Okay, so most of you know I’m in the process of writing a book. My first book! Just last week my publisher chose my suggested title, and I just about jumped out of my chair! I hope you like it as much as I do. You ready? Drum roll please…
I love those three words. They describe what I have always wanted. For so many years I lived with an insecure, fear-filled, doubting-myself kind of heart. But over the past several years, God has taken me on a journey of moving beyond simply believing in Him to really believing Him; to really putting my trust in the power of His promises and living like they are true!
Some days I do much better than others. But when I choose to believe and live what I know about who I am and Whose I am, I experience a wonderful thing – a confident heart!
Do women struggle with self doubt?
Last year I surveyed over 1200 women about their self doubts. Here is some of what they shared when I asked what doubt whispers and how doubt affects them:
92% hear doubt whisper: “You’re not good enough.”
85 – 90% hear doubt whisper: “You can’t balance your life.” “You’re not gifted enough.” “You worry too much.” “You’re not smart enough.” “You’ll never change.” You can’t follow God consistently.”“If people knew who you really are…”
95% say doubt makes them: feel like quitting or giving up; feel paralyzed or stuck; question how and what they are doing; feel uncertain about God’s plan for their lives; feel discouraged and defeated; distracted; or steals their focus.
I am praying, “A Confident Heart” will set women free from the trap of doubt and give them the God-fidence that is ours when we live in power of His promises.
How can you help?
I need a subtitle to summarize what will be inside the book. And that is where I’m getting stuck. So, I’ve decided to call upon some of the smartest people I know…YOU! Will you help me think through the subtitle?
This message will help a woman navigate through the causes and paralyzing effects of self-doubt and illustrate, through Biblical and real-life examples, how she can live confidently in the truth of who she is and who she can become in Christ. A Confident Heart will give voice to the questions, doubts, struggles, and hopes many women have but are afraid to admit. This book will set free the captive heart that lives in the darkness of insecurity and uncertainty, but longs for the illumination of God’s power, truth, and grace. This is not a cookie-cutter approach to forever eliminating doubt like one would a grass stain on a white T-shirt. It’s about learning how to identify, process, and even use doubt to get you to a place of secure dependence, by stepping out of doubt’s shadows and into the power of God’s promises.
How can you win a gift card?
Will you read over the following subtitles and let me know what you think about them? Would any of them grab your attention and prompt you to want to buy this book?
A Confident Heart
How to Stop Doubting Yourself and Start Trusting God’s Promises
A Confident Heart
Stop Doubting Yourself and Start Believing God
A Confident Heart
Learning to Live in the Power of God’s Promises
Which one do you like best? Please vote for one, and if you think of another idea (after reading what the book is about), also give us your suggestion.
For everyone that comments between today and the weekend, I will enter you into a random drawing to win a $20 Starbucks or Target card. Bribery isn’t all bad right? I’ll announce the winner Monday morning! Feel free to comment as many times as you like as ideas come to you.
To leave a comment please click on the word “comments” below and type in the white box. If you don’t have a blog, click anonymous. If you are reading this via email or facebook, double click on the title and it should take you to my blog where you can leave a comment. Or email [email protected] and put “Subtitle” in the subject line. Then we’ll post it here.
Include your email or come back Monday so I can let you know you won.
Roll Call please. Tell me where you are from (state, country) and your age. Pleeeeaaaasee. It’s so helpful and interesting to know more about you who gather here.
More than ever before, I need your help and your opinion. And I know you have one. Please don’t doubt that what you think will be helpful!! My publisher and I want to hear your thoughts and we value your input. It’s you (and women like you) that I’m writing this book for!
Hi I know this is a little late to comment for this but still.
But still I liked this one the most
'A Confident Heart
Learning to Live in the Power of God's Promises'
I just started reading your blog recently and I liked ( liking ) it a lot.
btw… I am
Vin
18 years
India
Learning to live in the Power of God's promises sounds like it's it for me.
[email protected]
Spring, TX
Sorry, I just read where you wanted to know more about us. My name is Tasha Cantrell and I live in Oklahoma. I will soon be 28 years old and have been married for almost 9 years. I have a 4 year old little boy and my little girl will soon be 2. I battled through Insecurity a few years ago but God saw me through and I am now victorious! Thank you so much for the time and effort you ladies put into helping other women! I pray that God will bless you all in a mighty way!
I’m a little late to give my suggestion but I thought I would go ahead and send it anyway. I’m not worried about the gift card but thought I would try and help. I would choose: A Confident Heart Learning to Live in the Power of God's Promises
Tasha Cantrell
I like the last choice about God's promises. I am sure this book will touch many.
blessings
Tammy
[email protected]
I think I'm too late for the giveaway, but I like this as the subtitle – from your very own description of the book:
"Learning to live confidently in the truth of who you are in Christ."
Can't wait for the book!
Of the 3 my vote would be:
A Confident Heart
How to Stop Doubting Yourself and Start Trusting God's Promises
My suggested subtitle is similar to your own description
A Confident Heart
Stepping out of the shadow of Doubt into the Light of God's Promises
BTW, I was at She Speaks 2 years ago when you ministered about the shadow of doubt. AMAZING!
Kim Baker
Saint Petersburg, Florida
Re: Voting on a subtitle
I have been struggling with doubt just this past year, suddenly. Fear of my husband having been out of work for 2 years, fear of our 20 year marriage falling apart, fear of my sons disability taking his life, fear of not being able to continue this new homeschooling Ive taken on for my highschooler and 4th grader. But God has NOT given me a spirit of FEAR, but of LOVE,PEACE and a SOUND MIND. I say all of this because FEAR has caused me to doubt. I never doubted GOD. Ive been saved since age 10 and im 44. I really started doubting my salvation, my purpose, my whole world. I think that FEAR can bring on DOUBT, it did for me. Can I suggest a subtitle? Maybe it could read:
I love the one about How to stop doubting yourself and start livinging in God's promises. I have learned this week that forgiveness IS a promise, so that has helped me to know HOW to forgive. Ive been struggling with that one. When I cant forgive…. I doubt. Ive learned that HIS love is a Promise, and when I cant LOVE I doubt. So…. fearing and not loving and not forgiving ALL brings doubt. Discovering God's promises and standing on His Word is what is helping me. I like the subtitle: Learning to believe and recieve, by standing on God's promises. Thats is exactly what Im doing day by day. Learning to believe and recieve by reading HIS WORD,and standing on HIS promises. I cant get through my day without doint that. God said it, I believe it and that settles it. I have to engraft it not only in my heart but in my head! I still have a long way to go. But HE is faithful. It all hinges on weather or not we believe what HE says or not. I know His Word is truth, but my flesh wants to rear its ugly head out of habit and doubt it, I must not, because: doubt is the opposite of faith, and without faith its impossible to please God. I want to please God. God Bless.
The second one-short and sweet and directly to the point. Looking forward to the book.
[email protected]
I like "How to stop doubting yourself and start believing God." Love that one!
Diane
[email protected]
OK –age 50+
Hi Renee,
I believe that your book will be amazing and wonderful! I think you already have your subtitle, but it is not yet listed as one. It's written here, in this quote from your summary "It’s about learning how to identify, process, and even use doubt to get you to a place of secure dependence, by stepping out of doubt's shadows and into the power of God's promises."
This quote hooked me, and I started out not believing it was a book that I needed to read! So what about summing the quote up like this "A Confident Heart, From the Shadows of Doubt, to the Light of God's Promises."
I needed to find this book. I think that it will help me in more ways than it is even intended to. I will look for the book when it becomes available!
Brooks Lance, 29
South Carolina, USA
Hi Renee,
Congrats on your new book, A Confident Heart. Great title choice…a confident heart is truly needed for us to be able to stand against all odds.
We can only achieve this by trusting in God and His promises no matter what we are going through.
God bless you for writing such a book that would help others grow and acquire A Confident Heart!
I choose: A Confident Heart
How to Stop Doubting Yourself and Start Trusting God's Promises
To gain a confident heart, is a process and we have to learn how to put a stop to doubts and learn the process of how to trust in God and all His wonderful promises…the rewards would be endless when we yield in obedience and surrender all to Jesus Christ our Saviour!!!
Joanne Sampson
age 45
Toronto, Canada
A Confident Heart-How to Stop Doubting Yourself and Start Trusting God's Promises
Love this one!!!! Also like abbreviated as "Stop Self Doubt and Trust God's Promises"
🙂 Donna
Hello,my vote is for:
Learning to live in the Power of God's Promises
My name is Tatiana Carpenter and I live in Coconut Creek, Florida
I was born in communist Cuba and grew up an unbeliever. I am lucky that God called me just a over a year ago at the age of 42.
I look forward to your book and truly enjoy you blog. God bless you and your beautiful family. Keep writing and encouraging us women who read you blog.
Tatiana
I choose answer A- because of the "How to" part. Georgia, United States- age-36. Best of luck with the book, you deserve it Renee! I enjoy your emails so much.
Believing God's best,
Penny Arnett
Macon, GA
My choice would be:
A Confident Heart
How to Stop Doubting Yourself and Start Trusting God's Promises
I live in Topeka, Kansas.
My age is 63.
I enjoy your blogs and so glad you are writing this book. Can't wait to read it.
Arlene
Learning to live in the power of God's promises.
Katherine Barranco
My vote is for “A Confident Heart – How to Stop Doubting Yourself and Start Trusting God's Promises”.
Kelli McElhone
Hi Renee!
Here is something that struck me as I was looking over the title and description of your book. I liked the last option you listed: Learning to Live in the Power of God’s Promises. My suggestion is similar: God’s Truth Overcomes Your Hidden Doubts. It may be too much in the “negative” sense for a subtitle, but just wanted to share, since you asked.
Blessings on this book and may the rewards you experience in the form of interactions with seekers and believers alike bless your heart right back and reaffirm everything you have learned through the process of writing this book!!
Blessings,
Tamara Germain
[email protected]
How to Stop Doubting Yourself and Start Trusting God's Promises
That title really stands out~ I love it and definitely would be interested in purchasing this book.
Keep up the good work. You inspire so many:)
Kate Elenbaas
Age 36
Decatur, IL
"Navigating Through Life's Questions, Doubts, & Struggles"
I like this because it suggests action & would appeal to everyone: those who just have questions, those who are going through some doubts, & those who are really struggling. As you can see, I just took your own words from the description & rearranged them. I like things that are positive (especially if/when I am feeling negative) to give me direction. But there are SO many "how to" books out there that with that anywhere in the title, I think it could get lost.
As you know, I live in Raleigh & I am… 62. That's why my blog is "Seasoned-Sister", cause I AM seasoned!
Can't wait to read your book!