If you’re reading via email, please click title above (“Known”) so you can read it to my website. This post includes a powerful video and a FREE download that won’t come through via email.
_____________________________________
From Chapter 2, A Confident Heart
“Jesus knew Sam’s (the Samaritan woman’s) story and He knows yours. The Greek word for “know” is yada. It means a deep emotional experience; a bonding between two people when one truly feels the emotions of the other. Jesus knows your pain, fears, doubts, and disappointments. He understands your dreams and desires.
Although some of us feel uncomfortable that God knows so much about us, it is good to be known, to be listened to and not judged. Jesus is the only One who can meet our deepest needs to be accepted and delighted in simply because of who we are. We can offer nothing but our presence, and He will desire us just the same…
Christianity is the only faith that offers a relationship with the living God. We don’t just know about our God; our God wants us to know Him. We were created for that kind of relationship. He wants us to find lasting soul-security in knowing we are valued and pursued by the One who knows and loves us—the One who created our inmost being and wove us together in our mother’s womb (Ps. 139:13). Have you let the gospel of God’s grace move from your head to your heart, so that you know without a doubt you are known intimately and loved completely by God?” (p. 40 printed copy)
_____________________________________
Our word this week is “Known”
Our verse of the week is: Jeremiah 1:5 – “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…” (NIV)
This week’s video message is one that shows us we are known and loved. Please click the arrow below to watch this video – all the way through. You’ll be so glad you did.
(from video script)
I WANT TO BE KNOWN
I want someone to look at my face
And not just see two eyes, a nose,
a mouth and two ears
But to see all that I am, and could be
all my hopes, loves and fears…
And YOU know me
You actually know me
all of me and everything about me
Every thought inside and hair on top of my head
Every hurt stored up, every hope, every dread
My past and my future, all I am and could be
You tell me everything,
You tell me about ME
And that which is spoken by another would bring hate and condemnation
Coming from Youu brings love, grace, mercy, hope and salvation
I’ve heard of One to come
who could save a wretch like me
And here in my presence, You say
I AM HE… ( read full script here)
_____________________________________
Today’s Assignment:
- Download our Free Printable PDF of this week’s word and verse — or find it here in a Word doc format if you prefer. Please print it and post it everywhere so you can remember God KNOWs YOU and He loves you!!
- Read this week’s memory verse (Jeremiah 1:5). Ask God to remind you all week that He knows the way you long to be known, pursued and loved!
- Start or continue reading chapter 2. Remember, take your time and highlight or underline sentences that resonate in your heart.
Connect in Community:
What sentences in Chapter 2 are resonating most with you?
- Please lick “Share Your Thoughts” below this post, and do just that. (Remember you have go to my website to do this)
- Share them on our Confident Heart Facebook Group Page
- Share them with me on Twitter(@reneesswope). Use #AConfidentHeart so we all find each other and share how God is speaking us!
_____________________________________
I’ll announce last week’s winners in my next post.
Discover more from Renee Swope
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
“Ask God to remind you all week that He knows the way you long to be known, pursued and loved!”
This statement comes at such an opportune time…I can be honest here, right?? I’m 37-years-old and just went on my first “real” date 2 weeks ago. To make a long story short(er)….I discovered that he is not yet officially divorced (!!!), is broken over his wife leaving him, is a Christian AND a minister (knew this ahead of time), and….wanted to start a relationship with me. He mentioned after the fact how God must have a sense of humor for my first date in a while to be with a man who wasn’t ready for a relationship. Ummm…..no. I found NO humor in it. 🙁
I am sharing all of this because….I WANT TO BE PURSUED. And, for a moment, I thought this man was going to–actually he did at least begin to. He was very complimentary and, with a weaker heart, I could have stepped right in to “save” the day and pull him through his mess. But….the Holy Spirit prompted me to say no….and, really, that’s what I wanted to say. I don’t want to be his fixer. I’m just so disappointed and really wondering what God was/is thinking. I saw myself, even in this one date, begin to literally “lap up” the attention.
I’m really wondering why God isn’t enough for me?? Why don’t I sense that He is pursuing me?? Am I not listening?? Am I not looking?? My heart aches to be loved….cherished….known. I know that Jesus can/will fill that ache….I just haven’t experienced it.
Martha,
When you act as if God is enough(by faith) He becomes enough. Talk to Him as if He is the Lover of your Soul. Confide in Him. Tell Him your jokes. Tell Him your fears. When you act on His word that “He will satisfy your longing soul and fill your hungry soul with goodness” Psalm 107:9, He WILL make it a reality in your experience. Meditate on the scriptures that state how God feels about you. Don’t just read them. Meditate on them constantly and you will begin to feel loved and cherished.
Some of my favorite scriptures are:
Isaiah 43:4
Psalm 139:17,18
Song of Soloman 7:6,7
Psalm 45:11
God bless,
Karen C.
Hi Martha,
I too have not allowed God to be enough for me when it comes to the need for love from a man. I accepted Jesus in my heart 6 yrs. ago after a painful 3rd divorce. I am again in a serious relationship with a man who fullfills my need for love. I compromised living close to my family, my career, and left my home and life to travel and work with him just to be with him. It has been challenging in many ways and I have questioned many times my need for a man’s love verses God’s love. I have always put the men in my life first and even after being saved I feel I am doing that still. I know I am not giving God a chance by putting Him first. I find it hard to be the Christian I desire to be because I let myself be influenced by my boyfriends lifestyle in order to please him. My boyfriend is very good to me and I know he loves me but I still question if being with him is God’s plan or mine? Am I still desperate for a man’s love? I have prayed about it many times….but am I afraid of being without a man and not having faith Jesus will fullfill me? I would welcome any thoughts on this.
Wow, we are all such strong women! We are acknowledging that we have insecurities and are wanting and ARE turning to God for His perfect Love! Yet, after reading all the comments, this is so easy for me to see the strength in YOU, but very hard for me to see the strength in myself. Not sure why, but I want to go ‘go beneath the surface with Jesus so He can show us places in our hearts that need His repair!!’ (Page 40) To live in the security of God’s word, II want a personal relationship with God and a confident heart!
Shannon, I will pray for you! I, too, do not see this strength in myself. But I am trusting and believing that, as we ask Him to work in us, He will do it! Do not lose heart and continue to ask Jesus to reveal Himself to you. I will pray the same. 🙂
Renee, you are such a blessing to us! I don’t know how you can reach inside and read my mind & heart. I find it very difficult to believe you ever struggled with confidence as you make it all sound so clearly possible. To be known is to be loved and to be loved is to be known…and the woman at the well story is one of the best! To suddenly be told that the secret lie you hide in your being is actually irrelevant if you ask for forgiveness for it…and then just let it go and move on and be loved. I need to be loved, for real, and knowing that there are others out there who are “fine” just like I was “peachy” means there’s a lot of need for love out there. I know God wants me love everyone just as he loves me…but I really need to start loving myself first. This is going a long way toward that acceptance and confidence.
Thank you again!!
Oh girl, if you only knew. I had a cancerous disease of self-doubt. Paralyzing and deadly to the soul. You’ll see in the chapters to come more of what it looked like. And I”m not saying it’s easy – but I am saying it’s possible to break free from the chains of insecurity and the prison of pretend.
So, so, so blessed to be on this journey with all of you. YOU are strong and courageous and God is with us – if we are willing to stay w/ Him, HE WILL SEE US THROUGH to the other side!!
I have a few markings and marked the phrase about “being fine.” I noticed this has already been posted, but it just seems to describe me. I can be fine, in every since of the word, on the outside, but the inside is all jumbled. Part of me is wondering if part of the reason my husband says I have changed is because I do not have the confidence as a wife and mom that I had when I was single and dating him? Hmm. What do you think?
To start: Thanks for helping me feel comfortable to post comments here for all to see. : )
One of the first things that popped into my mind (and as I continued to read this chapter) was “Jesus Loves Me.” Jesus loves me this I know, For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong; they are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
(And it goes on…) How often do we just sing songs but not really take the words to heart and truly believe them?
I had MANY highlights as I read. How awesome is it that He knows us; He loves us (even with our flaws and “mess ups”); Wherever we are, He wants to meet us there; He wants a relationship with us! What An Awesome God!
I pray that I, along with all of you, let the gospel of God’s grace move from my/our heads to my/our hearts.
If I/you were sitting with Jesus today, what do you think He’d want to talk about??? Definitely made me stop and think.
I love the sentence on p. 38 – “But if we only live on the surface with God, we’ll never experience the intimacy we long for or the acceptance and security He offers.” It is so clearly evident that it is our choice as to whether we live on the surface or dive deep into the heart of God. I want so desperately to be changed by Him, I am sick of surface-living and long to feel so filled and entwined with Him. I know it is possible if I am willing to stop wasting time and take the time to sit in His Presence, soak in His Word and listen to the Teacher of my soul. So easy to write, so hard to do…amazing how we were created to have communion with Him and know it and want it but not enough to do what it takes. I think in the past I have tried to do too much, promise too much and then set myself up for failure. This time, I want to stay faithful in the morning to my pledge to spend time with Him and if it is less one day than the next, not to get disheartened and throw in the towel, to keep memorizing Scripture and to just keep keeping on, being faithful.
What stands out to me is on page 37, “He invites you to come to Him to receive the perfect love He offers–love that casts out fear, love that is patient and kind, love that keeps no record of wrongs. That is what He offered Sam, and it’s what He offers you and me.” I have struggled all my life with fear, and it encourages me to know that Jesus can cast out my fears as I learn to rely upon Him. I have also begun implementing praying using Scriptures (from Chapter 1) and it has been very helpful. I find that when my mind is filled with fear, anxiety, and worry, by praying using Scriptures it is helping to calm my mind and the negative thoughts are leaving. I’m very thankful to be part of this on-line study and learn from what others have shared in their comments also.
I think about how many times I have told people I am FINE and actually felt exactly how you said it Renee. Frazzled, Irritated, Neurotic and Exhausted! i don’t have to pretend things are fine when they are not. God always enters at the perfect time. He shows up and never lets me down. I always know that He is there to listen, to comfort, to hang out whatever I need at that particular moment.
I really love pg. 38. “If we only live on the surface with God, we’ll never experience the intimacy we long for or the acceptance and security He offers.” Which goes one to say instead of making our lives easier, God wants us to come up close and experience Him and all that He has for us.
He knows all about us and what we need and aren’t we so glad of that! This little Bible study has been such a blessing to me and it has only just begun. I am being drawn deeper and deeper into the heart of God and by spending more time with Him I am finding that I am trusting Him more and more for everything in my life. I have also had to take a good look at myself and where all those doubts come from and why. I am not sure I have the all the answers yet and maybe I don’t need them right now. I do need to stand on His word and just simply believe God is working in my life right this very moment and because he knows all about what is going on so I don’t have to worry or pretend. God loves me just as I am and He loves you just as you are.
Reading through some of these comments is such a blessing and such an eye opener. I wish I could read through each and every one. It it amazing to see how much of us have this very same longing in our hearts for a good friend who loves and knows God. That was my prayer for a few months last year, I think it is a request I need to pick up again. I doubted and discouraged myself and released the request, but now that I can see that it was just doubt driving me, I feel I should pray again.
“We can offer nothing but our presence, and He will desire us just the same.”
This sentence literally brought tears to my eyes. Ive always felt, I still often feel that I am not enough. To know that I dont have to lose 50 pounds for God to love and desire me just the same, to know that I dont have to have the nicest clothes, I dont have to have the most beautiful spouse – I dont have to pretend to be anyone but who I am is amazing to me. For years – I mean years – I pretended to be someone I was not, just to be loved and accepted and even after all that (some of you can attest to this) it still might not be enough – what if the people you want to be accepted you change their minds…then what? (cursed are those who put their trust in man)
Thank You Jesus, thank you so much for knowing me and loving me. Knowing that right here in this moment you cannot love me any more – nor can you love me any less, makes me feel so valuable. Thank You Lord.
This chapter is both painful and beautiful. I also grew up never feeling loved or approved of by my father. I only felt “love” when I did something to earn it. Then my parents divorced and my dad was gone. I quickly found that if I traded sex, I could find that temporary feeling of “love.” It always left me feeling worse, so I would end the relationship by replacing it with another. Finally, after numerous marriages (Sam) and always avoiding Wal-Mart after 3 pm and on Saturdays (Sam’s neighbors). I was introduced and accepted Jesus’ invitation to true love. Like in chapter 2, I meat a gentle, kind, humble Man who accepted me for me.
However, some of the doubts and insecurities remained. I listened to them and remarried a man from my new church. I wasn’t attracted to him at all, but I thought to myself that I was lucky any Christian man would want to be with me. I didn’t trust him and I had a bad feeling, but others told me that it was because of my past that I was afraid to trust this guy. I married him and found out after 3 weeks that he was a total fraud in every sense of the word. He was wallowing in almost every sin you can think of. People told me you have to stay with him, it’s your duty. You don’t want to repeat your past. I tried to, but I couldn’t. He wouldn’t stop the behaviors and I couldn’t bear to have him touch me again. So, I went back to being talked about. I avoided all the stores in my small city. I ended up with a husband who ignored me instead of trying to turn his life over to Christ and a teenage son who belittles me to this day, just like in chapter 2.
I am so thankful for this study. God is using it to bring me back to Him. When I was saved, I was completely on fire. I felt confident and loved until I met that man from my church.
Today I am a part of a body filled with people who care about me. I teach 1st/2nd grade Sunday School and am involved with missions, but the nagging doubts and insecurities are still there haunting me and my son still wants nothing to do with me after a year.
Marie:
I’m so glad that it sounds like you are in a better place now – in a community that cares. May God fill you with confidence that out weighs your doubts!
I just wanted you to know that I appreciate you sharing and being so open and honest with your hurts and life. I too have had an unfaithful christian husband and felt I should stay with him. I was judged, and was not able to open up and share our live intimately with women in church, I do believe that this is where it starts. But in the church family, especially if the church is big, I have found it actually harder to speak with christian women than non-christian women outside the church. The enemy has certainly kept a division among women, isolated and distant even in bible studies. It shouldn’t be this way. It is very hard to make christian women friends. As Michelle commented on her lonliness on the 23rd, this is very sad to me. And to read so many comments after hers of how many women out there are really looking for a christian friend to pray with and have support. We all need it and I hope that maybe some how we who are on here will help each of us to learn how to be the christian friend God wants us to be. To be open and honest and lift one another up here. I’m glad to be apart of this study and find you all here. Lots of love and hugs.
Our verse this week, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart….
It makes me smile to hear this verse. It was on of my grandmother’s favorites. She had such an influence in my walk with Christ. But it saddens my heart to hear so many of us in this study that are longing for a true christian friend. I too have been praying that the Lord would send me someone that I could share my struggles and victories with. I have aquaintances, but I really can’t think of one person(this meaning someone other than my husband) that I can ask to pray with me about things. I say this with the exception of my mother. I can always count on her to be the best and most faithful prayer partner and for this I am so thankful. But I long for someone my age, going through the same struggles as a wife and a parent. I know that the Lord has wonderful things in store for all of us through this study. I will be praying that the Lord will send all of us a friend that we can fellowship with.
Dear Megan,
I can relate to feeling like an “island” among others who face hardships and when I seek assistance there appears to be none left for me. I can imagine the loss of your Bible Study group as well and I always find changes in a church membership confusing since there is only one God but so it is. Although I have been in constant conversation with God all of my life, it is now as my children leave the nest and my husband continues to learn from me as he did not have a relationship with God, and my closest confidant, my mother, has drifted into severe dementia, that I am learning that when there is no one else to lean on or to just listen to me (because I can also relate to all the others who have been praying for close girlfriends), God is always, always there. And I have pointed out (more like complained) that sometimes He is a little too quiet……He is still listening and will still be there for as long as I need to talk and most likely He is waiting patiently for me to finally be quiet enough to hear what His response might be. 🙂 Keep turning to Him Megan and I pray that His peace and love will envelope you and hopefully wipe your tears away.
Sending God’s Love,
Nancy
I just watched the video for a second time and it was a bit easier this time around. To hear the words spoken had such an impact. It made me a bit sad to think that I’ve been hiding and worrying all these years – worry about not measuring up, not fitting in, not being good enough – and I don’t have to worry about that at all because I am loved no matter what. Unconditionally by God. Very humbling and thought provoking.
I was unable to watch the video that was posted yesterday…just watched it now…I had printed out the words but hearing the woman speaking the words REALLY had an impact on me.
The jail I have lived in…the pain I’ve carried all these years…too ashamed to give to God…even though He already knows…the unbelief that God could actually love a sinner like me…constantly looking to others for approval when all I need to do is look to God.
It sounds so easy…but at times it is so difficult.
And oh how He loves you! He just wants you to simply trust Him and tell Him all about your troubles and for you to know that He is working everything out for your good because He knows what is best for you. I am praying for you. Your friend in Christ, Linda
Thank you Renee for the list, Knowing God by Name. I like to thank the Lord for each of those names and characteristics so I pray and thank Him for one each day of the month. In order to have 30 names or qualities I have added some. These include the 7 “I AM’s – The Way, the Truth and theLife; the Light of the World; the Good Shepherd; the Door;; the Resurrection and the Life; the Bread of Life and The Vine. Here are a few more – Jehovah – Eternal, Everloving One; Adonai – The Lord, My Master; Jehovah M’Kaddesh – the Lord Who Sanctifies and Jehovah Tsidkeenu – The Lord our Righteousness. (Our Bible Study did a study on the names you gave plus these). I needed one more to make 30 so I added Wonderful Counselor. Hope this is an encouragement!!!
I truly loved that poem …..who can really love me like that here on Earth…in this world…No One!!! and i am ever so thankful for the God in our Glorious Heaven who sent his only Son to die for me…gthst is yrs love…an amazing love i o no one can truly comprehend! I am do thankful that my God loves me Sooo unconditionally and how he can truly understand and know me and love me for who i am. he will always be there for me like no one else can…i am never alone cuz he promises to always b w me and he promises that he will never leave me o forsake me. i am humbled that he loves me regardless of my past o of the mistakes I’ve made o my decisions….i am loved and accepted by him…i smiley so thankful!!!! there are days when i just don’t understand life o why things happen but i know that he has a plan for me and that he wants the best gore me…that all things happen forsure those who love him who have been called according to his glorious love…i will hold on to him…knowing that he has a plan…the best plan for me…
What resonated with me was the sentence “As children of God we were designed to find our identity, our significance, and our confidence in Him.” Oh how we miss this because we let others define our identity. I fall into this trap so much. I’m letting God help me work on this but it is hard. I’m trying to get to the point that I just don’t care what others think and that I only need to please God. I thank Him daily that I know He will never give up on me. He will help me change and be the confident woman He wants me to be.
I’m in the same boat Linda. Really trying to get to that point too of not caring what others think and just focus on what God thinks of me. I’m trying to find this balance and not care what others think but not to the point where that can negatively affect relationships. And yes it is so hard, especially because you have to apply it everyday and multiple times per day. Sometimes you get tired of fighting that battle. But I encourage everyone dealing w/ this bc the more we do it, the easier it will be to do and the benefits of doing it are immense! Thanks for sharing and encouraging. It’s really something to know of others struggling the same ways. How blessed we are to have each other on this blog. It shows me how so many of us are hurting, have the same struggles but there’s a beautiful sense of support even though we’re all strangers and some on other sides of the country or in different countries.
THIS SENTENCE SCREAMS AT ME!!!
“your heart needs to be set free from pretending and perfectionism.”(Swope, 2011)
I have been so worried about everything being so perfect and wanting to be accepted I have been attempting to pretend to be something that I am not. I have failed miserably in this area and only want to continue to learn and grow in Christ so that I will be set free from my own standards but most importantly set free from what I think other peoples standards are. Notice I said what I think because many times my standards are way above theirs.
I am a work in progress and taking the time to enjoy the journey as I go so I can share with others what I am learning.
Blessings!
Swope, Renee (2011-08-01). Confident Heart, A (Kindle Location 497). Revell. Kindle Edition.
Wow. These words strike a chord tonight as I struggle to understand why God has placed me in a (extended) family with so many hardships. I feel like I’m on an island. I don’t ask my parents for help hardly ever, but when i do I’m constantly let down. It hurts so much. Couple that with changes in our church membership & the close-knit Bible Study group I had been a part of not meeting anymore, and I really struggle. I feel alone, but it’s comforting to know God is there no matter what. Still, that doesn’t always make the tears sting any less.
Changes are so tough for all of us but we need to remember that changes come for a reason. Old things end and new things begin. Look at the whole new family we have been given right here with all of us girls. It could be that God is wanting to work in your life right now so I will be praying that your heart will be open and sensitive to His leading. Linda