In chapter 3, I share how “our hearts leak and will always end up empty when we find our worth in anything but who we are in Christ. Our value is not measured by what others think of us—but we surely live like it is, don’t we? It’s almost as though we wake up every morning with an empty jar, like Sam, and walk around holding it out to people or things, hoping they will fill us…”
In today’s video message, I talk about the things we look to and illustrate how we can allow God to fill the empty places in our hearts…
Please click the arrow below to watch.
(Optional) Download my “Message Notes” in a PDF format here or in a MSWord doc here. We want you to just watch and let God speak to your heart the first time, but we also knew some of you will want the notes. I even included blanks for you to fill in. 🙂
UPDATE: It’s been quite a week at our house…a trip to the ER with my mom after a bad fall Sunday, I woke up sick on Tuesday and my son Andrew (14) broke his collar bone that same afternoon. Wednesday we found out I had bronchitis and that Andrew’s break was much worse than we expected. Fortunately, we are doing a good bit better today. God’s kept us close to His promises and provided strength and encouragement through so many of your prayers and notes. THANK YOU!!
Connecting in Community: I’d love to hear your thoughts about this week”s video message and your answers to questions at end of Chapter 3. If you left a comment earlier in the week, let’s talk about questions we hadn’t answered yet. Like 4-7. And how the video message ties into the question about finding our “worth-ship” in Christ.
Just click “share your thoughts” right below this post and do just that – share your thoughts, I love to hear them! And I’ll share mine too.
This online study has had good timing for me. Maybe as the study goes on it will be easier to share some of my story. I am still learning…I spent time rereading Chapter 3. All of the things in the study (so far), I have known in my head for a long time and even thought I was living them in my heart until a few months ago.
Thanks Renee for doing all you have to be honest and transparent about your life and struggles.
The Scripture in question 5, Psalm 63:2-4 really hit me as to the way that He truly loves us. And as a response to the love we are to love Him with our praises, and give Him all that we are so that He will fill us up to enable us to be all that we can be for Him. He is enough, He desires to fill us up!! His unfailing love is something we should desire as it is like nothing else that we can encounter anywhere, thru anything else. There was a time when I did wonder how His love could be enough, and sometimes in my weak, and anxious moments i still do. Those moments are becoming few and far between since I have been in His word more and found a wonderful church to learn and worship at.
Questions:
#3 Recently, I have been so stretched, stressed, and anxious. Yes, my closet, schedule, mind, and life are full, but my heart still has its share of empty spaces. I have a hard time saying no, and instead of praying for what things I need to take off my schedule, I keep heaping things on. I know I need to pray and ask GOD to help me identify what things I need to give up and what things I need to hold on to, however, I think I’m a little afraid of what He might say, or I keep thinking maybe He’ll tell me but I won’t be able to hear Him.
#4 I’m most tempted to find my worth as a wife, mother, and woman of GOD. I think I struggle with allowing GOD to define me period. I’m unsure of how to allow GOD to be GOD. However, I desire to know how.
Chapter 3 almost made me cry. It was so easy to identify with a lot of the thoughts and emotions that you expressed in this chapter. I find myself often wondering what’s missing in my life. When I look at my life, I have so much to be thankful for. My life is by no means perfect, but GOD has truly blessed me all the same. Although I recognize GOD’s blessings, there is still an empty void inside of me. Even though I’m saved, I still long for more. I desire more of GOD, a more intimate relationship with Him, but I am so unsure of how to achieve that relationship with Him. Like so many other women, I made the mistake of seeking for love in all the wrong places. Recently, I fell in love with a guy, who I so desperately wanted him to be my husband. He was everything I thought I wanted (with a few exceptions), but there was something missing even in that relationship. Although we were engaged, I wasn’t settled on whether or not GOD was okay with me marrying him. After a year of uncertainty, I finally broke everything off. I was crushed and it took me awhile to move forward. I’m still trying to move forward. It’s difficult because I love him. I’m not even sure why I’m writing all of this, but all I know is that I need GOD to heal my heart and to help me be satisfied and complete in HIM. I need for GOD to fill this empty void. I need Him to guide me through this life and to help me to become the woman of GOD He designed me to be. I want to be in love with Jesus and be secure in His love for me. However, I’m not sure how to go about achieving this.
Hi Renee,
Thank you so much for your book, for sharing your story. It ties in exactly with what God wants to do in my life right now, this year. I sensed He wants me to become completely whole and healed from all my past.
My counselor, who I just started with in January, is the one who recommended your book. How timely so I could also join you and all the other’s going through your book. I thought, not another book, but little did I know it was exactly what God knew I needed. I am at a very difficult place in life right now, and your story and Sam’s story speak to my heart. I have struggled with plenty of doubt, insecurity, depression, (currently dealing with depression due to being separated from my husband), rejection.
I love the video, showing how only God can fill those empty places. I knew that until God’s love is enough nothing else will be, but haven’t lived it. I haven’t let Him alone fill my heart. Now He is.
I haven’t even started on the questions for Chapter 3 yet, but have already read much of Chapter 4. Renee, thank you for being a bright spot in my very challenging days right now. You and all those who are part of this study are a blessing. God bless.
I really liked chapter 3. Nobody can fill or fulfill your life more than Christ. His love is unconditional and he is the living water than can satisy you without leaving empty spaces in your life.
Number 1. I was involved in a verbally abusive and controlling relationship with someone in high school only because I thought I was in love. A mutual friend broke us up and instead of going my own way I got back together with him. He asked me to marry him and I said yes but later realized I would be making a mistake and called it off.
2. I have let relationships both boyfriends and friendships fill my life to where even if they were wrong for me I still had to have them in my life to teach me and to help me grow stronger. I was naive and let people use me instead of standing up for myself. Not sure if this answers the question but is on my heart to share.
3.my heart is full of love for those around me including my husband, daughter, family, and friends but for god I do have empty spaces that need to be filled: my motherhood role ( sometimes feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, anxious), my job ( feeling frustrated with favoritism and negativity from co-workers), my fears and anxitities controlling me, my shutting others out when hurt or distressed
4.I find my worth from what other people say about me. It is hardest to let god define me in area of mothrrhood.
5.god’s unfailing love is always present and will never fail or forsake you. God’s unfailing love satisfies your
soul.
6. Salvation-accepting that god died on the cross fir our sins, was buried and rose again. Satisfaction in
Christ-being in love with god, his word, and his promises
7. When I start to measure my value by how well I am doing as a mom, then I will thank god for the gift of growing my daughter up to know him and for giving me the strength to be the mom he has called me to be.
My answer to question 4 is that I am struggling with finding my worth as a homeschool mom. People tend to think I should be working at a “real” job where I can be paid. We are struggling financially, but I feel God called me to homeschool. I’m also having trouble getting it all done, esp. with my 4 year old. I look to my husband most for fulfillment, and some grown-up conversation. I know he can’t give me what I need. Only God can. I can only find true worth and fulfillment in Jesus alone. I also like how on p. 62, you wrote “We become secure as we rely on His love more and more. It is a moment by moment, day by day experience where we process our thoughts, emotions, and decisions with God, positioning our hearts to let His perspective redefine ours.”
HI Michele,
Thank you for sharing so openly and honestly. It’s so easy to look at what we accomplish each day to define our worth. God understands and created us to want to do an excellent job as a mom or homemaker. He wants us to be good stewards of our time but He wants to protect us from finding our value and worth in how well we do them. It’s such a balance. Did you get a chance to write any When…Then statements. Those have really helped me re-direct my thoughts towards who I am in Christ and how valuable I already am – without doing a thing – but solely based on how much HE loves me (and you!) It really is a day by day, moment by moment repositioning of our perspectives. But the more we do it, the more it “sticks”. 🙂
Renee ~ What a wonderful video! I am a week behind on the reading and almost didn’t watch the video. I am so glad I took the time to watch it. It blessed me so! Thank you for all that you do. Praying your Mom, son & you are back to 100% very soon!
In His Calm ~ Mary
Soooo glad you watched the video. They will also be available on my website under Confident Heart videos so that anyone can go back and watch them or share them with friends. Also, thanks for your prayers!!
Loved the visual! God is REALLY using this study to work on me and it is definitely drawing me closer to Him! I am even gonna recommend it to a sister! Thank you so much for the extras you do thru the blog and all it just adds those extra nuggets to the study and I learn well with visuals so i really appreciated the video this week! 🙂
So glad you are part of the study Kristen. It’s my pleasure to do what I do and to follow as God leads me to share what is on His heart for us. I’m a visual learner too so I’m glad a lot of you are as well!
I took advantage of the opportunity for the free” downloads of A Confident Heart before the on-line Bible study began. God has given me so much scripture (promises) on how He see’s me as His precious child. I can say that I am feeling secure in God’s promises because of your book Renee. I am really seeing how vital it is to pray God’s promises. This week, Satan found a weak spot in me and brought up a memory I have silently carried with me for 18 years. It began to haunt me and I felt that I could not receive God’s everlasting forgiveness and mercy. I finally shared this with a trusted sister in Christ. She prayed with me and we talked. I came home, asked for God’s forgiveness and gladly received His mercy. Satan knows how to attack when one is weak. Thank you, Renee for the blessings we all are receiving from “A Confident Heart.”
I love that you went to someone for Godly counsel and prayer and Satan was defeated!! Through repentance and rest (in HIM) is our salvation. Through quietness and trust is our strength! Is 30:15. Rest in Jesus sweet friend. He paid the price for your freedom and forgiveness on the Cross and then He boldly proclaimed: It is finished!! Live in the finished work of your Redeemer. You are forgiven. His grace and mercy are yours!!
Good evening ladies,
I finished reviewing the questions at the end of chapter 3, and question 5 verses and question about if Gods love could be enough. In the NIV version of the Psalms 63:2-4 :”I read further with verse 5 being “My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods with singing up my mouth will praise you.” That with Laura Story’s song “Blessings” has helped me to realize this past year that God wants only the best for us, and that we are not always the best judge as to what is best for us. That this world can’t satisfy that hunger we have inside. I can’t help but smile now with knowing the joy that is to come through the trials of this life.
Also like the when-then statements and started using them for gratitude lists. Thanks Renee!!
Love what you shared Lou. Thanks you for taking time to post what you got from the questions and the chapter. I love the verse 5 too! He really does want our best. I can even see that in my trials this week. Praying my Andrew will see it in his broken collar bone eventually. Blessings!
Today was I was reading more of our chapter this week and somg came into my mind!! I believe it was from God!! Its a song by Chirs Tomlin: You are my Treasure!!
I began to sing the very start on the song!! I am created for You along Bought with a price I’m not my own!!
Oh how these words were just what I needed to hear from my Lord!!
I love how God speaks to us in so many ways. Cant wait to look up that song on YouTube! Thanks for sharing it!
Renee,
I have been tremendously blessed by your book. The Lord has used it to shift my focus from people, places, and things as the fulfilment of my life to Himself. I know now that He truly satisfies our longing soul when we look to Him wholeheartedly. He has given me a confident heart and I know I am loved with His unfailing love. Please pray that I will never forget the lessons I have learned from your book and from God speaking to my heart. Thank you for allowing God to use you to bless so many people.
May God bless you exceeding, abundantly, above all that you ask or think for your faithfulness to Him.
Karen C.
I am praying for you right now Karen…
Jesus, thank you for how You have spoken to Karen’s heart and given her such a deep desire to find her every longing met in You. I pray You would seal these truths in her heart, engrave them on her mind and bring her to them again and again. Keep this book and this message by her side. May she return to what You have shown her and dig deeper and deeper into Your Word. Holy Spirit, be her Mighty Counselor and Blessed Reminder as she seeks to live with a fully devoted heart and may her confidence always be found in You alone. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
Renee I am glad to hear that you are feeling well and so is the rest of the family.So, I will be leaving on Sunday to go to the inpatient program and am feeling a little weary about it. I have been working on memorizing this weeks bible verse not doing to well with it. I am thinking of God being at the well with Sam and him saying that he could give her water then she would never be thirsty again. Well I want some of that water right now becuase I feel like he is leaving me or maybe it is my lacking confidence in myself and beleiving or having faith in our heavenly father to be with me through all of this. I guess I just sound like someone spouting off without reason. This weeks lesson touched my heart. I totally seen myself filling up the jar with so much other sfuff but where was God in all of this. I really didn’t have enough room for him. I needed to take the time this week and make time to sit and read his word as well as go buy a non spiral book so that I can take the book along down with me and do the study while I am away. I expect it to be at least three weeks I will be gone. I am asking for prayers from all of you that I keep my miind on the true reason I am there and when I have down time I read my bible study and pray. Thanks for the many prayers that have already been sent my way. I will be checking one more time on sunday before i leave.
Robin, I know this is a scary step but I want to encourage you to remember in the dark of doubt what God showed you in the Light of His presences and promises. Remember how He confirmed that He is with you. How He’s opened this door for in-patient therapy that is so hard to get into. How He had them call while you were with your counselor. How many have prayed and how He has shown you that He is going with you.. I know you have been through so much— so much that no one should ever have to endure. I’m sure it’s so hard to trust and you are are feeling afraid and uncertain. It takes so much courage to receive the help we need. I want you to know I’m proud of you for taking this big step. We, your Confident Heart sisters, will be here praying and all of the posts will be archived for when you return.
Tonight, I prayed God would lead me to a song for you and this is the one He brought me to. I pray He speaks to you through each time you listen before you go on Sunday.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcuiuIwtpa4
Believing God’s promises for you!!
Renee
Love the song God sent to you a couple a the pictures in the video reminded me of a couple of my favorite passages in the Bible that I keep in mind during tring times.
Lighthouse—“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105).
Eagle—“Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
God Bless
Dear Renee and Sisters of Faith,
Thank you for the beautiful song and the words of Godliness. I have butterflies in my stomach right now as we are getting ready to go. Last night I went to see the movie Courageous and it is highly reccommended to be seen, My other friend told me to read Psalms 139 which I haven;t done yet but will do so in a few minutes when I am done typing this note. Thank you all for your prayers and I know that I am not alone and that God is with me. Take Care my sisters and enjoy Renee’s bible study as I will enjoy reading the book while I am away.
Robin,
We have you in our prayers Robin, and ditto to Renee’s comments about a door being opened, and you taking the huge step of accepting this gift. God, I ask that you accept the prayers we offer now for our sister Robin and thank you for the gifts we have been given; ourselves, our time, and our pocessions all signs of your gracious Love, and not to take the gifts for granted Amen.
Lou
Prayer are with you Robin
Robin, i feel your pain heading into the unknown…which i did in 1975 for three weeks. The results are so well worth it. Pray and ask for courage and strength from the Lord, for Him to be with you during this time. He will be, even though you wonder where He is. He loves you. Deuteronomy 31:6 says: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes before with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” Go to the inpatient program and know the Lord God Almighty is right there with you. And Robin, i will be there too with you with prayers. I love you dear sister. What a blessing this study has become for us. lolo
Great video Renee,
I appreciate the visual picture of the things that we fill our hearts with and taken out of priority we often use them to replace the role that God should play in our lives. In doing this study, I am more aware of the awesome power of God that Isometimes take for granted. Also, I have a tendency to be a problem solver and give suggestions. I’m learning that it isbest to pray before offering any thoughts, especially when helping a friend.
Great insights Lakecia! You are right, it’s easy to take all that HE is and all that HE offers for granted. Thanks for sharing what God is showing you through the book. I just love how He speaks to each of us just what we need to hear.
Renee, your video was an instant healing for me! I am relieved that i no longer have to look to anyone but Jesus for my worth!! It matters not whether i’m good looking, fat, skinny, a great singer, or even if my hair is the right length or color! I am who Jesus made me to be and HE LOVES me just the way i am!!!
Amen!!! You are beautiful inside and out!
Oh by the way as you were pouring the water into your “Vessel” this song came to my mind. “Fill my Cup” The chorus to this song says: Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up Lord, come and quench this thirsting of my soul, bread of heaven feed me till i want no more, fill my cup fill it up and make me whole.”
Love that chorus. Is that a hymn? I didn’t grow up in church so I don’t know a lot of hymns. Here is another song many have mentioned to me this week: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLxdxw4Gj6g&feature=related
No, If you like i can see if it’s on u tube. I was just asked to sing it today in church and I told them about your illustration that you gave us. I am still flabergasted about that video!!!
That is an awesome song! I am just leaving it all behind! There is such freedom of leaving everything at Jesus’ feet and letting it go! I have come to the realization that all that other stuff just made me sick, hateful, miserable, lonely, and angry. However, leaving it all behind as the song says is….. I really have no way of expressing it!!!
Becca and Judy, I am with you too. I did take action. I have been married for 25 years in your situation. I home schooled my kids and work as a cleaning lady. Then in 2009 I went back to school and got FASFA. It helped pay the bills and empower me to be stronger as mother, wife and woman of God. I needed that strength to deal with the teen years of my 4 children. It is still rocky and I still struggle, but God does supply what we need.It seems that food is what we need, but more importantly we need Him. I don’t have answers for you, but I am going through the journey and will lift you up in my prayers.
Shalom~
Thank you for sharing your story Deena. Oh how we need each others perspective and prayers. I’m proud of you for what you’ve done and who you are becoming through the strength of our HIM-possible GOD!!!
Im so sorry for how you are feeling Dawn. It sounds like you are pouring out a lot into others and into efforts. I just wonder if you’ve sat and just simply let Him love on you without feeling like you “have to do” something. Just being still and letting His words speak over you maybe through a song or just reading the ways He loves you. Here is something I shared on my facebook page today that I’d love to share with you:
“YOU are precious and honored in my sight, because I love YOU” Isaiah 43:4
One of the most beautiful passages in Scripture is found in Isaiah, Chapter 43: ”I have called you by name; YOU are Mine. When YOU pass through the waters, I will be with YOU; and when YOU pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over YOU. When YOU walk through the fire, YOU will not be burned. For I am the Lord, YOUR God. YOU are precious and honored in My sight, and I love YOU” (Isaiah 43:1-4).
Write that truth on a card and carry it with YOU: “YOU are precious and honored in My sight, I love YOU.”
Wow! YOU are loved by God. Who else do YOU need to impress? What other ladder do YOU need to climb? What are YOU going to add to YOUR life that will top that? Make YOUR life an experiment of living in the love of God. Every morning when YOU wake up let YOUR first words be, “I am loved by God.” And every night when YOU go to sleep let YOUR last words echo, “I’M loved by God.” Write those words down on a card and carry them with YOU. When YOU are tempted to despair because YOU have blown it, take out the card and look at it. When YOU are overwhelmed by all YOU have to do, read it over and over to YOURSELF. Take it out when YOU’RE tempted to sin, to dishonor God, to lash out in anger and hurt someone, or deceive someone, or use someone. When YOU are afraid, when YOU’RE anxious, when YOU”RE alone, remember and feast on the words that give life: “I’m loved by God.” ~ by Jon DeWitt
I pray you watch & listen to this song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlXKVx2eQ30
Thank you so much – this is exactly what the Holy Spirit was asking me when I clicked post – are you doing to much?? It is hard to choose between so many good things. I really enjoy Mercy Me too. Thanks.
I am also thankful to the Lord for having an open spirit. i pray that being ‘real” will help others know they are not alone.
I feel so very empty right now and so completely full of stuff. I wish I was more full of Jesus, but I feel like the more I try to memorize Scripture, teach the children to follow Him, read His word and devotions the more empty I feel.
The most powerful image for me was that of me running around with an empty jar every morning trying to get people and things to fill it up! I have been like that so much of my life.When I trust God to fill up my jar, I can relax in Him and begin to find my worth in Him. That is so awe-inspiring!
I’m right there with you Sandra. So easy to look to someone or something to fill me. But isnt’ it amazing the difference in what we find when we go to Jesus with our emptiness and ask Him to fill us. Then all the rest is overflow. And even when hard stuff comes, I know my fulness and value is in Him alone. I’m so thankful we can remind each other of this as we go along each week through the next several chapters too.
Renee I am so blessed to have the time in the morning to read your post and watch your videos. I am struggling right now and this time with you and the other ladies has helped me stay on the right path. I don’t know how people that do not have Jesus in their lives make it. I don’t think I would be able to hang in there with out the peace I get from His word and the connection I have with all the ladies that have posted and shares their hearts. This is an awesome thing you are doing and the Lord has truly used you to get to me. I feel so much closer to the Lord than I have in a long time. I pray and read the bible more now and that helps me stay connect to God. I know that something good is going to come out of all the bad I am going threw right now. Thanks for all you do for the Lord.
Aww, thank you Judy!! You know all this craziness our family went through this week has felt a good bit like spiritual attack and I have a feeling it’s b/c the enemy hates what Jesus is doing in this power-packed community of sisters in Christ. I am so blessed to be part of your lives and count it an honor to pour out what HE has poured into me!! TO HIM BE ALL THE GLORY!! HE is so good and I pray that we would crave and seek HIM more and more each day as we realize how much we are loved by our precious Savior and Almighty GOD!!
OMG! Thank you for confirmation. This is something I’ve been dealing with for sometime now. Looking for LOVE in all the wrong places. Looking to people, things, work, home everybody except HIM the Creator, my Creator. Your visual Helped to make me remember its not about ME, things, people; its ALL about HIM (Jesus/The Father)! This also helped make the Scripture “Look to the Hills from whence my Help come” into realization. Once I started reading your book, I could not put it down. I kept finding myself say “me too, me too!!! This daily meeting of the minds helps drive the point of the book home to an even greater degree. Thanks again!!
Thank you for sharing how God spoke to you through this message and confirmed so much of what He’s been showing you!! Yes, we need to look to HIM from “whence our help comes” – He is the only one who can fill and fulfill us with HIS unfailing love!!
When I saw this video I thought about just a few months ago how I was feeling very empty and I was longing for something and I express this to my boss/friend and she couldn’t help me with the feelings I was having, I addressed it to my pastor and the words he shared with me didn’t help with that feeling of loneliness and wanting some water I too was like Sam at the well with Jesus so I have prayed and asked God for the help and I need his love and I am willing to give my all because he has given me and have been with me with every failure and accomplishment. This week he gave me the answer I needed and so I quite my job still have others but this one he knew it was not for me and I am on the faith with my God for love that he is the only one that can give it to me when I bend my knees and pray to him of my love for him and this video is very touching and what I have in my heart daily that I pray for in the Love for my God and happiness. I pray that your Mom and son get well and you also because we need a strong sister of Faith to help us through this journey that we so long for.
Thank you sweet Cynthia for sharing your story. Praying for Jesus to keep feeling that thirst in your heart with His love and a sense of His very present help in your times of trouble. SO glad you sensed His leading and followed Him even if it meant leaving a job. He wants the best for you!
Becca I completely understand how you feel. Just know that you are not the only one is those shoes…need I say more. This bible study has helped me thru so much of my anger but I still have a long ways to go before the resentment and anger is gone. I see things differently but I still feel the neglect. I feel the love is gone when he doesn’t want to support me any more. With Christ all things are possible so I am hanging in there.
Have a Blessed weekend.
Thank you Judy for sharing. It helps so much to know we are not alone and that someone understands how we feel. I so appreciate your willingness to encourage Becca too! I love this sweet sisterhood God has given us here!
Hi,
I am enjoying the book and am also really praying that it changes my heart. I have prayed for years that God’s love for me will not just be head knowledge but become heart knowledge. But I’ll be honest and say that despite prayers and reading the bible, I still just dont feel any difference. Is there something that Im missing or lacking?
I’ve been right where you are Connie and it’s frustrating. I knew He promised abundant life but there wasn’t anything abundant in my life except busyness and obligation. So, I started praying that HE would give me a hunger and thirst for HIM and HIS word that couldn’t be satisfied by anything this world or my family or my life on earth had to offer. He started answering that prayer. But it meant changes in me and in my desires. I started craving time with Him and I needed to give into it. I started reading books (like mine) with deep heart searching topics and questions. I started processing life with Jesus every day and asking Him to show me what led to my longings, what made me want others approval more than His, etc. And then when He showed me the answers I confessed idolatry and some hard stuff I didn’t want to see. It wasn’t easy but it was so good. He led me to a place of freedom and satisfaction in HIm that I never thought Id find.
So, I encourage you to start with that prayer and then take time each day to read the book, answer a question, ponder His promises, write out the prayers and really ask Him to show you Himself in your everyday life. Then look for Him, listen for His whispers and give in to what He shows you and how He leads you.
I”m praying for you to experience a new thing with HIM!
Thank You SO much for your response and for your words of wisdom. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. It is so much easier to take advice from someone who has been where I am. It’s great to feel hope again. God Bless You. 🙂
🙂 I really do understand and I really am praying for you!
Hi Renee, words are not enough to thank our Lord for you and for all the things you are doing for Him. You are a great blessing to me my dearest!!!.. Joining your bible study is a great achievement for me, I am in the same situation where Connie is and please pray for me too. Thanks ,and May God bless you more.
Renee — thanks for the video this week. What a wonderful illustration of what happens when we fill up our hearts with things of the world. I loved your emptying the pile back out and then filling with water — no space left for worries or anxiety! Thanks for the reminder to let Christ fill us with living water so we will not thirst for the wrong things in life. Praying for renewed energy and good health for you and yours in the coming days.
Thank you Hope for taking time to watch the message Jesus gave me for “us” this week and share your thoughts. It’s a message I need – again and again. This week the Lord showed me how I like to fill my “jar” with getting things done but being sick and being so needed meant no productivity – instead HE satisfied me with His peace and perspective. It was hard for my body and emotions but it was good for my soul!!
Thank you for your prayers. Praying right now that Jesus will remind you of His truths and seal His promise of lasting love and fulfillment in your heart from all that He’s showing you through this time with Him.
My husband shirks his responsibilities for providing for us. He drives a school bus part-time and then he plays tennis and golf between runs. His check does not cover our expenses and there is no insurance. I do not know how to accept his lack of ambition and move forward past resentment. So, when I am angry, I turn to food.
I can’t imagine how hard that is Becca. It breaks my heart to consider how you must feel. My mom was in that situation when we were growing up. She carried the full load of providing for three kids. And I’ve had friends in your shoes. But you know what, it breaks my heart just as much to hear how mush you are hurting yourself by going to food. I know the guilt and self-loathing that can come from that too. It’s not where God wants you to stay. What is something positive you can do with that energy that your anger is creating. How about going for a power walk? Or choosing to let his lack of action lead you to a step of action. Doing something helpful and productive instead. I”m just processing with you. I don’t have all the answers but I do know God wants to help you and I’d love to pray for you.
Jesus, I come before you with my sister in Christ and I ask for your wisdom and perspective for Becca. She needs you to take this anger and feelings of disdain and turn them into an opportunity to seek you with all of her heart. Lord, what do you want her to do in response to this very hard situation. You are God and we earnestly seek you. Oh God, You are Becca’s God, earnestly will she seek you; her inner self thirsts for You, her flesh longs and is faint for You, in the dry and weary land of her marriage where no water is she seeks you!!! (Psalm 63:1 Amplified Bible). In Jesus’ name Amen.
Thank you, that touched my heart.
Hey friends, I just sent out an email inviting anyone who can to hang out here for a little while and talk about our chapter questions. Have you watch the video and read the chapter yet? If so, let’s talk about the things we look to to fill and fulfill us and how they relate to question number 4 and 7? What are your thoughts?
Renee….I loved the visual your video shared. It was also like you were rit here talking to me about the Chapter. This chapter spoke to me and showed me what I need to do to reorganize some things in my life. I just went back to work and a lot of my things have gone to the back including bible study and my time with God because of coming home and taking care of the house and the kids. Thanks to you I am getting back into bible study which I missed so much with a book I really enjoy and has taught me so much.
I am glad you are feeling better and so is your son and Mom. I have been praying for you daily.
Jenny 🙂
I’m so glad you felt like I was right there talking to you because that is exactly what I wanted and why I filmed all six of my teaching messages in my home.
Starting something new like going back to work or any big change in our schedule always throws me off too. I’m like you and my time with God and in His word can get bumped. It takes time to find a new normal but I”m so glad this chapter helped you see how much your heart really needs that time with Him even if it means dishes in the sink or more laundry to do on the weekend. I’m preaching to myself here :0) It’s easy for me to think I need a clean kitchen but what I really need is His perspective to clean out my heart and fill it with His peace and love.
Thank you so much for your prayers. Boy have we felt them!! Praying for you as I type. Blessings for a rest and Jesus-filled weekend!
Hello! I just watched the video blog and heading over to re-read Chapter 3 and go through the questions. What a blessing this has been to me today! Thank you for following Jesus and continuing to press on in hard times! You are a blessing to many! Angella L
Thank you Angella for leaving a note. It’s so good to have you here! Praying for Jesus to seal His truths in your heart as you reflect on the teaching in the video and chapter 3. Hope you’ll come back to share He shows you with us. Blessings!!
I think the brightest line in Chapter 3 came from page 45 (on my Nook) “Through his actions and with His words, Jesus told her she was chosen, valuable, loved, forgiven, and free.”……I just realized that THESE are the things my heart have ached for and tried to fill with people, relationships, things, food, positions etc…. I AM CHOSEN, I AM VALUABLE, I AM LOVED, I AM FORGIVEN, AND I AM FREE…IN JESUS AND THROUGH JESUS I AM ALL OF THESE PRECIOUS THINGS!!!
AMEN yes you are!!! One of the most beautiful passages in Scripture is found in Isaiah, Chapter 43 where God says, “I have called you by name, YOU are Mine. When YOU pass through the waters, I will be with YOU; and when YOU pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over YOU. When YOU walk through the fire, YOU will not be burned. For I am the Lord, YOUR God. YOU are precious and honored in My sight, and I love YOU” (Isaiah 43:1-4).
Why? because we are chosen, loved, valuable and redeemed!!
Like so many in this study….this book has really hit home for me and has helped me to really look at my life and the choices I have made trying to fill my heart and not being satisfied. I lost my dad who I worshiped due to divorce when I was 12. I have always known it is why I have had so many failed relationships with men (3 divorces). I have repeatedly been desperate and pursuied a man’s love to fill that void. In doing so I have made bad decisions and hurt people along the way. Like Sam after my 3rd divorce I am living with a man who I (answer to question 1 in chapter 3 “the craziest thing I’ve done for love”) at age 53 left my family, home, career, life as I knew it to be with him. I knew and know the ONLY reason I did was for the love he gives me. It has been difficult and I constantly question if I should go back home. I have prayed many, many times for God to give me the wisdom to know if I am where He wants me to be. I know I have been worshiping this relationship before God. It has consumed my life and fills my jar. I totally understand and believe that I need to fill my heart with God and His love to stop this pattern. I just still struggle with and have fear of not having a man’s love. The man I am with is extremely loving and supports my Christian faith but it is hard to balance that with his lifestyle. He is an alcoholic and his worship is drinking which is very difficult for me to live with at times. I am deeply into this study and have been spending alot of time on it praying God will fill me up and give me the wisdom and direction I so desperately need. Being that my parents divorced when I was 12 and my Dad left us financially, emotionally and physically and my mom was broken hearted, devistated, and just trying to survive being left with 4 kids, I had to grow up fast and have always taken care of my needs not really thinking there was any other way.I just took it for granted that’s what you do, never looked to anyone or trusted anyone to do that. It was up to me, my responsibility. I have since 12 been in charge of my life/decisions….. good and bad. I only looked to a man to fill the emotional need for love. That has Always been my main focus in life, to a fault. After my 3rd divorce 6 years ago I finally accepted Jesus in my heart and He filled my heart until I met a man who I thought would fill that need and I noticed I would get away from God at those times. I am having a hard time of having God fill my heart alone because I feel like I push away my boyfriend to do that. I don’t know how to have God and my relationship with my boyfriend at the same time.I also question is this God’s plan for me to learn to go through a difficult relationship and learn to finally be true to myself AND have a relationship and be with someone even though we are different in our values, is this a lesson to stay commited through the tuff times? I keep struggleing with makeing a choice and am constantly being pulled in both directions. It’s like I want to choose God because I know He is the way…..but does that mean I have to give up my boyfriend to do that? I feel so crazy! I pray and ask for your prayers that through this Bible Study God will reveal His plan for me and I will listen and follow His plan….not mine.
Thankyou Renee and everyone in the study!!! Reading your thoughts has given me the courage to look at myself in truth.
God Bless you Renee and everyone!!
I like this video. I have recently found out my unmarried daughter is expecting my first grandchild. When I found out, all the words going through my head were scripture, songs and words of encouragement. I am not sure how I would have handled all this, if it weren’t for “Sam” in chapter 2 of our book. Then I watched this video. Oh it has helped me so much. I am making a transition from passive aggressive to confident and bold. Some have made comments to this. However, I am gonna be a grandma. Thanks Renee for this book.
Im proud of you Susan and how you are processing this surprise blessing and burden through God’s perspective. I love how His promises flooded your thoughts. He is with you. He is not surprised and He will show Himself to be faithful and strong in this place of unknown. Congratulations on being a grandma. That baby needs all the love you will give him/her!! Blessings and prayers as you walk through this in grace and truth with your daughter! Praying for you both tonight.
Susan, you are going to be a grama; there is nothing like that moment when you hold that precious baby in your arms, close to your chest–a beautiful soft treasure from the Lord, it wells up a happiness and joy in your heart like nothing else i can describe. So tiny, so fragile, so needing our love, so dependent, and i love the scripture from Jeremiah 1:5 “Before i formed you in the womb, i knew you, before you were born, i set you apart.” Sing songs to the baby while rubbing the tummy, the baby knows. Grandchildren are precious, our heritage, God’s gift to us. Enjoy the pregnancy with your daughter and the birth of the baby, on to a lifetime of joy. We serve an Awesome God.
Renee, thank you for your courage and strength in reaching out to all us women who are hungry for and searching for the Lord to fill those empty places in our heart. Prayers to you and your family for fast healing. lolo
Thank you everyone for sharing your thoughts, stories, pain, agonies, courage, encouragements, love, scriptures, prayers, etc. We have an awesome Father God who loves each one of us unconditionally. We are all God’s children and need His Presence every moment. I was encouraged to see that men are involved and commenting too. Thank again and His Blessings to you all. lolo
Amen!! Thank you for your encouragement Lolo!
I so know this is what I do!!! Just got back from two weeks away from home helping the family of a 95 yr old companion I used to care for. Her daughter had moved her to her home and the transition to Assisted Living has been tough. She flew me there and I cherish every day I had. i am home again and feel empty, I felt I had a purpose again for these last two weeks…I am searching for what to do now with my life but at 55 there are not many jobs and I love the elderly and would love to help and find a purpose in being an advocate for them, helping the families through the transition. I just don’t know how to go about it. In the meantime, I have felt empty. I did find my self worth in helping this family when it truly was a gift from God that I even went. I long for him to show me his will for my life.I definitely was finding my worth in people, and places. I am empty feeling like before I went and need for God to fill this ever so empty place of having no purpose. Thank you for the video Renee, I am a visual person and it was a good analogy of what I am doing. I pray for God alone to fill me with His unconditional love!
How do I get the chapter 3??? I can’t figure out, please assist. Thanks.
I do not know if the whole book is available free on line. I think you may have to purchase it. I think Proverbs 31 has it avail either print or electronically to purchase.
My publisher could only allow me to make Chapter 1 and 2 available online for free. Here is a link to a page with more info to purchase it. http://reneeswope.com/aconfidentheart/
Also, Amazon has it on Kindle for $8.99 here http://www.amazon.com/Confident-Heart-A-ebook/dp/B0055PLK2C/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1328316275&sr=1-1-spell
And even if you don’t have a Kindle, you can read it on your computer or other electronic devices with their FREE Kindle download software.
Here is more info on that: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=sv_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771
The video was amazing….and so true about how we try to fill ourselves up with everything except what can truly fill us. I wish i had the time to read all the post, but I know from glancing thru them that other women struggle just as I do. I do have an insatiable appetite for the word of God, but I have trouble keeping scripture in my memory. My life has been full of trials and tribulations, but I know that God will never fail me….He has proven that to me. I am looking forward to reading more post and going forward with the bible study. Thank you Renee for sharing all of this, and for all you ladies that help each of us grow with your comments. God bless.
So glad you took time to watch this week’s video message. Sometimes I have a hard time with memorizing too. Did you get to read Monday’s post with great suggestions for memorizing scripture? There were some great ideas that have helped me too!
I did get it…thank you. I just need to put some of the suggestions to work for me.
It’s amazing how your video is speaking to my heart about the very issues I am having now. I seek approval from my boss at work or from others, but only Jesus can fill my emptiness. It seems the more I try to impress my boss, the worse things get. I loved your examples of filling the jar and how it demonstrated how we can search to fill our life with other things but there is always an emptiness becasue they fail us or do not completely satisfy our needs. God never fails.
I can relate so much to trying to impress my boss. And the same happened to me…where the more I tried to impress her and do silly things like go out of my way to say hi, the more things worked in the opposite direction. And I knew it was obvious. One day we did an activity at work where we all had to write down each others strengths and areas to work on and someone wrote “needs good work acknowledged” on mine and not that we all don’t wish for that, but it was interesting that had not been said about anyone else in the activity…to me that just really stood out to others about me. I feel like when we look to others for approval, etc we give them a place where they don’t belong. Or we kind of idolize them and then maybe people feel this and feel burdened by your expectation of them to be your all in your life? And that’s when the relationship goes sour. The more I realize God is my main relationship, my other relationships get better. Let’s quit looking to others to make us feel accepted, happy, peaceful, important, admired, etc. They can’t, they’re just a human like you. Only God can do that!!!
Amen May! I have had to learn that in my life. Oh, what freedom comes when we let God be our all in all! The less expectations we put on others the purer and true our love for others will be. It will not be to get something from them but to give to them.
Karen C
Wow! Perfect timing to watch this video! It just hurts to visually see how I have chosen to live!
Thank you so much! Makes more sense to me and I have a lot of work to do! Looking forward to the following chapters!
That was really really neat. Thank you so much. This chapter speaks more to me Than any other so far; I have been like a little puppy just running from person to person begging for attention 🙂 thanks to some amazing guidance and amazing GRACE and slowly learning that God isn’t disapproving of me constantly,I’m learning! It takes a longtime to unstop that artery between your heart and head tho, just sayin. A definite process. Thanks for this study.
Well, women, I want to encourage you to REALLY take inventory of your life. I have often heard a message like this and thought, yes, I have a lot of things in my life, but Christ is at the center. I busied myself with ministry and work at the church, almost to kind of prove my point. Alas, what I have discovered, is that serving at church can also become one of the things we put into that jar to try and feel full, valid, wanted, admired. Such a sutle thing – the very water that fills us may compel us to serve initially, but when we become discontent and resentful when the work we do does not produce the desired results or admiration, then I realize, wait a minute – this thing I am filling myself with is not Christ, it is not unconditional, sacrificial love, this is a substitute.
But I am healing, I am now being filled with the REAL thing. Unfortunately, God had to strip a lot of stuff away from me, for me to realize this. I hope and pray that’s not what it takes for all of us.
HIS water is like none other. It ALWAYS results in peace, not always in removal of pain, but inner assurance of His love even when everything is falling apart.
I truly can relatte to your post. I use to think serving in the church was what it would take to fill me up too. A personal relationship with Christ is much better than trying to impress others by all we can do.
Renee,
I loved the video message! I’m praying for you to feel better soon.
Thank you,
Suzanne
Wow! How true! So many people hurting. Like the song that says, “Looking for love in all the wrong places.”
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. You are an encouraging blessing.
This is so true Teresa! Yes, too many are looking for love in the wrong places. I often find myself looking for validation through other people, thinks, accomplishments, awards etc… I’m glad Renee reminded us that we can get the true unfailing love from God and only God up above. The Samaritan woman at the well was looking for a temporary fix. She didn’t realize that Jesus was the solution to feel every void in her life! In the same way, Jesus wants to give us his Living Water so that we will never thirst again!
I loved this video and the visuals used to get the message across! I pray that God will use this video to touch the lives of many who need their jar filled with His unfailing love! I want to show this video to my family and friends who I know will be blessed by it too. Keep doing the amazing work you are doing for Jesus! God bless you!!
I really enjoyed this video! It reminded me of a devo I do with my youth with a jar, rocks, pebbles, sand, and water. I look forward to sharing this with my Monday School ladies :)!
<3 Heather
Thanks for this video message . It really helped me today. Thanks
Wow. That was an amazing object lesson. It hits especially hard because I have lived it! We all have. I long to allow God – the giver of the gift, to fill me and to stop looking to others to tell me who i am or if Im worthy. I know whose I am to and to Him I am worthy. All the way my savior leads me – what have I to ask beside?
Thank You Renee.
Amen!
Karen C
Very good visual to go along with teaching. Definitely never thought about emptying everything else so God could completely fill. Have always struggled with fitting in, but especially so since my marriage ended. During it I was isolated, partly by my husband & partly because most people wouldn’t believe that Bobby was capable of being abusive. Afterwards I found I didn’t fit with unmarried women, since I wasn’t able to have kids (which ended up being a mixed blessing as all I ever really wanted to be was a mother (started “adopting” when I was 8) but saved me & them from having to deal with my ex — he wouldn’t have wanted the kids, but would have done everything in his power to keep them from me) didn’t fit with younger married women, & was to wounded to want to even think about attending a group that included men, even if most of the participants were my age or older. Once developed night blindness became even harder to connect with anyone outside of work & then I was laid off & moved to a large community where only knew my dad who I am living with & other relatives 1/2 hour a way. Once again didn’t fit & then being home bound last several months really showed me how few true friends I had & how nothing else really filled the empty spaces. I am really struggling, but God is blessing my feable efforts the last few weeks & have been reminded that He does not ask for the best I can give on a very good day but only the best I can give on that day, still tend to hesitate but feel so much better when make any attempt to connect with God regardless of how miserable or exhausted I feel. Since this study started have been (most mornings) reading index cards with Scriptures & inspirational sayings on them while waiting for topical medication to dry. It is amazing what a difference that makes for my outlook! I really thank God for you Renee & this study,especially for letting me find & participate in it.
Thak you Rene’e I lvoed what you said about only God can fill us up and make us feel secure and confidant. i struggled with insecurities, control issues and lack of self-esteen for nearly 20 years of my adulthood. Once I found Jesus almost 7 years ago, I have foungd the lasting security, peace and joy, thw world has nothing that can touch what God has given me on a daily basis, yes, is sill struggle with self doubt sometime because God is asking me to do something that only He can do through me. he is the one that a glean my strength, couraga and ability to accomplish what he needs done. It is not by me and as I grown in Him I am finding the woman God has called me to be. I love getting to know her more. It has changed my marriage and the lives of our children. Praise and glory to God!!!
thank you
This video was such a blessing to me. I mentioned that I suffer from anxiety in an earlier post, and when anxiety consumes so much of one’s time, there really doesn’t seem to be any room for Jesus. I found that to be true in the past. However, when I made the concentrated effort to not only believe in Him but to follow Him, I realized just how much help I needed to allow Him in more of my life. With the help of therapy and a low dose SSRI, I am able to calm the anxiety I feel enough so that I can begin to hear Him more than I ever could before. I am taking part in this study, I am taking part in daily devotions, and most of the music I listen to is Christian Contemporary. It has made such a tremendous difference in my life. I also have a goal this year to become minimalist. This will be a challenge, but I feel the physical purging will aid in the mental purging and allow more room for what is important, Jesus and love.
Amen to that. I too have been striving to purge my life of many things. I retired last year and started doing so and as you say sometime life gets in the way. I made a good start and then lost some of my momentum. I just need to continue to stay in His word daily and fill my life with only the things that bring Him the glory. All the rest will follow if I do that.
All I can say is THANK YOU! ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!
After listening to Renee this morning and then re-reading chapter 3 and doing questions I went out for my daily run. I have a shuffle that pretty much plays songs on random, however mine are sorted by Author right now.
As we all know God is always ready to speak to us if we will just listen. Imagine my satisfaction and joy when I heard the song, “Come to the Well” by Mary James. God is so good.
If you have not heard it I am sure it will speak to your heart as it does mine. I have posted a link but if that does not work then just Google, “Come to the Well by Mary James” Should come right up.
http://www.myspace.com/maryjames/music/songs/come-to-the-well-30168775
Blessings to each and every one of you
Oh how we are blessed to be doing this bible study. I watched the video many times and every time teared up while you poured the water. And how interesting that yesterday I decided I needed some Christian music on the radio and the song that came on was the one you put on FB. The one that goes something like “loves like a hurricane…how he loves us.” Blessed be!!!!!!