Some days my written words come easily. Other days I need to show and tell you what’s on my heart. Today is one of those days.
Please {like pretty please even if you don’t normally watch video posts} click the arrow below to “hear” today’s message from my heart to yours. I don’t want another day to go by without you knowing this…
{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. 🙂
Today’s Giveaway:
Two friends of mine who serve behind the scenes and are part of our online study, [thank you Donna & Veronica] have donated copies of my book to giveaway today. Together we created 5 gift packs for 5 of you. Each one includes a copy of my book, A Confident Heart {for you or a friend?} and my testimony/teaching message on CD, Letting God Fill My Empty Places.
Let’s Connect {and how to enter today’s drawing}:
I’d love to hear your thoughts about today’s message… and this is an easy way to enter today’s giveaway too. Just click “share your thoughts” right below this post and do just that – share your thoughts. {I love to read them! And pray over you when I do.} I’ll be there reading and sharing my heart with you too.
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What a great visual and a great lesson to learn. My mind raced through all the things and people and activities that I go to “fill” me up as I watched the video message. I’ve been going around and around with God here lately and I’m beginning to get a peek at what He is doing and where He is leading me. I know I’ll be daily walking with Jesus to see what He has in store for me.
Hi. I just wanted to say that this message was very timely for me. Coincidence? I don’t think so! I have been struggling the last few months about what God has called me to do. I have been told time and time again from many different people that I have the gift of music and that is my calling. The problem is I want to know that for sure for myself not just hearing it from others. I have been on our worship team for over 5 years and have just now taken a break to evaluate. To others it seems silly that I “can’t see” that what I am doing is of God, but I want to know that I am doing it for all the right reasons. Lately, I haven’t felt the joy I did when I first started. Frustrations seem so easily stirred and I needed to step back and refuel. I love to sing and play worship and praises, but I don’t feel like I can be up there, leading others if I am not totally filled. Thank you for reminding me that only God and His words can fill me back up; and that whether this is my calling or not, to be able to bring others into worship is a good place to be while I’m waiting to be called. God bless!
This was a powerful illustration. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the things I’ve placed before God and sought to “fill” me. Approval from people, food, success at work, works at church, you pretty much listed them all in your video. Perhaps this is all God’s timing to free me from this. So, I thank you for “pressing” the issues…for making this ministry real and helping us see what we need…closer relationship with God.
I am determined to complete the book and study and to seek God more as I do.
It is SO good for me to hear this again..a dear friend of mine walked me through this (and introduced me to the love of my Savior for the very first time) a couple of years ago, but I still struggle often to be filled with His unfailing love and find myself lonely, depressed, and expecting people around me and my job to do what only my heavenly Father can. SO many comments here encourage me and bring me to tears…first, to know that I am not alone in my search and second, to realize that I am a vessel that needs to be constantly refilled. You see, my drive to “excellence” (for all the WRONG reasons) can lead me to believe that I only need to be filled “once” and that with that I should not need to be refilled…but that is SO wrong…my heavenly Father is waiting for me to go back as often as I need to, and He doesn’t think less of me because I have to…in fact, it’s EXACTLY what He wants…for me to be dependent on Him to heal heart wounds, fill loneliness with His presence and to give worth to something that is weak and “of no worth” by my own critical standards…my dear friend always says I’m too hard on myself…that I need to show myself grace and I know she’s right…I think that is easier to do when I am close to God, who extends His grace and unfailing love to me! Struggling now, but okay as I “walk it out.”
Sandy,
This is so true, just as we need to drink water daily to fulfill our physical needs, we need to refill our spiritual well daily. Jereiah 2:13 God says; “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”
We can’t do it on our own we can’t fill outselves because as Renee points out we tend to fill our cisterns with worldly things and then there’s no room for God.
Oh Sandy, I can so relate about how perfectionism affects our relationship with God! “my drive to “excellence” (for all the WRONG reasons) can lead me to believe that I only need to be filled “once” and that with that I should not need to be refilled…” A LIE that I have believed in my own life all too often. Thank you for putting it into words for me to identify it in myself!
Renee. I feel the Holy Spirit moving within me as I just finished watching this video. I am convicted about trying to satisfy my need for love and acceptance thru my husband, children, friends and especially posessions. He should be fulfilling my empty spaces and not a new iPad or pottery barn furniture. Thank you for this powerful
Message.
What a WONDERFUL message Renee!! Your book and videos have been such a blessing to me. Thank you so much for sharing from your heart.
Hi Renee. Today’s topic is exactly what I’ve been struggling with most of my life. I’ve been a Christian for many years, but I still seem to look at “worldly things” to try and fill my empty places. I know deep in my heart, the Lord is all I need, yet I find myself going “back”. I’ve written 2 books and magazine articles convincing myself that since it’s about God, surley it is His will. I’ve entered contests and searched for the “right” job. I want to truly trust God for all that I need and that He will fill any void in my life. Thank you for re-confirming that with today’s video. I was just told this evening about your website and it is such an answered prayer , because this topic is exactly what has burdened my heart this past month.
Praise the Lord!! Now I get it!! Thanks so much for the visual aid!!!!
Thank you for the video. I needed it like so many others. I am determined to shift my dependence from the gifts to the gift giver. It won’t be easy but I don’t want to keep living like this. My life isn’t horrible, but it isn’t what I want for me and I know that it isn’t what God has for me. Thanks again!!
Thank you for today’s video. The past two days have been such a struggle for me to get through. I have felt that I am not worth anything to anyone. I give of myself so much that I don’t know how to regroup and get through things. I feel that I have been selfish in wanting some me time. I work full time and do about 90% of the work at home too because of my husband is partially disabled. I am trying so hard to give of myself totally to God but I just cannot seem to let go completely. I know He is there for me waiting with open arms. I have on and off given my complete trust to Him over the years but I need to remember that even when things are going smoothly I still need to trust and rely in Him. By doing this, when things are not going well it will be easier to go to Him. I know I am all over the place but I think it has helped me to type things out especially since I have done nothing but shed tears of frustration today. Thanks Renee 🙂
Liz, I could have written this exact comment, even down to the partially disabled husband and feeling selfish for wanting me time. I am right there with you, sister. Praying for you!
Loved today’s video ( as well as last weeks). I’ve read/heard about our friend “Sam” a number of times, but never before realized that I am her! Your giftedness in teaching is a sweet balm that is slowly awakening my heart to God’s truth. There is finally a transfer of knowledge happening between my head and my heart. Thank you!
This is a great message and so very timely! I was just thinking on the same thing and then saw this message. I look forward to getting and reading your book. This is God ordained in my life. Thank you and please pray for me.
I used to walk around knowing that something real big was missing, and boy did I look in the wrong places. I love that that void, that emptiness is gone and is now replaced with the love of God. Thank you for this wonderful message.
For such a long time I have been wondering what Gods plan is for me. Even questioning the decision for me to be a stay at home Mom. But in watching that video I realized that God’s plan is for me to be the stay at home Mommy now and to be satisfied in that desicison. And to leave my future plans to Him.
thanks for the encouraging words!
This message that you shared could not have come at a better time than today. I’ve been struggling so much lately with a job that I’ve been in for 12 years. Although it’s comfortable and my life is comfortable for schedules and toting around my children it’s not filling me up. I feel like I am being pulled by this great force (God) and I can’t comprehend what it is that he’s calling me to do. The more things I try or chances I take seem further and further away from what he’s trying to tell me. So filling voids with things that obviously are not what he anticipated. Having struggled with years (and I still am) of being told I am not good enough or I’m not giving enough it starts to become truth to me. Losing the confidence that most have around me, pushing me further and further away from His plan for me. I keep looking at this study, thinking this would be something that I need, this is something that may help me get beyond my void, loneliness, lost goals, etc. maybe just maybe after hearing today’s message I’ll be encouraged and not so discouraged to move forward and “just do the study.” Thanks Renee for your always uplifting and encouraging messages. This one hit home today more than others lately, but I think I hit rock bottom today at my job. I just pray I can His Truth, His Purpose and His Plans for me. Thanks for letting us “blog” back to you. A nice way of journaling thoughts, ideas and also have another prayer warrior along side of me who will not judge me or have an expectation of me that I may not be able to fill. Thanks for this opportunity. Thank you for filling God’s Plan for you, as you are truly reaching out to others. Blessings.
Hi Renee,
Thank you for your transparent and powerful video. The visuals help so much to see who we try to fill
the God-Given voids with the wrong things. I am struggling wit my confidence as a divorce woman. I have been divorced for 8 eight years this summer and would like to remarry again. Of course this time in the Lord! I met a divorced Godly man two years ago and thought this relationship would lead to marriage since this is where it was leading to. The man began reconsidering if he was ready for a serious commitment such as marriage and withdrew. This was a total blow on my self-esteem. He continue telling me I was and it the woman he loves, but is not ready. Though I do want to remarry, I want my confidence to come from the Lord not from a man. Also, want to my insecurities in this area to flee! This is the area where I am at my weakness. This has been the case since I became an adolescent. I have never truly and deep in my soul felt that I was enough or that i could be cherish unconditionally. I really want this study to heal my soul from this lack of confidence. Please pray for me! Giselle from Miami
wow, I never really looked at it like I was filling myself up with all the wrong stuff. I have a good relationship with God; spending quality with him daily, trying to live the Godly life, trying to be a living witness for Him but after watching the video I wonder am I filling myself with all the wrong things. I hold down a full time job, am trying to build a new business, am active in ministry, water aerobics twice a week to stay in shape, time with family, friends and significant other but -even though I’m doing all of that I still feel lonely, I keep telling myself when I finally am married then I’ll be complete but will I? I had a husband, in fact I’ve had two and they didn’t satisfy me and now I’m in a relationship with a man who won’t commit. I so feel like the Samaritan Woman. So what is it that I’m doing wrong in my relationship with God? I seek Him out every day; starting my day with scripture and prayer; throughout the day I’m constantly asking him draw closer to me and to help me draw closer to Him. I talk to him as honest as I can, telling him my fears, my desires but yet there is still this loneliness that somehow just doesn’t go away. I don’t know what else to do; what else to ask Him for; how else to show that I want a closer relationship and for Him to fill ALL the voids. I know He is not the author of confusion but often times I do feel confused because I feel like I’m doing all the right things but getting no where for it. I want to be the woman of God He created me to be. I want to walk in the plans that He has for my life the plan He had for me when I was yet still in my mother’s womb but seemingly my feet are moving but I’m not going any where. Where am I failing? I’m tired of going around the same mountain, I don’t want to be like the Isrealites taking 40 years for an 11 day journey. Sunday I celebrate my 59th birthday; some how I thought I’d have it all together by now . I have a grown son; my only child who for most of his adult like has been in and out of jail and on and off of drugs. I feel like I’ve failed as a mother, failed as a wife. I know that God is my strength, that He is my fortress but many days I still inadaquate and lost
Renee,
I love teaching your study! The video on “Letting God fill our empty places” was a geat visual. After watching the video I asked the ladies in our bible study to write down on a piece of paper the things that they have been filling their lives with lately. Then I asked them to put it in a glass jar I had. After that, I pour water in the glass jar and prayed over our lives, for God to help us go to Him first to fill us with his everlasting love instead of going to those other things in life that won’t satisty us.
Hello Everyone. I was so uplifted when I read the chapter and I felt so refreshed after coming back from some vacation time in FL that I was energized to get back to work. I was going to use what was in the chapter at my job and I prayed so heavy for help. When I got to work everything just went down hill and I felt so discouraged. Sometimes I think I have to have the book with me at all times to protect me because when I read the chapters I say to myself, “Ya, I can do this!” Then it all falls apart. This chapter and Renee’s video hits home hard for me. This is something I need to pray about and work on. All I want to do is put all my STUFF in the box and let Jesus fill my heart but it is so hard! Tomorrow is another day and I hope to put one thing of my STUFF in the box and let Jesus fill that space. God Bless you all!