Has someone ever said something to you that made you feel valued and loved? Affirmations that gave you a sense of meaning and purpose? In my Encouragement for Today devotion, Just the Right Words, I shared a story of how one woman’s words changed the course of another.
Sadly, many of us don’t have people to speak hope and encouragement into our hearts. However, all of us do have Someone who wants to speak just the right words into our lives – every day. Today I have a power-packed {very short} video message where I share how you can position your thoughts to hear and live in God’s promises – every day. Click on the arrow below and discover how to stop letting doubt and discouragement beat you up, and start letting God words build you up instead!
{Download FREE Confident Heart “AM/FM Thoughts Printable here}
Enter TODAY’s GIVEAWAY:
Click “share your thoughts” right below this post and do just that. All commenters will be entered in my “Living in God’s Promises” gift pack giveaway which includes a $10 Starbucks OR Target Gift Card{you choose}, 2 copies of A Confident Heart, and a copy of my Letting God Fill the Empty Places in Your Heart message on CD!
Thanks so much for this video! It really helped Chapter 6 come alive – such a great chapter, with amazing truths! I am so grateful that you allowed God to use you to help others just like me. Someday I hope to be in the same position, so, through God, I too can lead others to His Truth. 🙂
Renee,
I haven’t been following along very well with the study, but I do watch the videos some and I have been reading the book. I’ve actually had the book since December, and I’m just now on chapter 9. But let me tell you… I’ve been unemployed for a month now (first time in 25 years), and this week I started to become REALLY anxious, stressed, and depressed, and feeling like “where are you God? Don’t you care??” Then I picked up your book and guess what chapter was next for me to read? Chapter 9- When Doubt Whispers “I Can’t Stop Worrying.” I haven’t even finished it yet, but God knew this is where I’d be right at this time and I feel like you are saying ALL of the things I am feeling and your words (and God’s Word) have been like a soothing balm over my anxious heart. I’m still fighting the anxiety/worry some….but I’m better. THANK YOU my friend! <3
Renee, thank you so much for the video it has really encouraged me today. God loves us so much , he already knows all the mistakes we have made and will make in the future because we are not perfect but we are a work in progress and He still wants relationship with his daughters. This is so wonderful to me and I am learing to live in His love daily. God bless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for the uplifting encouraging words. It keeps me from dwelling on the negative which is what I tend to do at times but you have made my day a little brighter and I thank you for that! God bless you! 🙂
Isn’t it wonderful to have a God who whispers to our hearts when we need it most! God has been whispering to me lately whether it be in an email or from the book or where ever. I’m a little behind in the study but I’m keeping up with the emails and God even uses your weekly emails to remind me of His truths. I know I’m right where God wants me to be despite all of satan’s lies.
Thank you for this bible study and ALL the words of encouragement 🙂
Hey Renee,
Thank you for sharing God’s truth with me. And for being a woman after God’s own hear. I so forget that Satan desire to sift us as wheat , that goes around seeking whom he can devour. It is in that that I forgot to safe guard my heart and mind with God’s truths. I love, love your AM/PM approach when Satan comes after us with his lies. Thank you reminding me that whem doubts says I cant, God’s word says, “I am HIS workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which GOD prepared in advance for me to do.”
Eph 2:10.
Blessings.
P.S. Praying for you this weekend.
Renee, I just want to thank you for your faithfulness & dedication, despite such a busy schedule. May the Lord richly bless.(Numbers 6:24-26) This is the first on line study I have done & didn’t know what to expect. After some bumps in the road on my part, (still learning all this smart phone technology), it has really been a blessing. Thank you again for ALL your time you put in, &for ALL your prayer.
Renee, thank you so much for listening to God’s calling and writing this book but also for posting this online study! I have been seeking God to help me battle depression and negative thoughts for many years and have gradually changed. I read several posts today where women had just begun on this journey and just wanted to say “don’t give up”! Keep on seeking and knocking on the door of God’s word and He will continue to lead you. I know at first, I didn’t think I would get victory, but over time God works the old ways and thoughts out of us if we keep seeking Him. Renee, I appreciate how you communicate with us weekly even though you have been through many trials since we began. I am praying for you, specifically for of the problems with your back. I have had problems with my back for 20 years and I know this would be a prime time for Satan to tempt you to doubt and be discouraged. But thank God, His plans for us are for our good not our harm and we have a counselor who is there to encourage us! I am really thankful for the “AM/FM thoughts” sheet. What a great tool to remind us to take captive those thoughts that are not God’s thoughts for us and replace with His words to us!
Hello Renee,
Just finished watching the video about Kimberly. I was extremely touched by it. So much that it made me cry because I have felt the same way. There were so many reasons why i was so unloveable that i felt that there was no way God could use me. Music means a lot to me. When i hear it i literally melt. I can feel the Lord wrap his loving arms around me and just hold me. So when i found that the Lord blessed me with a musical talent i couldn’t believe it. (i am not real good at expressing myself in words so please hear my heart) The one thing i felt close to God with he blessed me with and i just could not believe it! So instead of using this gift i ran from it i found other avenues to do what i thought God wanted me to do because He just could not use me in that way! Besides i already blew it by not singing when asked. I was condemned by my own words, and like Kimberly said “unfit for use or service.” Like Kimberly, i know that the Lord loves me. Then i read that scripture that she and you shared John 3:17. and really read it over and over again. He came NOT to condemn the world, BUT that the world through Him might be saved. How refreshing to read this and now know this!!! Thank you Renee and Kimberly for sharing this and your stories so others may also be free from condemnation!!!!!
P. 122 “…instead of believing his (Satan’s) accusations, we need to let them lead us straight to Jesus so He can have the final say.” This was PERFECT for me to have read today! It confirmed a thought I had this morning I was thinking had come from God. Instead of allowing myself to dwell on, become unglued, obsess about, or spend time trying to understand how in the world could my ex (who never tried to get our marriage back on track or speak to me the entire year that we were separated before the divorce– that he did not even come to) show up opening the curtain of an ER room I was sitting in last night!! I thought I was hallucinating! I hadn’t seen him in four years, and there he stood. It was traumatizing to me; I was speechless. He just said, “Hi, I work here now,” with a grin. Utter shock. Well, when all the ugly obsessions began flooding my mind about it this morning, I had an overwhelming thought. Even if this was the enemy’s (Satan’s) way of messing with me, I’m going to turn this around and see it through God’s thoughts. God showed me I was strong enough to handle such an event, that I could face this fear I had of one day running into him without coming unglued or undone. It was a totally different way of looking at an unpleasant situation. It’s like I felt Jesus cheering for me, “YOU DID IT! You made it through, Mary! I was right there with you and you did awesome!” This is how I began my morning. And THEN I read this in chapter 7, Renee. It confirmed that God put that thought in my head and heart! Another way I know it was from God is it was not negative, only positive, and He was building (me) up, not tearing (him, ex) down. Praise You, Father, for Your loving ways, how You speak to us and cause us to grow in strength and love! By the way, I am okay, was just there getting fluids–been sick with flu or something too long.
WOW! GOD IS GREAT! I needed to hear this! I have been making crosses lately and am going to start selling them for Easter at this Christian bookstore called the Living Room Bookstore in Bastrop. I was working really hard on both my small ones and the large ones. The large ones had the different names of God on them. Last night (even though I now know he didn’t mean to) my husband pointed out every flaw in my large crosses. He said that I needed to do it God’s way and the way he (my husband) showed me and no longer the “Kimmie” way. (That’s his nickname for me). I got frustrated and tried to fix what I felt needed to be perfect now! That is when I kept thinking I wasn’t good enough for any of this! Why did I agree to start selling these crosses? I felt defeated. That is when I kept saying in my mind I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! I ended up saying it in my mind over and over again. That is when I went up to him and told him that sometimes and a lot lately I have felt I wasn’t good enough of a wife to him. I knew this was the time where I had to come to him and tell him how I felt in regards to my dialysis also. I needed to be open to him and let him know why I felt like this and that is when he looked really shocked and told me he was sorry for criticizing me. It was really good to know that I do matter to him, and he wants the best for me. He just didn’t realize I felt that he was criticizing me. It was a time for healing for both of us. I am so glad that I opened up and talked with him! I felt God leading me for awhile to do this, but at first was afraid to. What was I afraid of was rejection. With God all of us are never rejected He loves us and wants us to know how much He loves us. He gave me a great husband who loves me, but does make mistakes. When he realizes how much he has hurt me at times, he always asks for forgiveness. God is good!
I’m having a bad week and would really appreciate prayer. I started exclusively seeing someone on Monday night. Tuesday I crashed my car and totaled it. I’m OK but neck hurts as my head hit the driver’s window really hard. Today, Thursday, the new boyfriend called and broke it off. It’s OK as I was wondering too if I didn’t rush in too fast after my last relationship. It still leaves me feeling rejected and like there is something wrong with me. I just listened to Renee’s video and oh, so much what I needed to hear. I’ve kept saying all week, the Lord is my hope and confidence. I need to focus on God not my circumstances. He has a plan for me and I can trust him. I just really feel thrown out of my zone right now. Kind of lost. I need to hear that… GOD IS FOR ME! He will never leave me or foresake me!
Sweet Lucy, I am praying for you, sister. He will never ever leave you. He goes ahead of you and walks alongside of you. Deuteronomy 31:8 New International Reader’s Version
“The Lord himself will go ahead of you. He will be with you. He will never leave you. He’ll never desert you. So don’t be afraid. Don’t lose hope.” I thank Him that you made it through that accident alive and not hurt more seriously. See, He is with you, for you, protecting you. He has His reasons for the new one breaking up with you. He is protecting you, Lucy, GOD IS FOR YOU, HE IS WITH YOU! Take care of yourself. xo
Thank you so much Mary! I wrote down the bible verse and what you said on a index card and I’m going to keep it with me. It feels very comforting.
I really enjoyed Just the right words. I just finished writing a devotional thought encouraging my sisters to take the time this month to use their words and deeds of encouragement as an undercover agent for God. I know Just the right words changed my life. I hope they will take the challenge and possibly change someone else’s.
I dont think often enough of God’s thoughts towards me. I think if I did, it would be easier not to slip into distress as often as I sometimes do.
Have to learn to feel God’s feelings towards me in my heart.
I’m behind in this study and have been saving emails with links to messages to read in order….. However, this really spoke to me this evening. I have too many of AM thoughts and not enough FM thoughts. Thank you for reminding me that God is always For Me!
You are so right, Renee. I am too often in that AM mode, and can be my own worst enemy. I have a wonderful, but very challenging career as a nonprofit director. I said, when I took on this role 2 years ago that I was entrusting it to Him. But inevitably I get tunnel vision trying to get it all done and do it perfectly. I was betrayed by someone close to me in this work and I never feel like I measure up. God has been reminding me lately how important it is to just let go and really truly trust Him. I have to believe that He is FM (for me), before I can be for myself. It is a work in progress.
Renee, I cant tell you how much this book and study are helping me. Not only am I learning how to deal with past hurts and forgive, but also with current ones. The past couple of weeks have been ones filled with failure as a mother. My daughter is an adult, with children of her own, has seemily come into conflict with me. Needless to say that left me feeling less than perfect and heartbroken. I have been praying about the situation and now realize it is not me but in fact her life and situation. She has slipped back into negative behaviors and when I try to show her a Godly life she can’t accept it. So I learned to leave in the Good Lord’s hands and continue to pray for her and her family that they will change. I continue to love and pray for her, as well as look for and show her the gold nuggets in her.
Continued Prayes for you in your healing.
Praying for you Renee!! That you get a complete healing!
While it may be easy to recognize when others are against us (AM) in their words or deeds…those are the moments that Satan uses to plant seeds of doubt in our minds. Thankfully we can look to GOD and HIS truth to determine FOR ME thoughts… I am so thankful that God places others in our lives, whether explicitly or implicitly to help hold us accountable and to keep us on HIS path with HIS promises, because GOD is for us! I am so grateful for this study and…
“I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” Philippians 1:6.
I just wanted to thank you for encouraging me. I look forward to reading your messages.
Have a kind of different example of how changing thinking, changes feelings. Am dealing with a significant health problem right now. Begining of 2012 I decided I was going to start each day focusing on God instead of how I was feeling. Can’t take oral antiinflammatories so have a topical liquid that takes a while to dry. Rather than reading a novel, I read verses & sayings I have on index cards. On bad days it is very tempting to reach for a novel instead, but if I don’t, while the pain doesn’t change, my whole outlook does. Definitely need to work on AM/FM thoughts as well.
God is in control. I keep hearing the words “intentional” in various studies lately. I think I’m being told that I need to be more intentional to keep up my devotions and let God control my life. As a mom of 4 young, busy kids, that is harder to say than do…. but I need to find a way. Thank-you for this study, it is exactly what I need right now.
This is a word I needed today. I am heading to a counseling session today to start to work on negative thoughts and feel that God is giving me the tools I need to gain the victory over this area in my life. thank you for the encouragement you’ve given even when life has been difficult. It’s been hard to keep up since I don’t have internet at home and have been trying to do this on my lunch at work. blessings on you and your family.
I just had to share with you and everyone else what a woman told me that I was having lunch with yesterday. When you first announced that you were going to do this Bible study I forwarded that email to everyone I knew, consequently severl of my friends signed up alone with me to do it. My friend went a step further and gathered together several of her other friends who are also doing the bible study and they meet once a week to discuss the book and the lesson and the impact its had on their lives. My point in telling yuo all of this is that one those friends brought a lost soul to the meeting last week and as a result that woman has also been changed! Can I get an AMEN?!?!?!? So while we may never know the impact of our words or actions there are times when you do get to see or hear about the results. God never ceases to amaze me with His timing and how He turns things around in His own timing!!!!! You have been such a blessing to so many of us – THANK YOU!
You have an “Amen” from me! What a wonderful testimony. I love this video! I know that there have been many times in my life when words of encouragement kept me going. I hope that, throughout my life I can also make a difference!
I have really enjoyed listing to your videos and reading your posts to your blog. Your book is great and I have been trying to realize that I am important to Jesus and that I worth something even though there are people around mewho have tried to beat me down. I am a single parent who adopted to children from Kazakhstan at the same time. I made a move to be closer to family to help me with the children, but shortly after the move my family turned on me and we no longer speak and I feel I am so alone in raising theses two kids. I pray for others to come into my life that will help me through this difficult time. This Bible study has been a great help!!
Praying for Gods healing blessings upon you, sweet sister Renee <3
Lord you are the Great Physician, heal your daughter Renee, O'Lord, especially as she seeks to honor You, Almighty God, serving others with an obedient heart of love. I pray Renee knows your comfort and peace Lord as you lift all oppression from her body, mind and spirit. Praise be to You, our Redeemer King, for you are so mighty to save! Thank you Father God for healing Renee in Jesus beloved name I pray. Amen <3 <3
I too have been quite silent this week. I am drowing and need prayer. Right now (as I am sure many of us are) I am simply overwhelmed and spread way too thin. There aren’t enough hours in the day or days in the week it seems to get it all done. I know that the fault lies with me. I am not being responsible and have very little discipline to take the steps to make it easier. I need to grow up, and stop condemning myself and start instead to be convicted. This week’s chapter really spoke into my life. I am one of those that says sorry and yet continues to do what it is I apologize for. Though I acknowledge behaviors as un-godly, I continue to let the accusor win. I continue to fall into the same trap. The difference is I am doing something about it, whereas 2 3 years ago, I was not; however, I really hoped it would take a lot less time than it has. I know that I cannot reverse 16 years of thinking in a month, or a year, but I am just really getting discouraged that I know what it is I need to do, and yet I don’t put that into practice. Perhaps because to do so would then be admitting how wrong I have been, the lies that I believed and to admit to myself, my husband and to everyone else that my husband has been right all along, and somehow knows my heart better than I do. I did answer the questions of course, but this was put on my heart to share with you ladies instead. I would really appreciate some feedback; I really need the encouragement and sisterhood right now.
-Kim Moreno
Praying for you!
Really love the picture for this week and the reminder that I am always on His mind. Too many times I find myself seeking my worth from the opinions of others and not remembering that I am a daughter of the King and I don’t need to look anywhere else to validate my value.
Hello Ladies, just wanted to share something from my Psalm devotional book with you all. I know we are all fighting these battles that only God can win for us.
When I am weak, Lord, you give me strength. When I’m embattled, you fight for me. When I am tired, Lord, you give me rest. When I am anxious, you calm me. When I am clueless, you give me light. When I mess up, you forgive me. When I’m defeated, you lift up my head. You lift up my heart and lead on.
“All my bones shall say, O Lord, who is like you? You deliver the weak from those too strong for them, the weak and the needy from those who despoil them.” Psalm 35:10
God Bless
I love the AM/FM thoughts. Your video was great. Thank you for the encouragement. Praying for your healing, I know how back problems can be. I am in the process of replacing thoughts with truth. God is in Control. Love that song and that thought. Blessings to you today.
I really appreciate your timely messages. I have heard or read a lot of this before, but like that Twila Paris song that came on for you that morning, God had directed your messages of Truth towards me just when I needed them. Thank you for the encouragement to have FM thoughts.
I just to Charlotte NC from Atlanta Ga, and it has been a little rough not knowing people. But this online studies has helped me so much. Because I truly know God orders your steps and he will never leave you or forsake. Your words and these shared thoughts are what has kept me these 6 months I have been here.
Thanks again,
Thelma Galloway
I need to stop focusing on what Satan is telling me and start listening to the positive re-enforcement that Jesus is telling me.
Wow what a great chapter. I need to be reminded how God sees me and to stop listening to satan’s lies!
Just downloaded the chapter 1 of the book and it’s amazing.Very behind on this,but the encouraging words came right on time!!!
Thank you so very much for your words of encouragement. You always know exactly what to say to touch so many lives.
I love the idea of AM/FM thoughts. I after reading it in the book and seeing the devotional. I have begun writing down the FM truths in Gods words. My kids have even begun saying them. When they say I can’t do it, I quickly say “You can do all things through Christ that strengthens you! Or if they are worried I tell them to “Give your cares (worries) to Jesus because He cares for you! I have been so blessed by this journey. I’m happy to hear that Aster’s surgery was a success and I’m still praying for your back. Our God is a Healer!!!
I so enjoy your daily encouragement. Thank you! I have had a lot of mornings of being bullied! the enemy seems to strike first thing in the morning. I need more FM thoughts. Holy Spirit- clear out those ugly thoughts! God is FOR me. 🙂
How SOOO powerful WE let the enemy in to convince us we are NOT good enough, and that we are the worst ones AM-AGAINST ME..Thank you for your faithfulness and your love not only to Christ but your love for your sisters in Christ. I really need those notes posted each day to remind me that even if I am AM…GOD is NOT AM…But surely FM!!! I am one who has no one to be a positive light in my world, and I know that God is!! Thank you so much for that reminder and continued encouragement.
I am behind on the study as well, but I keep pressing on. I am so glad I was able to read the encouraging words. Thank you for your transparency and continued encouragement. Praying that you will heal quickly.
MJ
I am behind in this bible study, but I strive each day to complete a small portion of it….I started it with Melissa Ross Taylor and never finished there, so thought I would keep up with Renee, the author of the book, but overtime at work and health concerns have me behind again….but I will NOT give up!!!! I am going to start using FOR ME thoughts instead of against me thoughts!!! This post was sooooooooo timely for me!!! Thank you for being the servant of Christ that you are.
In Christ,
Tami
Lysa, God has gifted you and I thank Him for having you share and write these words of encouragement. I love lists, checklists, Am I for God!!! Thank you and many blessings!!
Praying for relief and healing from your back pain – I have been there and know how crippling it can be to have constant pain and not get relief. God is for you and your healing!
Thanks for the am/fm thoughts video – what a great way to apply God’s word to our everyday situations.
Blessings to you and your family!
Hello! This was such an excellent talk! What a clever play on AM/FM. i will definitely use these to keep my mind stayed on Him. i love to take some verses or passages in the Bible and re-write them with loved ones names in them and give them as gifts. it’s beautiful to read the Bible with ‘your name in it’ and see God’s loving care for you. i will do it for myself as well so that God can be my friend who comes beside me and encourages and lifts me up with His word. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Hello Renee,
I will be praying for heaing for your back. I sufer from back problems too so I can totally relate to what you’re going through. I just want to thank you and God for this study. I have and am getting so much more out of it than I ever thought possible. I didn’t really feel like I had a problem with confidence, but as it turns out God is revealing things to me in a new way. And I am so grateful! I feel stretched and so loved by God. So much so that as I was watching one of your videos I heard God say this would be a good bible study for the ladies at church. So I immediately agreed, but now I fear He wants me to lead it…
So please pray tha if this is what I am suppose to do He will give me the confidence to do it!
Thank you Renee!
I LOVE these acronyms. What another easy way for us to remember how to control our thoughts. I especially appreciate the handout to start us out on bible verses for the FM. Now it is time for me to work on concurring those AM thoughts.
I am really loving reading this book but I especially love these video segments. Thank you for taking the time to give these messages Renee. They are powerful and I am encouraged by them. I have not had the opportunity to connect with a women’s Bible study in a long time and I feel like I have that here.
Praying for your back to fully heal, Renee!!
I love this Renee. My heart is singing the old song, Turn Your Radio On!
Replacing that fuzzy static from the enemy and fine tuning my heart to hear His Truth.
Your word pictures and visual lessons really help me.
LOVE the AM and PM illustration.
Praying for strength and healing in your back. So glad your little girl’s oral surgery went well.
Thank you for being obedient to write this book. I have given away 4 copies. Hope to get a group
together for a Bible study and fellowship group with this tool.
God bless.
Dearest Renee,
I’ve never blogged before but was lead to this study through your P31 Devotions that a friend shared with me some time ago. God is using you to speak the right words into my life at the right time, not just in todays video message but with each and every weeks message and chapter of your book!!! I am so thankful for you and how God brought you to a place where He could use you and your story to change my life as well! Thank you for living proof that God can not only change our lives but how He has a purpose and use for us in transforming others lives as well. Without a doubt, He is slowly transforming my life one week at a time through this study. I love you and thank you for your servants heart!
God is in control!
I do really appreciate AM/FM thoughts. What a great encouragement
I have been saving each study so I can start it on Spring Break. I sort of lost the month of January and February do/the my Dad’s illness and death. I was able to read a few of the devotions during that time and they were a great help. Thank you. I am looking forward to doing the whole study though.
I hope you feel better. Massage therapy is always a good start. Always helps my back.. God bless.