“Jesus did not die on the cross just to get us out of hell and into heaven.
He died on the cross to get Himself out of heaven and into us.
It’s what we were we made for. It’s why we long for glory.”
“The truth is, we were created to reveal glory – just not our own.”
“God created us in His image to reveal His glory by giving visibility to His invisible character within us. Christ in us is the hope of the glory. (Col 1:27)”
From Chapter 11, A Confident Heart
***
It’s Your Turn:
I want you to lead this week. Well at least partly. Besides reading chapter 11 and answering the questions, I want YOU to come up with the Word of the Week and a memory verse and post them in the comments section below this post. Then I want you to use your Word of the Week and Memory Verse for YOU for this chapter.
Haven’t read the chapter yet? No biggie. Just take a few minutes to skim the chapter and come up with one. This week, make them your focus. Please please please share with us in the comment section! Tell us what you selected and why. Everyone’s may be different, but it will be so fun and interesting to see the what and why of what you picked. And, I will be posting some of them on our Confident Heart Community Facebook page this week!
I know you can do this. I’ve seen the way many of you encourage each other and pray for one another. I love that about you! Thank you for leading the way! I can’t wait to learn from you 
Just Click “share your thoughts” below this post and do just that. {And if you are reading this via email click here to share in the comments on my website!}
Names of God giveaway winners are LaDena and diki. We’ve got your emails so we’ll be in touch to get your addresses so we can mail you the Names of God prints.
You are such a great motivator I have a problem that I thought maybe you can help me with. I’ve always had a lazy eye but I don’t know if that is the problem or not. I’m a terrible reader. I’ve always hated reading. I have a whole stack of really good books I want and need to read. I start reading a book and can’t combrehent what I’ve just read. I wind up reading it over and over and then finally quit. Is there any method that you know of that could help me. I would greatly appreciate any help you can give me. My e-mail address is above. Thank you. Sharon If anyone else has some helpful ideas or ways I’d appreciate them to.
Hey Sharon,
I feel your pain. I was born with severe lazy eye. I’ve had two surgeries. One at the age of 4 and the second at the age of 10. They went in and tightened/removed muscles in hopes of correcting the problem. I had to wear eye patches in order to train and strengthen the muscles that were left. The second surgery was another attempt to correct the vision. And unfortunately, neither surgery corrected the vision issue, but they both were deemed cosmetic successes. My left eye no longer crosses over or wonders. Both eyes are lined up and one would never know that I ever had lazy eye. Unfortunately, the left eye vision is 20/400 at best. When tested I usually can just see the colors. I can’t make out the images. SO thankful for God’s grace!!! My right eye has adjusted well and I have no issues with reading or doing anything else. So thankful and praising Him!
And had an appointment a few months ago, and there is still no solution for the vision issue. Always hopeful that lasic surgery or some other procedure would be developed to correct the vision but as of today, no procedure exists.
Praying for you and for a “fix” for you,
Donna
Hello, hope it is not too late to include my word for the week: WORSHIP
1 Chronicles 16 v 29 b ….. ” worship the Lord in the splendour of His holiness” NIV
This has been an applied in action verse for me all of this week. A traumatic family situation arose and immediatly I was able to turn to the Lord and worship Him even through the tears and heartache. I have not danced before the Lord for a long time ( years ) but this happened ( in private) spontaneously. Lifting God,s name high above the circumstances and lifting my own heart too. Every day I have found a fresh way of worshipping , through song, the Word, and thankfulness.
My Word is NEED.
If God is all that you (I) have, you (I) have all you (I) NEED.
John 14:8
My word is “all”.
I know this is a strange choice but to me when this word is used in God’s Word it states that this is not ‘part way’ or ‘half hearted’ or ‘for a select few’ but ALL.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
” I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil. 4:13
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt 11:28
Jesus is my All in all.
Thank you Renee and all the women around the world who have shared in this journey. May God continue to bless, heal, and strengthen you all.
My word is “enough”. Jesus is enough. I so want to put him first in everything I do and go through. I’m battling cancer and I go on July 13, 2012 to see if the chemo is working. I just want my friends and family and caregivers to know Jesus, and to Know that he is all we need. He is enough.
I also could not choose one word for this chapter. I chose TRANSFORMED and SURRENDER. I know that I am still transforming and that God isn’t finished with me yet. I am a work in progress, just like everyone. I am far from perfect, but I am transforming every day. Every day that I spend with God, praying, reading His word, listening to Him, my mind and my heart are being transformed. The verse for this word is Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” The other word I chose was SURRENDER. I need to constantly surrender my worries, fears and thoughts to God. I can’t handle things on my own and need to depend on HIS strength. The verse is Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”.
Word of the week Sufficient
Verse: 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. Phillipians 4:11
I can hardly believe how I started to doubt that God would give me a word and verse. I was tempted to not hope for it in order to avoid the possibility of disappointment. I’m so thankful for God’s sweet whispers that didn’t let me stay there. As I flipped through chapters in the Bible, nothing stood out until I landed in 1Corinthians 4. And there I found my word and verses. 🙂
TRUSTED
“So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those ENTRUSTED with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” -1Cor. 4:1-2
I am a fairly new missionary and when I start to doubt myself I have to remember God trusts me. He has called me and entrusted me with so much, and because of that I can take a deep breath and TRUST HIM.
Word: growing
Verse: Acts 17:28…’for in him we live and move and have our being’.
This study has shown me that I need to continue growing in Him. It has also helped me to know that I live and breath in Him…that even though life is insane right now,He’s got my back. Thanks for helping me to start on this continuing journey:)
I have noticed alot of people are getting “Surrender” for their word this week. Even as I start to type, God is speaking to me…..”Surrender the deep things in you to Me. Not only that which the world has placed there, but especially what I placed there from the day I created you. I am breaking open the fountains of the deep within you.”
Hoping this will speak to someone else as well.
Surrender…….yes. That will be my word for this week also. What an awesome study. Next week I will start reading the book over again! So many truths that I need to place deep in my heart.
My word is~~~ ADVENTURE
My verse is Isaiah 43:18-19
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”
Renee, you mentioned on pg. 205 that as we surrender our life to Jesus life will be a glorious adventure, it may not be our way, but God is always doing something new in HIs children and we should be on the lookout for what He is doing in our life and what He has prepared for us. So in every new thing happening now I look for the glorious adventure God has prepared for me ~~~ not my way but His, I try to refocus on His way and not what I think should be happening, I look for His ADVENTURE!
I love that Susan!! So tell me…what are you seeing? Any adventures big or small? I”d love to hear about them. Today my adventure was Aster’s tumbling class and looking like a mess but not caring that all the other moms had showers, makeup and were all put-togethr. I decided to reach out to them and encourage them with a smile and friendly words even if I did feel like a mess. I could tell they were kinda surprised by my friendliness. :0)
Hebrews 10:35-36 NIV
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.
Fav word is persevere. The past seven years have included dealing with my youngest child’s drug addiction, four combat deployments by another child, being laid off my job and now making less than half my previous income, and a church plant. Through God’s strength and goodness and mercy i kept my eyes on Him, remembering what He has promised – eternal life with Him! At times I handled these things very poorly, but He was faithful. Our relationship is growing daily and I am blessed by His love.
You have been through so much Carolyn and I am so proud of you for persevering with the Lord. I don’t handle all my hardships just like I know Jesus would want me to but i”m so thankful for His grace and patience in the process of me becoming the woman He created me to be. I know He loves that you keep coming back to Him!! Thank you for sharing!! Praying for you friend!
Safe
Zep 3:17
The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Who I love that word!!
Thank you Jesus what we are SAFE in you!!
Hopeful! Hopeful that I will change, hopeful that I’ll live a confident life in Christ, hopeful that God will use my life for his glory.
Amen, I am hopeful too. One day at a time – focusing on Him, listening to His spirit, getting into His word and letting it get into you. He is the source of our hopeful!!
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. ~Rom. 15:13
I am struggling. Started off well, but I am feeling overwhelmed, defeated.read through chapter 10,started11, well get to 12 by the end of this week.I am excited for those who are experiencing confidence and peace for maybe the first time ever. I know God loves me. I know I am who He says I am.I greatly appreciate this online study. I understand the concepts but I am really having trouble processing and applying the reality. I have been a Christian since I was a child.I have enjoyed teaching Bible studies and have been blessed to see the Holy Spirit work in the lives of others.my verse for this week is Micah 6:8″,This is what the Lord asks of you ,only this ,to act justly to love tenderly and walk humbly with your God” My word for the week is “expectations”. I need to remind myself not to have bigger expectations for myself than He does!
One day at a time Machelle. i am sure the enemy wants you to feel less than you “should” be and in a place of defeat. But that is not where Jesus sees you!! Did you get to read chapters 6, 7, 8 and 9. If you read chapter 10 but not the earlier ones, I’d encourage you to go back and read those before Ch 11 and 12. I have archives and all the videos so you can do the book at your own pace this summer.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. ~Rom. 15:13
My word is “Surrender”
And my verse is Proverbs 3:5-6 ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and He will make your paths straight’
When I surrender all to my Lord, trust Him, even when it is hard, I know He will forever Love and protect me. Renee talked about the resurrection power, I believe the power of the Holy Spirit is in me. With God all things are possible.
Love your word and verse! Praying for you Karen as you surrender to HIM an allow Jesus to live His life through you. One day and promise at a time!!
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. ~Rom. 15:13
I have had two words that God has put on my heart for me this year are Renewed and Surrender. The verses in connection with these words are Romans 12:2b Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. and James 4:7a (Contemporary English Version) Surrender to God!
God has made me realize that I have a problem with wanting to control everything myself and that this springs from my lack of God-confidence. While I have tried to follow the call that God has put on my life, I have tried to do so under my own power and that has not worked well.
Those are great words and good insights – even as hard as they are to see in ourselves. I’ve been there Nancy. My fear and insecurity used to make me so controlling. But Jesus has stripped away so much control that I realize it was all an illusion and it was making me miserable to try to grasp something I never really could have. What freedom and peace that come when we renew our minds in His truth and surrender our heart, lives, circumstances, loved ones, finances, job and more to HIM!! Praying for you!
Renee, I’ve had to think about this one for a while … thanks for the extra time …. just enough for God to affirm it and confirm it through a prayer from our friend Stephanie Clayton just today about 30 minutes ago….. for me to be the woman that I want to be and to be the woman that God has called me to be, my word for Chapter 11 this go around would be FORGIVENESS! And the verse would be:
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. (Matthew 18:21-22).
Yep, I’ve got the acceptance part of my Dad and the effect of his actions and sometimes lack of actions down …. now I’m working on the forgiveness part. And it’s not easy. NO where near easy. But in order to be the woman that God has created me to be, I must practice daily forgiveness with my Dad and with the man that molested me so many years ago. When those triggers happen, and they still happen, I am called to forgive no matter what just as God forgives me no matter what ….so that would be next choice for the journey … the choice to forgive and forgive again and again.
Thanks for letting me get outside the lines of Chapter 11 this time….probably something that I should have captured this time around as I learned in Chapter 5 to live beyond the shadows of doubt
Love you ….love your heart ….love ACH! Thanks for constantly challenging me to live my life in the LIGHT and to be an extender of God’s grace to myself and to those who have hurt me.
Donna B
Thank you so much friend for pouring out your heart and being so real here. I love that about you and it’s a powerful part of the ministry God has you doing in women’s lives. Forgiveness is hard – especially when we’ve been hurt like you have. Praying for HIS healing and forgiveness to continue to bind up the broken places in your heart and set your emotions free!!!
Love and appreciate you more than words can say!
My word is RELAX. My scripture is “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape that you may be able to bear it.” …1Corthians 10:13
Love your word and would love to know how it ties in with your verse. Thank you for sharing!!
My word is “SURRENDER” because that is what we have to do. We have to surrender everything…completely!
My verse is John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me” This is my verse because once we SURRENDER to God our hearts should not be troubled because we believe in HIM for our everything.
Love it!! Thank you for sharing Anna!
My word for this week is HOPE.
As you, Renee, wrote on p. 23 in your book, “As God’s girls, we (I) need to know and believe that change is possible. We (I) need to HOPE that life can be different.” I have written this on an index card and have it on my desk…for me to see each day.
My verse(s) are actually taken from one of my favorite psalms…Psalm 25 (NIV)
“No one whose HOPE is in you will ever be put to shame…” verse 3
“Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my HOPE is in you all day long.” verses 4-5
I love the word HOPE – for so many years of my life I was not willing to hope because I was tired of being hurt and disappointed. Im so glad God is giving us the courage to HOPE in HIM and to trust Him with our hopes!!
My word for this week: SURRENDER.
My verse is Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able tot test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
I am very much one who needs to have all her ducks in a row and plan everything out far in advance. I’m learning that it’s ok if I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow but it’s taking time for my head and heart to agree on that truth. I have dealt with much anxiety and fear for the past 5 or so months. I talked to my doctor and she said I could go on medication but my husband and I are trying to get pregnant so those two options don’t mix very well. And I want to believe that God can and will heal me of this incredibly dark time! But some days I get lost in the pit of “me” and I’m constantly fighting that battle to die to myself and the things I think should happen and rely on God’s perfect timing.
I’m thankful for so many encouraging words in this book…all based on the most encouraging Book of all 🙂
My word of the week is freedom, and my verse for the week is “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1.
For me, this means freedom from fear, anxiety, and worry, and instead the freedom to live an abundant life trusting in the truth of God’s promises and His word. Freedom to choose God’s truth over fear.
My word is “birthright”. The verse I chose is Romans 8:16-17a. “the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ…”. This study has taught me that it is my birthright to be secure as a child of God and that as His heir
I am able to claim his promises for my life. They are part of my inheritance. When insecurity and fear begin to surface I pray God’s promises knowing that all His promises are yes and amen for God is not a man that He should lie. I love on page 213 where it states that “our trust in God’s promises will preach the most powerful sermon when it’s lived out in everyday life.” May my life bring glory and honor to Him.
Word for this week is “Renewed”
Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
God has “renewed” me throughout this bible study. I came as a broken woman and God has restored and renewed all that was damaged. He has healed the broken hearted and renewed my strength so that I can sour on wings like eagles. There are so many words that can express God’s loving kindness throughout this study; transformed, redeemed, restored. Thank you Renee. I hope to follow along for a second time around. Wonder what God has planned next time!
Word of the week SECURE: Verse: Let the beloved of the Lord rest SECURE in him, for he shields her all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders. Deut. 33:12
It was really hard to choose just one word because I often feel all of those Renee presented in her list. But security covers so much in our lives:
Do I feel secure (is God enough) when my husband has a tirade?
Do I feel secure when my children are unthoughtful or disobedient?
Do I feel secure in my mothering instincts?
Do I feel secure and able to do my job effectively?
And the list goes on, so Is God enough? Truly he is because he is my security and I am loved by him and I can find rest in him. What a beautiful picture: The one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.
Renee, Thank you for this study. I have the same deisre to walk away is my default mode. I was progressing very well until last week when doubts crept in again, I thought, well there you go, I’ve failed again time to give up. But as Renee says doubt will creep in and we will have struggles we just need to take them to the cross immediately and rest secure in his love and grace.
Word (more like phrase) – give up all rights…I have a right to (fill in the blank)… – Phil 2:5-11 (amp)
5 Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]
6 Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not [c]think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped [d]or retained,
7 But stripped Himself [of all privileges and [e]rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being.
8 And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross!
9 Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has [freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name,
10 That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee [g]should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 And every tongue [frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
– because I am reminded that Christ was rejected, I should not feel vengeful, bitter, or resentment when those who are my family, my husband, or friends, reject me. Trying to go to HIM first regarding my feelings instead of telling my hurts to those who have made it quite evident they do not care. I’m casting my pearls before swine, thinking that if I just let them see the hurt, tell them of the hurt, they may see what they are doing and care.. but they don’t… And I have to forgive, give them grace (easier said than done, most of the times I say it and the feelings may or may not come later). Remembering that Christ didn’t fight for His reputation or try to get others to see His view or love Him. He went to the cross for myself & them anyways and didn’t hold it against us or demand us to see it from His perspective. Because in this life – where does it say we have a right to anything… Those expectations and rights remind me that other’s have power over me, I care about their opinions and want to be loved & accepted… “All the people in this world are broken… and you can not look to a broken thing and expect it to make your heart whole” (read this yesterday from Matt Moore) and although the subject wasn’t regarding me the bottom line of his whole letter – we all want to be loved & accepted & the world is telling us that it is our right to be loved & accepted – We are but in agreement to what he said & from your book – I already am loved & accepted and if no one ever hears my opinion or cares about me God does – and yes sometimes like Melissa (more times than I would like to admit) I too struggle with – Is God enough? And in her powerful list of questions I find myself crying and humbling admitting to God, I don’t believe He is – I want Him to be, I desire Him to be, but I place those I see and hear and touch before Him. I’m sorry Father God, forgive me for chosing others – Yeilding to you Father, if I am never to feel love or acceptance from another human being may You fill all that void with Your presence – and may I have no resentment, bitterness, or anger towards any of them. In Your powerful name Lord Jesus I ask this – Amen!!
Wow! That is powerful! Well written! Borrowing your words about “no resentment, bitterness, or anger”.
My word is Redemption
Bible verse Coll 1 13-14
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us in the kingdom of the Son he loves,in whom we have redemption,the forgiveness of sins.
The Lord has really been speaking to me about forgiveness and I think he wants me to know how much he loves me and forgives me. I think that when we can accept his forgiveness and know how much he loves us that he would share his sons kingdom with us then we can be truly free and move forward in our lives…..
Blessings Renee and all the women in this study….
My Word for this week: DEEP
My verse: Ps 42.7 Deep calls unto deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. (NIV)
The cool thing is that God gave this to me Sunday night before I knew what was happening on our blog this week!!
By sitting with Him, studying and focusing on His voice in this verse, He showed me how, at one time, I would have taken this verse as God coming against me in an angry and demanding tone. But now, (this is what I wrote in my journal):
As Your Spirit (Deep) has been calling to mine (deep), the conduit between You and I has been loud because your life giving water/spirit has swept over me in waves and billows (breakers) breaking off the lies and misconceptions I have been living with concerning You, leaving them in a heap, ruined for all eternity.
Your Spirit (Deep) is still calling to mine (deep). There is more in me that needs to be eroded, cut, washed away in order that I can see You more clearly, hear You more clearly, to love You with abandon and total surrender.
🙂
My word: Surrender
My verse: Proverbs 3:5-6
‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.’
I need to daily surrender my ambitions, hopes & plans into His hands and trust Him.
From reading chapter 11was my words were Surrender and Confidence. Scripture is Jeremiah 29:11 For I know they thoughts that’s I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. I have always struggled with confidence all my life and I’ve learned a lot from reading this vook. Surrender has been on my mind today because I need to surrender all my dreams and thoughts to the Lord. God is doing a new work in me and I just need to turn everything over time him. Please pray for me. I font have a verse for the word confidence. I am still struggling spiritually but I am coming back strong slowly but in the end everything is going to be alright. Please pray for me. Dealing with changes at church and in my job.
My word of the week is: NEVER GIVE UP!
Last Week was a hard week for me. I felt hopeless, discouraged and sad. It seemed like a wave of all these emotions came over me but as i was reading His promises I felt Him say: Don’t give up.
Even though we go through trials, hardships and brokenness we can be sure that God is always with us.
He never leaves us nor forsakes us. He stays close to the brokenhearted. He is our Rock, our Fortress,our Hope, Our Healer, our Confidence.
Romans 8:37
New King James Version (NKJV)
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Reading chapter 11 was so thought provoking. Surrender and Confidence are the words that I would use for the week. In order to overcome our fears, doubts and insecurities, we need to surrender our weaknesses to Jesus and look to Him for our confidence to be who He has called us to be. When we can take our minds off our own problems and give them to Jesus we can enjoy the life He came to give us. Bible verses are 1Cor, 15:31 – I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily (KJV).
Ps. 118: 8-9 – It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes )NKJV). Sisters, I know it’s hard but if we can look to Jesus our Lord, Redeemer, Deliverer, Savior, Our Help, Our Everything we can make it. Is God enough? Yes He is.
My word is blanket.
When reading about plantings of the Lord, I think of gardens full of beautiful blooms, trees along with birds singing and butterflies fluttering around. So you ask how do I see a blanket in this? As Renee shared about as you become confident in Christ, you will become a display of God’s splendor. Just as planting seeds as they grow and bloom you can see a blanket of God’s wonder. As Renee talked about the beautiful pink blossoms, and not knowing how the wonder became with no attention, this shows me how God works in our lives each day. God uses our transformation to show His glory, just as the blooms do in His gardens. The Lord takes each of us and He allows us to grow daily just as the seeds grow in His garden, next He waters us, and when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, then He begins to give us fertilizer through good and bad times, and in His timing we become the blossom, in which we become the blanket of roses, where we connect and join others. But as the blanket begins to rejoice and give praise, God allows us to branch out to spread His word, through our love, faith an hope. With His transformation, just as the seed transforms to a beautiful pink rose blossom, we can blossom and shine as God would have for God is our blanket.
Psalm 5:11
But let all who take refuge(blanket) in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
So therefore, I pray daily for the blanket of the Lord, to plant seeds in me, to water them, to fertilize them, and to allow them to blossom so that through my words, actions and faith, I to can shine for the Lord. God Bless
The word I choose is ENOUGH. God is enough no matter the circumstances
The verse that I choose is Isaiah 61:3: They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His spelndor.
Romans 12:2 has also been a life verse of mine also, but I really like the imagery of the Isaiah verse and the strength and power it portrays as we remember that God is enough and through His strength we can be rooted in the truth.
The word I chose is also SURRENDER
The verse is : Romans 12:2
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”
This scripture is one of the very first that I clung to when I first came to believe! I also find power in Luke 9:23, because it reminds me that I must surrender “daily” – not once, not occasionally – but “daily” in order to follow Jesus!
To be a part of this journey with you and all these wonderful ladies has truly been a blessing
Word: Surrender
Verse: Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. Isaiah 6:8
The word ‘surrender’ has been on my mind for the last few days. I’m surrendering to something this week that I have been running from for a while because of [insert every excuse you can think of here]. I’m tired of running and confident enough now to be a “yes” kind of girl like Mary and a “wimp to warrior” like Gideon. I know it’s something God wants me to do and it’s a cause that’s close to my heart but I always manage to talk myself out of it while Jesus is trying to talk me back into it. I’m going to cling to His promises with a death grip and go on this “yes to Jesus” ride! I’m excited to know that wherever this ride leads, it’s going to be an amazing trip because God is involved. He’s with me holding my hand because He told me He wouldn’t leave me and I like to think he’ll be chanting, “Go! Yes! That’s my girl!”
This is also my word for the week, SURRENDER. I know I’m a little late in posting! This word has also been on my mind as well the last few days. I have felt the Lord telling me to jump in, all the way, both feet, no looking back and no regrets. My heart says “Yes!”, but it will not be an easy process, as I am sure that I will want take back all that I am surrendering. My verse is Joshua 1:6-9.
Word:: Endurance
1 Corinthians 10:13
New International Version (NIV)
13 No temptation[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
I’ve been through a challenging 3 years and I’ve grown more in the last 3 years than I have my entire life. Through the difficulties and the mind set to give up God has been there and has provided relief numerous times.! I’m a better person, mom, wife, daughter, friend etc.
I know He has something great in store for me and will use my challenges to His glory.
I love what you say here Julie. I too have been through a very rough 4 years but, like you, I have grown more in those 4 years than any other time in my life. I love the hope & anticipation in your last sentence
My word of the week is TRANSFORMED. “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
Renee, this journey through your bible study has been amazing for me! I have been filled with hope, changed by His word, and challenged to continue to push myself past my comfort zone and rely on GOD’s promises as doubts and fears arise in my daily life. However, chapter 11 reminded me so clearly that God’s plan to bring us to a place of surrender of our lives to HIM so that we can be transformed into His image is not meant only to make us more confident in our own lives, but so that the transformation in our lives can be seen by others and His glory revealed to others through us.
A different translation of 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 beautifully explains this truth. “Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.” (The Message)
I love that! We become brighter and more beautiful. Our inner transformation is revealed so that others may see God in us and reveal His glory.
Thank you for the many blessings!
Dian
My word is DISPLAY for I want nothing more than to be a display of God’s splendor. My verse is Isaiah 49:3, NIV: He said to me”You are My servant Israel, in whom I will display My splendor.
NASB: He said to me, “You are My servant Israel, in whom I will show My glory”. I pray God will be able to use my transformed life to show off His glory so I can be a reflection of who who He is.
My word is: True. God’s promises are true…it may sound silly, but even though it was in chpt 10, I happened to read the part of the chpt with Isaiah 43:1-2 the day I was getting on a plane, something I would rather not have to do, and it is like a light went on that He is not going to leave me! God will be there when I call on Him in the midst of an oncoming panic and He will replace it with His peace. I experienced His amazing peace, patience, and love throughout my entire 4 hour plane ride. Now that fear has less power than it did b/c I faced it with God’s strength. I have “known” that God’s promises are true and I can trust Him my entire life, but it was like I made the “connection” and the ” light came on” when I read that verse the other day! So thankful for what God is doing in the lives of this online community though your book, Renee. God has used your words and experiences to touch my life and change my heart.
I wrote earlier that my word was DREAM and my verse was Heb10:35-36. I said my dream was to paint my house. normally, this need not be a huge dream for anyone but it is for me due to the fact that I struggle with a ton of fear. I am afraid of going to the grocery store, participate in my children’s school activities, and pretty much step outside of my house. it did not used to be like this. till 2008 i was happy, healthy stay at home mom, active in my community and my church. one day in sept 2008 God told me to do something and I did the complete opposite thing. i am still recovering from that sin. first, i felt condemnation, and then fear which I still struggle with. during these past 4 years God showed so many bondages in my life. God has helped me change a lot. But I still need help in setting up healthy boundaries in my life, and to stand up for myself. pretty much every one in my life walks over me and I allow them due to fear. i don’t want to be a doormat anymore coz i am doing my best to obey God and honor all the people in my life. I am scared to go to the paint store but I will anyway. I was not planning to write this at all but I read rachel W’s blog and it said there to expose your brokenness. then I went to the kitchen and the dj said face your fears. I thought everyone would think I am definitely bizzare to be afraid to go to the grocery store and paint store. but that is the truth about me. why am I afraid? That is a long story. but I am afraid I am going to do something stupid or dress inappropriately (fashion was a bondage in my life among other things) that I will displease God etc.
This study has helped me a lot.
Blessings,
Anna
Good for you girl, to share so openly. I believe that is when we find true freedom from our bondages, when we are willing to expose ourselves in confidence that God will heal us. The enemy wants us to hide in shame, but God calls us to allow the light to shine. Bless you, Anna! I know that God has great dreams for your life. And as far as your doing the opposite of what God told you to do, we’ve all done that in some way or another. But just like Renee says in the next video – Even though we do fall down, He enables us to get back up. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!!! You are strong sister! He loves you and the enemy has nothing on you!
Anna,
You are not alone.
You are redeemed.
You are forgiven.
You are a child of God.
Go with confidence.
Just go.
One step at a time.
Just go with God.
Praying~
Anna,
I do not think your situation strange for I have dealt with the same kind of fear! God loves you and I love you and will pray for you! Stay strong and confident, you can not only dream but accomplish with God’s strength.
My word is POWER, GOD’S EXTRAORDINARY POWER, especially when we surrender our plans to Him. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” –Grace
Hi Renee.. my word is CLAIM I have always tumbled and can not get God’s Promises to sink in and stay there. The worldly issues always come to the surface and take away my joy and confidence! I NEED to KNOW and CLAIM God’s promises daily, really minute by minute. Heb 10:35-36 is my verse for this week.. I will not throw away my confidence, I will perserve so that when I have done the will of God I will receive His promises, I will not shrink back but will have faith! Very appropriate for that is what my parents named me 64 yrs ago! God Bless you Renee for all work in the effort! It has been a reward and commitment fulfilled for me! Hugs and Blessings, always, faithD
My word of the week is being Humble….it happened last night I was trying to explain a position that my Mom wanted me to apply for but it wasn’t for me. It was a laundry position at a retirement center and with my injuries in the past this is not the job for want me and I truly believed it’s not in God’s plans. However, I knew my Mom wouldn’t understand so I got off the phone and asked the Lord “I know I’m right but please let my Mom see it. I can’t explain please let her understand. Than my mom talked to Dad and he said oh no that’s not a good job for her. Than she wrote her first e-mail to me and said this is your humble mom…
Being humble is not easy or asking for help but I am
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (James 4:10) KJV
I had 3 verses that jumped out of me: When you feel forgotten, God says “You are REMEMBERED
“See I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Isaiah 49:16)
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body of Christ, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Gal. 2:20)
“You are a chosen (woman), a royal (priest), a holy (daughter), God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9)
Here are some thing that I’m working on…
Harmony
Here is our family tree
Where our feelings can be expressed.
Since sharing our faith is the key
to our success
and friends here will be guaranteed
for this community is very blessed.
Shannon Steckel
Copyright ©2008 Shannon M. Steckel
God’s Way
For with Christ we are never alone
God will never drift apart
And no matter if we feel torn
For His love is in your heart.
I am with Rachel, it is hard to believe we are coming to a close of the book for a 2nd time. I have learned so much and recommend to all, to repeat the study and Renee to lead us again.
My words are Contentment and Freedom. It was hard to choose one in the pahs I ahve walked this past month with my mother being hospitalized, changing work conditions for both my husband and myself. My son’s continued growth as a teenager about to drive and the feelings I am losing myself.
It is hard to be content with so much change and boing pulled in directions I am unsure of, don’t want to go-but need to and to realize I don’t have to do it all and don’e ahve to do it perfectly (that is a big release for me)
I am walked closer with God many weeks through the study, but otehrs needed the help of the study to be pulled back as I was pulling away.
My verses are old favorites and Renee uses them so well:
Phil. 4:12 “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hingry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
2 Cor. 3:17 “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
Thank you again Renee for a wonderful journey, I look forward to continued growth.
Hugs to all, j
My word is redeem. Feeling like trash most of my life or never measuring up or ever good enough…….I have clung to Isaiah 43:1. “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you…….” I love the word redeem. Although I personally cannot go back and change any of the hurt or damage of my past, God can. Rev. 1:8 states, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who IS, who WAS and who IS TO COME, the Almighty.” He is God in my today (is) but also in my…..was. I have experienced many times when an old wound has been healed because God led me through a new set of circumstances today, that brought restoration for the past. Because He has redeemed what was lost, my confidence grows which equips me to carry on to my…..is to come.
I hope to meet you Renee at She Speaks…
Word of the Week – Ask
Memory Verse – But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
I have confidence that the answer to all that I may ask will be in the fruit of the spirit.
Thank you for the blessings.
Amen Katy – love your word and verse! Ask and you shall receive. I love the fruits of the Spirit.
Blessings to you today as you ask, seek and receive!!
My word for the week is “DREAM”> I chose it from the first sentence in chapter 11, where Renee writes, ” I used to DREAM about the woman I wanted to be.” I can relate a lot to this sentence because I dream a lot. when I was younger my dreams were not not necessarily part of God’s will for my life. but as I grow closer to God and obey Him, God Himself gives me dreams. Dreams I know I cannot accomplish on my own. but I can can accomplish with God’s help. My biggest dream is that I can be a woman who can obey God promptly. All else that is beautiful in my life flows from that obedience.
my verse for the week is 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.
I chose this verse because yesterday I needed guidance from God about a decision. So I first read chapter 11 of confident heart and then I read the prayer in chapter 1. The prayer includes this verse and answered my question for God. God wanted me to be confident and move forward with what I am dreaming. My current dream is to paint my house.
This verse is also given in chapter 11, pg 204 where Renee says she went ahead and promised Jesus on our behalf that we will not throw away our confidence.
I love your word and your verse Anna and the “why” behind your choosing of them!! I’m praying for your dream to paint your house to be fulfilled!!
I can’t believe we are already on chapter 11, for the second time for me! Incredible. Today’s verse for me: The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
Psalm 34:18 My WORD for the week: heart. Wrote about it today. So blessed by The Confident Heart book and this online study!
Love that you have been part of the study girl! Praying for you Rachel!!! I’m going to try to hop on over to your blog and read more later today. Love you friend!