could walk in the path God had designed for me…as some years passed and my mother’s health began to fail the accusation and condemnation flowed until I shut myself into a closet of my own making and lost all hope that I would ever be what God wants me to be. In the past year events have occurred that enabled me to at first tentatively, but now ever so much more confidently open the doors of my hiding place and let the Lord love me in ways I could not have imagined…I’ve been reading your blog for a couple of weeks now and am daily encouraged. Thank you for that. I share your blog on my Facebook page and pray that those who are my “friends” there will also be blessed and nourished by your words…Thank you! I look forward to reading your book.
i am a wife and a mom as well as very involved with the children’s ministry and women’s ministry at our church. self confidence was something i didn’t struggle with very much when i was younger. i don’t know what changed, but here i am years later, having those occasional thoughts that i’m not good enough as a mom for my kids or a good enough wife for my husband. i’m not consumed by these thoughts; the thoughts that seem to be really have me in a “death grip” are the thoughts of: “if i fail, i might not get another chance so i’ll wait for something a little less challenging” or “what if i give the wrong advice and totally screw up someone else’s life”. i’m often afraid to step up/speak up fearing that i might say or do the wrong thing-more accurately, that i’ll do the right thing but no one else is doing it so i maybe shouldn’t.
like i said, i don’t know why or when this all started, but i want that confidence back.
not only do i need to hear this but i KNOW the women in our small group need to hear this too. i’ll for sure be sharing this post on Facebook with my bible study ladies. the book sounds perfect and so timely. i can’t wait to read it.
I am so incredibly excited to start this bible study. I just finished Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner by Wendy Blight and learned so much. I have read the doubt diet and LOVED it. I think all the women in my HJ prayer group are going to take the class. I am looking forward to having tools to defeat my lack of confidence and overcome the disappointment when I don’t please everyone. If I won the 3 books, I would give 1 to each of my daughters. Thanks Renee
I am sitting here reading these comments and my heart is just leaping with excitement for those who are about to read this book. May God continue to work through this message for years and generations to come! Love you, sweet sister!