Oh how I am LOVING reading so much about each of you. Gosh I wish we could all meet!! What an amazing group of women of all ages and from all places God has gathered here in HIS name! Makes me just about burst with joy! And now, I’m so glad today is here. Some days my written words come easily. Other days I just have to show and tell you what’s on my heart. Today is one of those days.
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Wonderful ‘visual’ illustration! I love how you said we need to ‘put the things we have tried to fill our lives with back into their places of priority~ with God’s help’ often those things are things that we need to do… but I have used them to replace the one thing that is needed so desperately the COMPLETE filling of God’s unconditional love~ the love that will fill in all the spaces that have been feeling so empty!
Thank you for the message Renee… praying God’s Word as I start my day! <3
This message could not have come at a more needed time. Since yesterday, I have been feeling “not good” enough” because I wasn’t invited to my programs Early Childhood Ecuation get together by the woman who used to be our boss. I dismissed it my saying to one of my co-workers that “it was mean” and “I wouldn’t went anyway” but as the day went on I realized my feelings were hurt. I just could not shake how it made me feel, I felt left out, not important enough and once again looked over. Once again I allowed rejection to steal my joy!
I am so grateful that this morning God has used your video to show me that He always invites me in and never looks over me; that His unfailing love is sufficient and that I can find my security in Him.
I agree. Rejection can steal joy and each rejection can be another reminder of how we’re not good enough. But it doesn’t have to be. It helps me to think of rejection as an opportunity to explore God’s will in a different way. God has shown me that choosing something means giving up something else, but surrendering everything can allow me to gain a lot. He is wonderful and willing to be our gain.
Thank you for sharing this. You have really spoken to my heart, I have spent so long trying to find acceptance and love in so many other things. God is really working in my heart to help me understand that who I am and what makes me worthy come from him and God alone. This message is yet another confirmation of this truth. I need to look to God for confidence, acceptance and the love I need to fulfill my heart and satisfy my needs.
Thank you for sharing our heart. I am a person that self doubt has tormented me ever since I can remember, But I am truely done with it. A few weeks ago I made a decision I didn’t want it any more . I love God with all my heart, He has brought me through so much and self doubt has kept me from recieving all that The Lord has for me. The morning I made the decision to give it totally to God and let Him heal me I found your study. I never join on line studies. NEVER but this one was calling my name ( I love when God does that ). It has been a blessing already and I just finished chapter 2. I just wanted to thank everyone for being apart of God setting me free from this chain that has been keeping me down for soooo long. Please keep me in your prayers because I really want to be done with it and I am a firm believer in the power of prayer. Thank you Renee and many blessing your way from our amazing father .
I’m so thankful that you have been able to purge self doubt from your heart! God is amazing like that. I’m glad to have you join us and you will be in my prayers!
Lucy, this is my first online study as well. And I almost didn’t join it also!
So Glad you are a part!
🙂
I’m so ready to be done with the things that are holding me back from more of Him. (like self doubt, failure…)
What a great message! We so need to be reminded of this. Those things that we try to fill our jars with are so fleeting as you remind us. As I think of this, I am reminded of all those who do look to those things to “fill the jar” and it’s never enough…… bigger houses, cars, etc. With God filling our jars, it IS enough. His gifts do satisfiy us if we are open to Him. I also love how you reminded us that these gifts can have a priority, not a preeminence. They are gifts from our Heavenly Father who loves us very much.
Thank you Renee!!! Praying for all of us in our study that peoples hearts will be open for what the Lord wants to share through you. God bless!!
Beautiful illustration and so very timely for me. I am quick to look for comfort from everything but the one person that is the Source of it all.
It’s seems God always know what I need to hear. Recently I told my mother I wanted more people to pour into me. I feel like I’m always giving but not as many people give to me. The jar example showed me I’m looking for people instead of God to fill me. This week I’m going to focus on this a lot.
Yes! I have been very lonely lately and been praying for God to send some people who will pour into me. I am now reminded that the only way my jar will be completely full is to let God pour in. I will be working on removing the things from the jar and putting them back in the box so God can fill the void. Thank you for the amazing example Renee!
I have watched this twice already and LOVE it! I fell like I spent a great portion of my life trying to get that jar filled, I just wasn’t looking in the right place. I always felt inferior, unimportant, unloved…..I always felt like I was the child my mother never wanted. I always “went” to church, but it wasn’t until i was in my 30’s that I truly felt God move in my heart. I don’t know if it is because I am older now, 50 now, but I have peace in my heart. I still have bad moments but for the most part I know that the only place I can be filled up is through God. Isn’t our God so Awesome!
Your book is awesome, it is written well…more real. I kind of read ahead. Right now I am in school for Massage Therapy so been having alot of studying going on there. The video was great and I know that there is a place inside of me that only God can feel. For me it is hard because like Iknow it in my head but the knowlege hasnt reached my heart. I am thankful for everything God has given me in my life. I try to live my life with gratitude and each day in the moment and take each day for what it is. Not easy task, sounds easy but it really isnt easy. I suppose my problem is feeling His love inside my heart. Not sure how to do that part yet.
PS. I am not a negative person, well try not to be. I am not going to sugar coat anything. I am going to be blunt how bout I feel and what I think. One thing I wont do is tell you what you want to hear, I am not going to live a lie, or pretend to be something I am not for anyone.
Did I miss something or did Renee not say we do not have to be perfect because we know we are daughters, wives, children, of the ONE whose love is perfect and unconditional. I would hope that this is a place where we CAN be honest about our lives, our struggles, the temptations, the pain, our desires, fulfilled and unfulfilled. I hope this is a place we DO NOT compare ourselves with each other, but learn and grow as we share each others struggle and burdens. I know I am tired of saying I am fine, when inside I am searching for things to fill empty places and holes that only God can fill. It does not happen over night, but we are all works in process, and as such we will have times when it is hard and we fall, but God will NEVER stop loving us. I know, because I have tested that love more than I like to admit! I know because God has been faithful even when I have not been. I know because my life is blessed in ways that only God could have understood and filled. I believe HE uses others to fill some of those spaces, maybe for a short time, maybe in person, maybe on line, maybe till death do us part, but we have to realize it is the GIVER who provides the gift and count the gifts with thanksgiving to find joy.
Don’t give up! God will not give up on you!
Thank you Mary!
I hope I never come across as being perfect or having it all together, because a lot of days I am still really a mess. I need Jesus like never before. We are all in process in our God journey!
Good point Mary! It was good to hear you say that this is a place where we can be open and honest! And, reading your words also caused me to stop and remember the many, many times God has repeatedly shown me his unending devotion and faithfulness in my life. When I start to feel sorry for myself, it is SO easy to forget that!!
I’m struggling with this also…
I am struggling also…..I feel I do all the right things, but I am just not there yet. There is something I am just not getting….so my prayer for Him to show me will continue…
Yes, Karen! there is something I’m not getting too! i know just what you mean!
Thank you for the visuals. Great lesson.
Thank you Renee, I felt chapter 3 and your video hit home. I am grateful for all the blessings I have in my life but still long to feel loved for just being me. I have felt empty and alone for the last 8 years and now realize I am looking in the wrong place to be filled and fulfilled. I felt isolated from many of my friends since my divorce 8 years ago and thought that if I had a partner I would fit back into my old social life. I tried to run from the truth….what I need is God’s unconditional love. I love reading that I am not alone!
I’m saddened to read that you need a partner to fit back into your old “social circle”, though your situation is not uncommon. Perhaps this is God’s way of doing something new in your life? May you find His guidance and rest in His love today!
So often we place our dependence on the people in our lives to help make us feel loved and significant hoping that will settle or fulfill our need to feel secure. The probem with that is that so often we find our security system fails us and out of great disappointment we end up takng it out on those we’ve created as a support of self gratification.
Your video helped me to see the tier of false support I created to make mysef feel satisfied but instead remained yet empty feeling inside, angry and frustrated and unfortunately was taking it out pn those I chose to try to make me frel better about myself when they came short.
Jesus is our true comforter and He alone can fill thr empty spaces of oyr hearts and cure the longing of beong tduly accepted, adored, validated, treasured, and affirmed. Ttuly aJesus is the only way to this kind os satisfaction, fulfillment, longing, and hoping.
I can relate to wanting to feel loved and accepted by others. But I’ve learned that the best people are still human and they are capable of failure. But God doesn’t fail may you find fullness in Him today!
Good morning Renee, Thank you for this wonderful God given message. It touched my heart so much. I to fill my jar with lots of things as well as dirt….. I hope, pray and will try to empty my jar and let the healing water from God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit fill me with unending love that we are so truly promised. Thank you soo much and may God bless all that you do. Your friend in Christ
I agree – many times I look to the gifts to fill me and fulfill me, instead of looking to the Giver. May all of us seek Jesus and be filled with His unfailing love!
Thanks so much for sharing with us Renee, that was an incredible video message this morning. That is exactly how I lived my life, and have until just recently. I’m learning that God is the only one who can fill all my empty places. I’m looking forward to each day that I have with you & these women in this Bible Study.
Have a wonderful day & God Bless!
I find myself falling into this trap much to often. I feel I am devoted to JESUS – I want to follow him and be completely his. As the enemy would do – he uses those things important to us to break us at times. I have never thought of myself as materialistic…a love seeker yet as I watched this illustration I could see how I have used the “THINGS” of this world and flesh to fill the voids in my life. As my relationship with JESUS has grown and developed over the last 2 years (I tell everyone I believe he has me in the fast lane – to make up for the lost years) I just want to follow him…yet the biggest struggle I have is overcoming the attacks the enemy uses to DOUBT myself and my love for JESUS. I find myself thinking I will never be good enough for JESUS…even while watching this video the thought entered my mind – yet I know without a doubt I am loved and forgiven by our SAVIOR… the enemy wants me to throw in the towel and say nothing I do will ever be good enough. So today my prayers will focus on praises and thanks to my HEAVENLY FATHER for loving me – and I will ask he keep on emptying me and filling those holes he empties with only his divine love, mercy and grace.
Fast lane is fun! God works powerfully and I’m so thankful that you’re resting in His love today!
Bonita..I have read several posts before yours that reference the similar idea that “God does things to break us or takes things away from us which makes it sound like he is “punishing us” for what happens in our life. In my life journey I have come to believe that in most circumstances, my choices, thoughts, and actions are what determine the consequences I am suffering, whether it be my own or the result of someone else. By this I mean that we are “breaking ourselves.” Then our amazing and merciful and loving God sees us through whatever hurtful, painful, or devastating circumstance we can imagine–He can and does show us a different path to follow, but we have to make that choice. His unconditional love does truly fill us up, not tear us down.
Thank you for sharing Renee. I needed to be reminded that only God can fill the empty spaces in my life with His unfailing love. Awesome illustrations. Thank you.
wow!What an amazing illustration….I felt u were talking about me as this is how I felt all my life. I grew up in an orphanage and always was looking for real love…. I did everythng to gain or earn peoples love. Although I knew Jesus as my saviour as a child, I still felt empty and unsatisfied….I wanted people’s love not sympathy. I wanted to have what every kid had…..Untill I remember that day I spent the night on my knees and Prayed Jacob’s prayer” Lord take that thorn fromm y life. I am tired of measuring up to people.I cannot take it any more and I will not let go untill u bless me with the gift of being satisfied in you” What an awosome feeling that was when God freed me and He alone satisfied my soul…I am a new person now…He is the only one whose well never dries……I still at times fall into the trap of thinking other material things can make me feel better but then I hear that voice in the back of my head saying”I alone can satisfy you” so I make a u turn and reasure myself of His love
Thank you Renee and all the beautiful ladies who are sharing their hearts on this blog so we can all learn
love u all
Kim,
I read your comment and here we all love you and each other for we all share experiences and we don’t have to measured by anything or anyone. I loved what you said and I am happy to hear that you are a new person now and that you are happy. I believe that you have a heart of love.
WOW…. Great illustration Renee. Totally get it, along with all those things we are filling our jars with, the hurt, pain, self-doubt etc we are feeling is also blocking the way for God to fill all those empty places in our hearts.
Thanks for sharing your heart with us and leading us through this journey of wholeness in Christ 🙂
What a wonderful reminder! I love this video
I believe God allows us to fill up our hearts/life with other things besides him for a season, so that he can then take them away from us (some or all of them), so that we will be filled up with him to overflowing. While it may seem painful for a season, God is more satisfying then a new car, a new wardrobe, new job, and the list goes on…our stuff only satisfies us for a season, but God can satisfy us forever. It makes us depend on him, and gives him the Glory (not us). New cars, wardrobes, jobs… are not life giving, God is.
God help me to not fill my life up with earthly things, but to be filled up in you. Help us thirst for you. Amen
Very nicely stated Emily. This is a lesson that it has taken a while for me to learn, but I’m learning daily. Those empty spots in my heart are gradually going away and this illustration has made it so clear the God’s love doesn’t leave room for empty spots.
Thank you Nina! I am still learning this also.
God is constantly reminding me that only he can truly satisfy
All this other stuff I pile in my heart/life , it’s just stuff. I long for more of him.
Have a wonderful day 🙂
I loved your illustration of how we fill our hearts with legitimate things.
I am so thankfu that the Living Water can fill us and we have no empty places.
My desire is to be filled wih His love.
Great reminder, i’ve seen this repeated a lot in my life and in other peoples. We are constantly looking to be satisfied and we try everything. Set new goals and when you finally get there, you still feel the same. Until one day you finally realized only God can satisfy us.
Thank you Emily. What you said is so very true. Have a blessed day.
Thank you Bonnie! You also! 🙂
I have come to realize that through out my teens and into adulthood, I have been looking for love, fulfillment, acceptance, and security in all the wrong places and especially in ALL the wrong faces. When Renee was holding the jar out as if asking others to fill it…I thought about how I’ve held my jar out to others with the expectation of being filled and I’ve actually opened myself up to allow others to take from me. I’ve allowed others to freely have my time, money, love, and joy. Being recently divorced, I’ve been able to look back on my pattern and past marriage to see that I wasn’t looking to God to fill my void. Although I still long to have the companionship of a partner…I look to Jesus first.
Hosea 2:19-20 says: “I will make you my wife…I will give you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion. I will make you MINE and you will know me as the Lord.”
I want him to be My Husband, My Portion, My Supplier, My Redeemer, My Father…My SAVIOR!
Heather,
oops not sure what happened there.. but thank you for sharing! I honestly believe now, and through this study, that I have put way to much onto my husband to “fill” me. I have to look to God to fill and fulfill those deep longings and empty places in my heart. I feel blessed to be in this study with you and all these wonderful sisters-in-Christ!
Marni,
I feel the same way concerning my husband. I have put so much expectations on my husband. I should seek God for my expectations and fulfillment. God is my everything.
Thank you for showing me what my jar should look like!
While I agree Emily 🙂 It’s really hard when currently there are no jobs in the family at all. Trusting is hard once the bank balances start to shrink and no job in sight.
I know God will provide and I want to be filled up with his joy but it’s been hard getting my eyes off “But I need a job! to I will trust you until that job comes along”
To keep knocking on doors, sending resumes to be rejected over and over hurts.
So yes 🙂 I want God to be my all and all and to help take away my fears and unbelief.
Hang in there Debbie! I’ve been there where you’re at now. It’s hard, but I found that if you just lay it all down at God’s feet He will be true to His Word and he’ll carry that burden for you. I know we never like to ask or say anything when we’re at where your at, but people want to help out. Sometimes from the least likely sources – whether that be church or family or friends.
I’ll be praying for you and your family! As the Mercyme song says …
Hold fast
Help is on the way
Hold fast
He’s come to save the day
What I’ve learned in my life
One thing greater than my strife
Is His grasp
So hold fast
WOW!!!!! I love the demonstration of the jar. But it is so true, because I think that when we try to feel with those things that we are looking for something that we can either touch or someone that we can talk to. Instead of much more of a spiritual need to fill us. I want to say that it really touched me and not only that we do need to realize from time to time that is all it is is just stuff for the most part. But he can touch our hearts and soul and he can talk to us, if we listen. Because I will admit that I am trying to look for that better job than what I have.
Renee, Thank you for the Video today!!!
Yes, I wished to that we could all get together in a room too.
I loved the jar demonstration and I can agree with Emily’s comments how “God allows us to fill up on other things for a season then he takes them away.” Those people/places/things that brought us temporary joy seem to cause a lifetime or season of pain when they are taken away from us. We don’t always see or understand God’s hand in the matter but his word reminds us “all things work together for our good” and he does indeed have a plan for us, to give us a hope and a future. Even when we feel hopeless, saying these words over and over again can give us hope. I can already tell I won’t want this study to end because each day, with each new mercy, God does or sends something incredible to remind us he is indeed looking out for our best interest and he really is all we need. Lord fill me with more of you so there is no room or desire for anything else.
Yes I agree that God gives us the gifts and he sometimes takes them away perhaps because He wants us to spend more time with Him so he can fill the empty places of our hearts. Do you think He also takes them away sometimes a bit like a parent taking away our childish toys that are broken or too childish for us so that we can have new toys or new relationships that will help us to grow and mature and develop. It can be so painful to have an “old favourite” taken away but when we later look back in life we can see Gods purpose. I once lost a good friend in a painful disagreement but now I can see that God had a fresh calling and a new direction for me leading me to a new job and lots of new friends. I would never have chosen to move forward by myself but God as my father could see the way ahead. I am so enjoying this study thank you so much Renee and all you wonderful sisters.
Thank you for your reply. I had been ill for a while and during this illness two friends whom I considered to be my best friends were not there for me. I can not describe the pain and betrayal that I felt because of their actions. There was a big void in my heart and if I am honest there was a lot of dislike for these women. I now understand that God removed these women because at the time I need women who knew our Father to be around me to pray for me and to take care of me. I am so grateful that God has all the answers even when we don’t know the questions to ask. I can see God leading me in a different direction. Thank you .
Kay,
I love your closing prayer. Lord fill us with more of you so there is no room or desire for anything else.
Wow..what a beautiful perspective way to have an illustration of my heart. It really open my eyes and made me reflect on how I was placing God on the side lines and choosing the wrong substance to fulfill me. The jar presentation made me have an aah moment to redirect my priorities in my life. Thank You so much Renee for the enlightment.
That was a wonderful example on what really matters and what I need to remember and focus on. I also need to help my family focus on Jesus and that we need him more than we need anything else. It is so easy to get caught up in the fashion of bigger, better, and more. Our culture screams this at us and Jesus whispers “look to me”. Thank you.genia