What if this week, every time we look in the mirror and think … “Uggh, I need to ______ {lose weight, do something about these wrinkles, get rid of those dark circles under my eyes, etc.} you say this out loud:
“He calls me Beautiful.”
Because it’s true. He does!
What if we surrounded our hearts with truth seekers and truth-speakers, who told us these truths again and again? Friends who point us back to the One who calls us Beloved, Known and Valuable.
This week I’m honored to be joining a community of women that do just that, everyday. Speaking courage, truth and Hope into the hearts of women around the world through their words, blog posts, community groups and more. Oh how I’d love for you to join (me) there as I join the contributing writers team of:
Perhaps (in)courage is a place you already know? Or maybe it’s a community waiting for you? I’ll be sharing more in the weeks to come. But I hope you’ll hop on over this week, and find out more about (in)courage, see me with bed-head (in my favorite place on earth), and meet the other new writers here. BUT BEFORE YOU GO be sure to ENTER TO WIN (Sorry, the giveaway is over, but would still love to hear from you)!
To celebrate the (in)courage-ment, and the fact that this week will be different because we’re going to tell ourselves the truth every time we look in the mirror… I’m giving away Love Idol: Letting Go of Your Need for Approval and Seeing Yourself through God’s Eyes, by my friend Jennifer Dukes Lee. Jennifer is also a newbie (in)courage writer along with several others and me who joined the (in)courage team today!
Jennifer wrote “Love Idol” for women like us—who’ve had “enough of the not-enoughs.” This book is her journey toward freedom from the approval-seeking-cycle where she invites us to a place where we can lay down every mirror, every tally sheet, every report card — everything that tells us we aren’t (____) enough.
ENTER TO WIN by leaving a comment sharing one area of your life where you would love to see yourself as God sees you: loved and pre approved. (Sorry, the giveaway is over, but would still love to hear from you)
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Hi Renee! This book sounds like just what I need. I was raised in a home with conditional love, if you were just thin enough, smart enough…This led to an eating disorder in high school and then into a verbally abusive marriage. But God is so good and loved me in spite of myself. I am now married for the second time and the Lord has Blessed me with a wonderful husband. I have two sons, 18 and 21 months old and what I have taught daily is I love you no matter what, but God loves you even more. But the devil is always lurking around the corner with words of doubt. Even after all the years I wish I could finally lay that to rest and see my as God sees me, LOVED! Blessings
I’d love to see myself Pre-approved by God in all areas. I desire for every part of my being to bring Him glory & honor & praise & to see me the way He sees me. I ask for a divine perspective on life. Yet the world bombards us with not good enough images, comparison traps, which are all lies the enemy uses to keep us from being all who God created us to be in Him. It’s hard to guard our hearts from these false ideologies. If you are not careful those negative behaviors & thinking can sink in and grow roots which are what Satan the liar uses to keep us from being all who Christ created us to be. I pray that He will sift my thinking & beliefs through His thoughts, His ways, His Word. Until I am so completely molded into His image So others may know the hope to which He’s called us to be in Him. Which ultimately glorifies Him. In Jesus Name. Amen. My prayer for all.
Like so many have said, my head and my heart argue…going thru a divorce really causes the devil to play a Mira of mind games. I praise the Lord I am fearfully and wonderfully made, but my human side is trying to break me with feelings of what ifs. Thank you for the encouragement to all!
I would love this book! preapproved is a great reminder. Thank you!
Timely reminder, thank you. My self-comparison to others always leaves me feeling less. Why do they have and I do not……. I am focusing this year on remembering that I have exactly the gifts God want me to have and need no others; that I am exactly who He wants me to be and that is enough for me.
The main area I wish I were able to see myself as God does is definitely my role as a wife & mom. I feel like a failure in those areas more than any other.
I believe that God sees me beautiful I am His daughter, it is hard to accept it but still praying. One thing that I would like to do now that I moved into a new community is share with my new neighbors about the love of God and how God sees them, I am encourage by this blog to join you in encouraging others about how God sees us. God bless you.
Please pray for my new journey.
Rosalba
Thank you God for accepting us just as we are, trying my best to remind myself of this each time I feel I’m not enough.
I could use this book! I have struggled with this my whole life! Good to know that we are not alone in this-huh? 😉
Thanks for the reminder that no matter what the world or other people say, we are already approved by God, the only One Who matters. I’ve suffered from the need for people approval for a long time and am just now becoming able to realize that I’m pre-approved.
We do need to be reminded daily probably every second of the day that God says: we are all those fabulous things and so Approved of! I am pretty good and reminding others of how wonderful they are so now I just need to say them back to myself. We are so blessed that God has gifted women like you all to share these truths with us daily.
Hi Renee,
Jennifer’s book ‘Love Idols’ would be an encouraging and truth-telling book I’m sure. I would just love to feel ‘loved for who I am and what I do’. I want to be an encouraging wife, mother and grandmother as well as an encouraging friend. But I must come across much differently than I mean to. I just want to share God’s Word and truths and promises with those around me…
Thanks for the opportunity to win this book.
Thank you for this sweet reminder. Now that I’m divorcing and finding out I can not have children makes me feel unwanted and ugly. It’s a tough being 31 and having a full hysterectomy. It’s even harder for your husband to stop loving you and walk away from the marriage. I feel less of a woman and like something is wrong with me. I need to remember that God will get the glory, no matter what the situation is.
An area in my life where I want to me as God sees me loved and pre-approved is in my spiritual walk/ relationship with. I desire to fully walk in my purpose and set out to help those he desires for me to help. Though in every other area I need him as well but this one is the top. Thank you and I will be joining in(courage) because I daily bed to be encouraged and I know others that can use encouragement as well. God bless
I needed the reminder as I have struggled the past two years with finding my confidence that I am approved by God. Ending a marriage from a husband that was mentally and verbally abusive, moving to another state, trying to get my diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis under control and having to place my 24 year old special needs son has been a challenge indeed. I do see the blessings everyday and know He will see me through it all.
I would love to see myself as God sees me. He sees me as beautiful, capable and full of purpose and promise. I have a hard time believing that. It is a slow process.
I too have thoughts of not being good enough, thin enough. I’m thankful for this reminder that I am pre-approved, worthy, and loved. Thank you so much for this timely reminder.
I don’t feel beautiful or that I’m skinny enough or good enough. I purchased The Confident Heart and am about to start reading it. Would love to win this book! I need encouraging. Thank you! And please pray for me.
Looks like a great book. I def need the reminder.
Wow – what a powerful message. I f I do not win I believe this will go on my BUY list.