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Renee Swope

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

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:
______________________
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.

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Comments

  1. I needed your devotion this morning! I follow you on facebook and signed up for the doubt diet. Thank you for the encouragement!

  2. I would love to have this book. I have previously signed up for the Doubt Diet; follow you on FB and invited a friend to do it with me.

    cassandra.sines at gmail dot com

  3. Renee, thank you for the words of encouragement. As always, God has placed the right words/people in the right place in time in our lives, for which I shout with Joy! Also, the spirit of discouragement is running rampant all around; we must bind this spirit in the name of Jesus – done – and include ALL others so we can move forward more freely – Done & Done!
    I signed up to receive your new devotions…Everyone needs encouraged. My prayer for all – May the God of ALL Mercy and Grace shower down on each and every one of us – putting out the devastating fires in Arizona. May God's Peace and Protection be with all our Deployed and May they ALL return safely! Thank you Again, Renee! You are Appreciated Very Much and we lift You up, too! D. Wenger {Angelweng}

  4. I really needed your devotional today and the upcoming diet. I am struggling to walk through a trial that feels like it is unbearable at times. I am trying so hard not to doubt and stay focussed and trust God, but it gets tough at times. I am defitnitely going to invite friends to participate in the self-doubt diet. I signed up –Lora C

  5. WOW……………I so needed this. I have fallen away from God, it's been a few months.
    I find myself so lost at times and wonder why our God would want to keep picking me back up again, when i don't have the faith and trust in Him that I should. Sometimes i think I hear God talking to me but then I hear so many other things boggling around in my head that I question what God might be telling me or saying "God, I'm waiting. I pray for focus to hear Him when he is talking to me, and to get myself back where I need to be with my Father.

  7. This book and devotional diet is going to be just what I need. Thank you so much. Off to invite friends to join me. 🙂

  9. Signed up for your devotional diet this morning. I have some decisions ahead of me and have thought I've "known" what to do and then doubts keep coming back. I would love to read your new book as well!:)
    [email protected]

  10. This was really on time for me (as God always is). It seems as though whenever God delivers me from one area of doubt and I feel like I'm completely delivered; a completely new and unexpected area of doubt creeps in.

    I am really hard on myself when I fall and to the point of feeling like there isn't any use because I won't ever get it together. God is clearly speaking to me concerning this because the scripture you shared at the beginning of your devotion has popped up more than once for me today. I am thankful that in all of our doubt and insecurities He is constantly freeing us from their bondage.

    Thank you again for ministering to me. I have a few sisters in Christ who may be struggling with doubt and insecurity right now that I forwarded this to. I believe wholeheartedly that the devotionals will minister to all of us in this season.

    Love and blessings,

    Ayla
    ([email protected])

  11. I am so excited about this! I have signed up for the doubt diet and I sent an email with your information you posted to 14 of my friends and family members.
    This is going to be AWESOME! I am ready to get the devotions.
    In my prayers

  12. I loved the devotional in p31 today. I would love to read your book. I have no confidence in myself even though I am trying very hard to obey God. I want to learn how to be confident

  13. Thank you for allowing us to have 7 days of your daily devotional. I look forward to reading the book as well!

  14. Wow! I am so looking forward to the book as well as the doubt diet! So glad I found your site and I have signed up to receive your blog via email – [email protected]. I have so struggled with doubt my ENTIRE life, and I am now at a point of starting something new with God that I do not want to see fail because of my doubts and fears. This could not have come at a better time for me. I have also posted an invitation on FB for my friends to join me. Thank you so much for entering me into the give away.

    BTW, will your book be available in a Kindle version? I love my Kindle and being able to receive a book within 60 seconds of ordering it. I also love the convenience of being able to carry MANY books with me all the time. Please consider offering your book for the Kindle. Thank you!! And thank you so much for the post I just sent to my Kindle from Proverbs 31 blog. Again, so timely for my life.

  15. I am so eager to read this book. This is definitely something I struggle with..self doubt. I signed up to receive the 7 day "diet" of self doubt and am going to encourage one of my friends to do the same. I pray blessings on you and your ministry!

  16. I am really excited about this book and will be getting it. My goal is to be confident in my relationship with Christ and with others. I have to admit I am not always confident and I know that God has given us boldness and confidence but sometimes I struggle to be honest. So, to read this book and learn will be wonderful, can not wait.

  17. Thank you for your devotion and the "free 7 day…" I have been having so many doubts since I was laid off March 2nd. With you and the other Proverbs 31 women's devotions and of course God's Word has helped me so much to get through this season of my life. Being 56 without a job is rough – but God always gives me hope and new beginnings! He has blessed me so much with your devotions, I do so look forward to YOUR book – I will get it once I get a job that is for sure. God Bless YOU!!!

  18. Thank you for that devotion this morning, I needed to hear that! I had a rough day with my kids yesterday and was feeling frustrated and like I just can't get it right. God knew I needed to hear that this morning!

  19. I'm so excited about your new book and devotional diet! YEAH!!!! I know that this book will speak volumes to many women across age, race and location ranges.

    Prayers and blessings as this all unfolds!

    Rebecca

  20. I am a newly married woman and I am just eating up every devotion, story, and book that you post. I am read A Woman's Secret to a Balanced Life now. But I am one who loses confidence too quickly. I often find that I have faith for others, but I always feel overwhelmed, confused, and lacking confidence when it comes to my prayers being answers. I want that asurety that I am hearing from God and being lead by God. M. Johnson

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!
***********************************************************************************************
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

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Comments

  1. Renee, right now…every morning… I have to tell myself to “get up again”. Minutes, hours, days, weeks are all rushing together and I’d like to pull the covers over my head and pretend it’s all a bad dream.

    I don’t know exactly what God wants me to see as I spend so much painful time at my Dad’s side at the hospital, but I am looking for God – His provision, His desire and His glory.

    Wanting to quit, but trusting on,
    Joy
    [email protected]

  2. Renee,
    What a great story. I had a similar thing happen to me when I was younger and just learning to ski. My boyfriend at the time took me to an intermediate slop. I think I fell every five feet going down that thing. I cried harder each time and at one point I was going to take my skis off and walk down. But I didn’t. I kept going and even though I kept falling I made it to the bottom. And you know what? I went right back up and did it again! I really thing it was at that point that I fell in love with skiing. (I was not a believer at the time so I didn’t really relate what was happening to God) But now, looking back and reading your post, I can see it as a God moment. I didn’t give up, I kept going no matter how hard it was and I was better for it in the end.
    I also like your post because I recently posted on my blog about an incident of “failing” instead of falling. I was beating myself up over failing in a situation with my reaction to something I thought I had settled.(you can read it if you want. jbozzoblog.blogspot.com
    Thanks for confirming in me that we sometimes fail, but what we do after is was is important.

    Thanks for entering me in the contest.
    [email protected]

  3. Wow Renee…you go girl! You are a much braver gal than I! However, I must say, doing it for my son would encourage me! And trusting God for His strength…and the courage to try even if I fail and/or fall!

    That song “I get knocked down, but I get up again…” is going through my head now!

    Hugs, love and prayers,
    Sharon 🙂

  4. Hi Renee,

    I stopped by to thank you for congratulating me on my blog this afternoon. I love the song lyrics you posted. I’m printing them to save in my Bible.

    I’m so excited to be at the conference this summer. I’ve been useless today, just wandering around my house in shock and excitement. I better snap out of it soon and get a shower. I think my family would like mommy to come back down to earth. : )

    Meeting you would be such a blessing. I really do hope that happens!

    Also~ This post was great. You are such a gifted storyteller. Thanks for being an inspiration!

    Love,
    Becky Avella

  5. Dear Anonymous at 4:38pm,

    I re-read my post through yours and your husbands eyes after I read your comment. My heart breaks for how painful this must be for you.

    And I felt like God whispered to my heart to tell you that I had to take time to regain my strength and catch my breath after my fall. It took me time to be ready to get up again.

    I am praying for a time of rest and time to be renewed in God’s calling on your lives. I pray His protection and comfort over your hearts. He knows the plans He has for youfplans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you a future and a hope. Jer 29:11.

  6. Hi Renee,

    Thank you for the sweet note you left on my blog. I’m so grateful for the gift of another chance, both in life through Christ AND with She Speaks through this incredible scholarship. I’m thankful and humbled.

    I loved your post about the importance of getting back up because it’s so true! Thank God you weren’t seriously injured, you gathered up your courage and persevered. Beautiful example of rising again.

    I look forward to meeting you soon, Renee!

  7. God’s allows us to be a part of His work, and seeing Him glorified is nothing but exceptional.!!! Never give up!

  8. God’s allows us to be a part of His work, and seeing Him glorified is nothing but exceptional.!!! Never give up!

  9. I love this post!! Let me tell you, I am the first one back to the lodge for hot chocolate after a hard run!! Sometimes I just skip it if I even think it’s gonna be hard. I have so much to learn. God is really talking to me about doing the daring thing right now. He keeps telling me that if He is only One who believes in me…that’s enough. He is enough to make my dreams come true. No matter how long it takes. Thanks for the reminder.

  11. This is a great story. My family just went skiing in Utah…all except me and the baby. My husband loves to ski and I refuse because I had to look foolish. So, you may be afraid to get back up again but have always been afraid to even try. I am working on this area so I appreciate your encouragement.

    Blessings!

  12. Life has a way of knocking us down over and over again but God lifts us up every time! And every experience we have with God increases our faith exponentially!!

  13. First I want to ask that you NOT enter me for the prize _ I’ve already bought my ticket 🙂
    Second, thank you for todays post… I really needed it and I think my husband will need it even more (I’m forwarding it on to him). You see, my husband is a Pastor of his first and only church. We stepped out in faith two years ago and moved to an unfamiliar place to start this church. Today we turned in our resignation and will be leaving in a month. This was my husbands passion and he is crushed and feels like he doesn’t even want to try again. So I thank you for the “pep talk” and reminder that God will be there to help us up.

  15. Wow – its true. Unfortunately I usually am one to just quit and then I regret it later. Thank you for sharing.

    Amy G

  16. Thanks for sharing
    I am going thru a proverbs 31 class right now and have had many revelations and am giving up to much but GOD because its for MY GOOD and HIS GLORY! Its exciting!!! I am struggling with something that I do fail at some and would love more encouragment!
    Thanks
    [email protected]
    Betty Hodge

  17. What a beautiful analogy, especially in these troubled times when wave after wave of seemingly bad news and heartbreak and fear seems to permeate our world.

    We have to keep moving ahead to what God has in store for us!

    Blessings,
    Lindsey
    [email protected]

  18. Thank you for sharing that story, it is so easy to give up a lot of the time, but oh the things you will miss out on if you do.

  19. Thank you so much for sharing your heart with us about what God is doing in your life.
    I am one that gives up easily or gets fustrated easily.
    God has been doing much refining in that area regarding my son with special needs.
    We had some testing done to see what is going on and God used it to show me once again what Nathan is really about.
    I am so thankful that God uses our kids to teach us things we would other wise miss out on.
    He used him to show me more appreciation for the colors He has created!!!

    Chrissy Gunning
    [email protected]

  20. Laid it out, right in front of me again. Thanks Renee!
    Giving up is still so close and so easy for me to do, but reminders like this reassure me, there is SO much more waiting for me.