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Renee Swope

Encouraging and equipping moms to parent with God's grace and confidence.

Lord, I Want to Know You {and a GiveAway!}

I’ve got so many fun things to share with you today!!  First, I have a special video message – just for you – from Chapter 10 of A Confident Heart.  In it I share about the power of knowing God by His Names and learning to living in the security of who HE is! Praying it will really encourage and inspire you today!

And, we just found out about an amazing deal on my book, (more details after the video) and we’ve got a Contagious Confidence GiveAway you don’t want to miss! {But first, click the arrow for today’s  message.}

Message Notes
Download video “Message Notes” in a notes in a PDF or in a Word doc here.

BIG NEWS
A Confident Heart Ebook for Kindle is on sale for $2.99 through March 25th! And it’s now #1 in Theology and #1 in Women’s studies on Amazon Ebooks! We’re blown away by how God is carrying this message into so many more hearts and lives. We’d love for you to share the news – and guess what? Even if you don’t have a Kindle, you can download a FREE Kindle App on your computer, cell phone and other electronic devices here!

Online Study
I would love for you to join my Confident Heart online Bible/Book study that starts again April 23rd. It’s been incredible to read through the book with thousands of women around the world so I’m going to do it again this  Spring. You can find all the info you need in my right sidebar–>

Knowing God By Name – printable
 Download and print an list of  the Names of God – the ones I shared in the video and more from Chapter 10 in A Confident Heart.

Contagious Confidence Giveaway

Enter to WIN

  • Click “Share Your Thoughts” below this post and do just that!
    Share what     challenged or encouraged you in today’s video message or devotion.
  • Extra Chances to Win the Target Gift Card!

    • Share today’s post via Facebook, Twitter or email. The  “Tell A Friend” buttons (next to the comments) below this post make it really easy. 🙂 {Leave an extra comment letting me know you did!}
    • Sign up where it says “Receive Email Updates” in my right sidebar.{Leave an extra comment letting me know you did or if you already are and you’ll be entered to win again!}

Let the fun begin! I’ll be reading your thoughts and praying for you all day!

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Comments

  1. Thank You Renee for sharing this verse…we need to be reminded that there will be times of failure…but Thank God it is never final when Jesus is Lord of everything in our lives. Enjoyed your video shared with a friend ..we were both Blessed by your encouragement. God Bless you as continue to minister …

  2. I was encouraged by the first verse mentioned reminding me that I WILL fall or fail, but that I am to continually get back up and keep going–always moving in the right direction and not giving up.

  4. Thank you again for an incredible devotion! I look forward to reading my devotions thru proverbs 31 everyday! Thank you for allowing us to be lifted up and encouraged thru you every day.

  7. I awoke this morning with the thought of my many faults and failures. This devotional was exactly what I neded today. It spoke to me in such a deep and meaningful way. I love the verse, and actully put it as my status on my facebook page today. It is such a blessing to know that even through our failures, that we, as a child of God, wil rise again–and that He is there to hold our hand. Thanks so much for your words of encouragement and confidence today!

  8. The message you wrote today hit home! When I got to your prayer about now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus I knew God had prepared my mind and heart. Putting on the armor by being prepared with the Word! Thank you so much!

  9. Renee,
    Thank you for reminding me I am not alone, Emanuel, GOD is with me. In my weakness His strength is perfected. I homeschool a teenager and it has been a challenge, mainly in my doubts of am I choosing the right curriculum,. I have made many mistakes in preparing him for the future. I fear him not making it in college….
    I look forward to downloading your message notes for reassurance that my GOD will be never leave me nor forsake me.

    This is one I will share on Facebook .:)

  10. I was just telling someone else the other day that when one of God’s Names becomes ours it drops from our head into our hearts. I really want to study on the Names of God…and rehearse them day by day…(if I can be faithful to it)… I too, have many doubts…I am glad that God is the One who is Faithful. Psalm 9:10…Gotta look that up and print it out…excellent!

    P.S. shared the link on FB. May Adonai bless you! 🙂

    • Thanks for sharing your heart and sharing this post on FB too!! Blessings on you and yours!! Have a wonderful day in HIM!

  11. The devotional you wrote for today really spoke to me. Where you put in Psalm 37:23-24 and left blanks for our name was powerful. Thank you.

    • So glad that encouraged you – I love the difference it makes when we insert our names in the scriptures and personalize them for ourselves. Such a powerful tool and just makes God feel so much closer doesnt it?

  12. I’ve been “nudged” to study who God is and who I am in light of that. Your list of the names of God is a perfect tool as part of that! Thanks so much!

    • Oh so glad that God led me to share those so you can get to know Him better!! I love how His Names reflect His heart and character. He’s more than I can imagine!!

  13. If I am really honest I have to say that I need to think on everything written in the devotion & the blog a bit more. I know for sure that I have the voice in my head that beats me down when I don’t get things done or when I sin etc. Your devotion was timely!

    ~Blessings~
    PS: Thanks for the chance for the lovely giveaways!

    • Thanks for being honest. praying for you to have or take time today to ask Jesus for one things He wants you to hold onto and live in today!! These words are all truly His – I’m just a pencil in HIS hands!! And I’m honored to be that!!

  14. God’s timing is just wonderful. Your daily devotions have so often just been another link in the chain of my Bible study or what I needed to hear for that moment. Today’s devotion was just another timely word from the Lord. Bless you. Keep on sharing your inspiration..

  15. Renee, this is what I needed this morning. Planning for next year’s homeschooling (and doing high school) has been such a struggle the past few years, and with each passing year doing this high school thing has really wrapped me in fear. I want to walk by my plan; GOD wants me to walk by faith – not knowing the next step around the corner.

    Your words spoke right to me:
    The greatest defeat comes when I allow my mistakes, sins or broken relationships to convince me that I might as well give up.

    Perhaps you have also allowed failure to knock you down, tie you up with the ropes of regret and hold you hostage like I have.

    The greatest defeat comes when I allow my mistakes, sins or broken relationships to convince me that I might as well give up.
    …

    I think God wants us to remember that following Him is not about avoiding failures and being perfect. It’s about accepting our weaknesses and becoming more dependent on His perfect love and power at work in us.

    I’ll send it on to my women friends so they, too, can be reminded it’s not about perfection but dependence on HIM.

    • @ JD WHETMORE

      Thank you for your comment~The things you mentioned int he last part of your comment were especially helpful to me-the part about God wanting us to remember… If you don’t mind I just might write those words out & post them in my kitchen so I can see them everyday:) Also, I prayed right now for you as you try to figure out the homeschooling issues. ~Blessings~

    • Dear JD, I just want to encourage you in your home schooling journey. I just completed my home schooling journey of 15 years. Trail and Error should be the title of a home school journal. I love the verse, “Train up a child in the way he/she should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
      It is not how we want them to go it is the way God wants them to go. I failed a lot and He picked me up every time. I still fail as a mother and sometimes my kids say I am failing when I am not, but He knows the difference and is still there to support me.
      I will pray for your journey.
      Shalom

    • Hi Julie, I’m so glad God timed it to have me share just what you needed to hear from HIM today. I’m so proud of you for walking in faith and trusting Him each step of the way even when it’s hard. I’m praying you will keep holding onto that truth that encouraged you most in today’s devotion – it’s the one I need to remember to: God isn’t looking for perfection – but dependence on HIM. Blessings and hugs to you and yours!! And tell Eddie we said hi!!

  16. You girls make my day every day w/ ur inspirational words. Thanks for reminding me to reach for God’s hand instead of sitting on my “pity pot” or doing my own thing. I’m taking hold of His hand 2day!

    • We are so blessed to be part of your life! Thank you for your encouragement today!

  17. As a music lover, I love it when I read something that reminds me of a song. A line in today’s devotion did just that. I’m not good with remembering artists, but I think it’s Toby Mac who sings a song about getting down and being lifted back up. You wrote “The truth is, we will sometimes fail to be who we want to be. But we will get closer to who we are meant to be every time we fall or fail and then choose to take God’s hand so we can get up again!”. For me, when words written match words sung, it’s something to which I need to take hold. Thank you for giving me my steadying thought for the day (and beyond).

    • Can’t wait to look and listen to that song. I love when God uses truth to get to us through different means like writing, a song, a sermon or a friend. Praying for HIS steadying thoughts to be yours all throughout today and this week as you take His hand and let HIM help you get up again and again!

    • I thought of the same song, when I read the blog. I needed this reminder today! Putting the names of God in your purse is a great idea that I shared on Facebook. Thanks!

  18. Like so many, I have allowed my failures to define me. I grew up in a Christian home that was full of these shortcomings and it made me question my relationship with Jesus, based on the things happening around me. Today, thanks to God’s word and a study I did with Melissa on A Confident Heart, I am handling things a bit differently. No matter how perfectly I have tried to make my adult life, my own home, my own family, I have learned that we still have moments of failure. I am so very thankful for God’s grace and mercy to me and those I love during these times of learning. And, yes, we are learning. . . to get back up, to forgive, to be forgiven (that one is still the toughest for me to comprehend), and to do the next best thing! God is good and I am so Blessed to call Him Father.

    • Lori Ann, I love your perspective! Thank you for visiting, for letting me be part of our journey and for sharing it your thoughts and your story today. Blessings and prayer for you and yours!!

    • I am so thankful for this point! Today I was written up for failing to respond to an email from one of my supervisors regarding documentation. I had taken such pride in being timely and accurate in my submission of work, however I did fall short on responding to this email. I became hurt and than angry and than I expressed this when confronted with signing a formal letter to be placed in my file in HR.
      After asking God to shut my mouth and remembering that I am still a valuable team player, I am not super human, and most important this letter in my file does not define me, devalue me, or threaten my life!
      Its uncomfortable, but God knows my work ethic, he sees my heart, and God loves me so much that any shortcoming is an door to be knocked on when I need answers. Thank You for confirming the WALK, sometimes a stumble is all it takes to GET BACK UP AND RISE AGAIN!

  19. I came through Proverbs 21. I loved the names of the LORD. It is funny how God works< I had just thought to myself, I need to look up God's names to come to Him in prayer. I had done study of His Word and did not start it with prayer and as I read the devotion this morning it riminded me, once again to come to Him in prayer before feasting on His Word. Thanks for your work with Proverbs 21. It is a blessing to my life.

    • I love how God works and confirms what He’s telling us in different ways. Thanks for stopping by Karen, and sharing your heart too!

  20. I loved this chapter. It is a great reminder of God’s grace to us when we fail, fall or falter! Which happens more than I would like…yes even the misssionary of 30 plus years falls. I also was encouraged by reviewing the story of Gideon. Thanks so much for your teaching. I have not been able to see any of the videos….not sure but everytime it says there was an error to try again. If I could get them on a DVD…I am coming to the USA this summer. I don’t get on and look at comments so can you respond to my e-mail please. THANKS so much