“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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I can relate to throwing away opportunities because I didn’t have the confidence to even try. As I get older I find it even harder to take that first step.
Renee’ I cannot wait to read your book! Since God has opened doors from a full time working away from home woman to a stay at home wife and mom, who is starting homeschool, and trying to launch women’s ministries in our church I have realized jsut how much the enemy is trying to defeat me through lack of confidence. The biggest challenge for me is over coming that desire to please others and invest my worth into what they think! I would love to allow God help me overcome that through your book!
I am in the midst of a separation from my husband of 26 years and I am struggling with the feelings of denial, no self-worth, and all of the other things that come along. With this trial in my life, I am being drawn closer to God through Jesus – leaving it up to Him to heal me of the hurt and the complete and total restoration of my marriage.
I have always been shy and still feel shy. Worry and fear is what causes me doubts. I know it is having trust is God through all things, but easier said then done sometimes. I can’t wait to do a Bible study with your new book. I am hoping my MOPS group will, if not I need the confidence to lead it at my church.
Thank you for sharing something I find hard to deal with. God’s blessings to us all!!
Wow… the trailer and P31 message for today could have been ME! NO Confidence! Self-doubt! Feelings of worthlessness instead of worthiness! The same issues with family and husband and children! I taught elementary school for 25 years, and would take on troubled students feeling that I could help their hearts if not their academics… but my peers didn’t agree with my thoughts and later we all became challenged by test scores. (I took early retirement because of it.) I had a job opportunity, that I felt God had sent, a chance to mentor teachers… but when it came time for the interview, I had every doubt and it showed. Needless to say, I was not selected for the position. Now that I am home all day, I have joined a quilting group. I will take on projects, only to get the fabric and then say to myself… are you really sure you can do this? Then the projects sit until I am up against a wall to finish… and they always turn out beautiful! I am taking steps forward in this battle, but tend to backslide. I am looking forward to reading your book and participating in the study!
Thank you, Renee, for reminding us to live in the light God’s love and the confidence He has given us through Christ. I’d love to read and share your book. Be blessed!
Today your devotion on Proverbs 31, specially touched my heart this morning. I am preparing for a doctor’s appointment today through my pregnancy that could alter our lives. This just reminds me that I am mother and I am human and that I am also God’s child. I woke up this morning and the first thought on my mind was God speaking to me “Our child is Perfect in MY (God’s) eyes” No matter what the doctor reports say that doesn’t change the fact that this child inside of me is growing because of His love for all of us! Thank you Renee for the reminder to be Confident and I am hoping that soon I will have a copy of your book to really dig deep into this ~ Many Blessings to you and your family!
Wow! Everytime I read one of your devotions about Confident Heart, I feel God is talking directly to me. I am guilty of throwing away my confidence instead of my insecurities. I am looking forward to one day reading your book.
Thank you for your encouragement!
As a woman who was sexually abused as a child and from a broken home, I have always struggled with self-confidence. Your devotions are always such a blessing to me! I am so grateful that the Lord uses you to help so many people each day. I’m really looking forward to the new book!
Every part of your message today went straight to my heart! I am known as the “worrier” of our family and just by reading your message, I can see so much of that worry is related to my lack of confidence in both my personal and professional life. Today I am involved in a work related activity that I have never done before and even told my husband, “I am afraid I might have made a mistake and everyone will think I am dumb about what I wrote and I will be a disappointment on the review board”. Your devotion was just what I needed to hear before going to my meeting today! I think I need to read this book!
Wow, I can so relate with this message of needing more of ‘God~fidence’! And so comforting to know I’m not alone in the journey. Im really looking forward to reading your book, especially to discover principles in holding onto God’s promises-His truths!
I would love to win your new book Renee! Thank you for using what you have learned through God to encourage others. I have struggled with worry and doubt as far back as I can remember and recently things got so bad that I was put on an anti-depressant. I’ve been so ashamed of it and the only person who has known about it is my husband and dr. I guess I feel like I should be able to overcome it without drugs. Anyway, I’v been feeling at lot more at peace and am working on my relationship with the Lord so that hopefully one day I can come off the medication.
Thank you so much for sharing your heart and God bless you,
Janet
Hi Renee,
I am in need of this book. There was not one thing that you had said but all of them that struck a chord with me. I have been dealing with self-doubt most of my life. I feel as though I am not living the life Jesus died to give me. I believe He can change that though(and with a little help from the book)
I can so relate to, “Feeling like I’m always disappointing someone” and “I’ll never change”. At 45 years old, this has been the story of my life. Time to get rid of some mindless thinking.
Renee- Thank you for today’s devotion! God definitely knows when to send me a wake up call! I started a new job several months ago in a managerial position – which I’ve never been before – and I feel so insecure. I love my job but have so many areas that I truly doubt myself in. Reading your devotion made me think back to my childhood and I could definitely relate. I see now that I’ve never had confidence in myself or in my abilities as a person, wife, mother, or employee. I’m definitely claiming the verses and pray that God releases me from this insecurity. I know that with God all things are possible:) Thank you for allowing God to use you to reach others…..May God continue to bless you and your family.
Wow! You may have written this book just for me! My self doubt paralyzes me! I truly have trouble even commenting here thinking there are so many other women and they all deserve this so much more. I will definitely be checking out this book. It is very encouraging and hopeful to see that you have stepped out of the shadow of self doubt, maybe I can do the same.
I have been soooo inspired by the readings and encouraged to take a firm stand in the promises God has revealed to me through the stories. Thanks for sharing and keeping me fed, for I also share what I learn with others. I may fall down, sin in either my thoughts, or words, but Praise God He has redeemed me and forgiven me. I am more in tune daily with the voice in my ear, that whispers when I am not doing what I am suppose to do, or trouble lies ahead. God has His mighty hand on me and He actually asked me to come outside one night and as the moon was full, invited me to come, sit, and talk to Him. He wanted me to tell Him what was on my heart and share some time with Him. I had such a passionate talk, tears and all…and MY Daddy heard me! Now everytime I see the moon in it’s majesty, I am reminded of that one particular night.
I almost deleted today’s devotion without reading it due to a busy schedule and an overflowing inbox. But God knew this message was just what I needed today. Last night I looked around at my disorderly home and felt like such a failure. If I cannot even keep my home tidy, where can I find the confidence to embark on more challenging projects such as a prison ministry that I recently joined? Today’s message answered that question in a powerful way! Beginning this moment, I will ask God to help me throw away my insecurities and doubts rather than my confidence. Thank you for blessing us with this meditation today. One way or another, I plan to read your book.
I would love to read your book. I struggle with these thoughts in my personal and business life. It keeps me from talking to people for fear of being rejected or disliked. It keeps me from being happy when someone else suceeds because of course they did that, but not me, it’s impossible for me to do that.
Thank you for this devotion! Blessings!
I recently saw a picture of my cousin on facebook. It flooded back all the feelings of judgement and insecurity all the way from childhood. My friends have asked me why I don’t really ‘like myself’, and until that moment, I couldn’t really put a finger on it. I knew I never felt like I ever amounted to anything, but wasn’t sure exactly why. Reading your devotions and postings, I’m working on claiming God’s promises instead of just accepting who others said I was. It makes it so tangible, knowing incredible women of God like you still need to remind each other every day the promises of God. Its not a one time thing, but a day by day thing. Thank you for writing in a way that touches my heart and brings the glory of God. I’m definitely sharing this with my facebook friends. Who knows what life could be changed…Thank you and may the Lord continue to bless you and your ministry.