It’s late Wednesday night and you’re on my heart. I’m wondering how you’re doing, and if maybe you are feeling weighed down by self-doubt. God nudged me to pull away from what I was doing (working on preparation for a retreat this weekend) to write a note from my heart. It was totally unplanned, but I wanted to ask if the heaviness of discouragement or a lack of confidence is burdening you ?
If so, I want to invite you to join me on The 7-day Doubt Diet – as we work together to lose the weight of self-doubt – maybe for the first time or maybe a second time for some of you. This is spontaneous too, but I’m really excited about it.
Starting next week, I’ve decided to offer the 7-day Doubt Diet devotions on my website and weave in short stories from my current life circumstances to let you see that I’m on a journey, too. Replacing our lack of self-confidence with lasting God-fidence is a process for each of us, a daily turning towards truth in each and every circumstance that cause us to doubt ourselves or God’s promises in the midst of the unexpected.
And this time, I want us to do the 7-day Doubt Diet – TOGETHER!!
To join me and other women God calls to walk with us, all you need to do is sign up for “Email Updates” so you can receive them each day in your inbox for convenience. There is a small little brown box at the top of my website with a white x in the top right corner. Please sign up there for “email updates” before Sunday – so you will receive the first day’s assignment with everyone else on Sunday. (If you are already signed up, you’ll automatically receive these next week.)
I’m looking forward to really connecting our hearts and praying for each other through this time. If you’re going to join me and sign up, I’d love for you to leave a comment by clicking on “share your thoughts” just below this post. (optional) But, I’d love to know your in, read your name and see your face if you have profile with a headshot (no big deal if you don’t), but this way we can start praying for each other.
Blessings, prayers and big ‘ole hugs,
Renee
Renee, this is just what the ‘doctor’ (my life coach) ordered, but neither of us knew until, miraculously, your Confident Heart materials flew through cyberspace and landed on my laptop the very next day, yesterday. God’s perfect timing.
Her assignment for me Friday had been to spend these next weeks figuring out and journaling, this: WHY I LACK CONFIDENCE in my life, why my insecurities, my fears of failing someone or letting them down, why all the self-doubts in my own speaking, coaching, writing and ministry. And then asking God what to do about it.
So, I’m excited to find and begin your seven day “diet” and have ordered your Confident Heart book. SO TIMELY. But wait. There’s more.
You can imagine my amazement when I took your assessment last night, and scored 160 out of 198. When you said, “as a child I thought I wasn’t worth keeping,” you ferried my thoughts back to when I was 7 years old and Daddy left and we never saw him again. My older sister thought it was because she got a B on her spelling test. My younger sister thought it was because she was a girl and Daddy wanted a boy. Me? I just thought I wasn’t worth sticking around for.
Many years later, well into adulthood, we sisters discovered that it was none of the above, rather due to complications from a head injury Daddy sustained during wartime–that he really did love and want us. But the die had been cast; our childhood years were wrought with questions no one seemed to have answers for, self-doubts, insecurities and fears–as we little girls silently grieved a huge loss we didn’t understand and weren’t allowed to talk about.
Today, by God’s mercy and grace we are all Christ-followers, serving in ministry. We have experienced much healing, for which we are so grateful. I realize, however, that the self-doubt and confidence issues are still affecting my life and ministry.
So I look forward to taking this journey with you, Renee, and completing my Journaling assignment with great hope, and joy. Thank you, sweet friend, on behalf of many of us, for seeing your need, and helping us see ours, so that we can find the confidence to do the work to which God has called us. To Him be all the glory and praise!
I am going through a lot of difficulties emotionally from a breakup with my boyfriend and i am very convinced that God is working behind the scenes in my favour through your website. I continue to struggle with my hurt but i know God is healing me too. the pain is much less now and am very grateful to you. God richly bless you. Thank you
Hi Renee
Thank you for the invitation to join you and other women in this 7Day Diet. For a long time I have been in spiritual warfare and each time I overcome the enemy another raises it’s head. I am truly feeling weary and has been questioning God when will it end. It is not that I doubt God is able but the constant battle is threatening to break my confidence that I can make it to the end.
Hello Rene,
I am walking in “Expectancy” believe that the 7DD will help me! I believing God to show me some things and to lead me out of my comfort zone. I know that he has so much more for me and I must have the confidence that I can do what ever He has called and purposed for me to do.
Thank you for this. I always struggle with worry and this is very helpful. It is going to help and bless many of us. Blessings for everyone. God listens
This is such a divine message, when talk about insecurity and doubts and our women bible class this morning,and i can;t wait to share with them ,i think the most important lesson to learn is learning who we are in CHrist and all these will be added to us.
Confidence is always been something i struggle with. This time I will take the time to do this with you. It is somthing that i w=want to grow into and let the lie on=f not having confidence.
I know Satan is trying to hold me back from sharing. I feel very intimidated when even “speaking” on line. I continue to struggle with self-doubt and I know with everyone praying and staying in the word of God, will help me be stronger. Renee, thanks for allowing all of us on this journey to share in the gift that God has blessed you with.
I’ll be joining you for this one, while also doing the longer-term study that Melissa Taylor has going right now. What an awesome set of things to compliment each other. Life seems to really be happening right now, and double-teaming this study will be wonderful!
My heart needs this so badly. I put off reading the last email update because I was afraid and thought that I’d already gone through the “diet” once, what would a second time do for me? But as I cried to a friend/mentor over the phone for 35 minutes last night, shedding tears because my heart and mind are overwhelmed with life and will not stop racing with doubt, I remembered this email was sitting in my inbox. The struggle right now, on top of much more, is self-doubt and that is what it comes down to in my life at this point. I am SO looking forward to dieting for the second time and am praying I put more effort into it this time!!! Thanks Renee!!!
Hi Renee,
This also came at a perfect time for me as it did for many of the other women. I also have had a problem with my “esteem” or rather I guess I’m just not good enough for others to love or want to be around. This past year has been quite challenging with relationships especially with my children. I know that I am a sinner and need God’s forgiveness. My thoughts sometimes take me places I should not go, thinking that even my children want nothing to do with me. They have families themselves and busy lives. I just want to know and I do know it but I guess I want to always remember that God loves me all the time. I want to remember that He never leaves me or forsakes me. I want to remember that I can run to Him when my thoughts are going places He does not want them to and that I can call on Him to help me with that very deep problem.
I am currently going through your book–A Confident Heart–and God is showing me so much. I understand that Jesus is the source of everything i need, and He is the only man who will never reject me. Men as a rule reject me and want me to change, and I have made the mistake more than often. I am learning to rely totally on Him. And when circumstances tell me otherwise, He is still in charge. Nothing happens to me that He has not foreseen!
As I care for my mother full time, who has dementia, God is so working in me! But with the situation as it is I can not fellowship with other sisters in the Lord regularly right now. So this opportunity is a huge blessing. Thank you so much.
I thought you were writing this email just to me. WOW! Then I see these comments of others battling the same thing. I want to join you. I already get your posts emailed to me I hope that I just need to look at those. Thank you!
I’m definitely joining the 7-Day Doubt Diet. I joined the last time you offered, but didn’t finish it. I am no longer willing to let doubt run my life.
Though it would seem that I have it all together on the outside, on the inside I am full of self doubt and carry around many insecurities. I look forward to seeing how God will work in my life through the 7 day doubt diet.
Renee – Thank you so much this opportunity to grow closer in my walk with the Lord. As life seems to become more difficult, I realize the need to draw closer to my precious Savior. Love and blessings to you for your sweet spirit and dedication to God’s ministry. 🙂
Thank you for the invite. I am going through huge life changes right now and have felt such an overbearing weight of depression and dispare right now. I have regained about 35 pounds, my youngest daughter left home for college so dealing with the empty nest, and I can’t get organized in my house. I also have made bad financial decisions and they are haunting me. I know that God loves me and accepts me where I am at but I can’t make myself believe it.
Renee I want to thank you so much for writing your book. Everytime I pick up your book I feel like I am reading my life storie plus I cant not express how much your devotion have help me through all of this. Everytime I pray your prayer at the end of each chapter something happens I can not explain it I just feel a freeing of my mind that is not heavy on me anymore I dont know if this email make any sense or not I just felt lead to post it. Thank You for sharing your storie and being one of God’s angel to help us through are pain tooo. Thank YOu Renee may god bless you and your family
Thank you for the invite. Really struggling in an abusive marriage right now and the effects on my health, well being and spirituality. Having a difficult time holding on to any confidence i might have had in the past. Trying to find myself again.
I have always struggled with my self confidence and often doubt myself. I have really been praying about that this year as I want to teach my girls to be confident with who God created them to be. I look forward to growing through your study. God Bless ~Sue
I am planning on doing this the second time, your email with the invite came at the best time possible, God knows doesn’t He. I purchased your book and have begun the journey to finding my self confidence. The past weekend was just a struggle, I find myself filled with the doubt of my past and I can’t move forward. Is it God I hear? Then why isn’t it alway clear. I want to do too many things and then I can’t do any of them. I am so worn down by living in frustration and doubt. Can God be calling me to speak, or write a book or pursue my love for art or children with special needs, I am overwhelmed. Caught up in this horrible circle that is leading me no where.
…not sure whether I can keep on this roller-coaster of emotions much longer…It’s like I have these bursts of confidence, like sunbreaks between storms. However the sunbreaks are getting shorter in length and farther apart. The storms are becoming more frequent and much more intense…
I am looking forward to facing this life long challenge of self doubt. Thank you for the offering this opportunity to us once again.
Blessings,
Sally
Hi,
I’ve been reading A CONFIDENT HEART and it has helped me become abstinent from compulsive eating. I want to build on my relationship with Christ to ensure I never have to eat compulsively again.
Thank you for your efforts.
Sharon
Dear Renee,
I tried to start this the first time and just did not find the time to do it. Life happened and I was too busy and I am home on disability. It seems all I do is go to the doctor or to the counselor. Yet I got caught up packing all my in-laws things and heading up their estate sale when they moved into an independent living environment. I am the only one who does not work. I have not been setting good boundaries. I don’t take good care of myself, yet I KNOW HOW. I have lost SO much weight that people won’t stop talking about it. I am about 5’9″ and I might weigh now less than 110. I have always been thin but not this thin since my sr. year of high school and then I was a size 5. I am afraid I am dying. I am Bipolar and get distracted and don’t eat at all sometimes and I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome which doesn’t help my weight problem. I am not trusting God to solve all my needs and problems lately, I am doubting anyone even loves me anymore and when my dog escaped the back yard for over 24 hrs (he is 3 legged) I just about lost it. I thought God was punishing me for the times I forgot to feed him till noon or didn’t take him to the dog park. I have been manic for about 3 weeks. I just got passed up to be a leader at my church in Recovery not because my Pastor in Recovery didn’t think I had the wisdom or heart or mercy or any of those things it was because when I am good he said I am very very good, but as the poem goes I had to finish it for him, but when I am bad I am very very bad. He said not it is because of your inconsistency. He loves me, they all love me, he has seen me grow and change SO much in the last two years. He was right and I knew the answer before we met. But I was so sad and devastated. I call it being “green” like Kermit’s song. It’s hard being green? Do you know it? It IS hard to be my friend. I do have wisdom and I do have the gift of mercy and discernment and I am helping others with my same mental health issue. But I am exhausted and need some rest. I won’t allow myself that because I thought it was wrong. I have been using the old self-flagellation tool on myself basically. Working myself to death manically or beating myself up for when I screw up. I am the hardest on myself. I need so much help setting hard boundaries. I have been to so much counseling and therapy and I mean good Biblical counseling and still am going. I have been through Step studies which so very much helped me. God has taught me so much and healed so many relationships. I am learning to tame the beast within. But I still doubt that God loves me enough to really help me or take care of me, yet I see hitherto the Lord hath ALWAYS provided. I hate what is wrong with me, I did not ask for it, I do not want it, yet I see how He is using it. He does not waste time or experience. I am just so needing rest right now and need to fall into His everlasting arms. And I simply do not know how to do that. I don’t know what a normal day’s schedule looks like and never have. I have always overdone because I have always been manic. So to me I don’t know when to quit. I have a life coach. But I am nearing my end with her as I feel I have learned so much and she has given me many tools. I know what I want to do with my life. I want to write books. I have written a children’s book about my daughter. I have not gotten it published. I know I can do that through Lulu first and go from there. But I want to write about my life story and help other women. I want to write a journal. I have so much material it is not funny. I have been told by many that I should write. I have had so much confirmation it is not funny. But I don’t know how to start and I am afraid. I am fearful of success because my dad squelched our desires. And I also want to start again, my own business of some type of decorating business but this time it will be a shop with recreated things of special finds that I have added my touch to. I desire this so much I feel it is what God wants me to do. But I am afraid. I am afraid to stick my toe in the water before God will part the seas. I don’t know if I have the faith and yet I have so much faith in my Papa because where else would I turn? From whence does my help come? Thanks for listening. I pray I can keep up with you this time around. You are awesome. May God cause His face to shine upon you and bless you.
In Christ,
Kelly Massey♥
WOW! Kelly I hear so many similarities in your comments no wonder we’re tired. And like you I began the 7DD and found myself with not enough time for God and myself. God was an after thought rather than a way make; I believe resulting in my increasing self-doubt. Kelly you ask a question “From whence does my help come?” I think it’s only appropriate that that question is not left dangling and Psalm 121:1-2 says “I will lift up my eyes to the hills-From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth” Kelly I am excited to begin this bible study with you and so many others, and i thank God almighty for blessing us with this opportunity, at this time. Thank God for you even wanting to please people and I pray that order is brought to you in such a way that only the Lord can bring:). Renee thank you for your commitment to serving those God has chosen and being that vessel that gives me a route to escaping my own insecurities, and removes self-doubt and restores a confident heart.
God bless,
Diane
This is perfect timing for me. My life has been turned upside down recently with moving our entire household two times this summer and now my husband has a new job that will be taking him faraway traveling and we are hoping to see him once a month for a few days. I have a 16 year old who is nervous about getting her dirivers permit, and I’m nervous about being the one to teach her. And I have a 13 year old boy who I homeschool and who has his own teenage issues I’m trying to help him through. I am also the Women’s ministry leader at my church and I have a new part time job that I do out of my home, but I’m still learning how to do this job well. I feel like it is all too much, yet I know that this is what the Lord has for us right now. I am being greatly stretched in my walk with God and I am so thankful for this upcoming time in this devotion focusing on building my confidence in God and in turn having my confidence boosted knowing that I can do all things through Christ who stregthens me. Thank you for being sensitive to the Sprit in leading you to encourage all us women who are struggleing in this area. I’m praying for much fruit to come out of this time for all of us.
I will join you Renee. I am doing Melissa Taylor’s Online Study too. I can’t get enough reinforcement, can I? I need all the focus and support I can get. I am currently struggling in my “new creation” because I have a “big red target on my back” as my friend says it. I am struggling with so much insecurity even though I have already read the whole book. I am answering the reflection questions with the online study which is bringing on some healing from my past. I am finding out just how unhealthy I am emotionally and mentally and spiritually. I also purchased “Boundaries” and I am gathering all kinds of knowledge from those two wonderful men. I have lived such a dysfunctional life and I know God will create in me a new heart but it is just going to take some time…
Yes! I look forward to renewing my focus on losing that doubt weight!
I’m in Renee! I just finished reading your book and oh my goodness it was great!
I identified with the chapter on worry seeing that I’v struggled with this my whole life.
Things went down hill earlier this year and I realized that there was more going on
than just worry. With much prayer, I went to my dr. who is a Christian also, and she
put me on medication for depression. I believe as well that God works thru drs and
medications. The difference has been like night and day, I don’t have the dark cloud
hanging over me anymore. I”m a more joyful person and am at peace. Some people
believe that anti-depressants are a cop out but like my dr said none of us are wired the
same and sometimes we need a little help.
So I thank you for your book and I continue to pray for you & your ministry.
Blessings,
Janet W.
[email protected]
I would love to do this devotional again….I think on your web site would be perfect…..My profile pic is on facebook and I would love your prayers…..You are a friend on FB….One of the prayers on the devotional that I read everyday is the one that talks about I want to know what you have for me I don’t want to grow old and feel that I wasted what you had for me…that is my prayer I just celebrated a monumental birthday and time is going fast, i don’t want to waste another minute, i want to feel I am doing something worthwhile…Please, pray I will know what He has for me….
A good friend sent me your link and asked if I would like to join her on this spiritual and health related walk. She and I are just finishing Lysa’s Made To Crave program. I have lost only few pounds during the six weeks and have a long way to go in order to be at a healthy weight. I know I will need all the help I can get. So I was thrilled to know I can follow up with your study. You have heard my story many times I’m sure…lost a lot of pounds over the years but always gain them back…plus some! I know that God is faithful and will do what He promises…but I also know a lot of His promises depend on He and I being on the same page. The lie I keep telling myself is: “Why put all that you have into this? You know it will be just like all the other times you have been so enthusiastic about losing weight but you will gain back whatever weight you lose…you know you will, Chris!” I am 62 and really need to eat healthy. I just can’t seem to muster up the same enthusiasm I have in the past when trying different diets or eating programs. I work so hard to lose 50 pounds then end up going back to old eating habits eventually and regaining it. My want to isn’t where it needs to be. I ask myself continuously, “What will it take to motivate you this time, Chris…a stroke, heart attack, diabetes?” I just pray and stay in His word and take one day at a time. I believe God heard my lack of confidence and sent me you! I am looking forward to your insights and help. Thanks for the invitation!
I’m going to try this one more time. I’ve been struggling for so long now. I suffer from severe depression and have been on so many meds over the years and nothing seems to help. There are days I want to just go away and times I’ve begged and prayed to God to take me out of this world because I can’t deal with anything. I cry constantly and have no hope in anything anymore.
I am looking forward to this. There are days when I just don’t think that I can make it through. I know God is with me always but sometimes….it’s just hard! I can’t wait to start this with you all!!!