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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Thanks so much! I shared on FB and Twitter and signed up for the 7 day doubt diet a couple weeks ago. I also receive your newsletter. How to pray for me? I have taken on a new job as a school principal and my new school has many difficult issues. God’s peace is what will get me through! And the 7 day doubt diet spoke directly to me. 🙂
God does lead His children once we seek HIm. As I opened my email account this morning I decided to share the thought that was on my heart, “The peace of God passes all understanding once you keep your heart and mind stayed on Him!” After doing that I started to read my mails and to my delight I opened your invitation. I am so thankful to God that He never leaves us comfortless but gives us assurance through all sorts of moments. I thank God for you Renee for a listening /obedient heart. I pray His blessings upon you and all He has called you to do. You are already blessed.
I loved the free offer for the 7 day doubt diet. I have shared the offer with friends via email and on my FB page. I would love to win the Confident Heart!!!! The first chapter already spoke to my heart, and I can’t wait to start reading tomorrow’s devotional. Some of my friends are struggling in the work place, and I forwarded the email to them as a source of encouragement in their jobs. I’m praying God uses the next 7 days as a powerful way to minister to my friends and me!!! 🙂
Fear would be the one concern that I would like to lay at God’s feet today. I get so consumed with fearing what might happen that I lose out on what is actually taking place. I must learn to give it ALL over to God. He is in control of everything anyhow. Most of the time, the things I worry or fear I can’t do anything about anyhow. Giving it to God will give me the peace that I long for. Thanks for the resources. I am looking forward to reading your book.
I can equate with your comments today in several ways. I have shared the email with several other ladies and am ready to receive the books ordered!! 🙂
I just signed up for your email updates also, love the look of the new site!
Thank you Renee for these encouraging words. I deal with fear which I have a acronym for: F= Fear, E= Everything, A= And, R=Run or F= Face, E=Everything, A= And, R= Recover. But I don’t live by this @ times I allow satan to get all in my thoughtys and have me doubting myself and all that I am capable of. On the 16th I am starting a book club “Sista’s in Christ” and I am happy about this opportunity I have been wanting to do thid book club for sometime no, but I never did because I always allowed fear and doubt to get ion my path. Now that I am getting closer and closer to the date I am starting to have self-doubt and that word FEAR is starting to kick up. I know its nothing but the enemy trying to discourage me from doing the will of God and I am asking you to please keep me in prayer I know I should fast & I think thats exactly what I am going to do, can you give me any suggestions on what to do just anything encouraging. I want to have like a folder of different things to give to the ladies but I don’t seem to know how to go about doing that, so Renee if you have any websites I can go to please email me and I also looked at your free resources and i’m going to download some things from there. Again please keep me lifted in your prayers. 🙂
As for prayers, I have been very blessed by God and am very thankful for all He has given me. I recently underwent a surgery to remove an ovarian cyst that showed signs of being cancerous and it wasn’t (PTL) my daughter who thought my husband and I were such an awful parents for expecting her to help around the house and moved in with her father has realized that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Tomorrow I see a surgeon for a cyst on my breast so he can determine our course of action. I am sure that God will work that out also. So pray for my daughter, who is the only person where she is now living that has a relationship with Christ, to continue to nurture that relationship and to show God’s love to them through her actions, and pray for me to continue to trust God and rest in His hands knowing He will work all things for my good because I love Him.
I am so blessed by the “Encouragement for Today” daily devotions. EVERYDAY they seem to minister to something I am going through. For a long time I have been stuck in moving forward in a lot of things and believe it is a self-confidence thing. The Lord has been drawing me closer and closer to Him, creating a passion to know Him better and I believe your book will be helpful. “Stop worrying, Start praying, Keep thanking God (Phil 4:6-7)”. I like the way you outlined that for me. That is what I have been doing and will look forward to becoming stronger. Thank you for your ministry.
I was already receiving the 7 day doubt diet, loved it by the way! It really helped me in this area of my life
I enjoyed your 7-Day Doubt Diet. You can pray for me as I life as a mom or two kids with chronic health problems.
I felt comfort knowing that I’m not alone in my insecurities and lack of confidence. At the age of 50, I have missed so many opportunities and HIS best for me. I have no doubt that the Lord longs to heal this area in my life and I look forward to walking with Renee and the Lord to true and lasting freedom. I want to be all He created me to be and no longer listen to the enemies lies or the lies I’ve come into agreement with. His truth will set me free!!!
Thank you for sharing your own personal experience from pain & chains – to truth and life in Him!
I tweeted and shared this post with my friends
Hi Renee,
Many thanks for your encouraging post today. I was going through the same thing in my life, a few months ago with my university work and trying to balance my spiritual life, family and relationships etc, and I found that I was just wearing myself thin. Eventually, I finally heard what God had been saying all the while – that He doesn’t want any of His children toiling, and that we are called to live victorious lives here on Earth, and not to struggle our way through. It’s all part of our testimony as Christians. So, I could really relate to today’s devotional. I am also at a point in my life where I’m learning to appreciate myself in Christ more and to celebrate my uniqueness, instead of doubting who God has created me to be. And yes, I have struggled with quite a bit of self-doubt, and I’m glad that God has been helping me in this walk of faith. It’s so important for us to see ourselves the way our Heavenly Father sees us, and let that shape our very being. It ain’t easy, but we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us! (Phil 4:13)
God bless!
P.s – I have done all three. I’ve spread the word via email, and have invited a few of my friends to join in with the 7-day doubt diet. My prayer is that God who has begun this [beautiful] work in us will complete it until Christ comes back. (Phil 1:6) Amen!
My favorite worry verse:
“Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” – Matthew 6:27, 33-34
This is a wonderful post, Renee! Thank you for sharing the insight God blessed you with. I have shared it on facebook and Twitter, and I’m going to write a blog post this week about worry with a link to your post and devotion as well.
I have a friend who came to mind as soon as I read the title of your book! I’m going to bless her with a copy if I win it or not.
Hi Renee! I’m currently going through your “Doubt Diet” and am signed up for your updates. It has been really helpful, as I daily struggle with worries and confidence. You have such a sweet spirit and it really encourages me to read your story. I would love to win a copy of your new book! I also have a tabletop cross, and I think I’m going to start “giving” my worries to the Lord, too. 🙂
Hi Renee,
I shared the P31 devo with all the women in my Women’s Group this AM we loved it! I’ve shared today’s post on my personal FB page; I signed up for the “Diet”. You know I love you – thanks for this wonderful lesson. 🙂
Thank You Renee, I needed to read your email today. I am feeling anxiety about leaving my family next week
for a trip, and peace is what I need most of all. So thank you!
In desperate need of promises today…thank you. Your prayers are welcomed and needed…
Hi, I did all of them! This post comes at just the right time for me. I have always been a chronic worrier – even to the point of believing that my worrying would keep bad things from happening! Recently, I started having anxiety attacks (I’ve never had one before) and it scared me. I’ve been using Prayer, Scripture Memorization, and Meditation on God’s Word to combat them. I know God tells us not to worry, it’s just so hard to break a life long cycle. So, would you pray for me to be victorious in my battle?