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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I have done all the above!!!! I share everything you post with my girlfriends, your spiritual encouraging words are the second best part of my morning. Not to be mean but the first best part is God giving me the ability to breath and move ! I want the book so maybe just maybe it will be God’s will for me to have it.
I can’t thank you enough for speaking, and bringing out what is in my heart…it’s kinda like you know me personally, what a good feeling to have.:)
I worry like no tomorrow, full of stress and you are making me understand it and to Trust in God more something I’ve had issues with forever.
Thank you
I found your blog through a link shared by Proverbs 31 Ministries. I shared the link and signed up for your emails as well as The 7-day Doubt Diet. I look forward to the daily inspirations as I have been overwhelmed and searching for inspiration and renewal then I saw this post.
Thank you for the reminders that God’s love for me is more than enough. I have been trying to rebuild trust in my marriage during the past few months and its been a hard road. So unsure of my own thoughts, if they are valid or if its just my own thoughts forming a life of their own. How do i go from forgiving my husband to trusting him again and having confidence in our marriage again? I know I need more of Jesus in my life but I feel like if only I felt more loved by my husband, things would be better. I’m not one to post usually (actually this is my first post ever on a blog!) but I’m desperate to feel loved and secure in my marriage again. looking forward to reading more!
Sorry for a second comment – I also forwarded this via email to some girlfriends who I thought would also benefit. Thanks Again!! 🙂
I am looking forward to your devotionals and I’d love for you to pray with me concerning the salvation of my 2 son-in-laws their names are Chad and Bruce. Also I’d like to ask you to pray with me concerning my daughter Carrie’s job hours…she has to work on Sunday morning and we’d love to see her hours change so that she could be in church on Sunday mornings with her 2 daughters. Thank you!
Being a single Mom of a 13 year old daughter, I was diagnosed with MS Feb. 2010. But Praise God – I have turned the initials MS into MS – meaning My Salvation !! Thank you Renee’ & P31 Ministries for inspiring& uplifting me every day !
Thank you so much for doing this and writing the book…the Lord always have a plan for all of us!!!! Being a NEW Pastor’s Wife had come with many hours of DOUBT, although some days can be good ones. Would love to have this book for two reasons, one to share with my daughters and two to gain a little more of confident on myself with your help…
Help is always welcome!!!!!
And also with the Lord’s help…..Amen!!!
Thank you so much for your message today about worry. That is what I have been doing so much lately. The bank is foreclosing on my home and the sheriff sale is July 15th. Everything has been such a blur the last few weeks and my son and I are having many struggles trying to adjust. But I know, that God has a much bigger and better plan for me if I will just set that worry aside. I would appreciate your prayers and I thank you for your devotion today and everytime you share. I did do the 7 day doubt diet with my daughter and we both enjoyed it. Thank you once again.
I read your Proverbs 31 devotion this morning and it was pointed right to my soul today. My husband and I have 3 children, the youngest being only 8 months old. I had a positive pregnancy test this morning and I just cannot wrap my heart around it yet. It’s such a shock, and we are days away from buying a home. My husband just began a new job and there is no insurance yet. I’ve been a believer since I was a little girl, so the reminders you gave were not breaking new ground with me, but they were exactly what I feel the Lord was asking of me. So, through my overwhelmed tears this morning, it is my purpose to give him my worries and accept the peace He offers. Thank you for allowing the Lord to speak through you.
I have done all 3 things listed to enter the giveaway! Thank you so much for this post! I needed to read it today. It seems I have been focusing on the things going on in my life and the worry instead of giving these to Jesus and letting him take care of things. I needed this reminder today! I look forward to reading this book!
I am new to your ministry! I feel that I have definitely be led here to discover truths about myself. Win or lose in the drawing, I am still a winner! Thank you. I did all of the various ways to enter.
I have done all the suggestions to enter the giveaway. I do so enjoy all the encouraging words that Renee has to give. This is a book that I am praying to win in the giveaway, as the title alone lets me know that it will help me in my season of life right now. Thank you, Renee for all of you encouraging words that you so graciously share with others. My prayer at this time is that God will allow me the ability to be able to share any encouragement that He shows me. There is always someone in a spot where I should be able to offer encouragement that points to the Peace of God.
I am a procrastinator and I have put off some things I committed to do where I am at a point of being overwhelmed . . .
Thank you for an opportunity to win a free copy of your book during these very hard economic times. I have signed up for the 7 day doubt diet and to also receive your emails daily. I have a HUGE prayer request. I have let doubt creep into my mind I am now in the deep pit of depression and trying to cover it up from everyone I know. I HATE myself. I think I am the worst mother, wife, friend, daughter, sister, etc. But I try to put on this facade when I see people so they will have no clue what is truly going on. I am going to try and download the first chapter of your book. Thank you for that free opportunity. And thank you for being willing to pray for a perfect stranger. I feel God has abandoned me and Satan is just having a party in my life. Wishing you all the best.
LOVE your new site! I have done all of the above! Hope to win your book! LOVED the 7 Day Doubt Diet, by the way! 🙂
I did all three things listed to enter the giveaway. I am so very excited about this book, and I have a group of stay at home Mommy friends that I want to start this as a study with mid-August when our kiddos head back to school. As soon as I read the title to this book several months ago, I knew I needed to read it. I am constantly trying to seek confidence in the One who only confidence should be gained. Thanks for allowing this opportunity to win a book, but most importantly, thanks for following God’s leading on your heart to write this book for all of us!
I downloaded the 7 Day Doubt Diet and forwarded it to a few women I thought would benefit from it as well. Would love to have a copy! I could use prayers for my nephews. They are 4 and 7, living in an unusualy family setting where I worry constantly how they will turn out. I wish that God would show me what the plan is for them before it is too late.
Thank you for the 7 day doubt diet on email. I signed up for it. I never realized I had any doubt but after reading your emails I realized the fear I had about doing new things was doubt. Thank you for opening my eyes.
I’d love this book, I have suffered from low self esteem and lack of confidence for so long. I struggle daily with this, and believe this is what I need, more God confidence!
I also shared this link on facebook!
If Wikipedia needed a photo of Martha for the online viewers, I could submit mine! We as women gravitate toward fixing, healing, making, baking, protecting, organizing, teaching, listening, worrying…..in a nutshell, exhausting ourselves b/c we feel like we have to or no one else will. I’ve been memorizing scripture on index cards to combat negative thinking…..I know it’s going to help! 🙂