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Renee Swope

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

Read An Excerpt: Chapter 1 & 2

Getting Up Again

“Failure can be hurtful but it can also be beneficial
because failure produces wisdom when we ask for it
and maturity when we learn from it.”

In my Proverbs 31 Ministries devotion today, I shared this truth and how God’s used it to teach me how to “get up again” when failure threatened to keep me down. I also shared about a fun give-away I have today but before we get to those details, I want to invite those of you who are new to my blog to sign up for my FREE “7-Day Doubt Diet” devotions in my sidebar.

These devotions are for friends like you! They include a week’s worth of encouragement and practical ways to lose the weight of self-doubt. And they’ll also give you a peek inside my book before it releases because they include some of my favorite parts of A Confident Heart.

I also wanted to give you some promises that will help us re-define our perspective! As I shared in my devotion, following Jesus is not about avoiding failures and being perfect. It’s about accepting our weaknesses and becoming more dependent on God’s perfect love and power at work in us.


In Chapter 12 of “A Confident Heart I’ve included a chart of thirty-one promises to replace our defeating doubts with God’s empowering perspective. Here are a few for you to print and carry with you when you need His help to get up again – in your heart and in your thoughts:
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Perspective-Changing Promises

 

When I Say: I don’t know what to do.
God Says: I will direct your steps. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Prov. 3:5–6, NIV)

When I Say: My life is too hard.
God Says: Let Me help you. I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. (Ps. 91:15, NIV)

When I Say: I can’t do it.
God Says: Rely on My strength and you can do all that I’ve called you to do. I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me. (Phil. 4:13 AMP)

When I Say: I’m too afraid.
God Says: I have not given you a spirit of fear.For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Tim. 1:7 NLT)

When I Say: I can’t forgive myself.
God Says: I forgive you. God is faithful and reliable. If we confess our sins, he forgives them and cleanses us from everything we’ve done wrong. (1 John 1:9 GW)

______________________


I hope you’ll print and carry these with you! Why not put a copy on your mirror, in your car and in your purse? Also, I hope you’ll enter to win my “Getting Up Again” give-away (a signed advance-release copy of A Confident Heart, aGoBible®to listen to God’s Word on the go, and a copy of the 31-verse promise chart from my book.) To enter, just sign up for the doubt diet and invite a friend or two to join you!

Just like a regular diet, having someone else to pray and encourage each other is so good, especially when it comes to losing the weight of self-doubt! And, here’s an invitation you can send them via email or post on your blog or FB page:

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Invite a Friend, it’s easy!

Do you want to join me in losing the weight of discouragement and self-doubt?Renee Swope, from Proverbs 31 Ministries is offering a FREE “7-day Doubt Diet”. Just click here to enter your information in her sidebar, and you’ll receive a week’s worth of devotions from her upcoming book, A Confident Heart. Let me know so we encourage one another the week they come out.

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Enter the “Getting Up Again” give-away:
  • Sign up for the doubt diet – it’s easy to do in my sidebar.
  • Encourage a friend(s) to join you via email, FB, Twitter, etc. You can use easy invite above.
  • Click on the word “comments” below this post.
  • Let me know your name, that you’ve signed up for the Doubt Diet and invited friends.
  • To find out if you win, leave your email in your comment, sign up for email updates or follow me on Facebook. I’ll announce the winner next Monday.

The “7-Day Doubt Diet” releases June 27th. For more details click here.

A Confident Heart releases August 1. You can pre-order it here or anywhere you love to buy books. All pre-orders through Proverbs 31 Ministries will be signed by me and book proceeds go back to P31. If you have any problems ordering on our P31 site, you can call our office at 704-849-2270 and they’ll be happy to help.

Comments

  2. Love your blog and thank you for sharing it with me. Your writing style has an infectious (in a good way) feeling of life, laughter and energy that makes me smile.Thank you for that devotion this morning…

  3. Thx Renee! I signed up but I just wanted to say that the verse you had us insert our name into really touched my heart. I feel like a failure as a mom and it is probably an area of bondage for me. Saying that verse with my name inserted felt like it broke some of those chains and I can believe God's promises are for me, not the general population but me. Thank you.

  4. I've signed up for the Doubt Diet and invited friends! I am currently battling severe anxiety and I know this will help me turn it over to the Lord. God Bless You! [email protected]

  5. Thanks for obeying God and giving these nuggets from His Word. I just signed up for the Doubt Diet and hope to win a goodie. (:

  6. I just saw the 7-day doubt diet posted on FB by proverbs 31 ministries and new immediately that I need that. I am struggling so much right now with feeling like a failure, that I feel completely bogged under. I signed up and am inviting friends on FB to join me. I also subscribed via email. I can't wait to get started and learn the truths that my heart yearns to hear.

  7. I've always been bad with making decisions since I have self doubt. I'm ready to work on changing this with the 7 day diet. Also very interested in reading more of your books.

  8. Hi!
    I've signed up for the Doubt Diet and invited friends! 🙂
    Thanks so much for this opportunity!
    ~Mippy 🙂
    bunnysmip (AT) yahoo (DOT) com

  9. I signed up and am inviting my FB friends too. Am looking forward to this "diet" and someday when I have money, I would love to read your book. Thanks Renee!!! Nanci at [email protected]

  11. I am so excited about this devotional and your new book! I invited 4 friends. Thanks for being a blessing already!

  12. Thank you for this blessed opportunity to carry these reminder scriptures to remind me of God's promises & love when I find myself doubting or fearing the unknown. I have been so blessed through your books and it is great to have an opportunity to win one as a gift! Continue to bless others as you have done, and you will surely be blessed.

    T. Howard
    ([email protected])

  13. Thank you for your wonderful devotion this morning. I look forward to the book and the 7 day diet. I signed myself up and invited several of my gal pals to join me. [email protected]

  14. It's hard to admit but I do struggle with self-doubt. I look forward to receiving the 7 day doubt diet devotions. Thank you for this opportunity and I am excited to read your book too!

  15. I just signed up for the 7 Day Doubt Diet. I am super excited to be a part of this and am looking forward to the release of your book. Thank you for leading us on this journey.

  17. I am super excited about what God is going to do through your ministry! God Bless!

  20. Looking forward to the release of this book. A devotional diet sounds rather appropriate for many reasons …. especially for those with self-doubt. Thanks.

  23. I just signed up for the 7 day doubt diet. I have always been the person who supported and encouraged everyone else, and never had confidence that I could accomplish much. In the back of my mind, Satan tells me I won't finish the Bible Study, someone else will get the new position, and I won't be able to loose those 10 pounds and I might as well accept it. Can't wait to read about how I can have confidence to face up to my fears!

  24. Hey Renee! Thanks for the opportunity to win a prize and the wonderful words that are such a blessing in your blog. Can't wait to read your new book! I did sign up for the Doubt Diet and I invited my friends by email as well. Thanks and God Bless!
    Amy Pitman
    [email protected]

  25. Life has been hard but I lean on THe Phrase "Life Is Hard But God Is Good" years ago it was actually a song. Life has not been kind the past 54 yrs but I am Trying to Bury My Past and all the pain an mistakes that go with it once an for all but it keep raering it's head up! I know this is Satan trying to Defeat Me ath's His Best Job Trying tO Defeat Us Woman! However! As My Pastor Stated "Everytime to allow yourself to dwell on the Past You Dance With The Devil an He Wins! That's Not What God Wants For Your Life So Why Do You Allow it To Happen? You Are Much Stronger then Satan because You Are A Child Of God" I am Blessed to know the new generation Has so many Inspirational Woman! God Bless You All.mountlady57

Getting Up Again

“…though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again” Proverbs 24:16a

In the same way I don’t like failing, I also don’t like FALLING either. It’s painful, embarrassing and sometimes makes me want to quit trying. But God is teaching me about getting up again when I fall. He reminds me again and again that if I don’t, I’ll miss seeing Him and experiencing the amazing things and plans He has for my life. That almost happened last year during a ski trip with my family. I stood at the top of a mountain breathing in the beauty of God’s glory that morning, thanking Him for providing this trip for our family through a ministry event. Joshua stood beside me begging me to ski down a Colorado blue diamond slope with him I can’t even tell you how amazing it was – and how fast I was going. It was insane but seeing my very happy and daring son standing at the bottom watching and cheering me on made it worth it. That is, until I lost control and shaped my body into a human pretzel! I tried to stop but instead came crashing down into a barrier of un-groomed snow. I fell so hard my skis went flying, my neck jerked back, my head slammed into the ground, my legs were twisted and buried in a foot of snow, the wind was completely knocked out of me and I couldn’t get up! I decided that was it – no more skiing for me! I had fallen hard and it hurt – really bad – both my pride and my butt! I was too tired and I didn’t think it was worth it to risk another fall. I laid in the snow trying to breathe and figure out how to break the news to Joshua that the fun and adventure were over for me. I was calling it a day and heading for the warm lodge to get some hot chocolate. That’s when God whispered to my heart, “Renee, you will never see all that I have for you if you are not willing to get up from a painful fall and keep going.” Oooh, I hate it when He says something so poignant when I’m in pain. Yet I sensed He had something more for me. But I had to be willing to trust HIM by getting up again. So I got up, dusted myself off and started skiing again. I’m so glad I did! We had the most incredible day. You see, while I was falling God knew that JJ and Andrew were perfecting their skills and were ready to ski with us which they hadn’t done before. I got to ski with my whole family for hours and hours and see some of the most beautiful and breath-taking views I’ve ever seen. But more than that I saw God. I saw His provision and His desire for me to trust Him because He WANTS to bless me. If I had quit, I would have missed seeing God’s glory reflected in those mountains in a way I’d never seen before! I think about that day often – when I’m ready to quit. How easy it is to fall in life and get hurt and not want to get up and try again. Yet, what will we miss if we are not willing to get up, get back on our feet and trust Him by trying again? And again. If you need encouragement to get up again and keep going, I’ve got just the thing for you! Next week there’s an amazing on-line conference from the comforts of our own homes, to connect and inspire women in their walk with Christ and in all that He’s called and created them to be! If you can’t make the conference you can download the sessions as part of the registration! I’ve got FIVE FREE TICKETS to give away to A Woman Inspired On-line conference! All you have to do is leave a comment below this post with your email and you’ll be entered. I’ll announce the winners tomorrow afternoon! And even if you don’t want to win, I’d love to hear your thoughts on getting up again. I’ll be praying God whispers to your heart that He’s worth it – and so are you!

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The ticket winners for A Woman Inspired On-line conference are…

Timestamp: 2009-04-05 02:11:35 UT – Random numbers:

2 – Chrissy 1 – Angie 7 – Jenny 4 – Lindsey 27 – Elaine