“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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Self-doubt has never been so clear to me. Thank you for sharing in your devotional. It is as though you are writing from my heart, I just did not know what it was. I will put this book on my wish list. Freedom from these feelings sounds so amazing but getting there seems impossible. Thank you for your obedience to Christ!
Self-doubt has never been so clear to me. Thank you for sharing in your devotional. It is as though you are writing from my heart, I just did not know what it was. I will put this book on my wish list. Freedom from these feelings sounds so amazing but getting there seems impossible.
When I watch your trailer and read your post…I feel like you are talking about me. I feel every word your say. I am so excited to receive a copy of your book in the mail. Thank you for all that you do and God’s blessings!
Nicole
I was so excited to receive my copy of A Confident Heart a couple of days ago (I’ve already read the first three chapters). When I first ran across the book, and read the sample chapter online, I knew I needed to read the rest of the book. I constantly live in doubt…doubt about being in the right job, if I’m being a good wife, mother, etc., my list goes on. I can completely relate to what you have to say.
As I thought more about what I read in that sample chapter, I could feel that God was calling me to lead a women’s study group with this book. I could see the faces of many of the women I’d met at church and in Bible study groups, who I thought would also love the message your book contains. Of course, I don’t see myself as any kind of leader, so even though I will be leading a group – for the first time ever, I might add -, I’m completely terrified!
I will be sharing this post with the women whom I’ve been praying for and plan to invite to my group when our church begins our fall group signups, in the hopes that they will be excited as well.
Thank you Renee!
(my book’s verse – Isaiah 43:19)
Renee, I so love your devotion today. I have had some opportunities to do a presentation on a classroom management tool this summer. I had great reviews and feel like the door has opened for me to write a book. However, I have been having moments of self-doubt and the three examples you gave of reasons we tell ourselves are the very same ones plaguing me! I was so glad I read your devotion today to say the least. I need God’s confidence and I thank you for your encouragement to seek Him and only Him. And not to listen to the enemy of our souls.
Please pray for me as I start writing my book. My target audience are teachers who teach high school and career and technical classes. God has already done an Ephesians 3:20 for me; I just need to keep trusting and seeking Him as I pursue this endeavor.
Praying you have an Ephesians 3:20 also in the sale of your book. Blessings to you, sweet sister!
P31 devotion brought me here. I am excited about your book. I am currently helping my husband dealing with PTSD. There are times that I feel every doubt you mentioned in your book video. Since he has returned from back to back deployments, it has been really tough on our family and very easy to let doubt take ahold of my thoughts. Thanks for the inspiration.
Lana Black
I’ve been struggling with being “good enough”. Am I a good enough mom? A good enough wife? Am I good enough at work? Etc. So your daily devotion really hit home with me. Thanks so much for sharimg. I would love to read your book 🙂
Your P31 devotional “Don’t Throw Away Your Confidence” led me here. Watching your book trailer I felt convicted of that self-doubt. I have missed opportunities to minister because of my doubt, I have been totally absorbed in trying to please others that I let their judgement of me consume my thoughts of self-worth, I have failed to experience the joy of trusting the Lord during difficult situations (in which He always allows me to prevail) because of my doubt, and in the end I hear the Lord saying to me, “Did you doubt?” My husband and I are following the Lord’s direction for our family and as such are experiencing a huge transition, relying totally on the Lord to sustain us financially. While He has poured overflowing blessings on us as we continue in His will, my confidence began to fail when I realized that in 3 short weeks my husband may be without a job. Last week I asked the Lord to make me like Abraham who trusted God’s promise to him. My prayer: “Please just reveal Your promises to me that I may have a confident heart and peace that surpasses all understanding. When others look at the decision we have made for our family and question it, help me to be confident enough in You to disregard men’s esteem and focus totally on accomplishing Your will for our family. You alone, Lord, know what is best for us.” Well, here I am discovering your new book. Isn’t the Lord’s timing perfect!! Thank you for being a willing vessel through which the Lord can accomplish His work. May the Lord continue to bless you through this ministry!
ah – seeing the big shadows, because we’ve turned away from the light… how many times have I stopped trying because my eyes are focused on something other than Jesus…
I can so relate! I missed many an opportunity due to allowing my insecurity and fear to lead me. I thought it was because I had grown up in a single parent home, where my dad was completely absent. But as I’ve grown older and been a mother myself, I have learned through much study of God’s Word and contemplating my past without trying to outrun or hide from it, that I do indeed own the fear and insecurity myself! I’ve already shared with my Facebook friends your book trailer, so they may benefit too! I look forward to reading A Confident Heart!! Blessings to you, Renee…
i thank God everyday for p31 website. i know there is something written for me or someone else that needs what is shared on this website. i also can definitely identify with not being good enough.Today at work my boss told me where i do not measure up and the last person that had the job ,did not have that problem. I appreciate and thank you for writing this book and then sharing a small part of it on this site. it let me know Gold is still near. During my time with God in the am,i read ,pray,all is well. by the end of the day,or week,i am in big time doubt about myself
I just read your devotional on Proverbs 31 Ministries titled, “Don’t Throw Away Your Confidence” for August 3, 2011. The section where you talk about when self-doubt whispers, “I’ll never change” I totally broke down and cried. I am so thankful you shared the scripture Phillippians 1:6. Thank you so much for that. It really hit home with me!
This book is one my soul desperately longs for, and spritually I know I need it. One way or another I will have a copy of this book. I have spent my summer in a new season of trust ~ trusting God, and I still succomb to so much doubt in me, which in turn makes me doubt everything.
I loved your trailer! I have been struggling with my confidence lately as God has been putting me into more leadership roles at my church. I start to get that feeling that I too will disappoint someone. I can not wait to read your book & let God restore & build up my God-fidence!
I received this book this week. I hope to be able to offer a copy to win on my website. I can’t wait to start it after I did the 7-Day Doubt diet. Thanks!
HI Renee! Reading your blog entry ‘Don’t Throw Away Your Confidence’ is a great blessing to me as I am currently struggling on the issue of self-confidence, sense of purpose and trust. I really want to read your book. Will it be made available in the Philippines? I hope to find a local bookstore where I can buy it.
Wow…God is so amazing! I shared with a friend last week that while I will turn 5o years old in a little less than a year, I am refusing to carry a life-time of self-doubt and fear with me over that threshold. It’s not what God intended for us as heirs to the Throne! So my prayer is for God to reveal those places and show me the way out. And then I read your devotional just now. Thank you, God! And thank you, Renee! Also, my pastor’s wife is looking for material for a women’s bible study, and I will absolutely suggest this!
I am a constant self-doubter and worrier. I am looking forward to reading your book and replacing those doubting thoughts with God’s Word.
Thanks for all of your encouragement and your hard work on the Lord’s behalf.
This devotional, spoke directly to me. I have lived my whole life with a lack of confidence and fear of failure. I, of course, hide this very well. I shared this recently with one of my closest friends and she was very surprised. I know that God has me going a certain direction and I’m still racked with fear of failure and lack of confidence. I know that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. So I’m taking a deep breath and stepping forward. I would enjoy reading this book; I know that it would be a great help in my struggle.