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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LOVE the new website and always love your giveaways. Thank you for being available to God so you could minister to me (and so many others).
I already signed up for the 7 day doubt diet (and shared the messages with several of my friends at the time, because it was so awesome) and I signed up for your e-mail list last night. I have been worried about work lately, and that I am following the wrong direction. I would definitely appreciate the prayers!
God’s timing is always perfect and the 7-Day Doubt Diet Devotional a couple of weeks ago was no exception! Each day spoke to challenges I’ve been facing and I was eager to share with anyone who’d listen – my ladies group has decided to use your new book for our next bible study. We are so excited! Thank you for sharing your experiences and insights – I will forever be changed by the way God is working through you~
I love Ps31! I get the magazine and watch their facebook feed. It never fails to encourage me. My cousin recently lost his legs and left arm in a work accident. I just finished a journal full of scriptures for him and I had to include parts of articles that were in PS31. I also just finished Craving God, which has helped me stick to the crazy strict diet I’m working on. I can’t wait to start on your material! Looking forward to the blessings:)
Thank you for being faithful to God so you can encourage us!
Hi Renee! If you could please pray for our family as we are hoping to add to it but dealing with some fertility issues. And I did all 3!! Thanks!
This is all so needed for me right now. I struggle with worry and self doubt daily. My biggest worry right now is finances. My husband and I are struggling to make ends meet. It seems like we try to cut things out, but then another unexpected expense comes along and we are right back where we were. Neither one of us wants to get a second job, but it may be the only way to get some of these bills paid off. Please pray for me and my husband, that God will reveal His plan for our finances.
Stephanie, Ft Worth, TX
Love, love, love everything I’ve read so far about your new book. I’ve been a fan of Proverbs 31 on facebook . I decided to like your FB page for your new book because every time a quote was posted from your book from the P31 page, it was truly inspiring EVERY time. I hope to win a copy BUT even if I don’t, this will be a book I will own. 🙂 Blessings to you and your ministry!!!
I can’t wait for your new book!! I just finished reading your 7 day doubt diet and I was left wanting more! I can’t wait to see what God is going to do in my life. I so need something like this. I have been going through a teremendous amount of stress, guilt, and doubting myself. Thank You for shaing with us. God Bless you
I’ve signed up for email updates and the 7-Day Doubt Diet! Loving it so far!!!!
Renee,
Congratulations on launch of your new website! It’s beautiful. After scrolling through some of the comments posted my heart aches for so many women with real burdens weighing them down. Thank you for being confident to respond to God when He called you to this very special and necessary ministry. Praying for you and all the women you have touched today. I will be spreading the word via facebook and personnal connections that we can all be lighter through A Confident Heart.
Thank you so much. I did all 3. I am so very excited about learning how to be a confident woman in Christ!! I have always struggled with this issue. I can’t wait to see what God is going to do! God bless! 🙂
Loved the 7 day doubt diet and can’t wait to read the whole book! Every day seemed to speak to me at just the right moment, guess it couldn’t have happened at a better time for me. Worry/anxiety has hit me hard ever since becoming a mom, but gone in waves. Your doubt index actually surprised me; I had thought my worry was worse than it really is. Since reading the doubt diet and getting the daily Proverbs 31 ministries email, my husband is noticing a change in my mood/anxieties. Found out today that I could get regular emails from your site, and can’t wait to be encouraged and inspired more. Thanks for all your resources on your site!
Hi Renee,
I’ve signed up for your email updates and for the 7 day doubt diet. I look forward to reading your book! Thanks for the chance to win! Have a blessed day!
Hi Renee … I am new to your website and training. 🙂 I like your site! I have been out of work since October 2010. I am my mom’s 100% caretaker. It has been good to be home to take care of her, but unemployment will run out soon. I believe I only have one more extension before it will be done. I have been looking for a job, but have not been able to find one in my area. I feel God has closed that door and has opened another one for me. I will begin school on August 3. Continuing Education classes in Medical Administration (this is a new career for me!) It has been many years since I have been to school! I know this is where God would have me right now, but I am a bit nervous about the next unemployment extension. I am working on overcoming this. Will you please pray with me that my mom starts feeling better, that I can overcome the doubt about the unemployment, that I have the skills to do well in school (and do well on the state certification test) and find a job after training. Good gravy that sure seems like a lot! No wonder I’m a little down. Anyway .. I have signed up for your 7 day doubt email. I can’t wait to get them. It just dawned on me they may be very helpful! I have also signed up for your email updates. Look forward to reading your encouragement! Praying peace and blessings over you and yours …
Renee,
Thank you for the post. I struggle with worry on a daily basis. I have for most of my life. I signed up for your 7 day doubt diet and I would love to read your book. I have been trying to live what I learn on my journey with Christ, but like I said, my flesh is weak when it comes to worry. My mother has been diagnosed with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma, My husband had Hodgkins Lymphoma and is now battling Thyroid issues that stemmed from his radiation. My husband lost his job for 3 months because of health issues. I am a stay at home mom with 5 kids so you can imagine my stress level. I still count my blessings because I have a wonderful and supportive family, a roof over my head, food on my plate and a wonderful God and Saviour who takes care of me and loves me regardless of the fact that I continue to worry lol. Please pray that I can continue to lay down my worries and concerns at Jesus’s feet and live the joyous life He died for me to live. Thank you for all you do to encourage and lead. May God contiue to bless your ministry. 🙂
I shared the Peace-Giving Promised page on Facebook AND on Twitter (Bethany LeBedz). I’ll tell you what worry did to me: it made me literally, physically sick. I didn’t listen when God tried to get my attention in more subtle ways, so now I have been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. He’s got my attention now, but sometimes I still forget and try to do too much and worry too much!
Hi Renee,
I am a subscriber of Encouragement for Today and I came across your 7-Day Doubt Diet. I signed up for the free devotionals as well. I have read the welcome email and I am so blessed by it. Chapter 1 from your book really spoke to me, to my situation. I believe it has got to be Daddy God’s appointment for me to come across all these. I really hope to have a copy too. I invited some friends as well to sign up for the devotionals. God bless you always.
everytime I start to read your devotionals I feel like it is something I have been through and that is it just for me. I know we girls experience a lot of the same situations and it is great to have someone that can relate to us. I enjoy reading your posts on FB, and your devos! Thanks.
Just finished the first chapter and connected right away! I also have that huge shadow on the wall. But I was shocked by one of the questions at the end ~ when is the earliest you remember doubting ~ you know what, it wasn’t until very recently and I’m over 40 years old! I immediately thanked the Lord and wanted to share with you! But then I got here and started doubting that I should write my thoughts . . . weird, but that’s what’s been going on with me for about a year now. I praise the Lord that during a time when I find ~ after all these years ~ I traded my confidence in HIM for doubt in myself; HE provided a (free) message from you that spoke to my need! Thank you for the encouragement. I just know the Lord is going to use you to bless many women and families!