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Renee Swope

Encouraging and equipping moms to parent with God's grace and confidence.

Read An Excerpt: Chapter 1 & 2

Encouraging Words Wednesday

Photobucket“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

Have you ever wanted to silence the voices of your fears? In my Encouragement for Today devotion at Proverbs 31 Ministries, I shared how I learned to do just that by helping someone else overcome theirs. Before I knew it, I had faced my fear of open heights because I wanted to help a friend’s child conquer his. And that day, I conquered mine, too.

Without even realizing it, I acted on God’s command and believed God’s promise in Joshua 1:9 that tells me I can overcome my fears with God’s strength. I realized in a very tangible way that the same promises I claim so boldly for others are true for me, too.

Like God did with Joshua in today’s verse, each day we have the same opportunity to come alongside each other in some of life’s hardest challenges and highest peaks and say, “Don’t give up, you can do it. I’ll be with you and I will help you.”

Today is Encouraging Words Wednesday. The second Wednesday of each month we gather here for encouragement and commit to share the power of encouragement with someone in our lives. In believing the power of God’s promises for others, our confidence in His promises for us seems to grow as well. I like to call it the “encouraging words” boomerang effect.

Encouraging words have the power and potential to bring courage to the discouraged. Hope to the hopeless. Assurance to the insecure. Clarity to the confused. Strength to the weak. Calm to someone’s chaos. Comfort for someone’s sadness.

Encouraging words say, “I notice and I care enough to take this moment to tell you because you matter to me and you matter to God.”

So, today let’s shift our focus off our fears, doubts, insecurities and personal struggles and help someone overcome theirs. All we have to do is look for someone who could use a kind word, a boost of confidence, a note with a Bible verse or a short prayer in it. Even just a simple facebook post or email saying what we really appreciate about them, or how you see God’s heart in something they do will make such an impact!

Join me and let’s watch to see the difference this will make in our families, neighborhoods, work places and churches.

Lord, thank You for the power of Your words that give me courage to become who You’ve created me to be – to go to places You’re calling me to go and climb spiritual heights that are out of my reach without Your help. Give me Your encouragement and help me encourage someone else today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Encouraging Words Wednesday Gift PackHis Princess: Love Letters from Your King
by Sheri Rose Shepherd (This is one of the most encouraging books ever!)

The Power of a Purpose Driven (and Encouraging) Mom
message on CD by Renee Swope (What a difference you can make!)

20 of God’s Promises to personalize and send to a friend
(Nothing is more powerful than God’s promises!)

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To enter to win
simply share some encouragement and let me know about it.
Click on the word “comments” below this post and type in the white box:

  1. Commit to it- List one person you’re going to encourage today or this week and how you’re going to do it.
  2. Share it – Share a link to this post with friends via Facebook. Just lick on my Facebook badge in my sidebar. Then click on “share” under my EncWds button on my FB page. You can also Tweet and/or email a friend a link and let me know. 
  3. Spread it – Forward today’s devotion to someone who has been an encouragement in your life, and thank them. It will really mean a lot to them!For an extra chance to win, add our Encouraging Words Wednesday button to your blog with a link to today’s post, then come back and let me know in another comment. You can grab the code from my sidebar under the button.
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Winners announced Monday – want to be notified ?
If you’d like to be updated when I post or notified when I announce the winner, additional give-aways or find out early about special promotions, enter your email in the white box in my sidebar (right under the P31 logo). I will not share your email with anyone. Promise.

Comments

  2. I go to a Recovery group at my church and there is a 20 year old girl that got mixed up with an older and I mean older man like her father's age. (AKA a pervert), that started while she was not of age so now that we have the scene set you get the picture. She has finally through our encouragement gotten out of this "relationship" confessed to her father and mother but still feels badly that she may have hurt his feelings. The enemy has put on her false guilt and shame and even thought she knows these are lies NOW she is just becoming aware that she was abused in many ways and is really struggling. Her father is encouraging her to get counseling. Last night at group she confessed to us all and showed us that she cut herself. I am so heartbroken for this sweet young friend. She has been there for me so much through my trials with my own daughter which is a whole other story. I am going to text this sweet friend and share what Sheri Rose writes and says you should write to yourself "My chosen daughter, you are royalty even when you don't feel like a princess……" I am praying for her that this will help encourage her and remind her who she really is in Christ and she will remember who she finds her true identity in. I am also going to give her the name and number of my fabulous life coach who is so sweet and godly and loving and just who my young friend needs. She has such a hard time articulating sometimes when she is in front of people and my life coach "meets" with you on the phone so it is so non-threatening. I pray this will help her as she puts things off, like applying for a new job that is at the same place she is at, and finding a counselor, etc. So she needs more than healing. I think a life coach is just the thing that the Holy Spirit is encouraging me to lead her to. I know my friend can help her. She has helped me since October more than my newest counselor has in over a year that I have seen once a week who is a Biblical counselor. My life coach is married to a Biblical counselor and has extensive training, don't get me wrong. She always encourages me to the Lord and prays with me and for me. She lets me listen to what God is telling me. She doesn't tell me what to do, she let's God do His mighty work and then says good girl!! HAHA She often interjects when needed but lets me work it out with the Lord. I cannot wait to text my friend. We do not share email addresses. It is all pretty confidential. But we will share numbers so we can text to encourage one another during the week if we are in despair or struggling. So I cannot send you any proof or facebook anything to you. But I can give you my email…it is [email protected] I get Prov. 31 devotional everyday and it hits me right where I am at no matter if I read the wrong one or what. God is amazing. I just want more of Jesus. I want my hands and palms opened up to Him and nothing more. I just recently tore down my high places in my home and this sweet girl came and helped me. What a sweet time of fellowship and prayer followed. It was the nursery that I had decorated for my 5 month old grandbaby. My daughter was my idol. I am happy to say that she is not any longer. I know she gets the Prov. 31 Devotional. I sent it to her and told her she could subscribe. Praise be to God, she did!!!! These last days have made me laugh out loud at how God has told me Kelly, I've got this. I do not need YOU! Sit back and watch the hand of God. My heart is full this morning after reading the devotional and your blog. I am a prayer warrior and love to encourage others. I so loved it when you jumped up there with that little boy and helped him finish the climb. I knew you would!!! You are awesome. God Rocks, doesn't HE??!!!! No pun intended!!!!

  3. I am a Stephen Minister at my church and I will be meeting with my Care Receiver tomorrow. She desperately needs encouragement because she is going through a very painful situation in her life. It is always challenging for me each week, to find the right words to say to help her. I have to depend completely on the Holy Spirit to speak through me to her, I cannot do it on my own. God truly knows what she needs to hear and I need Him to show me. Thankfully, He does!

  4. Encouragement really does help and means a lot to the person who needs it! I know this personally. I am the secretary at my Church and often get the opportunity to encourage those I see in the office and talk to on the phone.

    I also have been on the receiving end of encouragement. My husband died about two years ago and for me it has been a very long and hard journey, everyday is up and down.

    If it weren't for the encouragement of those around me and a few faithful friends in my life who have continued to stand by me and assure me God is always there with me I'm not sure how I would find the strenght to make it through this journey that God has placed in front of me.

    I thank them often and find that in my journey, I have encouraged and strengthed them also.

  6. I want to send cards encouraging a woman from church receiving a bone marrow transplant as well as my aunt who has had several tragedies in her family in the last few years. Thanks for helping me think of encouraging others instead of just wishing for it for myself!
    –Jill

  7. I have a friend that loves Jesus with all her heart. Last year her husbanc spent 9 months in rehab for drug abuse. When he came home it was a fairy tale romance with a happily ever after ending; or so we hoped. Sadly he has reentered the drug world and she and her daughter a once again alone.

    I very seldom hear her complain about how hard her life is. If by some chance negative words are spoken she quickly follows with how God is helping.

    I have tried to encourage her this week by sending her e-mails that let her know just how special she is to me and to God. We enjoy a good laugh so I have looked for silly e-cards to make her smile.
    I know God is helping her and I admire her strength.

    Thank you for sharing, it helps me so much.

  8. I have a friend who loves Jesus so much! Lsst year her husband was in rehab for 9 months for drug addiction. When he came home it seemed like a fairy tale romance and a happily ever after ending. I am so sad to said that was not the case and she is once again alone with her daughter.

    She is so encouraging to me because she has never given up. There are very few days she complains and when she does it is for a moment and she is once again sharing how God is sustaining her.

    This week I have tried to tell her how very special I think she is by send her e-mails of encouragement and some really silly e-cards to lighten her day.

    I learn so much from the devotions on Proverbs 31 about sharing my faith and growing in God's love. Thank you for sharing.

  9. Thank you thank you for the encouragement you brought to me today! My friend – stressed out mama – needs encouragement today so I will forward this on to her. Thank you!

  11. My5sons:
    Hi. I loved reading your devotion this morning.My husband,39, died suddenly last year of a heart attack.I have 4 sons plus a boy we took in. My friends are constantly telling me that I am such an encouragement to them. I repost Proverbs31 devotions/scriptures daily on my facebook page & have so many people send me messages that I always post what they need to hear. I know everything that I have gone through can be used for God's glory & as an encouragement to others. My prayer is that I always honor God & am able to encourage others to "hold on" even when they feel like giving up! Thank you to all the Proverbs31 team for helping us daily through your writings.

  12. Renee-each morn @5:45 i rise to pray & read P31 devos. You girls make my day every day! I then text ur(or other scriptures)messages to 30 of my friends. For some, i am their alarm clock. Some forward the mesg to family & friends. Some days I get amazing responses. I am sooo blest to b able to encourage! God is soooooo GOOD!

  13. Renee-each morn @5:45 i rise to pray & read P31 devos. You girls make my day every day! I then text ur(or other scriptures)messages to 30 of my friends. For some, i am their alarm clock. Some forward the mesg to family & friends. Some days I get amazing responses. I am sooo blest to b able to encourage! God is soooooo GOOD!

  14. Thank you so much for writing this! I woke up tired and not knowing how I was going to get through the day without biting someone's head off. I had a bad attitude. However, this verse was perfect for me today. I need to lean on God's strength and not my own. Thanks for speaking the truth!

  15. The previous comment was from Meg, not Eric… lol I didn't realize my husband's google account was logged in.

  16. I have challenged myself to send 30 encouraging cards in 30 days via mail to encourage 30 different women. I know I love receiving an encouraging word in the mail! I am a little over half way through, and God is showing me daily how an extra few minutes of my time each day can greatly brighten someone's day :0)

    Thank you for your devotion on encouragement today!!

    Hebrews 3:13 "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,”…"

  17. I am going to encourage my friend, Michele. She is battling breast cancer at this time. She is a mother to two small girls. I plan on sending her encouraging words and bible verses via text. I also plan on sending her cards of how she is a wonderful woman and God loves her and will be there through this. I am a full time working mom of three and even though I am busy I find that it only takes a moment to send someone a message to lift them up & let them know you love them and you are praying for them!
    We should all take time out to do this.

  18. Hi Renee, I had emailed the scripture verse to my dear and wonderful friend who has deal with so much in her life. She has always been an encouragement to em in spite of her shortcomings and i know through the many difficult times she experienced i was there for her, but I know God was ALWAY there for her. God gave her encouragement through family and friends and God still does.
    I would love to win your pack so as I can share them with her. Fran

  19. I'm sending this devotion out to lots of family and friends today, and I'm going to focus on encouraging my husband and family especially this week.

    What a great idea!

  20. I have a bible study friend that really needs encouragement to come near to God and let him fill her with his presence and acknowledge all of his gifts he offers her!

  21. I plan on encouraging my 14 year old son today. I made him go to school today even though he is not feeling well. My husband has been speaking a lot of negativism to him lately and he is such a sensitive child that I think this is what is making him sick. He thinks his dad hates him. I tried to speak encouraging words to him this morning but I think they fell on deaf ears. I will be praying for him all day today and will continue to encourage him when he comes home. Nanci

  22. Renee: Allow me to encourage you today. Thank you for sharing your devotion today — I really needed it. Thank you for allowing God to use you! Georgia New Bern NC

  23. Renee…I had to come back as I just read your devo. I had heard the story you shared previously, but why I came back was because I so identify with your height horrors! I always joke that I'm so afraid of heights, it's why I don't even wear high-heeled shoes!

    Love ya friend,
    Joy
    PS. Do you think that's why God made us shorter in stature? He knew we'd even scare ourselves! Hee Hee.

  24. I so relate to fear of heights, but mostly with fear of speaking in front of groups. Yesterday was our first mom's Bible Study lead by me. It certainly takes me courage to do that, as I don't like to be center of attention, speak in groups, etc…but I know the importance and need for one. I kept telling myself I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. I am going to thank my friend as she leads by wonderful example when she leads our MOPS group and I am going to share this devotion with my many mama friends.

  25. Whenever I can I encourage friends at church or friends I have known for a long time and family. Lately I have been encouraging my sister whose marriage ended after 26 years.

  27. I am going to encourage my children today and anyone else I come into contact with. I have a friend that lost her mother last Wednesday and I am going to call her today. Thanks, Renee! I will post a link on Facebook also.

  28. I have a friend going through a nasty divorce from a man who was hitting her and they had alot of other problems. She has let alot of men use her. I used to be the same way and it breaks my heart but I am steadily telling her God is there and He loves her. I am praying she can grasp this as I eventually did.

  30. i have a friend who's been going through some difficult times with her son and i haven't seen her lately. i'm going to send her a message to let her know i'm here for her!

  31. This comes at a perfect time because,as my husband and I are trying to get our spiritual lives back on track and make Christ the center of our marriage again, we have been talking about the need to encourage one another more often. He is currently using every free moment he has to study for a huge Professional Engineering test in April, one that has a big impact on his career. Not only that, but he broke his toe last week and has been in so much pain from it. I plan to leave a note in his study materials tonight with two verses–Proverbs 4:13 and Romans 8:28. I want him to know how much God loves him, how much I love him, and how capable he is of doing all things through Christ who gives him strength!

    I also plan to send this link to my mom who is a new born-again Christian and someone who has encouraged me my whole life. It's my turn to encourage her as she walks a new journey with the Lord. This link will also be making it on my Facebook page, as well as my blog: morrowsunshine.blogspot.com. 🙂

    THANK YOU for lifting us up every day through your ministry!

  32. I encouraged my husband today with a note in his lunch. I thanked him for something specific that he has been doing for me and told him I'd pray for his day. He will be surprised by the note since it's been a while since I've done that:)

    I also intend to put this link on FB. Thank you for the devotion-seems I have a similar fear. Bridges are definitely not my thing:)

  33. I copied today's Bible verse and sent it to my cousin who is having fertility problems. I also sent her the link to your blog and forward today's email to her! She needs encouragement, she has a surgery coming up and hopefully this will help with the fertility issues!

  34. I will be encouraging my friend who is dealing with a few people dying in her life. I don't have FB but will tell my Bible Study girls about your blog. I know everyone needs encouragement so I will excitedly wait on the Lord to see who else He brings to mind.We as a family have been going thru a rough time with one of our children and I want to thank -you for the encouragement this morning. Sometimes this journey seems so hard but when you band with others it is amazing how much stronger you can feel. Thanx Nicole
    [email protected]

  36. I like this devotion. It's true that we all need encouragement every day of our lives. I have encouraged a friend of mine who lives in Florida via text and I have sent the link with today's devotional to two friends. One in particular I think she will need it because she has just made a life changing decision which includes relocation to America. Thanks for sharing what's on your heart.
    [email protected]

  37. I am going to encourage my extended family through song. My uncle died two days ago and I will be driving 4 hours to sing at his funeral. My God be glorified!

  39. Renee & Sheri,

    Thanks Power Of Encouragement You & Sheri Gave Me To Move On. I Struggle With The Love And Understanding Of God Love.

    My Encouragement Is To Almighty God ~ To Give Everyone The Right Words We Want To Hear.

    I Hunger & Thirst For The Words Of Encouragement To Fill My Soul ~ From Almighty God & From My Pastors And My Church Family.

    Thanks Again,
    Laurie
    Hawaiilaurieann

    Take Care Okay.

  40. I have an elderly neighbor that just got home from a long hospital stay. I'm taking a meal to her and her caregiver daughter this evening.

  41. Renee, your encouraging words here are just what I needed to read this morning. Thank you. As Lisa Smith reminded me this morning already, we have a choice not to fear. Praying for the courage to make that choice today.

    Last night I was sharing with a friend that my appointments at the hospital today are opportunities to speak encouragement into someone's life. Maybe the Lord has me on this journey, placing me in waiting rooms, examination rooms, treatment centers because there is someone there, at this time, who needs to meet Him. Praying I will be that encouragement to someone today.

    Love ya my friend,
    Hugs,
    Joy

  42. What a great devotion. Just last night I heard your radio spot on encouragement. I think God is trying to tell me to focus on encouraging others rather than focusing on myself. I posted your devotion on my fb page and am emailing your devotion to a friend who recently lost her father. Today is the 2 year anniversary of my Mother-in-laws death. Instead of focusing on missing her I am going to focus on supporting my friend. Thank you for your ministry.

    Mary

  44. So true Renee…The effects of encouragement works like an "boomerang" in the good sense…..
    That is for sure my experience in the "cell-groups" of this amazing ministry of P31.i am beyond blessed by it in the years i am an member…..
    Keep on the good work Thanks!
    On my Fb i psted an link to your post

    Will email it any minute to encouraging friends

    Greetings and have an blessedday
    Bernice

  45. I am a middle school teacher. Middle school is typically one of the most difficult times in the life of a kid. Everything seems to be changing and there is a lot of confusion. Today I am going to make it a point to encourage every student I come across. This maybe just saying,'Good Morning" or "Great Job."
    Thank you for encouraging me Renee!

    Blessings,
    Kendra
    http://www.abusywomanslife.com

  46. There is a friend in my small group who I know could use some encouragement this week. I plan to reach out to her and give her some support with the struggles she is going through.

    I e-mailed this post to my small group, and I forwarded it to a wonderful lady who has been a huge encouragement in my life!

  47. I am planning to encourage my clinical instructor and fellow students. I am a 55 yr old student who has gone back to school to get my R.N. I believe that God has called me to be a Hospice R.N. and I am doing my best to answer that calling. I have one more quarter left and then I will graduate June 10th and take my state boards. Please pray for me! My final for this quarter is Monday! I have been a recipient of Proverbs 31 ministries for quite a few years and appreciate all of the authors wisdom and insight! Thank you to each one of you who contribute!

  50. I am a Pastor's wife and we've had so much sickness in our church recently. I don't know what the percentage is but we have alot of elderly. They have been really sick with some serious issues…just because of their ages. They are easily depressed & discouraged.They want your time and ear very often. They are some of the most lonely people I've ever seen.
    I send out cards monthly to them. If I don't send out cards to all of them I call bi-weekly…just to say "hello" "I'm thinking of you". I also prepare a meal from time to time for the shut-ins. There faces light up like the sun.

    There are many roles of being a pastors wife but this is justn so desperatly needed within the body of our church. My generation is not always ready & excited to visit or spend some time with the senior citizens but they deserve our time. God bless Proverbs 31 Ministries!!