Join me Tuesday night April 30th at 8pm {EST} for a
FREE Confident Heart CONFERENCE CALL!After the call, I’ll be hosting a Facebook Party at 9pm EST!
We’ll chat about the call, chapter 6 & 7, do some Q&A, connect with each other
and there will be drawing for fun prizes!Sign up for the Facebook Party here.
Conference Call details will be posted on my blog tomorrow afternoon!
Our word for the week: CONQUEROR
Be sure to print it and post it everywhere. You can download in a PDF or in MSWord.
God’s WORD for US this week:
“No, in all these things you are more than [a] conqueror through Him who loved you.” Romans 8:37
This week, in chapter 7, we’re going to identify and learn how to defeat our second most common doubt… “I’m such a failure.” It’s the wicked step-sister of “I’m not good enough.”
My prayer, hope and deepest desire is make sure failure no longer gets the final say in your life, JESUS does! Because YOU ARE are more than a conqueror through HIM (Jesus) who loves us, you can learn to fail forward and grow from your mistakes and full blown sins. That is how you become a women with a God-fident heart.
In today’s video teaching, I want to empower and equip you to stop letting doubt and discouragement beat you up and start letting God words build you up instead!
{Download FREE “AM/FM Thoughts Printable here}
{Download “Video Message Notes” in MSWord or in a PDF.}
Today’s Assignments: Print and post our Chapter 7 word and verse. Pray our Chapter 7 prayer and start {or continue} reading chapter 7.
Let’s Connect: Click “share your thoughts” below and let’s talk about what God speaking is to your heart today through the video and/or chapter 7? What are one or two things you’ll take away today?
Chapter 7 has made a huge difference in my thinking This whole book has changed my view of God since I read it!
I love the truths that are taught in this video! It’s so important to be aware of negative thoughts (lies) and replace them with positive statements (truths). God is so good to keep reminding us that He loves us and wants the best for us! Thank you for sharing these AM/FM statements based on God’s Word!!!!
I finally was able to watch Renee’s video, and I have the AM/FM thoughts with me, when I feel doubt is overwhelming me, I reach for my AM/FM thoughts and they get me out of negative doubts. God was getting me ready for Chapter 7 “I’m Such A Failure” it took me this long to finish, since it was truly speaking to me and it was hard for me to accept what God is trying to tell me. I have been trying to take my state exams to be certified as a Bilingual teacher, I have passed two(bilingual/PPR(pedagogy) I have been having such a hard time passing the content (EC-6),I’ve taken it over ten times, and I am recently studying to take it again at the end of May (28th) It has taken a toll on my heart, self-esteem, and walk with God. Talk about feeling such a failure…telling myself how dumb/failure I am (while friend/family passed it only the first or second try) as a person. It brought back all the insecurities that I fought so hard to let go. You are not smart enough (like your brothers/sisters) are you sure you are related or true Jacquez, you will never amount to anything, everyone around you is passing this easy test, yet look at you, still not passing. It has broken me in so many ways…until I read “don’t let my failure define me- God see’s beyond Who I am to who I will become” these words carried me out of my darkness and into light. I keep reading my AM/FM thoughts to hear God’s positive and beautiful words carry out the “I’m such a failure” thoughts. I smile at God and just say “Wow Lord you are good and I am so amazed on how you touch my heart. Thank You. There is a reason why I haven’t passed, yet, I know this-God knows my plans before I do…and I will pass this cause my accuser is satan not God. Through God anything and everything is possible and I am positive I will pass. Thank You so much Ms. Swope for the encouragement and I thank God for this awesome, awesome, online class. Please anyone/everyone keep me in prayer.
I just want to say how much I love this book. Every chapter has touched me and helped me and I
am so grateful to you for writing it. I am sorry I missed the facebook party, I think it would of been fun and hope you will consider doing another one.
I just watched the video and I can really see how much God loves me and how I need to pay attention to the thoughts that try to take over my mind. It is true that you are what you think. I am so glad God’s Word has so much power that when we believe it and speak it , even our thoughts can’t get in the way. I am beginning to see myself in a whole new way. I’ve been saved for a long time but couldn’t get past the way I felt about myself and now I understand why so now I can change it. God is good and He is showing me more and more that He is all I need to build my confidence and walk out of the negative. The Holy Spirit is leading and guiding me into the Truth. I have always known these truths but thought they were for everyone else. Now I know I am one of the “everyone elses. Praise the Lord~ Thank you for being so faithful to show women who they are in Christ and how to live that out.
This study just gets better and better. Chapter 7 and the failing forward is an amazing concept. I am looking forward to our facebook party tonight!!
Hey friends!! I love reading your comments. Thank you so much for all that you have shared this week!!
I wanted to also make sure you know about my Confident Heart Facebok party that Im hosting tonight.
You can find our more here:
http://reneeswope.com/2013/04/facebook-party-other-plans-for-tonight/
Hope you can join us if you are on Facebook!
Chapter 7 really hits home with me. I love the fail forward. When I commit to something I need to stick to it or don’t commit at all. It is more hurtful to everyone if I let them down including myself. Being honest and truthful would be so much easier. Also like chapter 6- Think….feel……live.
Thank you, so very much, Renee for another chapter thats speaks volumes to all of us. I go to bed at night and fall to sleep thinking about the messages in each chapter. The words for the day and the scriptures. It gives me peace when I’m reminded of God’s love. Every time I read another chapter I’m thinking about how valuable I am to God. Chapter 6 was the most profound because it brought up alot of what I personally experienced simular to you. “Not good enough” to “I’m such a failure”. Oh My! The lies I have been telling my self. I really like the AM/FM anaology. I am learning so much about myself.
Chapter 7 so far is life changing for me. I have felt like a failure for a long time. Failed academic items, when my daughter or son make mistakes, etc. This chapter is “freeing for me.” “Nothing is impossible for God.” I must remember this every day.
I read chapter 7 yesterday, and I set out to stop the negative thoughts by asking God what His thoughts are about a situation rather that try to figure it out with my own understanding. I was reading Luke morning and verse 37, “For nothing is impossible with God.” brought me added strength. But it was verse 45 that I really drank in. “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord said to her will be accomplished.” There it is again, believing Him!
The third FM thought in the video is what I needed after a phone call with my husband. It was a complaint from him that I have heard many times that I have tried to change, but can’t. I said “I can’t do it” and got on my knees. I asked God what His thoughts are about it. And I recalled “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I am going to carry that FM thought with me and see what God says. Right now all I am hearing is to trust Him. And I am thinking maybe this isn’t “my issue” to fix. Maybe it is an expectation that He is going to fix in my husband. Whatever the case, Christ will strengthen me, and I am blessed for believing Him.
Hi Renee!
I loved the section in Chapter 6 about AM PM frequencies in our thoughts. I thought that was very well put! I wrote all of that part in my journal, printed the part about “Who I Am in Christ” and put that in my journal and I printed the AM and FM thoughts from yesterday’s email. I will be putting that around my house and referring to it often!!! I really think those AM thoughts come all the time! Also, the thought “what’s wrong with me?” Was a zinger! I say that out loud to myself all the time!!!! Now when I start to say that, it’s like a buzzer goes off in my head, and I say” oh! There’s nothing wrong with me!” And I start to quote a scripture! Thank you, thank you, thank you, for helping me be aware.!
Thanks Renee, that message was supper helpful!
It helped me see that I need a lot more FM thoughts, and a lot less AM thoughts!
Thanks again!
So, I just finished reading chapter 7 and found it to be very powerful. I have alot of am thoughts and find it hard to fit in the fm thoughts. I guess you could say with my background of abuse I find it easy to fall into the am thoughts. My wish for myself is that I can one day be able to be consistent with the fm thoughts and less of the am thoughts in my heart. I know what I read was true and I so remember the story of the women who they brought to Jesus to be stoned. I am not that women but I do find myself thinking why can’t I be a christ like women. It isn’t that I am not a christ like women it just feels that way I guess here goes that self-doubt that we talked about earlier in the one chapter. BAM! SMACK! right in the face again. How do I let myself get into these positions? I not only can’t answer this question but find myself getting very frustrated by it. Chapt. 7 talks about making our own failing list oh, that would take up a whole sheet of paper for me. I love the golden nugget story also and wonder if I did that to teach myself more truth about myself and others in my life.
this was in my inbox this morning and just wanted to share it with you all. I recive these daily from bible gateway and I just love them. Hope you all like it .
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers . . . will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
Most of what our world calls “love” is conditional. You get to be on the receiving end only if or because you are a certain way or if or because you do certain things. Stop being or doing those things and watch how quickly the “love” disappears. Except when it comes to God.
His love is unconditional, permanent, sure. Like sunlight it shines on us no matter what we do or don’t do. We can’t cause it to burn more brightly. We can’t possibly turn it off. It is the great constant in life—the one thing we can’t evade.
Sin in our lives might prevent us from the vivid experience of God’s love, but it doesn’t diminish that love any more than a few clouds can diminish the sun.
Take time today to bask in the warmth of divine love.
God’s Promise to Me
•Nothing can separate you from my love.
My Prayer to God
Your love is permanent, Lord. Transform me as I understand more deeply your undying affection for me. When I am in situations where I cannot sense your love, give me the faith to trust that you are still there and that I am always in your care.
Thanks for posting this! I keeping hear the small voice saying trust and obey the only way . When the doubts come flying in and I do not FEEL the LORD my prayer is for the gift of faith
Amen….I like how you said that we can not turn Gods love off no matter what but, I think we can let more of his light in by opening up.( like a shade on a window). The light of God is out there we just need to open the blind and let the light in.
I think we can all use those reminders of God being for us when so many things or people (especially ourselves) can be against us.
More technical note, how do you participate in the conference call?
I remember hearing once that condemnation pushes and holds me down and conviction lifts and draws me up. I think this goes along with the thoughts in the chapter. We do have to be intentional about how we think about and look at the things-good and bad-that come into our lives. Having our thoughts and responses thought of in advance can help us quickly turn our thinking to God and His grace and away from ourselves and Satan and our messes and Satan’s lies. I so appreciate the encouragement, lessons, and reminders in the book that help me have a more confident heart!!
Renee
I’m so thankful for u stepping out in faith and sharing!! THis bible study and reading your book is helping me and so many others !!! God Bless you !!!!!
WOW. The gold miner having to remove all those tons of dirt just to find that tiny amount of gold.
Just that short paragraph has really spoken to me. The last 18 months had been one shovel of dirt after another and now as I begin to see and feel the breakthrough I get it. God is my gold miner. He has brought me through all this stuff to bring forth gold. I was stuck looking at the dirt instead of looking for the gold God had for me. Thank you Renee for being obedient to God in your ministry so through you HE can minister and set many others of us free too. 🙂
I too really liked that part. I even told my son about it at bedtime. He had painted some rocks gold and had a little pile on his floor. I told him there is gold in all of us! Britt Nicole has a song called “Gold” that I love!
I just wanted you all to know that since I became a Christian back in 2000 I have been going through the motions and thinking that I am a true christ follower but after talking to a friend of mine today I realized that I didnt fully give my life to the Lord. With all my heart. I was going through the motions for years and serving the Lord in that way instead of honoring the Lord with my heart.
It’s funny – years ago The Lord spoke to me about my critical thoughts towards others so I have worked really hard to catch such thoughts and turn them into prayers, even for complete strangers! However, while listening to the video message, it dawned on me that I am still expecting perfection or close to it out of myself and while I have learned in the past not to speak negatively to myself, I find myself making comments like “I’m such a dork because . . .” Or, “you know me, what else can you expect?” I am glad that The Lord is using Renee and this book to help me re-establish who I am in Him!
I love the AM/FM analogy and meaning, it is so perfect for battling the intrusive thoughts in the mind….the many of the that come up. It is absolutely a coat of armor I’ll use to filter the static that interrupts the music of God’s truth!!
I wish I had read Chapter 7 last week, I went through exactly what Renee described in her feelings within the home environment. Totally felt like I failed everyone and myself, incapable of directing and teaching and exhibiting any semblance of the fruits of the Spirit as a model in the home. Truly didn’t know what to do, as the burden felt heavier and heavier because of guilt and not letting God carry that debilitating load IMMEDIATELY, and letting it accumulate instead.
The beauty of Renee’s analogy of digging for gold is SOOOOOO PERFECT!!! I have to apply it to looking at people of all ages…including myself. That is the ONLY way to make it. God has placed such beauty within EVERYONE and what a gift to see through the dirt and find that sparkle of beauty!! Especially those who disappoint you, frustrate you, exhaust you….I’m in literally in tears because of the dirt that sometimes gets stuck in my eye from interacting with others. Just to get past it and forgive and to see that eternal beauty within them is the sparkle that can shed light on any dark day.
The video was great it reminded me that if God is for me who can be against me. Thanks for sharing!
Hi This is off topic but have you all heard that the gay activists want Greg Laurie removed from the National Day of Prayer? Please pray for Greg that God will give him all the wisdome he needs for that day. I know he will stand firm in the Lord And oh how we need to pray for our country!
Yes, I did hear about that. Having been involved in the Calvary Chapel “movement.” For over 20 years, I am actually looking forward to Greg’s response! And yes, praying for all involved. Thanks for bringing it up here – requesting prayer is never off topic in my book!
WHERE THERE IS HOPE, I AM & FEEL ALIVE. GOD STREGHTEN ME WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. I AM LOVED. I’M NOT A DISAPPOINMENT, I’M A CHILD OF GOD. I AM NO LONGER IN PAIN, BECAUSE HE IS MY HEALER. GOD BECAUSE YOU ARE AWESOME, I’M WONDERFUL. I’M NOT STUPID, I’M SPECIAL. I’M NOT ALONE, I’M IN HIS PRESENCE. I’M AWESOME, BECAUSE AWESOME LIVES INSIDE OF ME. I’M BEAUTIFUL, BECAUSE HE MADE ME IN HIS OWE IMAGE. HEY I LOOK JUST LIKE GOD. I’M SAFE, BECUASE HE SAID I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU. YES I’M LOVED, THANKS LORD FOR BEING MY FRIEND & MY FATHER. THANKS LORD FOR NEVER JUDGING ME, YOU REALLY LOVE ME UNCONDITIONAL. I’M NOT SO BAD AFTER ALL.
You are so right! ((hugs)) 😀
Amen!!
God is in control….. AM & FM THOUGHTS, are a great idea to start & end the day. lord clean up the against me thoughts, and give me your words to help me lord with the for me thoughts. because you are for me, who can be against me. thanks lord for being for me. thanks Renee for all your positive messages & list to help all new beginning in my life, and I will write them in my heart to share with my love ones as well.
“We have to accept that we are going to disappoint people, especially is we are seeking to please God. Sometimes we need to lower our expectations of ourselves and lighten our over-loaded list of commitments” (pg. 130). I read this shorty after having an in-depth discussion with a trusted friend. Personally I have been working on my issue of having high expectations of myself and of others. Prior to reading this chapter I felt God nudging me into lightening my life and re-prioritize things. Then I read this paragraph and was affirming to know that I am being obedient to Him by delegating some of the responsibilities I had taken on. Praise God.
The second thing I am taking away from this chapter is the FM statement, “When doubt comes against me, saying I’m not good enough for a certain role or position, I remember that God is for me! He says I am His masterpiece, created new in Christ so that I could do good tings He planned long ago.” This FM thought goes hand in hand with the If-Then statement I keep in my purse, “When I start to measure my value by how well I am doing as (name of role), then I will thank God for the gift of my roles and for the gift of His unconditional love that determines my worth.”
I am grateful to have such powerful Truths and statement to help me along my walk with Christ. The resources Renee provides are amazing and are a blessing to have! Thank you!
I agree – Knowing that God is always for me gives me confidence to face any situation.
Renee,
Thank you so much for this empowering study. However, the devil is mad because it is helping me to grow. I started doing this study with my 16 yr old daughter and this study is perfect for her but she has stopped reading it and I have fell behind becuase of the trials of life. Please pray for our family. I just found out that a 21yr old boy forced himself on my daughter a month ago, I am so sad for her as she wanted to save herself for marriage, she already doesn’t feel like she has any worth and she struggles with searching for attention from boys to make her feel special, she has been bullied in school, she is very shy and has no friends, so she has had a very rough childhood..she is not in the Word, we have told her how much she is valued and how special she is and all those things and that she deserves so much more than what these boys who she talks to will give her…
Please pray that her heart would soften and that if she is not saved that God would get a hold of her and that she would fall hard for Him and seek him. Please pray that I will get back on track with the study and not let anything stand in the way as I feel much better when I am reading it.
Thank you. Sorry to give so much info.
I am so sorry that your daughter is going through this. I know that you are in such pain for her. When our children hurt, we hurt even more. I will be thinking of you and praying for you. She has a wonderful mom which is so important. Your love and trust in God will help her until she finds Him.
I will be praying for you and your daughter, for God to give you strength through what you are going through. He will place His loving arms around your daughter and draw her close. I have a 17 year old daughter and know that when she is hurt, I feel the hurt too. God loves you and He promises never to Leave you or forsake you….I pray you will both come away from this victorious in our Lord….
I am so sorry that this has happened to your daughter. I am so sorry you are having to go through this. My prayers are with you. Please continue with reading God’s word daily and strengthing yourself with scripture. Continue to read Renee’s book for extra dose of a confident heart. The AM/FM anaology is perfect for you to remind yourself that through Christ you are a conqueror. God loves you and His promises are there for you to uplift you. You are a victor in Christ.
There is a period right after the PDF — for the part Download “Video Message Notes” in MSWord or in a PDF. The PDF won’t let me download but the Word part works fine. Thought I was let you know in case others have the same issue.
Thank you Renee. God bless you.
I have really found the last 2 chapters very important. They have really spoken to me and I have had to be really honest with myself about my own doubts. I really spend alot of time worried about what other people think of me. Even my own family. I always feel like I am disapointing someone or that I am being judged and doubting if I am good enough at anything I do and anything I have in life. I have really had to examine where that comes from and that it only matters in life what God thinks of me and that I am His child and worthy of His love so much so that He sent His son to die for me. And that He has plans for hope and a future for me even if I fail at what I am doing it is in His hands.I felt a rush of security and love that I have never experienced before and I know that these chapters are really going to make a difference going forward in how I see myself and others. Thank you Renee for the encouraging words of your book and videos.
Thank you for this video which explains what you wrote in this chapter clearly Renee. I love this chapter, and of course all the previous chapters as well.
I am learning to take my thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ (2 cor 10:4-5)…. for I know HE does not want me to put myself in a bondage by my own thoughts, and not move forward in the Life that he has for me. I have to yet write down the AM and FM thoughts and confess God’s building words upon my life.
Thank you so much Renee. This chapter, as well as your video helps to put what we are learning into prospective–that is –overcoming doubt and allow God to put a confident heart in us.
God bless you…
Renee, this book is without a doubt about me!!!!!!!! Two things I took away from the video and from the start of chapter 7 is 1) God is in control and 2) Satan is a liar, and is always prowling around like a roaring lion (IPeter5:8), but I know God is bigger than all that and will help me persevere and His truth is (Phil 4:1) I can do all things through Christ who stengthens me….I love these scriptures you used. On Page 118 I loved the I QUIT!!! been there….In fact the beginning of Chapter 7 just grabbed me, because I had a bad day on Saturday with my teenage daughter, who is 17, (the enemy is attacking the more I grow and get closer to God and deeper into study), I can usually handle her ranting and raving, but the aggressiveness of saturday just got me to “I’ve had it”….so I started to respond, which is of course what satan wanted, but then my husband in a stern, but loving tone asked me to stop. I did… but I felt like “Shame on You”…yes satan I know…. On Sunday service was amazing and powerful, the Holy Spirit just spoke strongly to me…a couple of things I want to mention about the sermon, Pastor said..”forever calls us to patience and grace” and Forever call us to LOVE! I love my children, and I want my love to say “im here, waiting to wrap my arms aroud you”, Just like our Lord and Saviour says to us….. Page 119 thank you for including the illustration Zig Ziglar used to challenge parents to take their focus off their children’s mistakes and look for the good in them…I could just go on and on, truth is after chapter 4 I feel, like Ive been set free and can honestly share now…..Thanks again, will continue with chapter 7
Thank You for the very encouraging video Renee. I love the AM/FM analogy. I will use this and hold my thoughts accountable to God’s word. I like that this can be share with my daughter. This book is a blessing.
Renee,
I just listened to your video and it was a blessing indeed, especially about the AM/FM thoughts! That’s an original for sure……one I will remember :-).
You are as beautiful on the inside as well as the outside. I thank God for you as well as all the other women that are sharing, at times, what are painful and hard things they’ve been through, but also knowing they are being encouraged and helped to overcome. One thing that is for sure, we all go through trials and tribulations, but a reminder from God’s Word is that He said to ‘think it not strange concerning these fiery trials which try us, as though some strange thing happened unto us. But rejoice, inasmuch as we are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, we may be glad also with exceeding joy’………….I Peter 4:12-13. God bless each one of you and may we all continue to be edified and perfected by the power of God. He who started a work in us will complete it until the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I keep the words and verses for the week posted next to my computer at work. Every time last week when I started doubting my self-worth, I would read…”Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are Mine!” Isaiah 43:1b (NAS). I kept relying on the you are Mine part and it got me through the week.
Hello 🙂
Well my job interview didn’t result in a position so back to the applications. I just received a call about two positions. And immediately I felt for the one job oh no I can never do this bookkeeping job. Yet I know bookkeeping.
The Am thoughts are so upfront and center. You are to dumb, even if you get the job you will never keep it. How can you forget you got laid off. Losers get laid off and you know it.
I just ask for prayer that I will remember God gave me a brain and the ability. I am his child he always sees me. Jesus knows I need a job and soon.
I don’t want to lose faith I realize now that in my last job so much of the time it was all about me and all about money and not about being a faithful servant to the Lord.
It shouldn’t have mattered I had a harsh boss I should have kept my eyes on Jesus.
I have repented of all these things and only pray that when not if I get a new job it will be for God’s glory not mine.
Thanks for listening 🙂
You’re in my prayers. God doesn’t close doors without opening others, so don’t give up! He is your ultimate Employer and Provider, and He will make sure that you are provided for. It’s hard to remember that when I’m at work, I’m actually serving and glorifying God, so I put Colossians 3:22-24 right next to my computer. I look at it each time I get tired or discouraged with something I’m working on. “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
May you find rest and peace in the Lord today!
Thank you! 😀
Thank you so much for this POWERFUL message. It’s much appreciated. It hit my heart just where I needed it the most today. You’re an inspiration. God bless you. 🙂
Renee – I was not able to share a thought when I read chapter 6 – so as I’m reading chapter 7, let me say that I have loved the AM and FM thoughts – It is amazing how just a change in words can change the way you think.
As you shared about the little study guides, that you have written, are you saying that there is more out there than this book? Would love to know about the little booklets as you referred to them.
Thank you, for this study and for being apart of our lives.
You make it so real and make me anyway feel that I’m a friend and you care so much about the thoughts that are given.
May you and all continue to be blessed.
The past couple of chapters are God-timely placed for me. These past 4 days have been filled with “I’m not good enough” “What have I done wrong” thoughts. I have been praying the verses of who I am in Christ Jesus. Such a battle…sometimes. I, too, am grateful for this sharing blog/study. God is good, all the time!
Renee, what an amazing journey this has been with your study !! I have grown so much in my relationship with The Lord, my husband, my family, my job and my friends. There was so much abuse in my life growing up that has affected my adult life. Through your book I have been able to come to terms with some of those issues. And I want to thank you !!!!! I have learned to believe in myself, love myself and have a confident heart. It is AMAZING…..how many people have noticed the change. Thank you
Hi Renee the video is awesome . thank you for sharing. Im going to watch again at home(am at work now). In Christ Love
Hi. One of the lines that really talked to me is “You are the one who focuses on your mistakes and beats yourself up with accusation and condemnation. Those are not My thoughts. I see the gold of My image, woven into your heart when I created you. I want to bring it to the surface so others can see it too.” Just this morning when I was dropping my son off at school I was beating myself up about past mistakes. God has really used this chapter to show me that I don’t need to be doing that! Thank you Renee for showing me how to counter my AM thoughts with FM thoughts! I don’t want any thoughts or times of beating myself up to get in the way of my relationship with my Father!
Another line that really helped “But we need to remember that accusation doesn’t come from God; it comes from our accuser.” I sure don’t want the enemy to control my guilt and thoughts!
I also loved “Although you may condemn yourself for your failures, Jesus never will.” And “God’s Spirit will convict you, but His heart will never condemn you.” I feel so happy knowing that Jesus is not condemning me for my past mistakes!
Renee you could hae written this book just for me! I am so glad to know that I am not the only one who struggles with past and present mistakes!
I enjoyed Chapter 7 where the distinction is made between conviction and condemnation. I’m quick to condemn myself because it’s easy thing to do. It is very easy to make blanket statements like “I’m a total failure,” or “I’m always messing up,” or “I’m just too stupid.” But God created us to be much more complex than just one or two blanket statements. It takes time to get to know someone and pinpoint their strengths and weaknesses. I have trouble getting to know myself sometimes! Thankfully, God is revealing things to me about myself and teaching me not to just dismiss something as one way or another. The Holy Spirit takes care to point out the things I’ve done wrong but also offers faithful instruction, without blame or condemnation. Failure is not fatal, unlike how I was raised to believe. Mistakes are learning opportunities and failure doesn’t get the last say, God does. So thankful to be going through this chapter!
Hi Becky Im so glad for you and pray that you contuin to grow in Gods love. I too am learning a lot from the study and book as I grow closer to God. God mat you keep helping us grow closer to you daily In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. thi s is for all the lady’s here. In Christ Love
Amen. I thank God for the beautiful stories He is writing in the lives of the women here, for the transformation that He is accomplishing and will continue until the stories are complete in Him.
Just watched the video, and it is a beautiful summary of what God has been impressing on me through this study: ours is not a passive faith, but an active one. Though our works will not save us, we have work to do to live in the victory of our great salvation. The points that especially stand out:
“…we need to get INTENTIONAL about tuning our thoughts into God’s thoughts toward us every day.”
“Let’s ask Him daily to clean out the clutter of insecurity, pride, and Satan’s against me thoughts and replace them with the clarity of Truth.”
Listen to our thoughts. “What we think determines how we feel, and our feelings often determine how we live.”
I guess when it comes right down to it, the Bible never depicts the Christian life as a tea party, but often as a battle. But with God fighting for me, and me cooperating with Him, how can I lose?
I am finally posting on last weeks study. I read each chapter twice. I came here and read what others have been sharing. I have been working on my time line (ouch). I have been praying the scripture prayers at the end of the chapters. I have been preaching the Gospel to myself, as encouraged in the book The Gospel Primer. I have gotten a better grasp on some things in my life and heart.
I am actually really excited about the discoveries that I have made about my messed-up thinking!
One is that my total distrust of my dad (justified) and my Pollyanna personality (God-given) have contributed to my keeping my distance from God, without animosity, but without a great deal of trust. What futility! But I realize that, while I have no actively hostile thoughts toward God, and I love my Savior and am thankful for His Father’s sacrifice, and I am aware of the activity and working of the Holy Spirit in my life, I have had a hard time trusting my Father in heaven. It mirrors my relationship to my earthly father: I have forgiven him for many things, and I am the only one of his 5 first children who will maintain a relationship with him, but I do not trust him, and rightfully so. I am so excited to really grasp that I have been superimposing my relationship with my dad on my God and on my husband so that now God and I can sort this thing out!
Second, what we tell ourselves really, really does form us. I have been “talking trash” to myself for far too long. The first 10 years of being a believer, I knew what a problem I had in this area, and really worked hard to talk to God, and speak His truth to myself. The past 10 years, I have slipped back into the habit of negative thinking, and I am ready to quit that. I really appreciate the message of the last couple chapters that we have a CHOICE to DO and SAY and THINK and LIVE what is good and true and pure and uplifting. Ours is not a passive faith, but an active one.
So, some truths that are really coming home to me are:
1) God saved me from a life of slavery to sin in July of 1989.
2) I have a God-sized void in my heart that is made only for God. If I try to fill it with other things, those things will be like a drop of water in the vast empty basin of the ocean ~ they will not even begin to wet it, much less fill it, and will be totally unsatisfying. But if I allow God to fill that vast ocean with His love, then the other things, like the love of my husband, the pleasure of blessing my family and friends, will simply make my “ocean” overflow. Until God has filled that void with His own love, the other things, as good as they are, will never satisfy, and will in fact disappoint.
3) While my salvation was secure the day I trusted Christ as my Savior, my living in the victory of God’s gift of salvation is a daily, moment by moment thing. I need to remind myself of God’s truth at all times. Than you, Renee, for all of the scripture prayers, the AM/PM thoughts, the scriptures for when I am feeling *whatever*.
4) Mine must be an active faith, not a passive one. I must CHOOSE: to think God’s thoughts; to read God’s Word; to walk like I believe it, which I do, until my feelings conform to His truth about me; to pray at all times; to be thankful in all things for the salvation He has given me and the hope I have for my future; to trust Him to replace the ashes of my past with the beauty of Himself. Thank you, Renee, for so eloquently teaching me this truth. I have heard it many times, but it is taking on greater meaning through this study.
Thank you, Renee, for the real encouragement that this study is, and the safe place to share with others who are walking this with me. May God richly bless you and your efforts!
Powerful reflections, Becky, thank you so much for sharing. I agree that we must have an active faith. As Renee pointed out in the video, the verse from 1 Peter 5:8, the devil is prowling around like a lion! He is very active so we need to be on our defenses and anticipate his attacks before he strikes. And what better way than to use the word of God, Sword of the Spirit, which is our only offensive weapon in the Armor of God. I’ve always known that memorizing scripture was important, but realizing it’s only tangible offense we have, that makes it so much more important. Living a Godly life is a daily struggle, may He continue to strengthen you each day!
Thanks for your feedback, Julie. I never intended to share on this site, being used to keeping my family of origin struggles to myself for the most part. But God has blessed me with this safe and comforting and painfully challenging place for sharing, and I have felt His prompting to be more transparent than usual 🙂
The timing for this in my life is interesting to me. The first 24 years of my life were living in darkness in a family that was far, far from God, where neglect and abuse were prevalent. I am now 48, so the 2nd half of my life has now been lived in the Light of God’s gift of Salvation, but in and out of the shadow of doubt. These past 24 years have been glorious on many levels: godly, faithful husband, 4 fabulous daughters who love the Lord, a great marriage, the fruit of much labor, and I could go on. But I have missed out on so much joy because of my lack of trust in God and men, including my husband, and my fear of rejection, etc. I have been held captive to doubt and fear, and have struggled on and off with depression. I can now see how God has been molding and shaping me and preparing me for this time of hard work, cleansing, and healing ~ emotional and spiritual surgery without anesthesia. He is using this study to show me some essential truths, including that He and He alone can make me whole and make me FEEL whole. Until I let Him do this in me, all other things will leave me still feeling empty.
Praise God for His obedient servant, Renee, and all of you blessed women who are willing to share and pray.
I really appreciate you being so transparent, Becky. Thank you for sharing yourself with all of us.
Thank you, Renee, for this uplifting message:) You are precious ~
It is a wonderful message; that we all can use in our daily lives. I love the point that our thoughts determine our feelings. I celebrated my birthday on May 7th with two dear girlfriends. One of them came to the lunch table with a lot of negativity and gloom. Mind you she is a Christian woman, but when I listened to what she was saying, I thought to myself “where is the power of Christ in her life” does she not realize that ONLY Jesus can change our circumstances. I now know what I will do; I will give her a copy of Renee’s book. Thank you again, may the Lord bless us and help us to have thoughts of his goodness and grace!
I love the AM/PM thoughts! I have them posted everywhere including my home screen on my IPad! They uplift me every time I open my IPad. Thank you for helping everyone to find ourselves in God.
The video only plays for 58 seconds. 🙁
Hi Mindy, I just watched it and it went all the way through. I think it may have just needed more time to buffer and load on your computer. Hope you’ll try again 🙂
plays all the way through for me, too. 🙂 amen, and amen again! God is in control, even when it doesn’t look that way. He was in control when He said Lazarus’ sickness was not unto death, He was in control when they laid Lazarus in the tomb, He was in control when He raised Lazarus up. He’s still in control today, even when it doesn’t look that way at the moment.