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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Beautiful illustration Renee, Thank you. I like visuals…when trying to “Do” everything (that never gets done), I forget to just “Be” at peace, “Be” in His presence, and “Be” filled with His Spirit. Again thank you for the illustration, I can see myself running around trying to “fill” my cup, when I need to rest in Him, ask and then allow Him to fill it up.
Thank you Renee for reminding me that the emptiness can’t be filled by anyone or anything but Jesus. The more I try to use other things, the emptier I feel, because it is one less ‘tool’ in my arsenal to meet my own needs. Thank you Jesus for being enough and for making me enough.
Thanks Renee for such a timely message. I loved question two at the end of the chapter about how what we have chosen to fulfill us shapes our thoughts and actions. It was hard to admit in writing that when I’ve done this – allowed something or someone to take Jesus’ rightful place in my life – I’ve become preoccupied, controlling, manipulative, and selfish as I concentrated on the object of my desire. Hard truths but important to recognize so I can see when I’m tempted to fall into the same trap again.
The note-taker in me thanks you for the note sheet as well!!
So in need of Jesus. I had this thought earlier when I was reading, that I act as a people-pleaser so that they will accept and fill me, but it doesn’t always work. I have to please God… that is the only aim.
Thank You Renee. Am learning. God bless you.
Absolutely wonderful! Oh my jar–full yet empty!
Love to listen to your voice- it is so calming, so reassuring– like God speaking through you!
Thanks so much
Treasure you said it all about Renee. I too feel this way. Praise God For giving us Renee, In Christ Love
And now I am rereading my comment seeing all the imperfections !!! LOL
This video got me thinking…I always wanted to feel valued. To feel special, more than ordinary, chosen. and where was I looking to find this, in being perfect…if I could just keep the house perfect, if I could just lose the weight, if I could do this job perfectly, be the good wife, daughter…..I would be valuable, special, accepted. Even with the Lord, I feel more like He begrudgingly accepts me because He has to be true to His word, rather than chosen. I mean, why would He really want someone like me, such an imperfect Christian !! Now I know in my head that these things are lies, the trouble is reaching my heart. It’s funny, the thought that occurred to me was the one I need to be accepted by most besides God, is myself. Maybe one of the reasons God is unable (not in the sense He can’t, but that I am unable to accept it) to fill my empty spaces is because I am too busy rejecting myself. I am trying to learn that my value is in Him alone, not in anything else, not even myself.
I can relate to wanting to be special so I would be accepted. I had to learn that God already made me special and I don’t have to work or earn that “special status.” I think that accept yourself is much easier when someone else is willing to accept you. I pray that you will receive His love and acceptance today. Also, no Christian is perfect, not even David, and he was called “man after God’s own heart.” So take heart and rest in Him!
Thank you Julie. You are right, about none of us being perfect…David is a “perfect” example. I will learn to rest in Him. It’s hard to remember that we are special because He created us and saved us, not because we earn it. Sometimes I think I need a neon sign in front of my eyes to keep me reminded every day !!! Thanks for being my “neon sign” today !!! : )
What a beautiful message Renee! I have been under the attack of Satan the past few days and he is trying to pull me down. I am new to my Christan walk and I am thirsty to get more and more knowledge. But, I have Satan knocking on my door all the time trying to bring me down. This video really showed me that God does love me in spite of everything that I have done in my past. It also showed me that I have been looking for acceptance in ALL the wrong faces and places. I must keep my focus on God’s love. He has the ONLY unconditional love..a love that never changes. I am enjoying this study so much! Please continue to inspire women..women just like me. God bless!
Thank you for this wonderful video. It is so difficult to not fall into the cycle of trying to find fulfillment through people and the things of the this world. There is such peace and relief in knowing that through God’s love we can find complete fulfillment and contentment in our hearts.
I have learned this lesson once in my life it seems then went back to the things of this world to fill me up. Praying I can learn to look to Jesus for those things I need in my life, put him first. Thank you for doing this bible study online.
Thank You Emily! I love analogies and visuals…very helpful in remembering always >”from the gifts to the giver”
I have been a people-pleaser for as long as I can remember. I’m 40 and it’s still such an issue for me — crazy!! I do a very good job pretending everything is fine on the outside but if people only knew, they’d be shocked!
This study has just been so incredible so far; uncovering truths I have always been aware of in my head, but not my heart. I had consciously stopped asking God to help me with my issues because I didn’t see much change. I like things to happen *now* but I’ve come to realize that God’s timing is waaaay different than mine 🙂
Ever since starting this study — reading these truths, PRAYING these truths — I have had a heart change ALREADY! I feel more at ease. I don’t *react* in my default when I don’t get the reaction I need from someone. I am asking God to satisfy my heart with is unfailing love and I can feel He is doing just that.
This study, and particularly, chapter 2, is encouraging me to be filled with Living Water and not the temporary things of this world. I have a loooong way to go but I can feel God with me and I sense His joy as I take this journey with Him. So excited for the adventure!
Rachel, I will pray for you as I pray for myself, for I too have battled this issue for years. GOD IS ABLE… and will set us free for I know….HE is currently filing us with HIS ling water. I pray we will continue to seek the GIVER-the lover of our soul to satisfy our soul, and heal our wounds. May HE be the one that we long for, may he be enough I pray. I love you with the LOVE of the Lord. Stay strong, and thank you for your words of encouragement sister. I pray ‘God who have made known to you the path of life, will fill you with Joy in his presence , with eternal pleasure at his right hand’ (Ps 16:11)
Tati
Rachel, sorry for the typo, I meant LIVING water.
I can so relate to this message. I searched for love in so many people and still felt empty.
What a great word to start my morning off with! Wonderful truth!
I loved the demonstration on your video. Wow how I do at times try to fill my jar with “stuff” to feel satisfied, yet I never become satisfied! But when we do look to our Lord and Savior to fill that longing we are completely filled.. There was a time in my life that I really looked to my husband to fulfill my needs….but i felt that he never did. It caused great struggle in our marriage. Then I found myself taking it before The Lord asking what was I missing?? Through prayer and searching of the scriptures the Holy Spirit revealed to me that it was only Jesus who could meet my every need! Wow how that changed my life, my thoughts, my love, and my heart! He is all I need–Jesus Christ! I love my husband and am very thankful for him but in my Christian walk I have learned Jesus is the one I need to fill my life and His love will satisfy my longing!!
I loved the visual! It really hit home with how we let things and not God feel us up! I spent the better part of my 20’s holding out my jar to have the “wrong places and faces” try to fill it up! Then I held it out to the Lord in the beginnings of my 30’s – The most joyful and peaceful time in my life! Even through the birth of my son I let my jar be filled by the Lord! In my mid 30’s I married (to great man!) but I TOOK my jar and held out to my husband and son to be filled and have not had the peace and fullfilment since! This is something that your video and visual showed me. I have to now take my jar and HOLD IT OUT THE LORD for fillment again! I am crying as I write this because I had not even relized that I did this! Thank-you!
I appreciated that video very much. I do feel like my confidence has been so shaken because I have been putting a lot of value in what other people think about me or whether or not I perceive that they accept me. The problem with that, is that people are fickle and they disappoint us. They all have their own struggles and “stumble in many ways” as the Bible says, so this will always be a merry-go-round ride for me.
Lord, help me see my value through your eyes and have confidence based on your truth. Amen
Thank you for that illustration today .It really spoke to my heart. .
Juleen – It spoke to my heart too! Don’t you just love it when the Lord speaks to us!
Yes, I truly do . God is so good and faithful.
“When we worship something or someone, we give them great worth in our lives and oftentimes we find our worth in them.” (Pg. 58) “We long for (their) approval because it gives us a sense of significance, but then we feel like we are only as valuable as our last accomplishment.” (Pg. 59)
These verses have really hit me hard, and I thought I wouldn’t get much out of this study…oh, I was SO wrong and am thankful that I was! My job/position was eliminated a few months ago. I had worked for the company for 10 years, then quit to be a stay at home mom for 7 years, then finally accepted their offer to return – which ended up being 6 1/2 years. During the last 6 1/2 years I was always praised by senior management how instrumental, valuable and irreplaceable I was to the company, and how they appreciated the personal sacrifices I had made in working 60-70 hours/week for many years. It wasn’t until God closed the door on that job and in grieving its loss that I realized I had tangled up a huge majority of my identity and self-worth in that job and my accomplishments. I had lost my job, the source of my identity and self-worth, and wondered what I was going to do, who am I now? This bible study is well timed and I know He timed it! I realize now the mistake I made in putting my identity and worth into my job, making my daily walk with Him an occasional occurrence, and working late which prevented me from being home early to be the mother and wife He called me to be. I am now where He wants me to be – at home, focusing on my relationship with Him and my family, re-finding my identity and purpose in Him. I praise God that my identity and worth in Him NEVER changes!
Praise the Lord!