Welcome to my NEW website!! I’m so glad you stopped by today! If you found your way here from the Proverbs 31 Ministries invitation to join us on The 7-day Doubt Diet, click here for more details or simply sign up in my sidebar.
If you’re visiting after reading my P31 devotion, “When Worry Makes Me Wonder”, thanks for hopping over. In my devotion, I shared how a few years ago I felt like I was suffocating under everything that was going on in my life. Have you ever been there?
Slowly, I let worry weave it’s way into my thoughts and wear me down. Eventually, I came to a point where I was exhausted and ready to resign from just about everything…life, ministry, etc.
I ran out of fuel and felt like I didn’t have enough energy to handle all of my roles, relationships and responsibilities.
I also ran out of faith. I started doubting my ability to to hear God clearly and to do all I assumed He wanted me to do.
All my worries started making me weary. And they made me wonder… I wondered if I could manage my life. I wondered if God noticed and cared about all I was doing for Him, and others. And I wondered why God wasn’t doing something to make my life easier.
One day I was reading in Luke 10 and noticed Martha felt the same way. She couldn’t get everything done and it was making her come undone. That day I noticed something. She went to Jesus. Yes she was freaking out, but she went to Him about it.
And she asked Him the same question I’d been asking in my heart:‘Lord, don’t you care?
“She came to Him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care?that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’” Luke 10:40b (NIV)
And how did Jesus respond to Martha’s doubts and demands? “’Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’” (NIV)
I knew God wanted the same for me. He did care. He did notice. He’d left a note for me right there in scripture to show me what was going on in my own heart. And He’s done the same for you.
I sensed He wanted me to come to Him and talk to Him, instead of talking to myself (in my head) which only made me worry more. And when I did come to Him with my concerns, He replaced my thoughts with His thoughts. He replaced my worries with His peace.
Some days I needed to do more than pray. I needed to give my worries to Him. So I wrote them down on index cards and put them under a cross I have next to my bedside. Physically placing them there, and giving them to Jesus was so powerful.
I also looked up promises in scripture to replace my worries and doubts. I found verses like Psalm 55:22 that says: “Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you…” (NLT) I also found 1 Peter 5:7 that reminded me: “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (NLT)
We need God’s presence and the promise of His care as a dwelling place for our hearts. And on those days when we we just can’t do it all and we wonder if God notices how hard we’re trying, He wants us to know He notices and He does care. He cares about us and He loves taking care of us and all that concerns us, too.
I’ve got a list of “Peace-giving Promises I’d love to share with you on my FREE resources page. And I’d love to pray for you today, too. Be sure to leave “share your thoughts” below and let me know one worry you want to leave with Jesus and I’ll pray for that concern. And also be sure to enter my drawing for my “Contagious Confidence” Give-aways.
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Peace-Giving Promises GIVE-AWAY!
In my book, A Confident Heart, I share in chapter 9 how we can turn our fear-filled thinking into faith-filled believing and stop Satan from stealing the confident peace that’s meant to be ours in Christ. Today, I’m giving away 5 copies of A Confident Heart to ONE of you – along with a Free “Confident Heart” Q&A Conference Call. That way you can gather some friends to go through the book together and we can talk about it if you want to! And, because I want more than one winner, I’m giving away 2 more Advanced copies to another one of you, too.
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I would love for you to join me in sharing God ‘s peace-giving promises today! Here are a few things you can do to enter today’s give-aways:
1. Share this post or a link to the “Peace-giving Promises via email, Twitter, your blog or Facebook. Let’s encourage as many women as we can and disarm the enemy from his weapon of worry. My “Tell a Friend” buttons below makes it really easy.
2. Sign up for the 7-day Doubt Diet (if you haven’t already) and invite friends too! It includes a week’s worth of devotions with more powerful promises, personal encouragement and scripture-based prayers to help you lose the weight of worry and doubt so you can gain a confident heart!
3. Sign up for my email updates in the little box at the top of my website to receive news on give-aways, free resources, blog posts and more! I’ve got all kinds of announcements coming up!
Leave a comment by clicking “Share Your Thoughts” below and tell me how I can pray for you. Also, let me know which or all of these you are doing to share God’s peace-giving promises today. Your comment will enter you into the drawings. I’ll announce the winner on Monday, July 18th!
And be sure to download your copy of more “Peace-giving Promises. “
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Your message on worrying was sent to me from above. The last two weeks I have been struggling with doubt. I couldn’t see how God was going to work out circumstances for my son. I was overwhelmed with decisions, financial concerns, issues for safety. I’ll though I read these same scriptures for comfort, your message helped me remember that even though we may suffer, God will lift us up in due times. I don’t have to pray the answers to Him-He knows! I would ask that you pray for concerns regarding my son’s college. Thank you for being willing to share your story.
Doing all 3…need desperately…
I have done all 3. This post was felt like it was guided my way today. It fit so perfectly with my life at the moment – worry, overwhelmed, where can I get more time to get it all done, take care of everyone else, have everything just so for work because you feel that you have something to prove. I know this but this was a reminder that the only person I need to be the best for is our wonderful, loving God that is standing there ready to shoulder our worry for us if we can just let go long enough to give it to him. Thank you for that reminder.
My much needed prayer is for me and my Mother. She was a very hateful abusive Mother and now she is very sick and it was left to me to take care of her. I am 58 she is78. Even though she can’t speak now due to several strokes I can still see the hate I always felt she had for me in her eyes. I need forgiveness in my heart toward her to be able to handle this “gift” God has given me of being her caregiver. I struggle daily with this situation and as one of God’s girls I try to do what is right but I don’t always do it with a loving heart. Please pray for me and this terrible burden that I feel I have. Thank you so much and please sign me up for the book give away,
As I read your daily devotion today, I felt a sense of peace knowing that I do not have to be a Martha!! At times I feel as if I am having to be “super mom”, “super wife”, “super employee” and on and on and on……
At times I feel like God has left me and when I am crying out to him he is not there. In this season of my life I need a confident heart! I am grateful that I found your web site. It is wonderful. Thanks for sharing your story and being a witness to us ladies!
Please pray for me that I do God’s will (and not my own) and that I be a Mary and not a Martha.
God Bless
Thank you for such a wonderful devotion. I saw your book advertised the other day (I think it was in a previous devotion this week or last) and was super excited about it. Even more excited about it once I saw that there was a giveaway! I am a person who always tries to please people, seeking out there approval instead of focusing on God. I have struggled with self image and being who God has called me to be for years now, and I would love to have a more confident hard. Keep up the good work and thanks for even giving us this opportunity!
Renee, thank you so much for the devotion. Please pray for me and my family as we are in the midst of change. I just finished your 7 day doubt diet – what an awsome study. Please sign me up for the book give away. I would love to read more of God’s promises.
Thank you for your great devotion. I especially like the idea of physically writing and laying your cares at the cross. Powerful! Your website looks fantastic. Love how easy it was to share the link with friends. May God bless you and your ministry exceedingly abundantly more than you can think or ask. 🙂
OK – I have shared the link and signed up a few weeks ago for your emails! I loved the post today and need to read it over and over again. I am so looking forward to your book and it is coming at a time I really need it!
Thank you for sharing your faith and encouraging others!
I absolutely loved your devotional today. It really spoke to me at a time that I needed to know that God cares and that I should give my worries to him. I shared the link with my 3 best girlfriends and I signed up for both your newsletter and the 7 day Doubt Diet.
Thanks so much for your words of encouragement.
Philippians 4:6-7 is one of my favorite passages. Worry is something I struggle with. But I must always put my faith in the Lord. Thank you for today’s devotion.
I really enjoyed the devotion running on Proverbs 31 today and goodness, did I need to hear it today as well! The book sounds great and I’m looking forward to reading it. And I’m looking forward to the 7-Day-Doubt Diet devotions as well! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and God’s word and wisdom!
I was happy to share the link about the new book and devotion with friends because I’m sure others would get a lot from it as well.
Did all three. Can’t wait to read this! I know it will be very useful in my life as I feel I’m approaching a new chapter soon with recent happenings. Thanks for everything you do to encourage us.:)
I have been telling friends, emailing and posting the link about your new book, because it has been speaking so much to my heart. I have way too much on my plate, along with guilt, and sometime the confidence to do these things weighs me down. So glad your sharing you wonderful gift God has given you and for sharing His word. God’s blessings!!
I love your new blog! It looks great!. I am so excited about your new book. I have recently faced doubt and worry over serveral job situations recently. Sometimes when I am wrapped up in a defeating situation, I forget that God is in control! Thank you for the beautiful reminder!
Renee thank you so much for this was truly for me. I am going through a difficult period in my life and the more I pray the worst it seems to get. I wondered if God really heard my cry. On yesterday I pulled out my little book of God’s promises and among them were the two scriptures you gave in today’s message. I began to meditate on hem and was able share them with a friend who is going through a difficult time too. I am going to share this message with her today and I know she will be blessed by it too.
Thank you very much for your message today. I woke up this morning worried about a particularly difficult job situation that I am facing. I appreciate the reminder to turn my fears over to the Lord, trust that He has a plan for me and pray for the guidance that I desperately need. Bless you as you continue in your ministry.
I have done all three – thanks for sharing the first chapter of your book. It touches my heart deeply because the issue of confidence and fear is everpresent. Am I doing enough? Am I doing what I’m supposed to be doing? And on and on. I’d love to share this journey with my Bible Study group so we could grow together and encourage each other as girls who want to live a confident life in the light of Jesus. Thank you for allowing God to bless us through your obedient heart.
This post brings back many memories from your book and ’09 She Speaks talk!! Since I’m up at 1 AM with much on my mind I believe it is just what I needed to hear!! Thanks Renee! And I’d love to win the give-away to share with my friends and do the study together, but win or lose I pray it’s something God plans for us!!! Blessings and prayers, Jill
Hi Renee,
I’ve done all the above! 🙂 I live in Singapore so I’m not sure if I qualify. That’s not the most important, though. I just wanted to say that I believe that God was the one who led me to come across your writing through the Proverbs 31’s Encouragement for Today’s devotionals. I purchased your Shaped with purpose workbook and CD which was very useful and has led me to want to find out more about myself and what God actually meant me to be.
I will definitely get your book somehow, someway. 🙂
It was blessing to read your devo today. I couldn’t keep the blessing to myselt, so forwarded to my cousin so that she could be blessed as well. I have posted your link on my facebook wall, and have downloaded your free resource. Thanks for all you do for the kingdom of God. Your reward will be awesome!! God bless you!!!
The 7 Day Doubt Diet is just what I’ve been searching for! I feel blessed already! God led me to this, so I know He has something special to say to me! Thank you for taking up the cross and following Christ !
An Angel sent this to me right when I needed it, ironically that’s what we call her even though it’s not her name! My heart, head and body ached so bad with pain that I just wanted for Jesus to take me home.. I wasn’t suicidal because it’s not my life to take but I heaved with pain for weeks, I read scriptures, listened to gospel, PRAYED HARD and it didn’t go away! She was one of the only people I could talk to that understood where I was and after reading this I could BREATHE again! “A body made from the dust on the ground with the breath of life breathed into it”. AMEN!! Can’t wait for the “food” of the seven day diet! With lifted spirits and a New light heart, thank you Jesus for not only your Grace but your worker that sent me this!