Chosen…I love that word.
I don’t know a heart that doesn’t long to be chosen.
Yet the disappointments of life and the deep pain of broken relationships can cause us to forget that we are – chosen, loved, and sought after.
“You are a chosen [woman], a royal priesthood, a holy [daughter], a [woman] belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of HIM who has called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9, NIV
Broken hearts and broken circumstances make us doubt we are valuable, that our future relationships can be healthy, or that anyone would ever want us.
Without even realizing it, we begin to see ourselves as disposable. Easily replaced. Not good enough.
As I shared in Chapter 6, this happened to me after my fiance broke our engagement – twice.
I had always believed I would never be good enough and now I had proof.
But God… He used the rejection and pain to show me a deep place in my soul that would only be complete when I realized that in His eyes, I was just right. Forever loves and chosen.
“It wasn’t until He was all I had that I realized He was all I needed (really needed). Recovering from the heartbreak of being unwanted and rejected, I started to discover my identity and permanent value in who I was in Christ for the first time. The promise of God’s nearness and the fact that He chose me as His own was the only assurance I could hold on to.” (Chapter 6)
{I have a song I know without a doubt God wants you to hear!} Please take time to listen and let your heart respond to these truths. Let these words remind your heart that you are secure, significant and accepted. You are CHOSEN and your heart is spoken for.
Oh sweet friends, I pray you will let these words soak deep into your heart. Watch it again and again until your soul knows it’s true!!
***
Today’s Giveaway: Click here for my Chapter 6 – AM/FM Thoughts Download to print and post, and also share with a friend
Time to Connect: Ok, let’s all share our answer to #7 at end of Chapter 6, and then any others we feel comfortable sharing, too.
Click “share your thoughts” right below this post and do just that. {if you’re reading via email click here to return to my blog to watch the video and connect}
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Thank you for sharing this song. It speaks of what I know, but often forget. It’s not the love from the world I want and need….it’s the love from God. God’s love fills my needs and my broken heart.
When I think of Am (Against me ) I think of am radio where it is all talk and usually in a language you cant understand. For me it was Spanish stations. So you turn to the Fm where you can understand the music and conversations. But if you listen to the Am stations you eventually pick up on a few words here and there. And find yourself listening to and for those words. Just an interesting thought I had.
My Current is Am thought is I’ll never finish school this time either. Because I have quit before who’s to say I wont quit again? The FM thoughts I will replace them with ( and I have personalized them) are these scriptures.
Phil 4:13 TLB Debi you can do everything God has called you to do with the help of Christ who gives you strength and power.
2 Tim1:7 KJV/ Niv God did not give you a Spirit of fear Debi, but of power and of love and of sound mind / self discipline. ( and self discipline is something I need to ask for God’s help with. )
Luke 1:37 NIV/ TLB For nothing is impossible with God Debi
Debi, For every promise from God shall truly come true!
And last but not lease
Mark 10:27 Amp/ TLB Jesus glanced at them ” with men ( or women) it is impossible but not with god – for all things are possible with God Debi
Jesus looked at them intently then said: ” Debi without God it is utterly impossible But with God everything is possible.”
Can you just imagine Jesus looking at you and saying that. Wow heart piercing …
I find myself really struggling with thoughts of being a failure…primarily as a wife. I constantly allow myself to believe Ive let my husband down. So many old wounds in our relationship are resurfacing. Some of that is from working on the timeline. I feel as though God is directing me to process my emotions…emotions that I never truly allowed myself to feel. I know it’s a process and I need to keep trusting Him. I love what Donna said…”Let Him in.”.
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
I’m afraid of losing that Hope and know I need to keep seeking Him in every part of my life.
I love your book “A Confident Heart” because that is what I lack, confidence. Even though I have been successful in life despite all the tragedies I’ve had to deal with, rejection and divorce that hit me like a ton of bricks, helping my daughter cope with the pain of divorce in her life…(and we are all past that now with the grace of God’s help), but I keep living in the past and Satan keeps bringing up my failures of my marriage and all the “what ifs” and I do not feel confident to handle future relationships so I avoid them at all cost. Somedays I do not want to get out of bed and face another day, but I know I have to. That’s where I am right now in the AM thoughts against me. But the FM side of this is God’s Word keeps me keeping on….without a fresh Word from Him each morning, I will end up in tears before my day even begins. So I know how important it is for me to hear from Him. Take this morning for instance, my daily devotion comes from Psalm 118:24, “This is the day which the Lord has made, Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” It’s amazing, because this is the verse that gets me out of bed each morning…I have found myself meditating on it each morning, even when I’m not fully conscious of it, or even think about it, it pops in my head. That only comes from God!! I love what it says in my devotion for this day, June 2, 2012…the title is “Maximize this Day” and comes from “The Word for you Today” which I get each quarter from my Church, Trinity Baptist Church,….and it is so good that I just have to share the entire devotion so here it is:
God determines the number of your days, but you determine how they are spent. The Psalmist said, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Yesterday is a cancelled check, tomorrow is a promissory note, today is all you’ve got. And you can begin your life over today, if you live by these words: “Today I will delete from my diary two days—yesterday and tomorrow. Yesterday was for learning; tomorrow will be a consequence of what I do today. Today I will face life with the conviction that this day will never return, that it may be the last opportunity I’ll have to contribute because there’s no guarantee I’ll see tomorrow. Today I will be courageous enough not to let opportunity pass me by; my only alternative will be to succeed. Today I will invest my most valuable resource, my time, into my most important resource, the life God has given me. I’ll spend each minute purposefully, making today a unique opportunity. I’ll tackle each obstacle knowing that with God’s help I can overcome it. Today I will resist doubt and pessimism and warm my world with a smile. I’ll maintain a strong faith, expect nothing but the best, take time to be happy, see every task as an opportunity to honor the Lord, and endeavor to leave His footprints on the hearts of those I meet.” John Boykin wrote, “Time is your life–nothing more, nothing less. The way you spend your hours and your days, is the way you spend your life.” So pray, “Lord, help me to maximize this day.”
I have to pray for a confident heart each morning to face another day. And God’s Word is the fuel I need to keep on, keeping on……with all that said, Samantha (my Doberman) and I are off for our Saturday morning river walk and along the way, we will be praising God for this day. God bless you all 🙂
Oh Sheree–thank you for that wonderful devotional–I never thought about yesterday and today
being that way!! I will from now on thanks to you. You are an insprirational woman. Thanks again!!
Oh My question 7… was tough…and to share is tougher… but this is how I answered:
AM: I don’t feel pretty enough-you will never fit in.
FM: “I am his masterpiece created to be new in Christ so I can do good things. ( Eph.2:10)
AM: I am not smart enough and will never get it right.
FM: God is for me I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil 4:13)
it’s so crazy how I constantly put myself down & beat myself up…. Yucky- feeling! but I tell myself to stop- Look to God- draw near to Him- let Him into your heart…LET HIM IN…and find peace.
Thank you for that video by Mercy Me…. beautifully put 🙂
Aloha from Hawaii xoxoxoxoxox
I have been waiting for this opportunity to share what stood out to me in Ch 6!
When Renee shares how she would roll out of bed, onto her knees asking God to give her the strength to get through the rejection…that really hit me. Reason being, I have spent most of my time on my feet, fist raised at the sky, asking God, Why?. If you are so big and powerful, why didn’t you keep (many situations) from happening to me? When I was a child and helpless…why didn’t you protect me? Etc.
Renee’s story reminded of a recent revelation that I never ask God to help me through the hard stuff. I never ask to have peace or to have joy despite the disappointments. That Renee would drop to her knees and basically…lay her head on her Father’s knee in the midst of deep pain…..powerful!!
The other thing that stood out to me…God making it a point that it was not He who put the shame on Adam & Eve. He doesn’t place shame, guilt, condemnation, unworthiness or any other negative emotion on us. I love that He wanted them to recognize the source of their situation.
I am loving the way He is speaking to me through this study. I’m gonna have to do and redo this!!. I can sense many different ways He will use this study to bring healing to my soul and most especially bring me a new perspective of Him! I am so focused on the revelations, I can’t focus on the questions! lol! (I like this God I am learning about much better than what I had perceived Him to be .)
That I can’t do a job good enough and the feeling of disapproval by my earthly father.
These were replaced by knowing that God loves me as I am and he will equip me with whatever I need to get a job done. I am accepted and approved of by God.
The song is wonderful, I have listened to it several times and will listen to it several more.
I’ve heard this song over and over, but after this study it has taken on a new meaning for me. I don’t need anyone else to be my fill up anymore, the Lord is the one who does that now for me. I of course need the love of others in my life, but I bring my needs first to the Lord. Once I am filled up by the Lord, I can more fully enjoy the love of others in my life, as I don’t attach things to it, and I don’t weigh others down with my expectations. I know that was hurting my marriage, my friendships, and my relationships with members of my family. Thank you for posting this video Renee!
Esther, I totally agree!
AM thought: My mistakes as a mother have caused my children pain and made my oldest an alcoholic.
Overwhelming guilt. I love them so much.
FM thought: Romans 8:28 Another thing, I am thankful that I can pray and ask God to make up for the places where I failed.
AM thought: I am struggling with resentful feelings towards my Pastor and the church (small c) and feel like I don’t fit in there or anywhere really.
FM thought: 1Peter 2:9 I an forgive, but I can’t get over some things and will continue to pray and trust God to show me where I fit into the Body.
Practice as often as neg thoughts happen:
2Cor 10:5b … we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
When I first did Chapter 6 – I didn’t have a job. So, my AM was “I don’t have the right skills to do this job or that job”. Then the FM was: “I am good enough for these jobs, after all, God has given me the Spirit of guidance and power. He will guide me to the right job!
HE did, I am not working and I am even going in tomorrow (Sat.) for overtime. I still have some to learn there, but I don’t feel the anxiety that I would have had if it wasn’t for God’s Word and people like you to remind “me” that I have what I need. I need to remind myself daily!
I love that Mercy Me song too – I have played it over and over when I fist bought it. I “pinned” it so others can listen to it too. Thank you.
Beautiful, I love that song. Take this world from me, I don’t need it anymore, I am finally free, my heart is spoken for. And I know I am covered by His blood. Let the church say Amen, again let the church say Amen..
Thank you for boldly leading me Renee! I praise God for your book and for this study. I’ve heard that song so many times before but to hear it with the words is truly what I needed today. God does work through others and I thank Him for you!
Julie
I feel the same way about the song. I have always enjoyed it, but today it was more meanful than ever. Thanks for sharing: )
I loved the song and i will be getting the CD!! To feel rejected by the ones you love and care about can seem to eat you alive. I have suffered rejection from loved ones and some that I have thought of as my closest friends! This has made me feel like I was not worth someone to love and care about me enough that I could have a close relationship with but a very few people in my life!! The more that I have been rejected, the lower my perception of myself has become. It is so true that you do not really turn to God and really realize that you are always wonderful in His eyes until He is all that you have. From now on when i get up in the mornings I am going to tell myself that I am a wonderful and loved child of God! Thank you for all of the wonderful things that you are teaching us about being a confident woman because I have never been confident!
Jan,
I too have never had a sense of confidence. Several times when I came close, the enemy was quick to squall the feeling, and I would end up worse off than if I had just well enough alone! I am also very grateful for all He is teaching us!
Thank you Renee……… this video is so awesome. This biblestudy has been such a help to me. Not only have I been able to share some things that I thought I’d never tell but by the grace of God I feel some wounds have been healed and my mind definitely renewed. My confidence levels are growing day by day and I know HE who started a great work in me will bring it thru to completion. I would love to be able to download this to my Ipod. Can any of the technology folk out there tell how to make that happen???
Question #7 Two AM thoughts continually resonate with me, first I’m not good enough:
replaced by FM thought I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are thy works and that my soul knoweth right well. Psalm 139:14
and second I’m not worthy of____
so many things, respect, time, acts of kindness.
FM thoughts:
Walk worthy of God, who has called you unto his kingdom and glory 2 Thessalonians 2:12
Walk worthy of the Lord please him in every way, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Colossian 1:10
When I feel unworthy I know that Jesus has been there, he was forsaken and esteemed not and yet he said in his dying breath “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
I need to forgive and continue to walk worthy in the eyes of the Lord for he has called me to be a child of his kingdom and eternal glory and I am called into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9,
This chapter, along with other things I am studying the past two weeks, is speaking to my heart in a deeply healing way.
So much rejection in my life…the latest being of a daughter and a grand daughter we raised who have not spoken to us for many years….
The other study called it “put on & put off”.
Just now I opened the pdf that Renee gave us ( I had hand typed that for personal use) and The first “put off put on I did was the one that is first on Renee’s pdf.
When doubt comes against me, saying I’m not good enough, I will focus on the truth that
God is for me! He says I’m fearfully and wonderfully made; all of His works are wonderful and
I am one of them (Ps. 139:14).
I wrote in my journal, I put off “unwanted” and I take this on.
And this one: When doubt comes against me, saying nobody loves me, I will cling to the truth that God is
for me! He loves me so much that He gave His only Son to live and die for me, and He chose
me to be adopted into His family. ( John 3:16, Eph. 1:4–5).
I love how Abba is working so many threads together. That is no accident.
OH and I liked the AM FM concept so much, I had already shared it with a group of people. Love simply ways to remember to practice/live the Truth. Thank you Renee.
I love Mercy Me & this is one of my favorites. For me, my AM thought is that my husband does not think I am good enough to be his wife. His infidelity crushed me. Knowing that he was ready to give up me & our 2 wonderful daughters for her destroyed my self-esteem. I feel like the only reason he asked me to come back was because she dumped him. There is little affection or intimacy in our marriage. I haven’t heard the words “I love you” from him in 3 yrs. It is hard. But I remind myself that God is in control, He has great plans for me & He is faithful to keep His promises. I am thankful we are still together & that God is still working on redeeming our marriage. My FM thought is that God chose me & His goodness makes me good enough. If God thinks I am worthy, who can tell me I’m not? Sorry this was so long & might be TMI
Question #7 requires some raw honesty. My answer to the first part of the question: “I’m not qualified.” My answer to the second part (replacing the AM statement): God’s qualifications are the standard; not mine. He will equip me! Phil. 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Thanks, Renee!!
Thanks, Rachel ! I’ve been struggling with job changes at work and this morning when I started to feel like I can’t do some of this work, it popped into my head (thanks, Holy Spirit !) that where He has put me, He has equipped me; so I CAN do this work. My day went really well as a result (unlike some others lately!).
Amen – YOU are qualified to do what HE has and is calling you to.
Sweet friends I want you to know this – I felt SO unqualified and ill-equipped to write my book. And look what Jesus is doing with what felt like almost impossible to me. PLEASE don’t’ let them enemy convince you otherwise. He is so threatened by God’s calling and purpose and glory over your lives!! Set your eyes on HIM – turn towards the LIght and walk in it – acting like it’s true no matter what your feelings are telling you!!
Thank you to both of you for you encouragment in regards to your job and how the Lord has led you to a certain calling. I have stared to teach kindergarten after 10 years this past year. I have felt not “good enough” in some people’s eyes and then anxious alot of times. Yet the Lord has reminded me to do everything unto Him and please Him. Also that He has equipped me as you have said. He know all things before time began so I guess( I know) He knew I was going to be teaching (kindergarten) again. I have really struggled with the feelings of not being good enough or futility of pleasing others. I have had other teachers encourage me through notes and words for which I am very thankful God has placed in my life. Also I read in a devotional how all that God has made He it is good ( Genesis 1 ) So God feels I am good in the sense of what he has planned for me to do in my vocation and relationships. I have told another teacher struggling with the same issues and she is excited to learn the bibical truths I have learned from this bible study..
Angela,
I have taught K for 20 years and LOVE it. If I can be of any help please email me [email protected] and I will be more than happy to do whatever I can for you to feel more comfortable or to encourage you, give you ideas or just listen. Leslie
THANK YOU!! I am hanging on to this,the statement about the enemy being threatened by Gods plan for me and mine especially hit me…soooo timely,you just dont know dear Renee
I absolutely love that song from Mercy Me. One of my favorites. AM thoughts I’m currently dealing with are not feeling good enough, not feeling loved or wanted by anyone. FM thoughts to replace those by are that I will rely on the truth that God is for me because he says I’m fearfully and wonderfully made; all of his works are wonderful and I am one of them. He loves me so much that he gave his only Son to live and die for me, and he chose me to be adopted into His family. This whole entire chapter was for me. I’ve always been told that I wasn’t good enough so this chapter ministered to me. I will do my best to work on this and change my eay of thinking. Please pray for me.
I love this song! Its one of my many favorites from Mercy Me. Thank you for posting this and for the reminder that we are Chosen and Spoken for! Blessings and have a wonderful weekend all!
The feeling of rejection has been coming against me from family members, one to be more specific. But I think about the scripture that speaks on The cornerstone that the builders rejected. And I also remember that I am loved by God and if He is For Me than who can be against me!