In chapter 5, we talk about Gideon who, like us, doubted his strength and abilities. When God called him to defeat his enemy’s immediately Gideon’s insecurities started shouting excuses, listing all his inadequacies. Yet through his story we see God wasn’t limited by Gideon’s limitations, and He’s not limited by ours either.
God could see beyond who Gideon was to who he could become. He promised Gideon he would defeat his enemies, but he would not fight alone. “The Lord answered, ‘I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive’”(Judg. 6:16).
Gideon’s first steps out of the shadow of doubt would require he focus on God’s promise and power, not himself. Eventually, with God’s help, Gideon defeated his enemies and his doubts. In today’s video message, I share how we can do the same by intentionally identifying our doubts and throwing them away, so that we can take hold of and live in the security of HIS promises instead! Please click the arrow below to watch.
- Don’t Throw Away Your Confidence printable (click here)
- Message Notes: You can download video “Message Notes” in a PDF format here or in a MSWord doc here. I encourage you to watch it once and just let God speak to your heart. Then if you want to, watch it agagin and follow along with the message notes which include parts of the message, verses and blanks to fill in. 🙂
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I don’t know about you, but whew – this chapter was just what I needed this week. God used it to remind me of how good HE is at being strong in my weaknesses – and unlimited by my limitations. Being really sick for two weeks, with an injured teenager and a 3-year old who has sleep/anxiety issues that have caused her to wake up all night for the past three out of five nights will make you think it’s time to resign from just about everything you do {but don’t worry I’m not}. 🙂
Connecting in Community: Ok friend, let’s talk. Overwhelming circumstances will send me to the trash every time! What’s tempting you to throw away your confidence this week? Did chapter 5 help you identify your triggers? What promises are you going to take hold of after writing down and throwing away your doubts? Or share other answers to questions 1-7 at the end of the chapter.
Share your thoughts below this post. I really want to hear from you – yes you! You are an important part of our community and conversation!
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God has an interesting sense of humor…calling me, who has never even taught Sunday school, to spearhead a church plant in the city where you attended college. I’m eat up with doubt, but finding great hope in your book and videos (this one is phenomenal). Discussing the book weekly with two friends has been such a faith builder. Thank you for writing it!
Awesome video Renee I love the visual you put into it and the idea of writting doubts down and throwing them away.
Renee, the first time I visited our new church last fall, you delivered the sermon, and used this example.It was powerful then, and I am so glad you included it in the video, because I needed to hear it again! Old habits die hard, as the saying goes, and the affirmation you give us is so helpful.
I am looking so forward to throwing away my insecurities and doubts. What a great idea! Gosh, I have told my children when negative words begin to come out of their mouths to wad it up and throw it away but I did not seem to see that I could do the same thing with my doubts and fears. From now on, I am going to throw them away and stand on His promises for me. Sometimes, I wonder how it became so easy to throw our confidence away in the first place, but I guess it really was as easy as throwing away the remote button. Thank you for the printable sheet of “Don’t throw away your Confidence” I am going to put these verses deep in my heart so they are there to stand on.
This is a simple example but I am doing this study along with Melissa/Lysa’s Made to Crave study and I made some food choices that weren’t in line with my healthy eating plan this week. After my bad choices I began to think, “I can’t do this anymore. I don’t have enough willpower. I’ll never be able to overcome this.” Well, my confidence went right out the window. It was then that I realized that I was right. “I” can’t do some things by myself, but God sure can. He stepped in and allowed me to see that I didn’t need to rely on my own strength anymore. That I could rely on HIS strength and overcome anything. I still struggle with many things (not all of them food related) but when I begin to think that I am “less” than other people or that I am not good/strong/smart enough, I now remember that I don’t have to be because I am “enough” for him and that he will give me victory over the things in my life that I struggle with!
Wonderful video! Thank you so much! I WILL be throwing away my self doubts this week!!!! I love visuals!
!!!!!!! WOW !!!!! Thank you Renee for that visual. That really gave me a hands on tool to use when I am feeling insecure and struggle with the lies that swim in my head and having the scriptures of truth to replace the lies. Sometime in the moment I have a hard time thinking about what the truth is but you have put a tool together for my tool box when those fears come about and overwhelm me. Thank you : )
Okay girls, please help me out here:
I struggle with knowing the difference between when it’s God speaking to me and when it’s really me speaking to me. How do I know if it’s God telling me no, or if it’s really just me doubting myself? I would love to say it’s just a doubt and throw it in the garbage. But . . . what if it’s God telling me no? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks so much!
I wish I could help you Kristine, but unfortunately I have the same issues!!! Life has been rough for me lately–physical issues-surgery coming up-marital disagreesments- money problems. Every time I think I know what the Lord wants me to do, I hear another voice saying :”Are you really sure God wants you to do this?” or “You can’t do that!” or But what if you do that and —— happens?” I just have so many thoughts running through my brain that I’m never sure which thought comes from the Lord. It is so overwhelming and discouraging!!
personally I think the voice that says “Are your really sure God wants you to do that?” sounds a very lot like the devil when he was talking to Eve in the garden. He said “did God really say not to eat of that tree.: He put the doubt there. God is not going to give you doubt. God says “Be strong and courageous” I will be with you” Now acting on the truth is hard, but God will not lead you to doubt or confusion, that comes from the enemy!
Blessings,
Kristine!!! Has anyone given you an answer to this yet? PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE share it with me if/when they do! I pray, I feel ready, I step out in faith….and have run into brick walls or failed dismally a couple of times. Often. I remind myself of the truths and what God says….I try so hard to not give in to doubt. But after these experiences, I honestly doubt that God WANTS to use ME. I don’t doubt that He loves me….but I do doubt my importance to Him. Ever seen the movie “Rudy”? That’s what comes to mind.
Oh…..I wish I knew the answer to your question.
Rudy got to play in the end and everyone loved him! God will give you a purpose and a plan, just keep seeking Him and don’t give up or give in!
Blessings and prayers for you!
Thanks for the smile.
My mom passed away March of 2010. She loved that movie.
She would say. Rudy, Rudy, Rudy!
make me smile and laugh.
Encouraging.
Kristine,
I am no theologian, but I remember a sermon from years ago which said if you are trying to discern if it is God or you, ask first, is it telling you to do something consistent with scripture? Is the message telling you to do something that will be of benefit and goodness? If it fits these two criteria, then let God speak into your heart. If it is not consistent with what you know of God, based upon scripture, then maybe it is just us getting in the way of the message, or letting someone else in our lives intervene in our head. I too struggle with is it His No or mine, but after I examine it in this light, sometimes I realize it is my insecurity, that He will be there to help me step outside the box. And the times I couldn’t figure it out, when I went down a path I thought He was calling me to, things got in the way quickly that showed me I misunderstood, and I had to backtrack. I don’t know if this helps or not, but know there are a lot of us in the same boat.
I struggle with this also and along with Scripture I always say follow your heart Peggy…God knows our deepest heart pains and confusions and I always pray He will show me the way…He usually does and sometimes i don’t life the result but Life comes at me…God Bless!!!
I struggle with this as well at times. I do agree with Judy when she sys that you need to pray the Scriptures to see if what s speaking to you is in direct line of what God says. It doesn’t always come as soon as you want it too. Oftentimes God wants us to be still in our ircumstances and let Him work. But as humans we want what we want when we want them and RIGHT NOW. I can very much relate. I’m guilty of that. We want a direct answer but sometimes God doesn’t give us direct answers. Sometimes He sends people to give us answers that we need. We have to learn to listen to Him in all instances. That’s what I try to do. Sometimes my friends give me the answers that I thought I was hearing and sometimes it’s strangers that don’t know my situation. I constantly ask God to show and give me confirmation of what I hear.
Kristine,
Judy and I are thinking the same thing. Are your thoughts consistent with scripture? The more we are digging in the word, the more we are studying the word, the more we are strengthening our with Our Father, the clearer the answers become when we ask “Is that God?” or “Is that me?” Or “is that Satan?” I will continue to pray for all of us as we make time to become closer to Him as we spend more time with Him and in His word.
Keep seeking His face in prayer, If you can sit quietly before Him and just listen, after reading His Word and praying. You can always ask Him to give you confirmation through another person. I’ve had that happen before where someone out of the blue, who didn’t know anything about the situation, said to me something that confirmed in my heart that it was from God. You could also try fasting for a day or two or do a Daniel fast. This gives you a special time with the Lord. I don’t know your situation, but you could fast lunch and have a prayer time with the LORD instead of eating and somehow this clears you up to hear from Him. Hope this helps!
Blessings
The above was for Kristine, I forgot to put the name in! Sorry!
“struggle with knowing the difference between when it’s God speaking to me and when it’s really me speaking to me”
We all struggle with that type of confusion Kristie. With the chapters we have read we may say we can struggle with what comes from the Devil ans what comes from the LORD; One is destructive for us the other from the word is constructive for us it leads us to closer relationships with the Lord, to happiness, to blessings, to faith, to accepting ourselves, to keeping hope, to better peace… now our thoughts? Yes God talks to us through our thoughts, he doesn’t have a clear voice like with Adam and Eve, irt comes through the channel of our brain, now the voice of God goes through our thoughts and our concience. It is in fusion with us. Now we aply toour thoughts the questions above on happiness, faith, hope, better understanding, realionsship with God. there are critereas to follow. We do have imagination but it is also a gift from God. is my thoughts bringing me to the essential? ‘buy that dress’ or ‘buy that washing machine’ or ‘eat more chocolat’ from our thoughts does it draw us to the essential ‘our relaionship with God and with others’? Trowing away those thoughts and keeping those from the Lord, isn’t it what Renee showed us on the video? we need to trash every day but don’t throw away God’s confidence.
WOW! Thank you to EACH of you for all your thoughts and prayers. I’m going to take some time to ponder and try your advice. It really warms my heart to have so many of you helping. I appreciate all of you and I’m praying for you too!
My understanding is that you have a peace that comes when God is speaking to you. You have a sense of just knowing. Also, he never speaks against the bible so if it doesn’t line up with the bible, It’s not God. Validatation can come through good Christian friends that you trust their walk with the Lord. Also, you may hear God say something to you and have it validated in hearing someone else saying the same thing. If you’re not sure, ask God for confirmation. I honestly believe he wants you to know his heart and his will for you. He will show you and you will know, but it may take time and patients. He doesn’t work on our time unfortunately. I try to not make decision or take action until I am sure and get confirmation in a way that gives me that peace. When we get in tune with it, we start hearing more and more from God and know. Two years I ago I would hear people saying God told me this… and think they had some specail gift I didn’t have. But today, it is quit natural for me to get that knowing feeling when he speaks to me. I hope that helps…
“Emotional Triggers”…boy do I have a few! They are the biggest reason that I was attracted to this book and now part of this group. I saw the negativity they were playing in my life and relationships. Thankfully by the Grace of God, he is showing me what they are and I am now starting to see the lies. Not to say I don’t have moments, but I can now pause, breath and come back to reality rather than reacting.
I believe that God will surely take it away, the doubt and insecurity. The journey is leaving it to God to hlp us work thru and overcome doubt so that we can find what God truly wants us to achieve according to HIs will for our lives. Everytime I attempt to serve, I am confident, but once it comes to actually doing it I tend to back out…knowing in my heart that God has called me. I don’t want to do that anymore. And thru this study I feel like I am gaining the confidence and getting rid of the doubt and negative feelings about myself and my ability to serve God in a positive way.
i loved this video on throwing away your confidence. I loved the analogy you used about thrwoing something away in the barbage can and then the way you talked about throwing away our confidence. that was a good way of explaining it when you talked about throwing away something in the barbage without realizing what it was, and then, you talked about throwing away our confidence. I am totally blind. so when people use simple illustrations when they talk, it is really helpfu for blind people. I want to share, I listen way too much to people telling me i can’t do stuff when I know that I need to be listening to god and be more confident to trust him and this online confidence course has really helped me! Renee, I love your slogan on the web site, leading women to live confidently in Christ. I have felt a little more confident in who I am in Christ since I started this. I still have a long way to go. I live on my own. my loved ones, my boy friend and my mother and other family members even though I know they don’t mean to be are critcal of me and discourage me. I know they don’t mean to, it’s just the way it comes across since this course, I’ve really leanredd to speak up more and to be a confident woman in christ, and thank you for talking about what you talk about in the chapters. I’ve mentioned before to you renee, i ave a computer with a speech program. It’s great, but has limitations it only reads word files it doesn’t read p.d.f. files so I can’t read the chapters. however, I still feel I’m able to participate a lot. I’m hearing all the videos, I’m reading the comments in the group and I’m sharing my comments! thank you! for such a wonderful course!
I kept thinking of the Lenten season that is approaching and how the word “repent” means to turn. So when we are tempted to throw away our confidence, turn in a new direction with our old life at our back and claim a confident heart. Lent is also a journey so turn your attention to the people on the journey with you. They affect our departure and whether we reach our destination. I give thanks for the people on the journey with me in this on- line Bible study.
Oh, I missed you all the past two days. I hope you all had a great Valentines Day. So, my “share” for this week are answers to some of the questions. The questions that really touched my heart:
1. I do regard others’ opinions of me over God’s. When I was in middle school, I was pretty badly bullied, so I became very aware of others’ opinions of me. Unfortunately, that does not go away even as we get older. At times, I think it gets worse with age if we let it fester and don’t mourn those moments, pray for those that caused that pain, and ask God to help forgive those that hurt us. I am really struggling with that, and it touched me so much that I really needed to share this with you ladies and I more than welcome your thoughts and blessings.
3 and 4 would be interchangeable. As I have shared, I suffer from Anxiety. This, I feel is the my greatest weakness. Due to Anxiety, I have shut a lot of wonderful experiences and people out. It has saved me from some heart ache I am sure, but the damage (I fear) greatly outweighs any good that it may have done. I am not sure how the Lord can use me when I have trouble “trusting”. I know that as a Christian, I need to trust in Christ alone for my salvation and healing. I also know that he would not bring me to something if I could not make it through with His grace. Just at times, it seems easier to hide than to take that leap.
So, this ties right in with question 7. I do see this as a hinderance in my spiritual journey. I love God with all my heart, all my soul and all my mind, but I know with that comes trust. So do I really love God if I have trouble trusting? Is it Him I have a hard time trusting or is it myself? I have not made the best choices in my life, so really I want Him to take it all, but then the Anxiety of losing control over my life and what happens next…some find this exciting and new; I find it terrifying.
Hi Kim. I was hoping to find someone who struggles with anxiety, as I do. I, too, have missed out, and continue to miss out, on many of life’s joys due to my anxiety. My husband left me and I have no children, so I get lonely sometimes. Then the anxiety steps in and socialization becomes difficult. Anyway, I like how you said you are a Christian and love God with all your heart. You then questioned the strength of your faith as you have difficulty trusting. Is it Him I have a hard time trusting or is it myself is a question I ask myself everyday! I, too, want to trust Him with my burdens, but fear losing control of my life. I feel like I’m lazy, or not working hard enough, if I leave Him with all my worries. I’m sorry that I do not have any answers for you right now, but maybe it would help you to know I have the same exact questions and doubts as you do. I pray you will find peace.
I share your concern for anxiety. I have gone through this my self in the past. The best remedy and it is scrpture based, it is to stay in the present moment. By not doing so, we feel anxious for the future that isn’t yet and the passed that has gone with the wind. Jesus does not know what he will do the next day as he goes through the regions of Palestine with his disciples. He seems to be going here or there following a call. He dicides to stay in Sumaria the day but the next he stays or goes. He only knows he must one day go to Jerusalem. He dicides by the day. We plan things, and it’s ok, our agenda needs to be filled but anxiety comes when we say ‘What if’ What happens the next day’ . It’s a different issue when it comes from disease for that is not easy to cope with aand that anxiety needs others to pray with. For ordinary days and pains, anxiety can find a solution in Today is today. Carry our crosses for today not for tomorrow. The word ‘now’ appears exactly 433 times in the Bible! I have a search for words in the Bible on my desktop. Luc 2:29 Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word”
Vernon…thank you for planting this thought in my head: “Carry our crosses for today not for tomorrow.” Isn’t that such a simple, easy solution that we forget about with our anxious minds? I’m finding a lot of us commenting on anxiety or mental health issues…or dealing with loved ones who are dealing with these issues. I always love to hear how the Lord has touched someone else’s spirit with encouragement….because I think we can be our own worst enemy with the thoughts that a depressed, anxious, ocd, bi-polar….fill-in-the-blank….mind deals with. It’s an obstacle, for sure…but not our “fault” and God surely does not find fault with us due to it. He knows our obstacles and gives us so much help….constantly. I guess I have no point…other than to thank you for sharing this. 🙂
I agree. I like your saying.. carry your cross for today not tomorrow. Very good thoughts to ponder and to remember. To stay in the present.
I heard Joyce Meyer say once to say aloud, “I totally trust you God!” I’ve been saying it ever since. When I say it aloud it pushed it from my head to my heart and over the last couple of years I have started to really trust him with everything. We believe more of what comes out of our mouths that anyone’s elses. So it’s imporatnt we speak it. It’s OK if we don’t feel it in the beginning. That will come. I’m praying for you.
Thank you so much Renee! We studied this chapter at just the right time. I overcame some doubts earlier in the week by ‘throwing them out’ and ‘stepping out’. I got out of MY ‘comfort zone’ and ended up helping that person and myself. God is awesome. May we remember that EveryDay! Thank you again.
Thanks so much for the awesome video of throwing away the doubts and reclaiming the promises of God through the power of His word. I am going to try the experiment this week and see if I can hear the doubt then throw it away. Please be praying for us. We are going through some tough times and this would be a good time for me to listen to the doubt in my mind. Pray for us as a family as well as me for keeping God’s word in the forefront of my mind. We just need to persevere with God’s grace. Thanks for praying.
Jeanie Kelley
I am praying for you and your family Jeanie…We have to persevere!! It’s hard work especially during stressful times…Love, Peggy
Praying now for you Jeanie!!!
Once again, this weeks message has spoken to the places in my heart that need His great healing the most! It still lifts me up to have such a personal, caring Father who know where Im at and meets me there! I praise His wonderful Name with all my being!
Its been a hard week for me with my son, 29 who has been to Iraq 3 times! He is having such a hard time integrating back into civilian life, dealing with PTDS and he almost took his life this last weekend. I really needed to hear the message about trusting God to do what I cannot for my son. He is able and I will not throw my confidence away! I will continue to pray for and with him until God does His mighty work!
I will say a prayer for your son. Hang in there and remember, “….He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Phil 1:6, KJV).
May God be with you and your son. Lord lift him up out of the pit of despair and set his feet on the rock of Christ and put a new song in his heart, a song of praise to our God.
Praying for you and your son Kari. Asking the Healer to touch his mind and his heart. To help him process his trauma and memories and then by the power of the Holy Spitit to wash some if not all aWay leaving only compassion and tenderness in those places where his mind and emotions have been damaged. He can do this and I’m praying a hedge of hope ans strength around you all in the powerful Name of Jesus!!!
I have a hard time using the promise of unconditional love and acceptance from God. My right brain logic gets in the way. I think well, if it doesn’t matter how I perform or what others thinks of me, why do I need to work hard at things? This is a hard blow for my Type A personality. I want to succeed and do well and will push myself very hard to do so. When I fail, it is awful. But when I trust and depend on God, I stop striving and almost give up. If is almost if God doesn’t care about my performance, I can just wing it. As you can tell, I think all or nothing. There has to be a happy medium, I just don’t know what it is or how to get there.
I feel the same way!!! For me, it’s called BALANCE!!! I just keep working on getting there…Especially because I am out of work right now with to much alone time for this people person…I have to work hard to do these things and change my old habits of beating myself up!!! God Bless and I pray for all the women who are working hard through this Study!!!
Oh Andrea I want to share more with you about what God has taught me with the balance of giving HIM my all but not relying on my performance to define my worth. I am heading out the door to speak tonight but I’ll be back to share more tomorrow after my conference or as soon as I can get back on line. I so understand, I am a type A girl too!
Great Chapter! I must say I am looking forward to each chapter,…love the visuals too!
So true!….I’ve often define my worth by what I do, and how well I do it….not by who I am…. a Child of the Most High God! Thanks for the reminder!
I am interested in your thoughts on balance. Will this be in a future post?
Andrea,
I can relate. My thinking can be so all or nothing. Trying to do my best, but knowing when to stop. I struggle with some health issues and this is really important for me. But on the other hand when I try to give it to God I can fall really easily into the helpless victim mentally and as you say not even try. I struggle with OCD and can get in either a really anxious place or when I try to give it to God a really black, hopeless place. God has shown me that trusting Him for outcomes and talking to Him and asking Him to help me see what is true is so important — I don’t have to figure it out all by myself, but on the other hand I must choose to own my actions and my thoughts — choose his truth. But the balance can get so muddled in my head.
I Julie. I, too, suffer from OCD. I have tried many medications and doctors. I guess I just need to hand it over to the Great Physician and Healer. I’ll be praying for you and all of us who suffer with this challenge.
Your video today is so timely and the Don’t Throw Away your Confidence printable worksheet is going to be a helpful go-to guide. This week has been an especially hard week. Our family has been walking through unemployment now for over a year. God has indeed been faithful and continues to provide in some amazing ways. However, this week I’ve begun to doubt my strength to continue walking this journey. I’m tired and I’m weary and I’m ready for the answer to come. As you said in this chapter, turning is crucial. When I find myself focused on me I must turn and redirect my focus to the ONE who can. I can’t but HE can! The story of Gideon has reminded me to stay focused on the ONE who has the plan. HE is my strength and HE will see our family through this difficult journey! As you also said in your book, my mess becomes HIS message!
AMEN!!!! Thanks for your story . . .
So encouraged to hear how God is using the video and the chapter to speak to your hearts. I’m so sorry for all you have been through Pam. I know that in your strength you will run dry but each day HE wants to be your portion of faith, hope, courage, perseverance and wisdom. I am praying for you right now. You can do this Pam – through Christ who promises to give you strength!
This chapter is very challenging for me! In a good way, I need to be tested and trust in God that He will take care of all our needs. I need to be strong when I think I cannot do something that He wants me to. Thank you Rene for this video and the challenge this week!
You are so welcome!! Praying you are challenged as a woman and encouraged as a child of God with each page you read!
This is a great chapter and visual, blessings Renee!
I agree! Wonderful chapter and great visual! Thanks Renee!
I agree also!!! I am such a visual person!! I need to actually see things to help me understand!!! Love it….thank you Renee!! You are a gift to this child of God for this season of my life!! We are more than conquerors through Him!!! <3
So glad this visual and object lesson connected with you. So often God speaks to me and helps me remember what He’s trying to tell me through every day object lessons. So thankful I get to share them with all of you now! 🙂
So glad this visual and object lesson connected with you. So often God speaks to me and helps me remember what He’s trying to tell me through every day object lessons. So thankful I get to share them with all of you now!