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Renee Swope

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

Read An Excerpt: Chapter 1 & 2

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!

Comments

  1. Thank you Renee, for being honest in the chapter. To be real as a speaker about what it is like in your car is probably the hardest and most needed thing you can do. I love that we have you posting a clip of you between conferences, with you precious little one in her car seat telling us the sound a cow makes, and this week, you failing with your husband the day you blew it. We all blow it and to know that a Christian speaker puts on her eye shadow, mascara, and lip stick thinking the same things about her gray hair (or gray hair she thought she saw) is what we need to hear.
    God has given you a platform to encourage and built up believers (sisters in Christ) and this is a day that those of us who are trying to keep up with our church, family, and community in a technical world that is changing fast I am so thankful that you and Lysa have provided your services in this way.
    When you first started I remember getting the little newsletters in the mail. I had little kids and that was a way I could connect. You filled the gap in my life that had been filled by “Christian Woman’s Magazine” when I was a working woman. I didn’t start having children until I was 31. 21 years later I have returned to school to sharpen my resume and tool box with computer skills. I still like getting the Proverbs 31 magazine in my mail box and I give it to a friend when I am finished, but having the website to share with my facebook friends is wonderful. (even men comment on the verses sometime)
    Maybe there should be a Proverbs 31 Man ministry too. hehe.
    I fall down and He gently picks me up. That is what I like about the Holy Spirit; He is a gentleman who treats me like a lady. I love the old musicals and one of my favorite lines is: ” I just want to be a lady” by Alisa Doolittle, in My Fair Lady.

  4. I get the email everyday. Actually, I get more than 3 of them from different Proverbs 31 speakers too. Every morning I get my Air 1 verse of the day, then I read the main Proverbs 31 devotion, then the other ones through the day as I have time. If I can’t get to them all by bedtime I relax and catch up at night before I go to bed.

  5. I shared the link today on my facebook and I do often. I am in a Bible Study at my church in Lysa book, “More than just a good Bible study girl”. It seemed to be a theme this week. He will pick me up, righteous woman of God…not just 7 times, but 70 x 7. I know He has and will continue. That is why I like sharing Proverbs 31 on my facebook.

  7. Hi Renee!
    I’m so thankful for each chapter I read, this book has been such a blessing to me! Altough I’m a few chapters behind, I did skip to Chapter 10, and I really love the names of GOD! I have a nice big poster on my wall right in front of my computer with the names of GOD that I had got when I had visited the Holy Land Experience! It’s a daily reminder of who GOD is, what HE is, and what HE is doing in my life daily!
    Blessings
    Stephanie

  8. Hi Rene
    Thank you so much for the reminder of God’s great generosity. His generous patience, grace, mercy and forgiveness. I will be purchasing a kindle copy of ‘A Confident Heart’. I actually wrote and recorded a song about this very topic. It’s called, ‘True Love’. I would also like to congratulate you and the whole Proverbs 31 team on such an awesome job you’re all doing. I am so blessed by the daily devotions that I receive. May God bless you and the whole team richly.

  9. Because we are human, failure is a way of life. Our life is now hid in CHRIST, who is our hope and our means to be transformed into Christ’s likeness. I think my greatest motivation to get up again, is my LOVE for Christ! My desire to love Him better and to give HIM praise with my life is what gives me the ability to dust myself off and try again. HE IS ABLE!!

  10. Lord I want to know you for who you really are so that I can trust you more today and every day. Thank you Renee for sharing this video…just in time for my doubts that creeped into my world this morning. I will also share this on my FB page. I would love a copy of your book. Blessings

  11. Thank you for this wonderful reminder! I have been unhappy with my job for about 4 years & have failed in the search for another job. Sometimes I really feel like giving up. Thanks for helping me remember that through the Lord’s strength I can get back up & persevere.

  14. There were two things in today’s devotion that spoke directly to my heart. The first was the picture that you painted when you wrote, “Perhaps you have also allowed failure to…, tie you up with the ropes of regret…” That one made me pause because I really saw myself in that. I have allowed regret – could have, should have, would have – to consume my thoughts. It has tied up my thoughts to the point that it was incapacitating me to do much else. Thank you! I was somewhat aware before but now I clearly see. I’m very visual and I was able to see how much it was affecting me. I say was because now that I am fully aware I am going to be vigilant about it.

    The second thing was the scripture with the blanks to insert my name. That was powerful! It’s not just the steps of “a good man” are established by the Lord; it’s the steps of Felicia are established by the Lord!! That hit home.

    I am participating in the Bible Study starting April 23rd and I cant wait!

  18. Renee,
    Thank you so much for your heartfelt and inspirational messages. They really speak to me. I am encouraged when you share about your everyday stuggles within your family and how you let God carry you through them. I, too, can be very hard on myself when I feel like I have failed to be all God created me to be. I love when you said, “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.” Thank you again for your encouragement. I would really love it if I could win a copy of your book. God bless you and this ministry.

  19. As I read this today I realize that at times I fail to pray for things (such as releasing my doubts and fears to God) because I, of course, am yet again afraid I will not actually allow myself to release these things and put my trust in God…which will again make me feel like a failure. WOW! What a vicious circle that is. But today is the first time I have actually realized and/or admitted that am afraid to let go of things and afraid to pray about it it. I will start praying for these things TODAY and will start putting my trust in God and will take one day at a time. Thank you for sharing this today!!! Just what I needed!!

  20. So far in Chapter 10, one of my favorite things I’ve read is: “Because of God’s mercy and forgiveness, my guilt-induced doubt is replaced by grace-induced confidence.” I’m one who let’s guilt get the best of me so often, I hope to call upon this quote to remind me to ask for God’s mercy and forgiveness when I mess up.

  21. What a marvelous message — our God is always there to pick us up. The part about Him using our weaknesses and failings to cause us to draw closer to Him is so freeing! Thank you so much for sharing these words of comfort and encouragement.

  22. Your book goes right along with what my counselor is telling me I need to do. She says I need to “pat myself” on the back more for the things I am doing right and not feel bad about myself. Your book is helping me with good things to think about myself. Thank you!

  23. Thank you Renee for this devotion today. As I read all the comments above and pray for each person there, I feel the Lord moving though me and I know I am not perfect and I have done and will continue to do things that will disappoint the Lord, but as you say, I can and always will “get back up”. I agree with Nancy above and it is so true, the chorus of Toby Mac’s song,

    “We lose our way, we get back up again.
    One day your gonna “shine” again.
    It’s never too late to get back up again.
    You may be knocked down but not out forever.”

    Thank you Renee for all you do to bring us all closer to our Savior! ~Hugs~

  25. Great reminder that we CAN get up again! We will rise again! Also that we can truly know God for who He is and what his names mean to us! Thank you for sharing!

  26. Thank you for this devotional today. I beat myself up on a daily basis thinking I’ve said something I should not have said, worrying what someone else might say and on and on. The scripture comes to mind if God is for us, then who can be against us. It is so easy to say the words and not to doubt. Thank you Lord for giving this special women Your insights and touching other women in need. The Lord has blessed us all.

  27. I shared last night one of the things I highlighted. Just wanted to share this morning that the ending prayer thoughts from the video are indeed my prayer. Thank you Renee for letting God use you with this book and study!

  28. “Lord, I want to know you,” in a personal way too! I want to listen to you Lord and to trust You with Your direction for my life. I have walked through that open door this week from being focused on myself and afraid I would fail/fall or someone might think to focused and trusting God. When God opens your eyes, it is amazing how bound up satan really has us. Renee, God is using you to touch lives and open hearts, thank you for allowing Him to use you in such a powerful way. I don’t want the book to end so I guess you must write another, maybe how God can use those Confident Hearts. Whether or not you do, I do know that God will be holding my hand and picking me up, and that I need those difficult times to grow in Him so He can mold me into that person I need to be.

  29. I am looking forward to reading your book and doing the study of it with you. I just came across your site today while I was doing devotions on Crosswalk.com. I so needed this message from you because I need to have surgery done to remove my gallbladder and I am very scared. I feel very unworthy of God to answer any prayers of mine. I am trying to drown myself in His word. I have been saved since I was 13 (I’m now 42) but I have been in and out of church for awhile. I have treated God more lke my servant over the years then as my Lord. Thank you sooo much for your devotion today, I truly needed it!!!

  30. I have been intrigued by the names of God for many years and have several books relating to that. Somehow, just knowing what each one of them implies about God lifts my spirit and as I pray using them I know He hears. I believe it pleases Him when His children know about who He is and what He wants to be personally for each of us. I continue to try to learn more and teach others that God is not only pre-existing, eternal but also desiring fellowship with me. What a wonderful thought!!! We all will fall, of course, but the future with my heavenly Father in charge of my life will continue to be promising.

  31. 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 …

  32. 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.

  34. 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.

  37. 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!

  38. 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!

  39. 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 .:)

  40. 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!

  41. 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?

  42. 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!!

  43. 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!!

  44. 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..

  45. 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!!

  46. 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!

  47. 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!

  48. 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!

  49. 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!

  50. 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