“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.
Renee, your Proverbs 31 devotional could not have come at a more perfect time in my life. I recently discovered that my lack of confidence is a huge underlying problem in my life and something that I need to confess, confront and work on with Jesus. Your book sounds like the perfect place for me to start. I’m going to share it with my mentor, who has been encouraging me to work on this, and my accountability partner who struggles with the same thing and would benefit greatly from this resource. Thank you!
I got so much out of the first chapter and the 7 day Doubt Diet, I shared it with some friends. We are forming a book study group at our church..Can’t wait to get the book and get to it! This is an area so many women struggle with, I’m excited to see how God will work in our lives as we study this book.
I really struggle with confidence. One of the things I could relate to was that I have given up opportunities because I was afraid of failing. I am going to share this message with my friend Tammy who is struggling right now with unemployment and uncertainty. I can’t wait to read this book. It sounds like it was written just for me but I know it will help thousands of women out there struggling.
I enjoyed reading your devotion today. It is amazing that God strategically places things in my path to encourage me in the very thing I’m struggling with, no matter what it is. I am married to a wonderful man, but he is very critical of everything I do. After 11 years of marriage I am feeling very beat down and my confidence is extremely low. Just last night I was thinking I’ll never be able to change the way my husband wants me to, so when I read that in your devotion it was really personal to me. I know God’s word says he who has begun a good work in me will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ, but I so often hear the opposite from the person I love most that it is hard to hold on to that truth. Thank you for the truths of God’s word that replace the self-doubting lies I allow myself to believe. I am working hard to find my identity and worth in Jesus Christ.
Boy, nothing like divine timing! I am trying to find God’s direction for me related to a potential job opportunity and after reading your message in Encouragement for Today I realized how much self-doubt I have in my past and present. You gave me a glimmer of hope that it doesn’t have to be like that in the future. I have always felt like an “imposter” and that if people really knew me, they would discover how little I know, how ordinary and without real value a person I am. I have been married to a wonderful man for 25 years and our early years were filled with arguments related to my insecurities, he said to me once, “I cannot convince you that your are valuable and loved and I am not going to try for the rest of our lives, you’ll have to figure it out and believe it”. I have come along way since those years but the self doubt is always present. This same wonderful man introduced me to Jesus early in our courtship and I feel like Jesus helped my husband stand by me despite my insecurities. Thanks Renee. Blessings
I love P31 ministries, you aways give me just what I need when I need it. As I read your devotion this morning I felt like you were writing just for me. I struggle with self doubt on a daily basis. I can’t wait to get your book. Thank you for putting aside your self doubt to do what God called you to. Be blessed always!
Reading your devo today in prov 31 really touched my heart. Honestly I have lived a whole life like this also to see you struggled as a child so did I and do to this day. I would love to read your book because honestly lacking confidence drives me crazy. I really want to know why this has happened to me. I have a sister who is complete opposite. Having little to no confidence has negatively impacted my life and I don’t want it to anymore. Thank you for sharing your heart and you can’t even see the dirty dishes in the sink 😉 hugs 🙂
I lacked confidence in myself so much that I didn’t complete the tasks for an upgrade of my job for too long. Your story today is so very real to me.
Thanks so much!!!! I really needed this today.
i will be sharing this with a friend of mine who needs to work on getting her job upgraded. She doesn’t believe that her superiors will work with her. I’ve been telling her she should still try.
I am so thankful for you, Renee. I have done the 7-day doubt diet and am going through it again… so much to process and take in… 7 days just aren’t enough!!!
I’m realizing that doubt is a bigger factor in my life than I thought… I know God has a plan for me and it is good… thank you for the lists of promises… especially the one to personalize… these kinds of tools are immeasurable… especially during those times when I’m down deep in doubt.
Thank you for your honesty and transparency in your writing.
It is truly a God given gift!!
Renee,
I struggle with so much self doubt that it is even hard to describe. Even if someone gives me a compliment, I turn it around as negative. Would love to have your book not only for myself but also for my mother.
Thanks,
Carol
Oh how I could identify with your P31 devotional. I always doubt myself espeically when it comes to my faith and stepping out for God. I listen to the lies way to much and need to find and stay in the confidence of Christ. I cannot wait to read your book and allow GOd to show me how to walk forward in HIs confidence.
I am so looking forward to your new book Renee! I have ordered it and it is on the way! I am excited about the next P31 Bible Study. Today’s devotional brought tears to my eyes as I identify with your insecurities that began in childhood. I too, felt like I was not worth keeping. My parents joked about giving me away to their good friends because they did not have a daughter; I believed them. While they did not mean to hurt me, I believe it has affected me. I have lived a life trying to please others, and have been highly motivated to make something of myself. Finally reaching my career goal, I have continued to struggle with self-doubt, which has hindered my growth professionally and spiritually. Thank you Renee for your encouragement!
After reading the devotional I was hit straight on that I had experienced that twinge of fear as I contemplated stepping out upwards a new venture. It may not be the door to open for me, but I will never know if I don’t reach out and try the doorknob. Thanks for sharing.
okay, seriously this devotion from p31 this morning was totally a devine appointment. i have struggled my whole life with having no self-confidence; more specifically in the last few years, i have really struggled with applying and believing God’s truth about how much He loves me. i will make progress and do really well, feel like i am solid, standing on His promises and truth, then Satan roars his ugly head and just like that all those irrational thoughts, fears, and doubt come flooding back. i think part of my biggest problem is that i rely on men’s approval/acceptance and not on God’s. i could probably write a small novel, so i will stop, but your devotion was totally what i needed this morning, as yesterday was a major setback for me. thanks so much.
I was a professed perfectionist and control freak before I had my daughter 5 years ago. When she was diagnosed with autism 3 years ago my perceived ability to hold it all together came crashing in. Ever since then I’ve been trying to hold it together while I balance caring for my child’s special needs, working part-time so I could afford to pay for her services, and volunteering on the board of the local autism society chapter, trying to find a way to serve others. Lately I have really struggled with my lack of service and connection in my church family. I feel like God has been leading me to a special needs ministry but my mind was constantly flooded with doubt that I could find the time, have the ability, be the person he needed to run that kind of ministry and take care of everything else in my life, most importantly my family. I recently took a leap of faith to take a baby step towards that ministry, despite my lack of confidence and fear. I could really use encouragement right now and have a deep need to be ministered to as I take this step.
Listening to Renee through the trailer, it hit my heart! I am on ministry staff in the church and I struggle each Sunday I have to stand in on the platform to lead in the call to worship or Altar Praying. I am so afraid I will say something wrong or my head message will overcome my heart message. When I saw the words Breaking Free, in the trailer, I knew that was the words I needed to hear. Thank you for sharing your words of wisdom through this book. I am excited to purchase this book and ‘study’ it! I will be leading a women’s spiritual retreat in February and I am in desperate need of confidence, so the timing of this book is certainly a blessing to me!
Thank you for today’s devotion from Proverbs 31. I have a job interview for a position that is much more challenging than the one I currently have and although I have all the skills necessary for it, I have been concerned about taking on additional responsibilities due to some health concerns. I’m amazed how God speaks to me through others and I feel your words are meant to give me peace as I meet with the program manager today. God bless.
Thank you for your comments about how we need to keep our confidence in God and not be bound by our negative self talk. I would enjoy your book and hope to read it and enjoy the truths you present from God’s Word.
I have been dealing with depression for a couple of months now. I am a seminary student but God has yet to tell me what He wants me to do when I graduate. That fact causes me to doubt myself and what I believe is God’s call to be in seminary quite often. Your devotionals have helped to reaffirm why I am in seminary and helped me to continue to persevere and trust God through my self doubt. I can’t wait to read your book and have a deeper trust and deeper confidence in my position as a child of God. Thank you for this book.
Thank you for the wonderful devotional today. I can relate to having your confidence suddenly yanked away by thoughts of the past. It has hindered my ability to share and to minister for years. I am looking forward to gleening some wisdom from your book.