As I pulled the weeds away from the beautiful rose bush’s base, I noticed the root ball had four sections. I wondered if I should leave them together or divide and place each section at different posts across the fence…
Just like the uprooting of my rose bush, some of my life’s leaves wilted, petals fell to the ground and a few of my branches produced more thorns than blossoms – at least for a while. God was pruning my ministry and my life, teaching me how to surrender my plans for His.
It was hard. But God was doing a new thing and allowing me to perceive it. (Is.43:19) That was five years ago and I can say without a doubt that I wouldn’t be the woman I am today if He had not uprooted me and planted me in a new place, with new dreams.
It’s easy to doubt God, ourselves and our futures when our lives feel uprooted and our dreams fall apart. For years, I had allowed pain in my past to hinder me from trusting God with my future. I allowed insecurities and fears to keep me from living in the assurance of His promises and the confidence of His love.
The only way I could surrender my former soil was to get rooted in God’s love. So I spent time with Jesus. He was all I had. Each time I wanted to cry or run, I took the broken pieces of my heart and my will and gave them to Him. I was honest with Him about how I felt. How disappointed I was. How mad I was. How hurt I was. How scared I was.
Each day I would ask Him to show me how to process my pain or my questions through His truth. How to rely on Him. How to embrace what He was doing so that I would become more like Him. I remember reading, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. “(Philippians 2:5-7)
As I asked Him to help me understand, I began to see How God could reveal more of Himself through me as I depended more on Him. Eventually those around me would enjoy the new blossoms that were produced through my surrender..
I read through the book of John, journaling each time I noticed Jesus laying down His comforts, His familiar places and people, His rights, His life – to bring glory to His Father. And each time I would let go a little more.
It taught me absolute dependence on God like I had never known and changed me from the inside out. I came to new place of trusting Him and experiencing His glory in my life and in my family. Even now we are living out the lesson of the rose bush as we make room for a new “planting of the Lord” in our lives. I invite you to read through my posts last week and see our little crown of beauty: a display of His glory revealed through a little girl who’s becoming part of our story!
What is God asking you to surrender? I’d love to know so I can pray for you! And if you’d like a chance to win a copy of my “Beyond the Shadow of Doubt” message on DVD, be sure to click on the word “comments” just below my name, then type in the white box. If you don’t have a blog, just click anonymous. It’d be fun to know your first name, age and city (& email address so I can let you know if you win)!
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This is anonymous from 5:56,
I woke up this morning and entered God's word knowing He is the only true help, there is know other way.
I thank anyone that prayed for me. I seemed to get a clearer picture of God's desire to protect, Love and heal. Full surrender…..I want to know what my next step is. I so want to be able to stand before Him one day and hear Well Done with his hand on my face. Please pray for my discernment of His will and friends that will help me grow into a grounded growing healthy Christian. Relationships aren't easy for me. I pray that Jesus will be right smack dab in the middle of what ever happpens. I know that fear sould not take up much of my life as a Christian, but right now I am scared of my ability to hear God correctly and making Huge mistakes.
Renee, thank You for your candidness about your own life. I need to here real stories that include the struggles as well as the victories. I will also be praying for you and the other women out there to grow deeper and closer with Jesus Christ just as I want for my own life. Once again, Thank You.
Hi Renee,
Thank you for this timely devotion. Trusting God enough to totally surender to him has always been a challenge for me concerning somethings. I was married and divorced. I got involved after my marriage with the man that I just knew was my soulmate, you know the one you have been waiting for all your life. Well I felt like this was also my last chance so I did everything I could for him, I was completely loyal, supportive, carring, trusting, dependable, I was every good thing to this man that I knew would be my husband, I served him. and after 20 years of pouring myself into him he walked out on me. I was better to this man than I was to the man that married me. Since then I cant't even put words to the pain, lonliness, emtiness uselessness and sense of failure I am feeling and I can't seem to get past it I am stuck there. And to make matters worst, NO ONE I MEAN NO ONE has even hinted at asking me out since then as if that truly was my last chance and again I failed. please please pray for me. I am LSR, I live in SC.
Renee,
What a beautiful message of how the Father, in His wisdom, often scatters us so new growth can sprout elsewhere. How precious your picture was of the outstretched rose bushes connecting to each other!
Hearts joined together in Christ are always united, even when we are miles apart.
Praying you are encouraged today,
Mary
I'm in the stage of walking with God and decided not to compromise my belief as a christian, and really God did ask a lot of things to surrender and it's worth it, I finally realized that surrendering something is not that hard :-), it's hard at first though, and it's worth it, coz at the end you will really realize that God is just asking you if can let go of a certain thing and obey Him then,nothing stands in the way of the one who obeys all the way and in the end He will give it back to you, isn't it amazing? I wanna be inlove with the King, I'm always praying that God will give me a heart that is so hungry and thirsty for Him, that He will increase my faith and birth the burden in my heart the thing that He has for His children, it will require a lot of me but by His grace I know I can make it…I will always believe in Him and will never let go of Him…
it's me richel, 26 and from Phils…
[email protected]
This was a timely message for me to read – I believe my family is being "uprooted" God is re-arranging our plans and futures. We have both been laid off from our jobs. They were both new jobs within the last year that we were recruited for heavily. The stress is really testing us and the kids see it too. One good note my son will often see me crying and ask why – I explain the worries and he say's "you don't need to worry god will take care of everything, he loves us. just pretend you are on a vacation." Words of wisdom from a 10 year old boy!
I myself am struggling to keep the fait – it is a daily effort.
thanks again, for making me realize that we are not the only ones with "uprooting".
Renee,
I read your devotional on P31 this morning and then decided to peek at your blog this evening and I thank God that I did. You story about the rosebushes just touched my heart in such a special way. About 9 months ago I felt God leading me to began share my story of how He brought me through depression/suicide and restored His joy to me. I am now in the process of Him showing me if the story is to be told via speaking, blogging,written book or all mediums. As for now I will grow in this new soil and will bloom when He is ready for me to.
Please enter me in the drawing:
Amy-40
Alabama
[email protected]
Hey Renee been following your blog so happy to hear about your little girl my husband and I have two boys we adopted from Guatamala as babies both are now in 3rd grade what a blessing I know God is asking me to surrender my fears especially when it comes to my children and all that goes on in their lives and my husband who has his own business we are living on one income but i feel like i am suppose to be a stay at home mom for the boys that God brought into our lives sometimes it can get hard financially I know God wants to be trust and not be afraid here is my info for drawing [email protected] thanks and will be praying for your adoption process Ruthie
I receive the "Encouragement for Today" daily devotionals & I'm always extra excited when I see one written from you!
I've been married for 6 1/2 yrs. I've been a Christian for a long time, and grew up in a loving home.
My husband also grew up for lack of a better phrase, in a "Sunday morning only Christian home." He was not abused, but there was a great lack of emotional warmth.
One huge mistake…when we got married, Sunday morning became all about sleeping in, getting a Sunday paper, and doing our own thing together. About 2 yrs. ago I started really feeling a conviction about that. I felt God was speaking to my heart letting me know I'm going to learn how to lean on Him more.
To make a long story short, last year my husband filed for divorce. Two weeks later he started going to church with me. A few weeks later, he felt awful about that. He went back to church with me. The sermon topic was titled "What God says about Divorce." It made him think, but of course, it's like the devil has planted so many devices in his head to keep his thinking from going too deep.
Last night, I signed the final decree. I stood my ground over & over saying I won't sign. Sad thing is, my family has no idea about the divorce at all.
I love my husband so much. I did not want to sign the papers, but the strife would not let up until I did. I believe God can still work this all out for the good. But, when I saw on the daily devotional, if we had a prayer request, to let you know, I had to. There's power in prayer. If my marriage truly ends, then it ends. What I'm most concerned about is my husband's relationship with the Lord. Thank you, Renee for listening. God Bless you & have a great weekend!
Currently I am separated
after my husband packed his stuff and deserted me and my daughter after 8 years of marriage and fatherhood. It's been hard on both of me and my daughter. Especially me, because he brought me home from Germany to build a life together here. You have to know, too, that he was deployed in Iraq for almost 15 months. I stood by him through thick and thin because I loved him and I wanted to support him to my best ability, and regardless of the emotional stress and abuse I had to go through sometimes.
I have been crying. I have been very emotional. I am at a wit's End.
I was wondering if you could pray for me for guidance, provision, strength and support and wisdom for the judges who is in charge of my support hearing next week Wed.
I would appreciate it immensely. God has to have a better plan for me. I can't give up hope and faith in him. He's been my comfort. I feel so lost at this point.
Wow! I know how you feel. God transplanted my family from Alabama to Indiana 4 years ago. We moved because of my husbands job. I left a church I was very secure in and a great circle of friends. At a women's retreat a year after I moved the Lord showed me how He had transplanted me and that I might not flowere right away, but He was working in my life: doing some pruning and weeding. Thank you for your devotion today and what you wrote on your blog. That is just what the Master Gardener wanted me to hear.
Your sister in Christ,
Grace Lane
Renee,
Good morning, as i read todays message on P31 i was so moved by your inspirational message that i actually wrote down your prayer as it completely describes my life right now even sitting here trying to type on this broken laptop (half the keys are missing thanks to my 22 mo old grandson) i feel as if my whole life is broken. I've had so much go wrong in the last month i was fired from my job as an ER RN 7/31 for bogus reason, i'm having a diffiult time dealing with that loss. i've always known i was meant to be a nurse, now though i sit here and wonder what GODS plan is for me, how am i going to provide for my family how will i put food on the table how how how. i'm afraid and i feel alone even though i know i have GOD and my friends. i'm not sure why i felt so strongly that i should contact you but your message today touched my heart so i thank you for that, please keep the messages coming you have such a gift.
Dear Renee,
Hi. I just got done reading two of your devotionals you have shared on "Proverbs 31" ministry. The one about the rose bush and the other about comparing myself with others. They were both very good and made me think.
I have a tendency to compare myself with other women (substitute teachers-I am a substitute teacher) and your devotional really made me think. Thank you for that devotional.
Lastly, at the end of your "Proverbs 31" you ask if we had any prayer needs I have a couple please (if you don't mind to pray for me, thanks): 1. I have a shoulder injury and it is 9 years old. Thank the LORD the surgeon found it and did surgery back in 2007 but I still have pain with it from time to time. 2. Lastly, like I said earlier I am a substitute school teacher and I know school just started for most schools. I just ask prayer that, LORD willing HE will use me a lot and that I can be a witness to my students, staff, faculty, and or anyone I come into contact with. I really love my job and the children/students the LORD puts in my pathway.
Sorry for the long book, but thank you for taking the time to read my email and share in my "woes".
GOD bless,
Your sister in Christ,
I am writing to ask your prayers and advice on my relationship.
I am engaged to be married and we have been together for 9 years – during which we have had a lot of problems which has led to lack of trust, bitterness, silence, lack of communication and warmth and he has drifted and make friends with other females during this period.
We are trying to work on our relationship and probably move towards marriage but the issues of the past keep coming up and we don’t know what to do.
We love and want to be with each other.
Please help.
God bless.
Good Morning!! I just received my morning devotional and it was absolutely what I needed! Each morning before I began work I take some time to reflect on God and how he can be glorified in my life on this day. Your story about the rose bush was so touching that it caused me to reflect on the Lord has blessed me through some tough times. I won’t go into deep detail because I am sure you have so much to read..but I am an incest survivor. Certain discoveries have bought me closer to the Lord, I lean on him constantly and depend on him always and fro everything. Lately, I have been diagnosed with Panic Attack Disorder, the doctors want to fill my with pills, yet I am working on how to fill myself with his precious Word. I know that I have a testimony and a story to tell, I am writing a book about my experiences and how you can be an over comer but only in Christ Jesus. I am battling everyday to overcome the demonic force of fear that wishes to shut my praise up, I will not allow this to happen. Sure I must admit, I have sat days on end in tears because of panic attacks and fearful feelings, but I am yet standing! I do ask for your prayers as I prepare to do the things that the Lord requires of me. I have started a not for profit organization entitled, “Project W.I.S.E.” This organization is designed to assist people in need of food, clothing as well as being a center of resource to aid individuals by helping them meet their daily needs. So, I really need your prayers and I am so glad you did not give up nor give in. I believe that each of us is divinely connected, and this is our time to pray and intercede for one another. Thank you for listening to me. God Bless You Always!
Dear Renee,
I am asking you today to pray for my daughter. She is 32 and continues to live her life away from Christ. She is divorced for the second time and my husband and I are helping to raise her 4 children as she works 2 jobs to support them.
I love your devotionals and they give me such encouragement. I would just ask that you add my Melissa to your prayer list as my heart aches as she continues to follow the world.
Thank you
Renee,
Thank you for your daily devotionals which I have come to love deeply. Please, be in prayer for me to trust God to see me through my graduate level classes unto graduation. Pray that I trust him like I should on a daily basis as I complete my assignments and care for my family. Sometimes, I tend to loose focus and fret about all mundane issues.
Thank you for your prayers and ministry.
I'm writing to you in the middle of my work day. My heart is so overwhelmed by the today's devotion. I wish I could pick up the phone and call you, but I'll settle for email. I'm a 45 years old woman struggling to know where God really wants me. Can you please pray for me. My heart is very very heavy right know. I'm holding on to Jeremiah 29:13.
Jessie
Hi Renee I would love for you to pray for me for a number of things please. I just feel so inspired as I read each of these daily devotionals..
First of all my son Caleb is 21 months. He was born completely blind with a diagnosis of optic nerve hypoplasia and panhypopituitarism which is deficiency of the corisol hormone and thyroid hormone. Right now they are testing to see if there is deficiency also in growth hormone. Praise God .. he has sight now..glory be to God!!! he still has a lazy eye and that diagnosis but he has sight and has absolutely no problem getting around.. He's absolutely beautiful and you could see God all over him. God has spoken to us about his healing and that it would be a healing process and its as he says.. its been that.. He gets better and better and better every day. Please pray that what God has done in heaven would be manifested here on earth in Calebs eyes. Please also pray that his growth hormone testing would come back perfect and that he was not need to get shots everyday. I know that when God heals.. its complete.. because God is a God of completion.
Also with all this stress. I have developed fibromyalgia symptoms.. and have a lot of anxiety… its extremely hard.. I deal with it pretty well but I want to also be healed.
Then my marriage has been struggling due to so many things but truly some patterns and generational curses due to dishonesty in my husband. Please pray that the Lord truly works in my husband
Thank you for your prayers.
C.C.
First I would like to thank you for your ministry; I look so forward to your devotion every day when I get to work. I am requesting prayer for myself and my family. In short, I’ve been in a very unhealthy, unhappy marriage for 22 years, with no trust, no depth to any communication and I’m exhausted holding it together and feeling empty. God hates divorce (and so do I) – but I cannot live any longer not believing and trusting what is supposed to be my best friend, my spouse.
Thank you for your prayers and encouraging devotions. I’m struggling with God blessing my decision since He hates divorce.
Dear Renee,
Thank you for your sharing of your life and God's hand on it. A friend from NY sent me the first Proverbs31. He's a wonderful person and friend.
My life has been in upheaval for the last 5 years. I've lost 3 jobs in the last 5 years, lost my father in 2005 and just lost my mother this April. I'm a single parent that hasn't gotten over the "empty nest" completely. I'm searching for that right thing to do with my life.
The pastor at our very small church has found out that he has cancer of the bones and had surgery for a mass in his kidney. Right now, he's very weak but doing well with his treatments. Please pray for him and our church.
My parents died years ago and I miss them so much. My children have their own lives and don't include me unless they need something or need a babysitter. As a way of escape, I stay up all night and sleep all day to avoid contact. Please add me to your long list of prayer requests.
Thanks so much. God bless you and your ministry.