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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{Are you a note-taker? If so, I created “Video Message Notes” in a PDF and in MSWord just for you. Even included blanks to fill in. 🙂
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Renee, thank you so much for sharing this video with me, this video could not have come at a better time. It’s always amazing how God working in our lives. I’ve been dealing with a lot of ups and downs with trying to satisfy others, feeling that if I can do that I would be excepted in society, and with family members. In the back of my head I always here “what’s wrong with me, I will never be good enough, why keep trying” this thought process not only effects me mentally, but physically as well. But looking at the bigger picture there is nothing wrong with me. Through daily prayer with my Father and staying in his word, being in your online study, this just reassures me that I will never satisfy others here on earth, the only one that I need to satisfy is our Lord and he will fill and fulfill my life, everything else will then fall in place.
God bless you too Tati, I love your comments and thoughts.
Thank you for the message. This has been a long, difficult journey for me. I feel like this bible study is a true gift from God. Via a very twisted route this fell into my lap. The disappointment I feel is tremendous. And, I let myself become disappointed in God. I do not understand the “why’s; but I know I have to let them go and let God love me like He longs to love me. I have had a relationship with Jesus for many, many years. So I know that feeling of complete love and acceptance from Him. I just have to let it (that feeling) back into my heart. What I do not know, is how to escape the pressure and stress of everyday life. I cannot walk away, I would let too many people down, including my kids ( ages 15, 13, 11, and 9). But, I cannot seem to handle the responsibility. My husband, on a good week, works 60 hours per week. His responsibility is financial. Everything else is mine. It is hard
Angela, I hear your pain. Life is such a struggle and as wives and mothers, it can be just exhausting. We are the warrior at home, trying to keep everyone safe and happy. I have found that the pressure and stress can’t be dealt with in my own power, it’s just too much. And, when I feel so unappreciated…well let’s just say I do a little shouting around the house. And then the Spirit gets ahold of me and I realize I was again trying to do it all in my own strength and not His. Dissapointment can fill my cup too. I will pray for you and me on that one! God bless you sister!
Angela, I know how you feel . I have two boys 15 and 13. My husband also works all the time only day off is Sunday. When I do things on my own I just want to run…. What I find that works for me is getting up early and being in His word, doing a couple of devitionals and listening to worship music all day. This keeps Jesus in the fore front of my mind, so when things start going crazy I feel His present more.
What a great thought! I am constantly reminded that “people fail, Jesus doesn’t.” I have some pretty good people in my life, but nothing anyone does can ever compare to the Greatest. The more I remind myself of that…the happier I will be.
Renee,
Your message today was exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you so much! For years, I have tried to fill up my needy spaces and am never satisfied. I want to allow God to be the Giver and to fill up the empty places in my heart that I have been depending on everyone else or everything else to fill. Just last night, I was in tears because of pain inside of me and had to stop and pour out that pain to my Heavenly Father who truly understands. Every perfect gift is from Him. I just struggle so much with truly getting this message into my soul and becoming the confident woman God wants me to be. I do appreciate your prayer, and your book has been a blessing in my life. Thank you, Renee and please keep on sharing from your confident heart.
Great video Renee! Just the reminder I needed this morning! God is the love and assurance many need as life journey takes upon some unexpected roads. I thank God for you and your study it’s a blessing and growth tool for me.
‘By recognizing and replacing our emptiness with the fulness of God’s promises, we drink the gift of living water. We acknowledge our need which allows him to pour his truth into the well of our hearts’ P.60 of ‘A Confident Heart’
Thank you Renee for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do this video….so we can visually see about how filling our hearts with other things look like, as well as the replacement…. of filling it with the LIVING water. This chapter so blessed me that I cried a GOOD cry. But the cry, was a cry of relief-or a cry that ended with comfort for…. it felt I got a good embrace from my father feeling God’s presence, wiping my tears with JOY filling my hearts. My tears of Joy cleansed me and gave me that confidence that his love is surely unfailing and everlasting. And though ppl come and ppl go, HE will NEVER leave me nor forsake me.
Renee, I can somewhat relate to your childhood– though very different from yours. Having gone thru childhood abuse *verbal-emotional*, (N, having been told I was NOT smart, kind or caring, by my step-mother and— *believed the lie since I was a child* ) I’ve lived all of my life so far *trying-retrying* to please others, and prove I was kind, smart and caring person. None of it brought joy to me, but since I was looking for satisfaction, I often told my self I was satisfied–saying “ok, at least, she/he thinks I was a godly woman to help him/her out” but this kept me in an approval addiction and doing too much for others and NOT much for me. I gave to others, but criticism of myself I gave to myself. Even now, I have to catch myself and ask my self, ‘what is your intention? Are you serving God by helping others or trying to get the recognition for yourself so you can feel good? ‘ Are you leaving yourself out? And, though my father wants me to serve and be of help, I am learning, the only time I get full satisfaction is when I serve with HIM in mind (hope I am making sense here) HIS love is filling me so now I am learning, the only thing I would owe the world is…. not what I do for them but LOVE. God’s filling me with HIS love and loving on me so I can begin to love me and so I can serve/love in a GODLY way, with HIM in mind.
Renee, I so enjoy your book, that I can’t stop reading it. Yes, I can’t help for reading ahead. Though its hard, I 0ften go back to the chapter to do my notes-assignment at the end of the chapters. I like how each chapter somewhat relate to the other chapters, and the references that you make, helps me to remember well what I read, and gives the message a clear meaning. Thank you so much. I wish I got/read your book a couple of years ago, when I first heard about it. But, hey, that is ok now I am reading it right. I am also, so glad for I am in a group with a great bunch of study partners–for their messages are so encouraging, and comforting.
God bless everyone!!!!
Thank you for sharing. May God bless you abundantly through this study!
Renee,
I loved the video! You are such a great Bible study LEADER for the God! I am really enjoying this study and I hope there is more videos!!!! You remind me that I need to clean up the stuff in my heart and life to be able to have God’s love fill my heart. This message is very important and I needed to hear this! Thank you!
This was a great illustration. I certainly fall into the trap of looking for other ways to fill those places in my heart. Even if I have a tough day at work, I would often find myself in the mall to buy something over my lunch to help me feel better but in all reality, that may make me feel better for a short time but it doesn’t last. This was a great reminder to me to turn to God in those times of feeling empty and alone rather than trying to fill it with ‘stuff.’
I love this video, I needed to be reminded that only God can fill the empty spaces in my life with His unfailing love. I felt you were talking about me as this is how I felt all my life. Thank you for this wonderful God given message, it touched my heart so much that I wanted to cry at loud and release all my hurt. This is medicine to my soul. I thank and pray the Lord for you and your obedience on doing this study with us. !EXCELLENT JOB RENEE!
This video was wonderful. One of the things I have been struggling with has been filling my life with other things. Mainly my relationship with my boyfriend. My pastor, mother, aunt (all ministers) have repeatedly told me I needed to let go and put God first. Not only first but have my focus on Him and when the time is right, my boyfriend and I will be together. I am a single mom and like you mentioned in the video,Ii think about marriage, not obsessively but quite a bit. With others getting married and having kids, that desire is in the fore-front of my mind. I guess, I have been trying to balance everything in a way. And looking at my boyfriend for the love that not only is he not ready to give but that only God can give me. I am from NY but I am in TX visiting my parents. My boyfriend and I agreed that while I was gone, we would really focus on God and seek His guidance on what we need to do next. This video came at the right time. I will be spending my free moments today seeking God and asking Him how to proceed during this time in my life. Thank you Renee!
I am VERY ready to empty my jar so Jesus can fill it to overflowing with his living, life giving water! Thank you Jesus that you alone are enough to fill every whole and hurt in my life. And because of your love and your truth, my equation no longer has to be My performance+ Others approval= My self worth…Praise your name!
Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and portion forever. Psalm 73:25-26
I’m in agreement with you Stacy, I’m ready to empty my jar so Jesus can fill it too. Blessings
It’s hard to express how timely this study is for me right now. I signed up for the online study and bought the book. Each chapter and each day’s study has ministered deeply to my heart and soul. This is a good example of how God does meet us in our time of need and He fills all those gaps. Thank you for such a practical illustration today with the vessel. That will stick with me as I evaluate my life and the extra “stuff” versus allowing the Lord to fill me completely.
This message was so inspiring and so true. I am always looking for something or someone to give me their “approval” when all I need is God’s love.
Asking God to fill me today. Removing expectations of fulfillment that will never be met by things or people. Holding on to His precious promises with every breath.
I thoroughly appreciated the illustrations! So far in chapter 3 God has dealt with me regarding Him filling my empty places. The same way God wanted Sam to get honest with herself and Him, was identical to me. We both had to look around us and when God directed her to the husbands she didn’t have, and the man that wasn’t hers, there was nothing left but Him. I don’t want things/people to be taken. I know I need Him more but didn’t realize how much more and the “places.” I did this before, so I thought I was ok but obviously not. It goes back to being distracted and my focus shifting.
Realizing my well is deep and dry, only God understands and can fill me. His love is significant and I want it to be enough. Not sure how to start (again) because as stated, I’ve been here before and apparently it didn’t work. I want it to be right this time, you know? Really tired of messing up in Relationship(s) – with Him and others! That’s why it seems easier to stay to myself because then there’s no opportunity, expectation of others, etc.
He’s so Awesome though because He knows how messed up we are, yet puts us amongst who? PEOPLE! We’re all over the place!
I want to be empty again but am hurt by all the time passed, and things done wrong. Definitely need His healing touch and love in another processing stage of life. I’m encouraged though (deep within the well).
I have been truly inspired by the message today. I was exactly like the person you described in the video. I looked to other people and possessions to make me happy instead of looking to Jesus to full fill my needs. Thank You for your divine revelation and I ask that you pray for me and my family. I want the Lord to fill me with his un-failing love.
What a great demonstration! Reminds me of the song, Looking for love in all the wrong places. God’s love is all I need to be satisfied. It saddens me that I allow other people, material things, food, etc to attempt to make me satisfied knowing God is all I need. Lord, thank you for giving me this Bible Study and video to once again remind me to come to you, only you, in order to be satisfied. Your love is the love that satisfies. Amen
So very true! We always think we need more only to get it then stand stand around and wonder why nothing has changed inside. We still feel anxious and frustrated knowing something is missing in our lives, we just cannot seem to find what is missing .
This video really hit home for me. I was not popular in school. Never got invited to school dances or prom. Other girls received 2-3 or more corsages from boys for homecoming. I didn’t get one. When the first boy who took interest in me asked me to go out with him and then months later asked me to marry him….. I said “yes”.. I was 23 yrs. old already and thought ” if I say no, will someone else come along? ” But,this video made me see my reasons for marrying were wrong. I thought he was my knight in shining armor that would fill All those empty places.
I can relate to wanting to hold onto a person because there might never be anyone else. But God is faithful and He can bless your marriage, even if you think the initial reason for marrying was wrong. He can still work that out for good in your life and for His glory. Don’t give up!