Praying God’s promises — it’s changed me.
That’s why I included a prayer, at the end of each chapter, weaving together Scriptures from that chapter and others I sensed God wanted us to engrave on our hearts.
“Praying God’s Word has been one of the most life-changing ways I’ve learned to live in the security of His promises…and isn’t what we all want?
“One way God tells us that confidence will come is when we ask Him for what is already part of His will. ‘This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us’ (1 John 5:14 NASB). So there you go: we can be confident we are praying God’s will when we pray God’s Word!” p.25
But that’s not all.
Romans 10:17 tells us that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” so let’s pray these promises out loud again and again.
Out loud. Yes, even if it seems weird. Find somewhere you can be alone and speak these truths to God and let them echo in your heart
Trust me, it makes a difference.
“When we pray God’s words out loud, and hear them, the Holy Spirit engraves them on our hearts and writes them in our thoughts. We internalize God’s truth and our faith grows as we are transformed from the inside out!” p.25
Let’s pray this week’s prayer {together}:
Lord, I pray that You would give me a confident heart in Christ. Take me beyond believing in You to truly believing You. Help me rely on the power of Your promises and live like they are true. You say blessed is the one who trusts in You and whose hope and confidence are found in You. Those who hope in You will not be disappointed, because You work all things together for good for those who love You and are called according to Your purpose.
When self-doubt tells me I can’t overcome my insecurities, I will believe Your promise that all things are possible to whoever believes. I will not throw away my confidence, because You say it will be richly rewarded. I will persevere so that when I have done the will of God, I will receive what You have promised. My confidence is in Christ and I am no longer one who shrinks back and is destroyed, but one who believes and is saved! In Jesus’ name, Amen. {See Jeremiah 17:7; Isaiah 49:23; Romans 8:28; Mark 9:23; Hebrews 10:35–36, 39}
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A Song of Prayer
My friend, award-winning composer and pianist , Chad Lawson, has graciously shared his beautiful, Spirit-filled Song of Prayer below. Watch and listen below for FREE and soak in this God-gift that was filmed while Chad listened to the Holy Spirit for 32 minutes and simply played what He laid on his heart. You’ll see the joy of Christ in Chad’s smile but more than anything, you’ll experience the peace of God’s presence through his music.
Download Song of Prayer: You can find it on Itunes ($1.99) or Amazon ($.89)
Today’s Give-Away: 3 Special Order Song of Prayer CDs
To enter to win one: Click “share your thoughts” below this post and describe how you felt or what you sensed God whisper as you listened to Chad’s Song of Prayer. Also share one or two of your answers to questions at the end of Chapter 1.
If you’re reading this via email: Scroll to the top of your email and click the title “Praying God’s Promises” to go back to my website. All entries must be put in the “share your thoughts” section.
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Beautiful!!!
For so long, I have thought of myself as not beautiful, someone who no one would ever want, but God thinks I am beautiful and He wants me. My whole life I have been searching for confidence in the worldly things: career/education, spouse/children, money, you name it I have wanted it all because I thought it would make me lovable, and give me the confidence to minister to others…to really have a sense of self-worth. Christ died for me, and He is the only one that has. What more could I ask for? Nothing in this world can and ever will compare to what He endured on the cross…for me. I am still trying to find my place in this world….I don’t have a college degree (praying about that), I don’t have a husband, not even a potentional, I don’t have a lot of money and still…. He loves me! God has really been working in my life, breaking me…restoring me….teaching me, it not about this life. This life and all it has to offer will fade away, but His love for me never will…never. Knowing that, I am slowly gaining confidence in Him. I just want to be obedient to His Will and His Calling in my life….If that means getting a degree, I will. If it means having a husband or children, I will. If it means being stable financially, I will. If not, then I just spent life deeping my faith, and being loved and in love with the greatest man ever, whom I will spend eternity with…what more could I ask for?
Take Care, God Bless 🙂
I enjoyed listening to the music and enjoying God’s presence. As I listened I thought about who He says I am. Then I thought of all of the conflicting thoughts I have had about who I feel like I am. He told me that my thoughts and feelings do not change the truth. They simply keep me from walking as the person He has created me to be, I want to stop deciding who I am by my own thoughts and feelings. I want to believe Him.
I think a confident woman seeks the Lord with all her heart. She knows Him intimately and knows who she is in Him. She walks in the fear of the Lord and not the fear of man, She is able to walk in faith and not fear because she knows God is with her and is guiding her steps.
That is the person I long to be and am so thankful that God is helping me to be more like that every day. I have not arrived but I am on the journey to becoming a confident woman of God.
#4 Isaiah 49:23 i will not be put to shame by GOD.
Isaiah 43:19 GOD will make me a new person and do new and amazing things through me.
Romans 8:28 no matter what I do in my life, even the bad things, and no matter how bad they seem to be, GOD will work out good through them. So that I may teach others what GOD has taught me through the bad in my life.
Mark 9:23 this makes me feel hopeful that GOD can do anything as long as i believe in Him and his power.
#5 What hinders me most is not spending enough time with GOD, through the Word and prayer; this leads me to have a negative heart and attitude. fear of failure can hinder me from living with a GOD confidence.
YES, there are two promises that can speak to my geartest need right now.
a) Isaiah 43:19 GOD is doing something new for me, He is helping me to fight through my fear daily.
b) Isaiah 49:23 GOD won’t shame me only man will and can.
#6 A woman with a confident heart knows she is fully loved by GOD and is free to look “foolish” in the eyes of the world. I act like this alot in hope to make people laugh and to brighten up there day.
As for the song I found it to be an amazing piece. I felt GOD’s presence Chad’s playing. God has surely blessed him with a gift for music. I felt peaceful and still and thought of a scripture while i was listening. which was Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am GOD….(NLT). I surely was still and knew only GOD could have someone perform something so beautiful.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING IT.
I loved the music! I was truly worshiping while listening to his talent. For me, a confident woman is one who knows that she is pleasing the Lord with every thought, word, and action.
While listening to “A Song of Prayer,” I felt a deep sense of peace and also an expectancy of something good to come. When we get to a point of bring secure in God’s love, He is like a loving parent to us. He wants to give us good things in our lives.
Listening to the Song of Prayer, I could sense God was speaking to me. He was saying:
Even when you feel alone, look and see that I am with you. When you are sad I am here. When you are happy I am here. When you feel you can’t be forgiven ask and I will forgive you. No matter where you are or what you are feeling I am here. Just look for me.
Psalm 42
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, Where is your God?
These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.
My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon-from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me-a prayer to the God of my life.
I say to God my Rock, Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?
My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, Where is your God?
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.
I feel just like David when he wrote this psalm so long ago. I know that God is with me wherever I go, but when I feel overwhelmed that is when I feel alone.
All the questions for this week really got me thinking and searching. However, the two that really spoke to me was question 5 and 6. My answers to these questions Feelings of not good enough and having too many problems to living with God-confidence. The promise that speaks to my greatest need right now is Romans 8:28:
And we know that all things God works for good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
Yes, even me being on dialysis works for the good, because I love Him and have been called according to His purpose. God doesn’t want me to feel all doom and gloom, He wants me to put my trust in Him.
Question 6 answer:
She will rely on God and not doubt that God loves her always. She will have the faith to tell others about Jesus. She will not be insecure about who she is in God. She will step out of the boat and step out in faith. She will not let her health problems rule her. She will believe God and not just believe in God.
Renee, thank you so much for starting this Bible study. This week I have listened to God more than I have done my whole life! I feel good! I thank God that He is showing me that He is with me, I just need to look and listen to Him. Please pray that I don’t quit and that I keep on doing what God has called me to do many, many times. He wants me to spend alone time with Him.
I too experienced God’s peace as I listened to the song of prayer. It is awesome to see how powerful the word of God can be. All we need to do is speak his word, because he is a God that is true. I find myself afraid sometimes when new challenges come my way. I have to remind myself that God is in control and no weapon that is formed against me share prosper and that he is working things out for my good.
As I listened to the song of prayer. I immediately felt peaceful and was reminded that I could give my burdens to the Lord. Nothing that happens in my life (no matter how big or small) escapes God’s attention. I bring stress on myself for failing to be confident in God.
#6) A woman with a confident heart rests in God’spromises, believes in her ability to do great things for God.
Thanks Renee for your wonderful book and everyone for sharing your comments.
I didn’t have doubt and much as feel like I was different from everyone else. I never “fit in” with my family or circle of friends. I always felt kind of on the outside looking in all the time. Maybe that is the same thing.
The music is beautiful–thank you for sharing. I could feel God’s spirit when I prayed and felt God speaking to me with His still small voice.
I enjoyed answering the questions at the end of chapter 1. The verses shared in question all spoke to me and reminded me of the awesome God I serve. Isa. 49. 23 reminds me God is my hope and He never lets me down even though I let Him down quite often. Romans 8;28 has always been one of my favorite verses and am reminded again of how much God is in control. Things often happen I don’t understand, but I need to learn to put this promise in action more often in that nothing happens without God knowing about. I write this believing it, but I need to put in action when problems and issues arise. Also, I love Mark 9:23 that says I can’t do but my God can!
I want to be the joyous Christian women which is joyous, loving, pure, kind, hard worker, provider, consistent, honest, and fun. God doesn’t expect us to be “sticks in the mud” or so stuck on being pure we forget we are human. It is not an act, but something we are.
Amen!
Here are my answers to questions 2 and 3.
Yes, insecurity has kept me from trying many things. I usually take the safe path instead of taking risks because I am scared of failing and disappointing those I love.
I feel discouraged, defeated, and not good enough when doubt whispers that things will never change.
I really felt God drawing me to a place of peace and rest listening to the beautiful music.
Last night I was able to borrow and watch the Gospel Of John DVD you suggested. Wow! That was so good. Thank you so much for the suggestion. It brought the whole gospel to life. It was really cool to see Jesus laughing. I just don’t picture him doing that when reading the Bible. I was very upset before I watched it because my daughter was on the roads last night and it was snowing very hard. I was so worried and kept asking … Why can’t I just trust you Lord? I know you will keep her safe. I was in tears. She would be traveling for a couple hours. Then I popped in that DVD and peace just came over me. Thank you so much Renee for your book and your insights. You have truly blessed me! 🙂
The message I receive from Chads music is…I am here.
My answer to qestion #2 is….almost eberything. i «exist» most of the time. i dont truly live. i exist in fear and debilitating anxiey and depression. i feel like my life is not my own. i fear life. i fear God. Ifear failure and rejection constantly. I doubt most everything…esp my worth. [sorry for mispellings..im typing via my kindle]
#1 My earliest memory of insecurity is Kindergarten, being so afraid I wouldn’t have a friend that no one would like me. I have struggled with this in every new situation since.
#2 This insecurity has hindered me from meeting new people & making new friends. I have always felt very uninteresting & boring and often wondered why anyone would want to be around me.
#7 God promises me I will be blessed when I trust Him . . . and that means in everything including new situations & friendships as well as strengthening my present relationships.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful piano solo with us. Listening to music helps me in my daily bible reading.
beautiful, awesome, so peaceful and prayerful
The questions below are the ones I felt were more important to share from the chapter. I love that God sees us just where we are and wants to meet us there to make us the women He wants us to be.
2. Has insecurity ever kept you from doing something? Insecurity keeps me from pursuing close relationships with people because the trying causes me to be anxious. I don’t like the feeling. I have also been hurt several times, and that ultimately holds me back.
5. 5. What do you think hinders you most from living with God-confidence on a consistent basis? Listening to the wrong voice. Forgeting who my confidence should be in.
Is there a promise listed above that speaks to your greatest need right now? See I am doing a new thing. This is an awesome truth, and I believe God is trying to do a new thing in my life. He has answered so many prayers lately about Joy. I need to believe Him and trust Him to take care of me.
The Song of Prayer is beautiful. At first I was going to say that I didn’t feel much, but there is a definite reverence there, and I can’t explain it, but I feel the Holy Spirit with me. No doubt in my mind. It’s pretty amazing actually.
Some answers from Chapter 1 that were telling for me were numbers 4 and 5:
4. I believe those words (and all words in scripture for that matter) are true, but they aren’t true for, or meant for me.
5. My past experiences hinder me the most. The pain and heartbreak of my past confirms my negative attitude. What speaks to me most is Isa 49:23 THOSE WHO HOPE IN ME WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED. Well, I am constantly disappointed.
I’ll keep working….
As I listened I wept. Deeply. I just wept to Him. I know He is still healing me. I felt peace along with His presence. I was definitely where He wanted me to be.
2. Insecurity has kept me from living my life at times.
4. When I read Isaiah 43:19, I receive Hope from Him.
#1 I’m not sure what my earliest doubt or insecure feeling was but one of the ones that popped in my head as I read that was when I started 1st grade and found that everyone already knew each other and had paired off as friends because they had gone to Kindergarten together, which I had not gone to, I just started in 1st grade.
My second thought that came to me was when I was in 7th or 8th grade and my Dad was complimenting my on my flute playing and telling me how I was probably the best in the school. I remember going into my bedroom and crying because I felt I let him down telling myself I wasn’t good at all and thinking how disappointed he would be in me if he really knew.
Only a few of the thousands of lies I believed over the years.