Praying God’s promises — it’s changed me.
That’s why I included a prayer, at the end of each chapter, weaving together Scriptures from that chapter and others I sensed God wanted us to engrave on our hearts.
“Praying God’s Word has been one of the most life-changing ways I’ve learned to live in the security of His promises…and isn’t that what we all want?
“One way God tells us that confidence will come is when we ask Him for what is already part of His will. ‘This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us’ (1 John 5:14 NASB). So there you go: we can be confident we are praying God’s will when we pray God’s Word!” p.25
But that’s not all.
Romans 10:17 tells us that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” so let’s pray these promises out loud again and again.
Out loud. Yes, even if it seems weird. Find somewhere you can be alone to speak these truths where you can hear them, and let them echo in your heart
Trust me, it makes a difference.
“When we pray God’s words out loud, and hear them, the Holy Spirit engraves them on our hearts and writes them in our thoughts. We internalize God’s truth and our faith grows as we are transformed from the inside out!” p.25
Let’s pray this week’s prayer {together}:
Lord, I pray that You would give me a confident heart in Christ. Take me beyond believing in You to truly believing You. Help me rely on the power of Your promises and live like they are true. You say blessed is the one who trusts in You and whose hope and confidence are found in You. Those who hope in You will not be disappointed, because You work all things together for good for those who love You and are called according to Your purpose.
When self-doubt tells me I can’t overcome my insecurities, I will believe Your promise that all things are possible to whoever believes. I will not throw away my confidence, because You say it will be richly rewarded. I will persevere so that when I have done the will of God, I will receive what You have promised. My confidence is in Christ and I am no longer one who shrinks back and is destroyed, but one who believes and is saved! In Jesus’ name, Amen. {See Jeremiah 17:7; Isaiah 49:23; Romans 8:28; Mark 9:23; Hebrews 10:35–36, 39}
_____________________
{Special Gift & GiveAway}
Chad Lawson, my friend, award-winning composer and pianist , has graciously shared his beautiful, Spirit-filled Song of Prayer below. Watch and listen below for FREE. {If you’re reading this via email please click here to visit my website to watch}.Friend, you don’t want to miss this – trust me.
Even though it will probably be hard at first, please pause to soak in this God-gift that was filmed while Chad listened to the Holy Spirit. Chad simply played what God laid on his heart. You’ll see the joy of Christ in Chad’s smile but more than anything, you’ll experience the peace of God’s presence through his music.
You can find and download A Song of Prayer on Itunes ($1.99) or Amazon ($.89)
{Today’s Give-Away}
3 Special Order Song of Prayer CDs
To enter to win one: Click “share your thoughts” below this post and describe how you felt or what you sensed God whisper as you listened to Chad’s Song of Prayer. Also share one or two of your answers to questions you feel comfortable sharing about from the end of Chapter 1.
Remember, if you’re reading this via email please click here to visit my website and participate. All entries must be put in the “share your thoughts” section.
Discover more from Renee Swope
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
oops, answered next weeks questions. The music had me distracted, wink, wink!
2) Has insecurity ever kept you from doing something? Yes many times. I am a professional quitter, I feel like I can never to right, so why finish, in some cases why start…..diets, exercise, college, I could go on forever.
3) Describe how it makes you feel when doubt whispers:…….
It makes me depressed, tired, blue, sad, sometimes like I want to crawl under a rock, sometimes, like I want to die the pain is so unbearable.
A peace seems to be surrounding me and my thoughts. What an amazing young man to have this God given talent and to share it to others to give them peace, hope, beauty and the excitement of God’s promises! Thank you so much for sharing this.
From the questions:
1) The childhood I thought I had was superficial and a lie, not all, but a lot of it. It has always given me low self-esteem and I have yet to finish anything I start. I pray that this study will give me the self-assurance that I can really believe that God loves me and is same as he has always been and has been carrying me through my depression and I will rise up and get out of this mess I have made for myself.
2)My first memory of God, I think was when I was a the Baptist Elementary and the pictures that hang every where of him sitting peacefull, with either a child or lamb sitting at his feet. He wore white robe, sandals, had dark brown , long hair and light skin. We memorized many verses for grades, but they didn’t mean much. I went to church regularly, butwhile I loved it, it was being lectures to, not getting into the word. I feel like he was a curious child, somewhat serious. Kind of like my first child.
Thank you for this studye again.
Ellen
Wow….what a glorious expression of love that is displayed in this musical form of worship. There’s such an intimacy and transparency. Thank you for sharing this! As I listened I was drawn into prayer and started thinking about how I missed dancing in ministry for God. I felt a voice whisper for me to dance and I did. There is such a freedom of pouring your worship on God when there are no words but your heart connects with the Father. After I began to pray again. I began to thank God for my freedom. You see I signed up for this study about a month ago. Shortly thereafter God did a supernatural healing in my life. He broke the bondage of insecurity, people pleasing and low self esteem off my life. I HAVE NOT BEEN THE SAME EVER SINCE! Listening to this song of prayer made me realize that I was actually thankful for what I had gone through…not only was I a people pleaser I always attempted to please God too. Perhaps he used that to keep me from veering down a path of destruction. I don’t know…all I know is that if that is what it took to really appreciate my freedom I AM GRATEFUL and I refuse to go back to living my life bound by the enemy. I will continue to glean from this study the tools to fight the enemy if he even tries to come anywhere near my freedom!!! Be blessed ladies!
Renee you will never know how grateful I am that your are having this online study group for us. My husband and I have a marriage small group that we lead in our home that is an extension of our church family. I had told the some of the ladies on last year that I wanted to do an study group of your book. When you said you were going to start one my Spirit leaped with joy. Some of the ladies are suffering from a lack of confidence and this online study group will help me with my materials that I will be getting together for my study group later this year.
Your book has been a blessing in my life because I to have to deal with having the Confidence to step out and be what God has ordained me to be.
Thank You!!!
The music was beautiful and lulled me into a place of perfect serenity. At the time I listened Reflections which is a DayStar presentation happened to be on and so I muted my TV giving myself both visual and audible pleasure all at the same time; Simply Magnificent! My earliest memory of feeling insecure began at about age 7 or 8. I had a young adult cousin who taunted me about how ugly I was. When ever I knew he was coming, I would hide in the closet so I didn’t have to subject myself to his cruelity. I also remember in 6th grade the kids use to tease me about my pink lip and what they called bags under my eyes… they called me baboon face and asked if I was going someplace because I already had my bags packed. I was well into my 30’s before I could look past their tauntings and look at myself as a beautiful woman. When doubt whispers I feel dispressed first and then fearful but I’m learning to talk back to thouse doubts using the Word of God. I am grateful that I’m learning that the beauty of the Lord lives and dwells with in me.
Barbara…Psalm 45:11…The King is enthralled by YOUR beauty.
As I listen to Chad, it allows me to take some time and listen to God. Listen as He speaks to me to trust HIM in my days of uncertainty. To trust that He has all of my worries and fears under control. As I listen to the quietness, it reminds me to “Be still and know that I am God”.
To describe how it feels when I hear doubt whisper: I can easily identify with this. At the age of 56, this past year has wounded my confidence. After working hard to build a business for over 10 years, I heard the words “We have restructured and don’t have a place for you to “fit” anymore”. Those words hurt my spirit and, at times, still do. I have continued to go on interviews, where I hear how strong I am, how it should be easy for me to get a job since I’m so qualified, but continually get picked over for someone else. So I hear that even though I made it to the top 3 candidates, “I still don’t fit”. But, praise God, He accepts me just as I am. In him, I am worderfully made. And He has a plan and a purpose for me. When I hear those words of “I don’t fit”, I just pray to God for his direction to my PERFECT FIT and the purpose and plan that He has for me.
When I read Jeremiah 17:7 “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him”, it give me a peace to know that even though the calendar is ready to change to another month of unemployment as I start on month # 16, I don’t know when this season of suffering will end. However, this verse assures me that as I know the ONE who does know the outcome, I can rest today knowing that He has a plan and a purpose and it will all happen in His time. Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus.
As the song started I heard the small voice say this will be your “release.” Release -To set free from confinement, restraint, or bondage. I began to cry. When it got to the 10 minute mark It was the inner turmoil, confusion, roughness of life right now all stirred up. It must all be released. By the work of God he will heal and release me. By the end of the playing I heard the release was done, healing will be done. It is the dawn of a new day! The sun shown brightly and it was finished, done!
Thank you being obedient and following the Lord. This is inner healing.
How incredibly powerful this was for me. Thank you Renee for sharing Chad’s gift with us! I can’t wait to download it! I have already listened to it several times on your blog.
In His Calm, Mary
hi I love music and there is a song by Gungor, Beautiful Things
I have to play this every day– until it sinks in
I have never had a good view of my self. Poor body image and I am very self conscious around other people
God has been teaching me to let go and Look at me the way that God looks at me.
My aunt passed away last october. This song was on the radio and I thought “My aunt was beautiful on the inside and on the outside.” I would love it if someone said that about me.
I am a bit behind after Surgery Thursday, but now that I am home recovering slowly in some area’s and comfortably in others I can say that I was Confident in knowing God was with me all during the pre op – surgery and post op care. HE provided everything I needed in His timing and because of that I am back home recovering,. So I may be slow in catching up but all in good time. HIS TIME!
a complete feeling of peace and comfort!!!!
As I sat here and absorbed every note that Chad played, God revealed to me how every note and rest has a purpose. Just like in my life. Sometimes I may not understand what He is doing, or I may not even appreciate the “low notes”…But in each one He is doing something. He hears the entire song before I even can see it, He knows when I should rest, when I will have a “low note” moment, and even when I will have a “high note” moment. And He uses them together to create a beautiful masterpiece. And that masterpiece is Me….Thank you Lord for showing me your love for me, your daughter. May I never forget my daddy is the King!
THIS IS MY 3 RD TIME A BIBLE STUDY WITH YOUR BOOK. THIS ONE I AM DOING WITH MY SPARKS TEAM. THEY HAD NEVER DONE IT. I LOVE PRAYING GOD’S PROMISES. THE DEVIL CAN’T INTERFER WITH THIS PRAYER PROMISES BECAUSE IT IS GOD’S WORD AND THAT SETTLES IT . THANK YOU FOR SUCH A LIFE CHANGING BOOK. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS KAY
Wow! BEAUTIFUL piano music. One may sit back and not think of it being a prayerful, But how moving music is……How prayerful it truly is. I read only a portion of some of the comments. What neat perspective so many different women have shared! Thank you!
This first chapter has been amazing for me already! I don’t have a big story but spirituality has been a struggle lately…….. and I have been hearing many doubtful words in my head. I didn’t physically write down those words of doubt and throw them away….but as soon as I caught myself thinking them, I mentally threw them away! THANK YOU for that advise!
Praying for you all! God Bless!!
I love this song! And I love simply taking the time to listen to it and be still. I find it so hard to be still with Him daily. This song helps to quiet my racing mind and help me to focus on Him.
As I read and answered the reflection questions at the end of chapter 1 I was reminded about all the times in my life that doubt has kept me from doing the things I wanted to do. I missed out on swimming as a child because I didn’t believe I could do it and I missed out on joining certain clubs in high school because I didn’t think I would get in. I do not want to let doubt rob me anymore. I am making the commitment not to throw away my confident and to persevere.
Incredibly peaceful….beautiful piano music…..so soothing to my weary soul. It was so wonderful just to sit and listen and focus on Jesus my Lord….without any interruptions. Bless you for sharing your gifts!
Jen
Beautiful song and music. I have really been struggling this past week. But I am going to stick it out ans do this study group and gain my confidence because I can do all things through Christ who strengths me. I am so glad I joined in on this study.
I loved the verse Isaiah 43:19 “See, I am doing a new thing.” AND the verse right before it – “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.” The Lord is encouraging us to put the past behind us – where it belongs – and surrender to the work He is about to do – NO! is DOING in us! I am longing to be that New Creation that will emerge as I persevere. This is JUST the word of encouragement I needed to hear – and the heavenly music! Thanks!!
I do a lot of volunteer work in a Chinese orphanage and our nursery currently has about 80 babies. I am going to put this onto a CD and have it play all night while the babies are sleeping each night. While I pray for God to camp his angels over our little ones every night, I can see them rejoicing with this music as our little ones sleep and they watch over them. Thank you for sharing this.
What a gift those babies will receive. Thanks for sharing.
Oh Vickie. WOW!! That just blesses my soul to the deepest core of my being. My daughter was in an orphanage for 4 months so the thought of you being there with those babies and playing this over them just brings me to tears – and it will means so much to Chad too. I’ll be sure to tell him!!!
So beautiful…my heart was full of joy and in a happy place. It made me think of how beautiful I am because God made me. Istart thinking I couldnt do anything at the age of 8. I struggled in school and tried very hard. But it seemed no matter how hard I try I still didn’t do well. There have been times I won’t try something because I don’t think I am smart enough. My husband is very brite and I feel I am holding us back in doing the Lords work because I am not smart enough. I know theLord has used me in alot of was. But there are times I think that. Listening to that music spoke to my heart. Thank you.