Today is another day where I can’t just write what I want to say – I need to “show and tell” you. In today’s short video message below I share how God walked me through a process of looking back with courage – so I could move forward with hope. He helped me identify things I didn’t even know were affecting me and gently led my heart on a journey towards freedom – showing me how to of let go of the pain from my yesterdays so I could live with confident hope in my todays… and tomorrows.
{Are you a note-taker? If so, I created “Video Message Notes” in a PDF format here or in a MSWord doc here, just for you. Even included key verses and blanks to fill in.} 🙂
Today’s Giveaway:
I’m giving away 3 Confident Heart gift packs for 3 of you. Each one includes a copy of my book, A Confident Heart {for you or a friend?}, my “Rest Assured” message on CD and a Starbucks gift card!
Let’s Connect {and how to enter today’s drawing}:
I’d love to hear how God speaks to you through today’s video message… and this is an easy way to enter today’s giveaway too. Just click “share your thoughts” right below this post and do just that. I’ll be here reading and praying over each of you and your stories. {Also, I know the timelines I encourage you to create might sound overwhelming or scary, so I recorded a little video message to talk/walk you through that process – If you’d like to hear more click here to watch it after you share your thoughts below.}
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Just going through my timeline and asking God to reveal anything that is blocking victory in my life. I’m just waiting on him as I truly want to have the confidence only he can give.
I have read this scripture a million times over and up until now, it has truly come to life in my soul and heart ! Thank you renee for this teaching, I am having one of those days where the disappointments from my past are crepping up on me, so i needed this today. thank you and god bless!
Thank you for sharing your testimony. I am going through a very difficult time as we speak. Separation leading to divorce, separation from the Lord little by little asking HIM “where are you?”. Yet, I have been getting revelations since last night and this morning but what hit me profoundly was your Encouragement for Today Devotion “If God loves me, why…?”. As many times as I have read Jeremiah 29:11-14 it has not hit me the way that I understood it from your perspective. I guess sometimes someone has to give examples or share what they have gone through for someone else to see it in a different light especially through a broken heart. I will be clinging on to your words and to what God says in Jeremiah 29:11-14. I don’t know how to thank you for what you did in just sharing. Thank you.
Renee,
Thank you for this messge today! I had a particularly rough day yesterday. My son was being defiant which happens a lot with his ADHD and language/speech delay. He will be 4 in July and the daily struggles we have with him are so challenging. I am often embarrassed in public with his tantrums and sometimes I just can’t do anything about them. The people around me just stare and give you the look that says “Lady, why can’t you control your child?” I wish people would understand.
In my Lifegroup at church, we just studied GodQuest and one of the chapters dealth with “Why do bad things happen to good people?” I have learned that it’s okay to question God but at the end of day still put your trust in Him. One of the verses that sticks with me is this, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28, NLT
Even though, I struggled with my son, struggle with not knowing my purpose yet….your message today has made me think once again to pause and listen to what God is trying to tell me.
I continue to pray everyday and know in my heart that God is always with me. I tell Him everyday, “God I don’t understand your plan for me or even know what that plan is yet but I have faith that whatever you have decided for me, I will be grateful and happy.”
“‘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.'” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) This will be added to my wall of hope here at work.
Jenny,
I understand your pain and embarrassment. I have four children and a husband with ADHD and teach Special Education. Sometimes the stress is so bad that I just want to give up. I pray that God will strengthen and help you.
Lana,
Thank you so much for your encouragement and prayers! Taking it one day at a time….but there are just some days so much worse than others and yesterday was one of those days.
Thank God that today is a new day and so far, so good!
Blessings,
Jenny
Laurie,
I’ve got a severe to profound hearing loss in both ears. I sign some. I’m loving this community and this study. I hope you find a copy of the book soon!
I would love to receive your book. I have been damaged as a child and dragging my junk around for too long not knowing how to release it and truly believing God has the best for me. My most troublesome issue now, is how I’ve let my past affect my children. Thanks for sharing your heart to help others learn how to be free in Jesus.
Thank you so much for sharing this today….. I had a whole page of things I was going to share on here, but after writing it and re-reading it, I realized that God is opening my eyes and heart to things that I wasn’t even aware were still buried so deep in my heart. I am going to listen to your message again and then I’m going to get into His word…… I know something BIG is going to happen today!!! Thank you for blessing me today – sister!!!
Thank you for hitting the nail right on the head! You’re exactly right when you said that we avoid dealing with pain from our past because it would take too much time and the pain would come to the surface and I’d fall apart. I’ve danced around the issues for so long, it’s time to begin to face issues head on and let the healing begin.
There is no temptation that has seized you except that which is common to man…… or woman! Thank you for helping me and so many others realize we are not alone and that there is a way out of the confusion of these struggles.
Hi Renee! thank you so much for that video clip.i don’t know where to begin,lately I’ve battled with my spiritual life-not a real desire to read the Bible&to fully trust God-I feel ashamed even saying that because He’s done so much for me&then I have these feelings.i need prayer-if I look back I’ve had a good life,Christian parents,grew up in a Christian school.always went to church.is it because I’ve had it all&Im ungrateful?even when I constantly thank God for all those things&pray for those that haven’t had that opportunity.have I let to much pride in?somedays I pray humble me Lord&yet I’m scared what is Gods response gonna be?please pray that I may release these trust issues.IWANT TO STOP DOUBTING&LIVE IN THE SECURITY OF HIS PROMISE!!!!
Thank you for allowing God to speak to me today, through these words. I have been struggling with health issues for the last two years. I never thought I’d be in this position. I try to be strong, but I had a meltdown last night, asking, “Why, God?” I’m so glad I was obedient to the Lord this morning and found my way to my devotional time. I feel a new hope, one that wasn’t there last night. I don’t want the disappointments from my past and the pains of my todays to keep me from living out the life God wants me to live. Thank you for this encouragement!
I am deaf and cannot understand your video. But I do want to say I am always encouraged by your blogs. I have been searing high and low at library to see if I could find your book to borrow…none so far! Please keep up with your positive yet realistic blogs!
God gave me this passage from Jeremiah 29 just a few weeks before my young son died unexpectedly. In the last 14 years since that time it has resonated in my heart so many times… it’s such a great reminder that even when I don’t understand my circumstances… I can rest in knowing that He still has good plans for me. Thank You for the reminder that when He whispers these words to me that it’s also a call to seek Him wholeheartedly & that when I do… He will listen to my prayers & I will surely find Him… waiting with open arms to hold me & comfort me.
Thank you!
Thank you Renee for being so faithful to bring this message of hope and restoration to us!!!
Wow! I am encouraged to continue despite my daily struggles with thoughts that try to keep me from the powerful truth you are sharing.
As thoughts come into my mind, I am throwing them away!! Replacing them with God’s truth!! Simple thoughts like : “I am not good enough, pretty enough, smart enough….” Attack me all the time, but I am recognizing them more quickly and replacing them more easily lately – PRAISE GOD !!!
I actually drew out a timeline a few nights ago and was amazed at all the ‘stuff’ I’ve gone through; that God has brought me through and I wasn’t even aware of it at the time! Yes it’s scary, especially the thought of sharing it with someone other than God!
Your video was very encouraging this morning, especially the revelation of Jeremiah 29:12-14! Funny how we neglect to read on to find out more truths…
This is my first on-line study and I love it!
Blessings to you and your family
Karen
I have started on the timeline. It is difficult. I pray God will heal me through this process so I can have joy.
Thank you Lord! Thank you for leading me here. I have just recently, Monday night, been contacted by my father who walked out on us when I was 9. He was very bitter and hateful, he hated my mother and often would tell me and my brother, “if I had a gun I would shoot her.” When I was 16, he called to say My kids are dead to me, I want nothing to do with you. We tried to repair the relationship but his bitterness and hate were more that I could take and I haven’t seen him since I was 21, I am now 46.
Your video is as if you have been watching my life from afar. I am have struggles in my marriage, and I am not sure why. Now my father had contacted me and I feel lost, confused, hurt, angry…. I want to forgive and move on but just as you say in the video, I am realizing, has moved into so many aspects of my life, I don’t know where to begin, and I feel more hopeless than I have in a very long time.
I have a family of my own, and I have so many responsibilities that I am over loaded. I don’t know where to start to crawl out from under the load. I try to talk to my husband but I am so ashamed by the things of my past. I find myself pushing him away, almost daring him to leave…
I so want to get past this hurt, I don’t know if inviting this person back into my life will do that or just cause me more pain?
Thanks Renee, I look forward to following you, and how you got to a place of peace.
With kind regards,
Suzanne
Thank you for allowing God to speak to me today, through these words. I have been struggling with physical health issues for the last 2 years. I never thought I’d be in this position. I try to be strong, but every now and then, I have a little break down – “Why, God?” I’m so thankful that I was obedient to the Lord this morning and found my way to the devotional. In this short time, the Holy Spirit has given me a new hope – one that I didn’t have last night. I know that He wants to work in my life, and I don’t want my hurts of yesterday or my pains of today to hold me back. Thank you for the encouragement I’ve found here!
I thoroughly enjoyed your video post today. I, too, am currently reading A Confident Heart and loving every minute of it! I would love to have extra copies to give to some very close friends who truly need this. I’ve thought of passing my book on to them, but I just can’t stand the thought of losing it. I have highlighted, written notes, etc. inside of it. So the gift pkg would be very welcome by me.
Keep up the good work. God is SOOO blessing us through you!!!!
I love your blog and your books. I’m dealing with so much from the past and I know it’s crippling me and I try every day to “let it go”, but it doesn’t go away. I always enjoy when you speak about dealing with your past. I guess because my past deals with my children being hurt and my daughter still hasn’t forgiven me, so it has an impact on my daily life. Thank you for your words! I would love to win your package and receive this book. Have a blessed day!
Thank you for this post and video. I have several things from my past that always seem to rear their ugly head at the most inopportune time. Thank you for this very wise post and information. I am prayerful that I too can make this tremendous transformation in my life, as you have done in yours.
May God Bess You!
Thank you for sharing- I love your ministry- I so relate to many of your experiences- and I love your heart for adoption- your daughter is beautiful and blessed to have you and your husband. We, too, hope to adopt in the near future.