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.
For More Daily Encouragement join my Confident Heart Facebook page.
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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!
Hi Renee, I am a people pleaser, I have come to find out. I think I have been one since I was younger, always doing things to please people to make them happy and to like me. It is so hard to stop doing things to please people when it is a part of you for so long. But since I have become aware of it in my life it is getting easier and God opens my eyes at times to make me see what I am doing. Since I have stopped doing these actions I have time on my hands and the kids are older and my mother has passed on and all these things have filled my life and now they are gone for the most part. So after seeing your video and knowing that I need to listen to God and let HIm fill my life and not go out looking for things to fill it up~~~~~it’s the waiting and listening to God and the Holy Spirit that is the hardest, but it pays off in the end if we stop and wait and listen, it may be against the grain of society but when God says move you know it and He will bless you, so I wait and wait and wait and listen and listen for the whisper and then move in the direction God and the Holy Spirit are leading me and let Him fill me up and be at peace and not feel like I need to be pleasing someone all the time, the only one I need to please is God~~~~~Thank you so much for the video to watch and listen to help illustrate this.
That was a beautiful illustration. I do get caught up in the material things, and then I stop and see how blessed I already am. Your message helped me see that once again. Thank you!
have a huge hole right now, and this will encourage me to remember that only He can really fill it.
Love the illustration! I have tried to find fulfillment in so many things: my parents, my husband, church, food, and the list goes on. The illustration you used was so powerful, that when we try to fill our lives with things other than God, there will always be empty spaces. It reminded me that I need to re-focus on the only One who can fulfill me, Jesus. I pray that God shows each one of us what or who we are trying to fill our lives with, so that we can repent and turn our hearts fully to Jesus. Only He can fill my soul.
God is speaking to me through your book, and it is awesome how involved you are in the lives of your readers. Thank you for your devotion to what God has called you to do…God bless!
Thank you for this reminder that things can be used in an attempt to fill us and satisfy us but God really reserves that privilege for Himself. Of course, there’s nothing inherently wrong with any of those things but when they take the place of God there is a problem. I’m thankful that God teaches me that any hope, confidence, or dependence that I place on Him, He is sure to reward it.
Yvette, I am glad that you highlight that the things we fill our lives with are not inherently bad things- it’s the place we give them is wrong. I liked how Renee phrased it about giving them priority but not pre-eminence.
Sometimes I think my problem is that I don’t even realize that I am trying to fill empty places. I am so caught up in all that I have to do, that I don’t realize I am empty until I am falling apart. We need to be drinking the living water all the time! I was studying Peter’s denial of Jesus anyway, despite his faults. So much that we have to keep in mind…
Half of my post dissappeared… I was studying Peter’s denial and ultimate restoration with Christ and how Jesus loved Peter anyway, despite his faults…So much to keep in mind…
What an amazing visual to really drive the message home! I definitely needed to see this today and am so glad I took the time to watch it. Thank you for sharing this Renee!
I have hard this analogy before.I know it to be true.I am so swamped by my lack of looking to God on a confident basis that I feel I don’t even have the energy to change back.pathetic.could everyone pleases pay got me I don’t even know what up pray for at this point.thank you
Oops that was please pray for me,, not”pay got me”
“Focus on the Giver and not the gifts.” That statement really hit home with me. Thank you for providing such a clear visualization of what I’ve been doing and how I need to change my focus.
It is amazing how God knows what we need to hear at just the right time. I listened to your message during my morning devotion and have spent the day reflecting and meditating on it. After all of these years of giving my life to Christ, I still struggle with this truth. I honestly cannot figure out if it is my mind or heart that is making it so hard for me to truly rest in God’s unfailing love. The one thing I am confident about though is that there is a DEEP desire for me to feel this peace and love that can only come from God, and I will not stop until I have it. I am so happy that God loves me in my brokenness.
I receive that prayer!!! I love to be filled so that I can spill His words and His love on all of you. Praying for Him to inscribe His revelations and truth on my heart and soul.
Thank you so much Renee for your e-mail and video (I watched it twice) and questions in the word doc.
It was very timely in my life.
Hugs, Elizabeth
Wow, how amazing is our Heavenly Father! I too as all the others was encouraged by the illustration in the video. God has been speaking to my heart all week about renewing my mind, changing the way that I think & this week’s study falls right in line to confirm. Thank Father for your daughter Renee, continue to fill her cup so that she will continue to pour out to us.
God bless you, Renee. I love to hear your words and your devotionals on the radio too. I’ve had to remind myself of God’s love for me on a daily basis. I can’t believe how hard that is. Thank you for your beautiful reminder today…I needed that, it’s been a hard day with mommy anger. Thank you for your prayers.
Tucking you in prayer under the protection and peace of His wings, praying for truth and peace to be your covering today Carolyn.
Thanks Renee for that great video message, with all the different kind of longing and emotional struggles i go through as a widow and single mom, Only His unconditional acceptance, approval and affirmation can fill the empty places in our hearts – the deepest thirst of our souls. Until God’s love and acceptance is enough, nothing else will be.
I”m praying for an extra portion of His love, acceptance and affirmation to be yours today Casseta!!
Wonderful visual message! I got so excited as you were going because I was thinking that Jesus says He is the Living Water and water would feel every little crevice of that jar. Also that water is essential to life. We can live without some many things but not water. I just started down this whole path about why Jesus used water as the illustration. And then I was like Yes!, Renee is putting water in the jar to show this illustration so perfectly. Needless to say I loved it!
I also am enjoying chapter 3. Thank you so much for sharing your personal struggles. I know that must be hard to do. But so many people can relate to it and appreciate the fact that you are being transparent.
Great study!
Thanks Nancy. It used to be so hard to be so real but now I see that God uses me most powerfully through my not so great moments and emotions. Like Paul I have learned it’s actually most comforting to others and most glory-giving to Jesus when I “boast” in my weakness so that His strength is seen and rests on me. BUT thank you for noticing and being so sweet about it. I pray it helps many more than I’ll ever know!!
This was a great video! It’s so true how I need to get my confidence from the one who blesses and not from the blessings He has given me.
Letting God fill the God shaped hole in us is something I have been putting into practice for a while now.
Where I fall short is spending time in God’s word on a daily basis to continually fill up my vessel. An issue not touched upon is when others look to us to fill them rather than God, especially when the others are non Christians (hubby) that are not looking for a relationship with Christ.
Thank you so much, Renee. You told that so beautifully it melts my heart. Refill me Lord, all of us,new in Christ or not so new, with the fullness only You can provide.
I cannot begin to express how much I needed to see the visual you gave today. I have been struggling with this exact thing… allowing God to fill me with his amazing love and peace. The visual you used today was perfect for me. I am a mother of three and a teacher seeking direction for my life. I realized the I just need to trust God and let Him fill be. Thanks again!
Excellent analogy! Thank you. I have to say that I am guilty of looking toward worldly things and/or people to fill me. It is a constant struggle that I want to conquer with the Lord’s help. Day by day…
Renee.
Your post made me cry. Two weeks ago, I knew Jesus asked me to give up an exercise class I love. I did (because I want to obey Him and because I know whenever I have obeyed Him in the past it’s been right) but I didn’t understand why he wanted me to stop this, when it was doing me lots of good.
Since then, I’ve had a lot of heartache. A friend who I thought was a Christian (I don’t have many Christian friends) told me she doesn’t believe Jesus died for our sins. This made me so sad, not least for her but also as I thought we were close in our beliefs.
Then at work, a client died and currently I am unsure if I did everything I should have in the right way and am currently full of anxiety about what’s going to happen about it. I am feeling low and devastated, yet I feel supported and in God’s hands. Even so, it is difficult for me to fully let go and trust Him.
Then here is your post. I realise I have not yet given myself fully to God. I have always looked to other people for approval and acceptance – colleagues, friends, acquaintances, family, pastor and church goers. Right now I feel I am about to lose the acceptance of my colleagues and it feels scary. Yet I am now ready to ask Jesus to examine my life and help me see which voids here I am trying to fill with acceptance and approval from others, or exercise classes! I am ready to ask Him to help me let Him fill the voids. I am frightened but reading your post has encouraged me. It is an answer to my prayer.
Thank you so much.
Alison
God answers prayer, Allison. So thrilling to see you recognize this!!
Thanks, Renee – So so true. I know this in my head. I’m working on getting it to my heart and then lived out practically on a daily basis.
I have been needing to hear this message!! I am exactly like that…. walking around looking for ways to fill my heart… calling friends, throwing myself into my family and hoping they will acknowlege me and my hard work and then maybe I will feel filled and content. I just told a good friend today that no matter how great the past couple days have gone, I still feel down. I can see God working in my life and taking care of me, and I just can’t feel joyful. I really would love to start reading this book and learn a life long habit of letting God fill those empty places that only He can fill! Thanks for this 🙂
Amen, we aren’t where we want to be but praise GOD we’re not where we used to be – and each day as we allow Jesus to fill us and fulfill us He transforms us into who HE created us to be!
I can so relate to your video today. There was a time in my life I tried to fill my empty places with some of the same things you are talking about. Having 4 grown children ,I remember specifically as my children grew and my nest emptied I started to fill my empty places with things like alcohol and partying , to the extent that I was losing myself, while trying to seek fullfillment. But God… Through the feverent prayers of my youngest daughter who asked me to attend Church with her one Easter Sunday in 2009 , there God took all my broken pieces and began to fill me and put me back together again. No I’m not where I should be but praise God, I am not where I used to be. I am so enjoying your study thus far . God bless you Renee!
Just what this “seeking” heart needed to hear at this very moment. Thank you.
:0) SO glad you took time to watch and let Him speak to your heart. I:m so honored to be a vessel in His hands.
Oh how I want to get the clutter out of my heart and let Jesus fill it. Thanks Renee
WOW,I needed to hear this today ….as it seems I have been unhappy because I have been expecting my unbelieving husband to fill what only God can. Thank you..and yes I resisted watching the video and entering because I do not want to admit this. It is hard though remembering the boundries wen yes i want to be able to rely,be close ,depend on my husband but in reality we humans fail and only God can be there all the time in just the way we need Him to be….thanks
Thank you for sharing this message. I have to be honest. I have been feeling so lost for so long. And I still feel lost. And sometimes I feel so alone. I know God is there and I know I need to let Him take over to fill those empty places in my heart. But I am just not sure how. This message came at the perfect time. My boyfriend of two and a half years and I have been fighting the last few days about marriage. He wants to get married eventually but not right now. And I have felt lately like I needed to get married to fulfill something within myself. All of the people I knew from high school have been getting married and having kids and so it has left me feeling like I need to do that to have meaning in my life. So this messgae really hit me. I do not need to be married with children to have meaning in my life. And I need to give it to God and let Him do what is best for me and to help fill those empty places within myself. Thank you so much for sharing! God bless!
Love the thought of looking to the Giver instead of the gifts! I know that God has given me all I have and try to remember to show my gratitude constantly!
Thank you for reminding me about where to get my love & acceptance & forgiveness & value. I needed the reminder today. I have alot of blessing too! I am a pastor’s wife, married to my college sweetheart for 18 years, have 4 awesome children, get to stay at home with my kids, have a nice home & nice friends but I sometimes believe the lie that “if only…then I’d…” I am a visual person, so your demo really made a great visual. I’d love to read your book sometime! It sounds encouraging.
Renee,
I was at the gym this morning reading your book on the treadmill. I felt like a dam had broken inside me. I know Sam personally. I left the gym and cried out to God all the way home. I just watched your message and cried some more. My heart has been broken for sometime. I needed to hear your message today. I still struggle with where my value comes from and I question why God allowed so much pain in my life. I realize I have not been able to totally trust God because of pain and rejection I have experienced. I used men, friends, and chocolate to feel those lonely places. I struggle with believing God loves me. Thank you for being transparent. I am so glad God led me to your book. I was led to start your online study the last session but I was to afraid. This time the pain was so great I had to start. God is speaking to me thru you..
I just want to give you a great big ole hug August Rose {and what a beautiful name!} I”m so glad you are here. You are very brave and i’m proud of you for sharing your heart. I’m praying for you right now.
The message would have never resonated so deeply as it has today. No just left a job interview that went well but I was concerned…this is a higher commitment level than my current job but much more money. My family is my number one priority and I hate more time away. But god calls even mom to commit to their families financially. I needed to hear hat from him today. This allowed me to do that and not feel at a loss for comfort. He is in control. Always. And in my open spaces…every one.
God has been giving me this same truth from various messages over the past 2-3 days. Just when I think I am following Jesus, I find myself reverting back to looking for people or things to meet my needs, to fill my longings. Of course, I end up feeling empty. But God is patient with me and I am so thankful He still pursues me with truth and doesn’t give up on me. Thank you for being one of His messengers. Usually when I find that I am looking for love in all the wrong places, I have not been “into His Word” and in prayer as much. It is so easy to forget whose I am, if I don’t keep connected by feeding myself regularly with His Word and in prayer listening to His Spirit.
I am sorry but I do not watch video messages. They eat up my data and I live in a very rural area. I have to watch that I do not watch a lot of videos. But I need God right now to fill a lot of my empty places. Both my girls are gone and now I am struggling with medical problems with my husband. I have medical problems of my own. God Bless. Please enter me in giveaway.
Thank you! I know God has used your message to speak to me about my empty places. People and things, social networks, etc., have been doing a miserable job at filling me up. Thank you for reminding me only Jesus can fill every part of my need.
Oh Man, has this ever hit home. I always struggle with this feeling full on God’s love. I always had a hard time with being a stay @ home mom, ALWAYS looking for approval from my husband, just wanting him to say great supper, or the house looks great, or you do such an amazing job with the kids. We would fight a lot about this. When watching this, God spoke to me and said, Hollie it’s doesn’t matter. I love you and I think you do great. When you feel that way come to me, sit in my presence and I will give you all the love and approval you need. Thanks for the great mssg and reminder that I NEED to keep coming back to him when I am NOT feeling full.
I agree completely. God longs for us to sit in His presence. We just need to cooperate with Him and do so.
How great a loving God we have.
Yes! As I read through all of these comments, I am seeing this common theme from many stay at home moms- our looking to our husbands to affirm what we do, to give us worth. I must say, although I am sorry that you all struggle with it as well, it gives me a little peace to know that I’m not the only one! I too waste afternoon nap times… and need to use it to refuel for the last stretch of the day! Thanks for the inspiration to do so!
Thank you so much for the illustration. I needed that this morning. with a toddler and two ten months old I sometimes get caught up in the me me me. I’ve changed x number of diapers. I’ve done this, that. What have you done today? It’s horrible. I’ve made my quiet time in the morning a priority but have been finding in the afternoon that I put the girls down for nap and waste time. If I’d just reconnect with God again, if I haven’t had a harried day and have been praying to him all day, then the rest of my day goes so much better. I’m not looking at my husband for a pat on the back when he gets home. Thanks again for the message and the reminder!
I’m in new Zealand and have just woken this morning to get ready for another day as a mum of three and a loving husband. God certainly lead me to your daily devotional this morning as I have never visited before. What a simple but powerful illustration of what I do every day. How unfair have I been to lean so heavy on my husband and children to provide me the love I desire. What a set up for failure. I love god but I am not always giving him the opportunity to fill my empty spaces. Thank you for your open heart and ministry to allow god to speak to others including me, through your words.
Hi,
This is study is right where I am! It is surely God helping me through some rough spots. Thank you so much!!!