“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.
[field name=iframe]
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.
*********
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.
*********
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.
Discover more from Renee Swope
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Earlier this year, I started memorizing scripture to use to calm myself and refocus when fear creeps in (which it does often). Not until just now when I read your devotional did I think about doing the same when I struggle with insecurity. I’ve already written Hebrews 13:6 down…looking forward to reading the doubt diet.
I am an older woman, but can tell you this is a subject that affects millions of women of all ages..We just sometimes have so much pride we hate to admit it..I loved your devotion today and I think your book is going to bless many lives..it is my prayer that the Lord will continue to use you for His Honor and Glory. May you be blessed ! Thank you for sharing these beautiful thoughts with us..
You probably hear this kind of thing from lots of readers, but confidence in several areas of my life has been a struggle lately. I just had a conversation with my husband about it last night. I wake up this morning, and what is in my inbox? My P31 devotion about confidence! God’s timing is perfect, and when He speaks to me this clearly I had better listen! So I signed up for the seven day emails and will share this on my facebook page. Thank you, Renee, for sharing your heart!
I’m really looking forward to studying A Confident Heart! It’s the first book I ever pre-ordered on Amazon.com and received “hot off the press!” I will be joining Melissa Taylor’s online study, as well as facilitating a study through my church. I would love to be able to offer the free copies to women who want to study the book along with me.
Renee, thank you for sharing your journey!
In Christ,
Laura
I did enjoy your 7-Day Doubt Diet devotionals and KNOW this book is for me! One thing you mentioned in your promo video that I believe I relate to most is passing up opportunities for fear of failure. I often won’t take the risk. I want to read your book and would love an opportunity to win a copy : ) Thanks, Renee, for sharing the truths you’ve learned in overcoming self-doubt and keeping it from running your life. Sharing your story I know will help me and thousands of others out there dealing with the same issues.
Blessings to you,
Pam
Renee ~
Thank you for allowing God to use you to touch many women and draw them closer to Him. I have struggled with confidence issues for as long as I can remember. Even now, I hear so many negative comments in my mind. I have always been a people pleaser….I so long to just be a God pleaser! 🙂 It is exhausting trying to live up to my expectations of who I think I should be. I am greatly looking forward to reading your book. Thank you!!
Jennifer
Renee,
After reading your devotional today it made me realize just how often I chose to “believe the Lies Satan whispers in my ears”. Many time I consider doing this or that and think, or getting involved with something I am very passionate about. “I can’t do that, or I am not qualified, or What is I do something wrong.” I look forward to reading more of your devotionals and I am glad that you wrote this book, because many people face doubt and don’t know how to make it go away.
I wish you Many Blessings and days with Confidence in the Lord.
Thanks for writing this books.
Your Sister in Christ,
Sandy
Your comments have hit me directly in the heart and the soul, I have been letting a co worker negative comments, jabs, direct my feelings and attitude. I am love by the lord, and have his power to overcome the negative vibes in our office. YOU have made me strong today, thank you.
God bless your ministry and the women who read your book.
Renee,
I do suffer from lack of self confidence. And your words were comforting to me. I know the enemy attacks us through our thoughts. I am in battle over this issue. I believe God, his word is true, and he used you to speak to me today. Thank You Father, your servant Renee wrote the very words you put in her heart. And your spirit renewed my heart as I read each word. This giving me direction and strength to continue to stand. Thank you Renee
I’m so glad I took the time to read your devotion today! It spoke right to my heart. I am not confident in much that I do and I second guess nearly all decisions that I make. I pray daily for God to release me from this burden. It has affected my entire life and my marriage. I spent years hiding this issue from those who care about me and just recently started reaching out for help. Your book will surely be a treasured addition to my collection. Thank you for your encouraging words today.
Renee, thank-you for sharing your wisdom. Today was my first time on your website although I have always loved reading your storys on P31.
This morning before my daily time with God, and reading…I asked God to encourage me.
You see, I’ve had these ideas that I know God has placed on my heart about reaching out to the homeless in my “neck of the woods”, but I’m constantly doubting my idea, and my dream, and am too afraid to put myself out there. I am thinking of “other” ways to serve, my way of taking baby steps, but that dream is dangling over my head, like a fly that won’t leave me alone. I want so bad to not be afraid, so I asked God this morning for encouragement in my reading, and I was lead to your scripture at the top of your beautiful story on having “confidence”. Isn’t God just SO good? Thank-you so much for sharing your heart and being an instument that God uses<3 I trust God for the right book to read, and I'm CONFIDENT that this is it. I believe it's just what I need.
Love,
Erin
It is amazing how God works. I have been struggling with self-confidence issues since I was in high school. I am now a College graduate and looking for a job. But myself doubt is holding me back. I receive the devotional from Proverbs 31 and it was just what I needed to hear. I know I need to exchange my negative thoughts that Satan is placing in my head with God powering scripture but I so easily resort to the negative thoughts. I know I am special but sometimes it is SO hard to remember and it is easy to let the negative thoughts take over. I myself have passed up some pretty rewarding experiences due to my lack of confidence. I’m tired of doing that and want to begin living a life that finds my full confidence in HIM. Because without him I truly am nothing and it is only through him that I am able to do great things.
I plan to re-post this on my facebook for my friends in hopes that it encourages someone else.
Wow, Renee! I was praying about this situation in my own life just last night and crying out to the Lord because of my worry and fear about several new challenges/opportunities I believe He has called me to. While I am very excited, I am also scared to death. After reading your email this morning, along with the all the free downloads, I can see that I have been struggling with self-doubt as well – and have been for as long as I can remember. My life story of self-doubt sounds very similar to yours. So many opportunities missed out on because of it. I can’t wait to read your book. I pray it will change my life, as writing it has obviously changed yours. Thank you for being God’s servant. Many, many blessings for you and your family.
I can’t wait to actually sit down and read this book. I’ve been putting off ordering with hopes that I’d win a copy here! I’m going to have to order and I need to do that before the 5th so I get one with a note from you!!!
This really touched me today. I have always been shy and don’t really volunteer for anything. I too often don’t see myself as being valuable to my husband even though he reassures me constantly. My sister is a lot like me in both of these areas, and I am going to send this devotion to her as well. I hope and pray it will touch her as it did me. Thank you!
I broke into tears reading your P31 devo today. I struggle with self doubt but like you have named it “worry” or other things. It saddens my heart to think how the way I feel about myself and the way I listen to those voices when they tell me I’m not good enough or really why would God call you to do that. Even the part where you shared of early arguments with your husband due to your own insecurities, I totally did that. I look forward to your 7 day doubt diet emails I just signed up. I would love a to win a copy of your book as I think it would help me through this struggle, but if not Thank You for your posts, devos, emails, and other helpful resources. And Thank You Lord for putting this on your heart to share. May God continue to keep you in his will and may you continue to hear his guiding.
Kandis
Renee I love reading your devotions thru Proverbs 31 Ministries. They are so inspirtational and also down to earth. So many times your words reach right down to the middle of my heart and I can relate what you are saying. Don’t throw away your confidence did this. I have always been a little on the shy side, afraid to step out of my comfort zone.
Thank you so much for your words and God Bless.
It is AWESOME to see how God is speaking the same thing to His body all over the World. I started a Women’s Ministry, not by my choice, but by Gods. This exactly what God has been teaching us and bringing us through. The main purpose of it is to be the vessels God has designed us to be, to know His plan and purpose for our lives and renew our minds to His. I would love to be able to share these books with the other ladies in this group. I definitely plan on getting one of these books.
Thank you so much for all that you guys do for the Lord and for being obedient to His calling. This ministry is a Great blessings.
This sounds like a book I really NEED to read. Thank you for the devotionals on Proverbs 31.
Good morning, Renee…
What can i identify with on the Proverbs31 devotionals? i’d have to say that each one speaks to me. i love getting it on my Blackberry so i can read and re-read it during the day whenever i take a break from the humdrum work of life. Thanks for sharing