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“What a [woman] desires is unfailing love …” Proverbs 19:22a (NIV)
I had everything I wanted yet felt empty and confused.
My life was full of relationships and accomplishments I’d worked hard to gain, but none could fill or fulfill me.
Frustrated by my aching emptiness, tears streamed down my face as I thought about the guy I dated through high school and college. Our future plans had crumbled under the pressure of me expecting him to be all I needed.
I had been crazy about him — a little too crazy.
Like the time a friend mentioned my ex-boyfriend was heading to our hometown for the weekend. We worked near each other, so Friday afternoon I parked by his office and waited for him to leave.
We both “happened” to be at the same fast food restaurant, at the same time and bumped into each other. After getting my order, I got in my car and followed behind him, hoping he’d see me, realize he couldn’t live without me and signal to pull over so we could talk.
Seriously, what was I thinking? As you can guess, he never stopped. I was hopeless and humiliated…
A few weeks later, I was taking a walk around my college campus. My eyes drifted to the buildings, dorms and other landmarks of memories. Suddenly my mind filled with a collage of faces, reminding me of my efforts to win the approval of advisors, friends and professors — hoping their affirmation could fill my emptiness.
Although I was graduating soon, had a few great job offers and achieved success in many ways, my heart still felt restless. And I couldn’t help but wonder: Why was all that I had never enough?
A thought rushed through my soul, stringing together two words I had never put next to each other. I sensed God answering me.
Renee, all you have ever wanted is unconditional love.
Unconditional love? I didn’t know there was such a thing. Then God whispered into my soul: You’ll never find the love you long for in anyone or anything but Me. I AM the unconditional love you’re looking for.
The thought of God loving me without any conditions was inconceivable, yet something deep in my soul told me it was true. I’d been looking for love that didn’t have to be earned. Love I didn’t have to fear losing.
Honestly, it was hard to see how God’s love could fill the emptiness in my heart. It took time, but I came to understand that God created me with that need for fulfillment so He could meet it.
Proverbs 19:22a, says, “What a person desires is unfailing love.”
The word “desire” comes from the Hebrew word ta’avah, which means: to greatly long for, deeply desire or crave. Interestingly, unfailing love is mentioned over 30 times in the Bible, and not once is it in reference to a person. It is only attributed to God.
Could it be that God gave us a desire for unfailing love, because He knew it could lead us back to Him?
If today’s post resonated with you, I hope you’ll ENTER TO WIN (This giveaway has ended, but I’d still love to hear from you!)
a copy of my new Confident Heart Devotional. I truly believe the stories and truths in it will change your life {like they have mine}!
Based on honest struggles we all have with comparison, self-doubt, fear of failing, and the life-changing lessons God’s taught me and ten other women, {whose stories are in the book} you will discover how to change the way you feel by changing the way you think – which will transform the way you live!
Expanding on what readers of my first book LOVED most: “When I say … God says …” statements, I’ve written 60 new devotions and new {WISGS} statements to equip you with a new a thought map and a promise – to live in every day!
ENTER TO WIN (This giveaway has ended, but I’d still love to hear from you!)
Share your thoughts in the comments below to WIN one of 5 copies of my A Confident Heart Devotional or a copy of The Five Love Languages: Singles Edition for you or a friend. Be sure to let us know which book you’d like to win!
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I am currently playing “catch-up” on the Confident Heart OBS and I started reading the latest chapter and it was like I had written the words myself. I have been struggling with what my DREAM is and what God’s calling for me is. I am looking forward to digging in deeper to learn more about myself and God’s plan for me. With that said, I really couldn’t decide which book I would like more. . . with our second child due any day I feel like the Love Languages book could really help my husband and I stay connected during a crazy time of transition, sleepless nights and finding a new family balance. Thank you for offering two great options! 🙂
I would so look forward to reading The Five Love Languages. I am just about finished with The Confident Heart (tomorrow is my last day!!!!!!! So sad, but so happy). I went looking for The Confident Heart because I was going through a tough break-up. My faith in God has always been there, but I seem to go to Him most when I’m troubled. I thought I wouldn’t be able to move forward…but reading a Confident Heart helped me see that I only need God. I’m in a much better place! I still have work to do on myself, but I can only move forward from here…. Renee, I thank you for every 🙂
*everything
I would love to win a confident heart devotional book
Your book A Confident Heart truly blessed me when I was apart of Melissa Taylor’s online Bible Study. I’m really excited that you have a devotional to go with it.
Thank you for this devotional today and the scripture! I started out this day singing the praises of the Lord, really believing on him. As my continued on I ran into a road block of disappointment. As usual the enemy loves to drop these bricks on my daily path like clock work to disrupt my closeness with the Lord. I am reminded by this Psalm that the love and satisfaction I find in the Lord is always present, not just in the morning, but even in the afternoon when I am struggling with a disappointment, even in the evening when the chaos of family life in full swing, even in the night when my mind wanders into the valley of fear. I must choose to live God’s unfailing love. Receive it and share it, praising him for every day.
For years now, I have struggled with low self esteem, to the point of passing it on to my children. I would love to win “A Confident Heart” to do as a family devotional with my children. Thank you so much for being an encouragement!
“Because scripture tells us clearly that God is Love (1 John 4:8), we know that God, by very nature, is relational. Love is an action, emotion, state, and characteristic that requires interaction with another being. Love does not exist alone. Scripture also tells us that we have been created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). We were created to love Him in return, though loving Him will never be forced upon us because love isn’t selfish.” From my own page about my book, love isn’t selfish.
We are creational beings! God made us in His image, and HE IS LOVE. 🙂
I’m going through a particularly hard time in my life. My sister killed herself 2 days before Christmas, my husband has been in the hospital for the last week and my 86 year old father who is under hospice care is going to be coming to live with us. A friend of mine recommended your devotionals and they are a ray of sunshine in my fairly dark life at the moment. Thank you for sharing God’s love with me daily!
I loved a confident heart. I have struggled with low self esteem for many years and love the lessons I got from the book. Thank you for writing it. I know it will help many people.
Confidence is something I continually struggle with. I would love to win “A Confident Heart Devotional”. Thank you for this encouragement!
Wow! Thanks so much! I have always struggled with a lack of confidence, but even more so as a young mother. I am learning that only God can provide me with the confidence that I need. I would LOVE to win your book, A Confident Heart devotional!!!
I would love to win a copy of a confident heart devotional. I participated in your online Bible study a confident heart and out helped me tremendously. Thank you for all you do and sharing from your heart to help other women. May GOD Bless you!!
Just this year I went through a very difficult break-up with the “man of my dreams”. While I was serving overseas for the Army, he was attending church with my family in the states and had revealed to me that he had accepted Christ as His personal Savior. I thought, “Wow! Thank you, Lord”. This is what I’ve always wanted in a man. But after I sustained a severe shoulder injury, the relationship with my, then, future husband became even more distant. The more I plunged into scripture to deal with persecution from the devil, the more he would question and wonder. Approximately three months after my medical evacuation to the states, my fiancé told me that he no longer desired to go to church. “In fact”, he would tell me, “I’ve been thinking about this whole ‘God-thing’ an it just isn’t for me. I was devasted. I knew the truth. I knew what The Lord wanted from me and that was to guide me back to Him. For years I strayed away from The Lord. I knew His Word, was raised in AWANA and the church, but the world seemed to always offer more. It has been six months since our split. It was incredibly difficult to watch him walk his separate way, and it still is to this day. But through it all I’ve become on fire for Christ. I became a prodigal and thank God every day for giving me a second chance. I can’t wait for the day when I can stand before Him and hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant”. I would love a copy of The Five Love Languages Single Edition because I presented my ex-fiancé with The Five Languages a few months before our break up. Every day I work on loving Christ more than wanting a man. Turns out the “man of my dreams” fell short. And I could not be more proud to say that God has taken that place.
Thanks for sharing that. The last two sentences will really resonate with me. I think that sums up many of our relationships- they fall short because only God belongs in the place that we put them. Thank you again for sharing
Wonderful writing! I am a retired old-maid elementary teacher. I spent most of my life serving and trying to please others without experiencing total success. I have gradually come to the conclusion that I only have to please God, who loves me unconditionally. He wants me to love HIM above all others. He wants me to love my neighbors AS I LOVE MYSELF. This is a relief, as self love is often seen as selfish and suspect. I continue to help others, but for love of God, not for their pats on the back… though, being human, I like those, too. I am devoting more time to Bible-based reading in an effort to have a closer relationship with my loving God. I hope I win so that I can read the books and share with my friends, including my adult Sunday School group, the Children’s Message I do weekly, the Monday night Bible Study I attend and the Tuesday night Youth Service I help with.
I have pretty much given up on ever being loved by someone. It just doesn’t seem like those are Gods plans for my life. I’m not sure what his plans are either. I didn’t have a boyfriend in high school, college or any other time in my life and it doesn’t seem like it will be any time soon. I’m already to old for that in my late thirties.
I WAS RAISED NOT REALLY KNOW WHO GOD WAS AND WHAT HE REALLY MEANT TO ME UNTIL AFTER GOING THUR A DIVORCE AND YEARS OF ABUSE AS A YOUNG CHILD. MY CURRENT HUSBAND WAS RAISE BY A FAMILY THAT THOUGHT HIM WHO GOD WAS AND NOW I AM A BELIEVER OF JESUS CHIRST AND SO THANKFUL FOR WHO HE IS TO ME PERSONALLY. IT IS HARD A TIMES TO REALLY THINK THAT SOMEONE COULD LOVE ME UNCONTIONALLY WITHOUT KNOWING ME. I WOULD LOVE TO WIN THE CONFIDENT HEART!!!
Your devotional today hit me right in the chest. My heart hurts. I feel as though you could see me when writing that devotional.
I know that to be confident in your faith you have to know that God is always with you. I know he is always with me and after the study of “A Confident Heart” with P31 ministries I am able to hold my head high and get things accomplished without doubt,. I am sure the Devotional would help me to keep that confidence. So I would like the Devotional. Thanks
Sunday’s sermon was about the story of Martha & Mary- how we allow our lives to get so full with things because we’re missing the most important part, the good part- a beautiful, intimate relationship with Jesus. Reading this today helped me realize that I’ve spent most of my life being Miss Martha and I need to take a cue from sister Mary. 🙂 Thanks for your encouragement in this devotion.
“But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:40-42)
I have always believed in God but never pursued my faith until recently. I am reading the Bible and love the Proverbs 31 Ministries messages. They inspire me to connect and let God fill my heart and mind with his love for me. It has been a long process of wondering and doubt but I keep going because I know that a life without God in my heart is wrong for me. A Confident Heart Devotional is just what I need to show me how to let God fill my heart.