I have something really important to tell you today. Lean in close. Really let this get past your self-doubts and into those assurance-seeking places in your heart…
Yes you. The beautiful one sitting there looking at the screen.
I know it’s hard to believe sometimes, but it’s true. You fill God’s heart with absolute joy and every day you take His breath away with your smile.
Just a slight glance in His direction makes Him pause. He loves the unique way you do things. He really enjoys watching others love on you and bring out His best in you. And He’s not critical of your mistakes like you sometimes think, or waiting for you to do something productive. He simply delights in you because you are His. And that is enough.
It took me 20 years to understand and 10 more years to truly believe this was the reality of God’s love for me. The same was true for my friend Sheri Rose Shepherd who I’ve asked to be a girlfriend guest blogger with us today. Like many of you, I’ve been blessed by God’s words written through her, so today I’m giving away a copy of her book, “His Princess.“ More about that in a minute.
Sheri Rose is a woman who can relate to almost any woman’s battle. A former Mrs. United States, she grew up in a dysfunctional home and was severely overweight as a teen. As a young woman, she battled depression and an eating disorder. In spite of an English teacher telling her she was “born to lose” and a learning disorder—Dyslexia—Sheri Rose has (in God’s strength) become a Best Selling and award-winning author. Sheri Rose is also an internationally known speaker and Bible life coach.
Today, in my devotion on P31 and Crosswalk, I shared about God’s lavish love for us and how He wants us to live “loved” because we are. Then I asked Sheri Rose to share with us what she believes is the most important thing for women to know, so we can grasp the depth of God’s love for us. Here is what she said:
People often ask me, “How did you break free from your painful past and the lies and learn to embrace truth.” To be honest, I still have to fight the lies I’ve believed about myself. It seems to be the battle each woman I have met faces.
Many of us have experienced what I call “Spiritual Identity Theft.” We’ve somehow lost our confidence in who we are in Christ, and we feel worthless or wounded by someone’s words.Others of us hold in our hearts a false identity. We believe a lie about ourselves and we have allowed that lie to define us.
I understand what it is like to feel worthless and walk with a wounded heart from hurtful words. Perhaps you’re just recognizing the root of the lie you have been living in.Maybe it was hurtful words spoken to you by a father or mother, brother or sister, teacher, boyfriend or husband. Maybe it was an employer who thoughtlessly felt like dumping lies on you.
I don’t think those hurtful words are easily forgotten but I do know healing and wholeness can become reality in our lives when we learn how to embrace God’s truth.You do not have to let others’ hurtful words define you anymore. They did not give their life, as Jesus did, to prove your worth. We are Daughters of the King of Kings whether we feel like it or not.
Let me be a spiritual mentor and give you the three keys to unlocking lies and finding your true identity, I call it “a truth makeover.”
1. Know the Truth. You Are…
- Chosen By God (John 15:16)
- A New Creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)
- Holy and Pure (1 Peter 2:9)
- A Trophy of His Grace (Ephesians 2:8)
- His Princess Warrior (2 Timothy 4:7)
- His Beloved Bride (Psalm 45:11)
2. Speak The Truth…
Whenever a lie is spoken to you or a lie enters your mind, speak this Truth out loud…
“That is a lie. My worth is not in what anyone else says about me or what I feel at the moment.”
3. Fast Off Speaking Lies
Try a seven-day fast by not speaking anything negative about yourself or repeating any lies that have been spoken over you or about you. If possible, ask a friend to hold you accountable to speak only truth.
4. Read this Love Letterfrom God:
My Chosen Daughter,You are royalty even when you don’t feel like a princess. How you feel about yourself will never change the truth of who you are in Me. You are My treasure, and I have chosen you. If you ever begin to doubt your significance, just look to the cross and remember I gave my life to prove your worth. I see your heart and I know you fight to find truth. So start by recognizing who I am: the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and your Daddy in heaven. Saturate yourself in My truth and you will discover how loved and treasured you are.
Love, Your Lord who is Truth
Living Loved Give-away
- 2 Free BibleLife coaching sessions(One winner)
30 days of spiritual mentoring with Sheri Rose
You keep one session and give one away!
- Rest Assured message on CD by Renee Swope
How to Stop Worrying & Start Resting in God’s Promises
2 copies of this message on CD (one winner). You keep one and give one away!
- His Princess: Love Letters from Your King
One book by Sheri Rose Shepherd
***********************
To enter to win, click on the word “comments” below this post, and type in the white box. Sheri Rose and I would love to know your first name, your age, where you are from, who you will invite to do the Bible life-coaching sessions with you or who you’d give the extra of my message on CD to. Please be sure to sign up for email updates in my right sidebar (so you will know if you win), or leave your email in your comment so we can notify you. I’ll announce the winner next Monday, March 7th.
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I would love to receive your free gifts to share with the young people in my youth group at church
Brianna, 26, NC
I would share with my dear friend Katie!
I am Cindy, I am 45 years old and I live in Angleton, TX. I would share the CD and lessons with my daughter. I am always amazed at how pssionate she is about growing in her relationship with Christ. (She has all of Sheri's letter books). She also has two very good friends that she would likely share with.
Thank you, Sheri, for the wonderful books you have written and shared with us. It is truly a gift to reach out with truth in such a simple way. I am a school teacher and have bought several copies of your 'letter books' to share with my hurting students. I remember one of my girls last year telling me she read it one night and couoldn't wait to get home and start reading it again. Wow!
Thank you,
Cindy…[email protected]
I am Leigh and I live in Powder Springs, GA. I am 38 years old with 5 children. I just got to see Sheri Rose speak at a local church in February! She was wonderful!
I would share the coaching sessions with my step-daughter, Nicole. She is 20 and just going thru some troubling times. She has walked away from God and I pray that she will come back to him! I think it would be wonderful to do together.
I would give the CD to my friend that is the biggest worry wart!
Thank you ladies for speaking God's truth! I need to hear it everyday and are so thankful for your obedience to Him in your ministry!
Leigh F.
[email protected]
Hallelujah! Thank you Renee and Sheri for an awesome blog post-very encouraging. My name is Janet, 40 years of age and I live in New York. I would share with my friend, Barbara.
Tracy Whitesburg, TN. 37 and holding at least til May. I would like to win the sessions to give away to my baby sisters who are twins. They are on the brink of their adult life and could so use the training sessions. They have been my little girls since their birth while I was in 8th grade. With the help of my Nanny, I took them to church all their life from my pre-teen years through my college years even coming home each weekend to make sure they got to church. They stopped going to church not long after I was married. I pray that they would reignite their love for the Lord and lean on his understanding when starting their new journeys. I pray daily for their husbands to be and that they make the right decisions to keep them from harm. They are good girls and have a good foundation but I know their lives would be so much richer if they were truly led by the Father. My twin sisters could use the life coaching and would benefit greatly. Thank you for your post and your passion for follwoing the Lord's call.
I am in my 40's and oh how this brings back the words that were spoken to me as a teenager. Things like "you will never do anything with your life". I do suffer from low self esteem and if I was to receive the coaching or the cd's I would share them with friends who are going through the same thing.
Hi Ms. Renee and Sheri,
I am 52 and would love to share the coaching or the cd's with my mom whose 80 or with my daughter whose 25. I would love for the three of us to do this together so we may fellowship, encourage, and grow stronger in God's words.
Thank you for sharing,
Sue
I'm Prema 40 and would love to share the cd with my daughter or the session to give to my sisterinlaw
Thank you for your post! I seem to forget that God is crazy about me, I guess due to early feelings that I just didn't measure up. I'm 57 now, and a grammy, and still struggle with this every day. I'm praying that my children and grandchildren learn this early on and I try to tell them every time I speak with them.
I'd share this with my friends at church, who struggle with this too. Thank you for your writings and wonderful insights!
Barbara
Hey Renee and Sheri,
I have really been encouraged receiving daily devotions .
It has been a daily highlight and words of assurance and hope. I have often shared your devotions with my own family. I have often been comforted by reading God's promises presented through your devotions.
Thank you and God bless you.
My name is Linda and I'm 38 years old, living in Ontario, Canada.
The coaching and cd sounds so amazing! I have suffered major depression, but through finding God and his love, I am doing well these days. However, I have a few friends that suffer deeply and need to know God and his love. I would share with them, in hope that they know they are loved unconditionally.
Thank you for you inspiring words!!
My name is Cheryl. I'm 52. I would probably give the Bible coaching session and CD to a friend who is fighting depression.
Thank you for sharing your gifts.
Hi,
My name is Kendra, I'm almost 32(July), I live in Asheville, N.C., and I am a middle school educator. I would invite my mom to the sessions and give the extra CD to my girlfriend Jackie to listen to in the car and she drives her kids to and from school and practices.
Thank you for the encouragement,
Kendra Cameron-Jarvis
http://www.abusywomanslife.com
Hi, my name is Alicia. I'm 29 years old and live in northern Colorado. I would be more than honored to receive the coaching. I'm at a huge crossroads in my life right now with my husband of 10 years and have 2 precious children. I would share all this with my beautiful mom as she is confused and lost with all of the heartache she has endured. I just feel this would give us the boost of confidence that we will make it and be okay. Thank you for doing this and considering us.
Hi Renee and Sheri,
My name is Jasmine. I am 50 and live in Penang, Malaysia.
Thank you for sharing how God views us. Too many things/circumstances have chipped that away from my life and your words brought love and encouragement to my heart.
I would like like a copy of 'His princess'the book to share with my foster daughters
Hi, my name is Michelle, I turn 55 this month and I live in Southern Colorado. I would share the CD with my 18 year old daughter…the best thing I can share with her for her life ahead…her true identity and the love that the Lord has for her. Praise God!
Thanks for being faithful…
Michelle
Hey Renee and Sheri:)
God bless you both, my name is Lisa and i will be turning 43 in June. I live in Nova Scotia, Canada.
I really beat up on myself alot thats what everyone says of me, i have a hard time just finding that acceptance that My Daddy God has for me. I could really use this coaching or the cd.
I would share the coaching with a lady that i do a bible study with at this time on the book of John, she has a hard time with the acceptance as well.
You are both inspirations, renee i love your blog and your little aster you all bring me joy:)
I'm Teresa, 41, and live in Nebraska. I would love to have the "His Princess" CD to give to my son's friend who is in a bad place. She is only 13 and desperately needs to know she is loved.
Hi sweet Renee (and Sheri),
I turned 41 last week, and I felt so disappointed with myself for not making more progress in my healing journey over the past year. I can't waste any more time.
If I received the coaching or the cd's, I'd share them with my friend Susan who is rebuilding a new life as a single mom of two almost-grown sons. She loves the Lord so much and needs to see herself the way He sees her.
Thanks for sharing such beautiful truth ladies, LeeBird