Hi friends! I am so excited to start this “Confident Heart” journey with you!
We have almost 8000 women from around the US and the world signed up! I’ve been closing my eyes and picturing us gathering together in small groups (cause I’m a small group kinda girl). Anyhow, it’s so amazing to be here with YOU learning how we can live beyond our doubts by finding our security and confidence in the power of God’s loves and promises!
The first thing I want you to remember is: This is YOUR journey.
You’ll be reading the chapters. You will be asking and listening for God to speak to your heart. You’ll be the one who takes time to highlight sentences, promises and quotes you want to remember.
You’ll be looking for ways to apply and live what you are learning. You’ll be answering reflection questions and interacting with the group.
You’ll be doing the faith-work of not only believing in God, but really believing God.
I’ll be shepherding, leading, praying, encouraging, connecting and pacing us. I’ll be sharing more of my story – and inviting co-leaders who are helping me with the study to share theirs.
I’ll be praying for you, encouraging you, believing in you and challenging you – but you will make the heart investment and be the one who gets out pretty close to as much as you put in.
Here are a few IMPORTANT reminders:
What’s Needed: A copy of the book, a notebook, a Bible, and a ready-for-God- to-do-a-new-thing in you attitude!
When We’ll Meet: Because we’ll meet online, you can check in at your convenience any time of the day and week.
(Day 1) Assignment
Read the Acknowledgements. This will give you a peak into my current personal life and I’ll be asking you to share about yourself later this week too. 🙂
Read Chapter 1.
- If you don’t have your book yet, you can click here to read Chapter 1 .
- Highlight verses and sentences that grab your attention or tug on your heart.
- Write down what you sense God is speaking to your heart in the margins of your book or in a journal/notebook.
- If you’ve already read chapter 1, share your thoughts here. And then take time to look up the verses mentioned in the chapter prayer and answer the questions at the end of the chapter.
Connecting in Community: Click “Share Your Thoughts” below and let’s all answer this question:
What sentences in Chapter 1 resonate with your heart or speak to you in a personal way? How did you relate to my story in this chapter?
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I can so relate to your story. Right now, I’d like to start selling “Blessings Unlimited”; however, I am too scared and insecure. I’d like to do this to share God with others. I just can’t seem to let go, have faith, and trust enough to get up in front of a room full of ladies. I pray this study gives me that confidence!
I am so thankful for this Bible study. I love the flexibility as we study His word and become more confident. I love the way Renee helped me to make sense w/ the woman at the well story. But I guess what really stamped on my heart was the realization that God’s love is perfect so I don’t have to be. I need to say this aloud every single day!!
Wow! I truly needed to read the words in the first chapter. I have doubted myself since I was a little girl. When I saw the info on this study I immediately thought this is one that I need. I even encouraged my daughter who just had a baby and is trying to decide if she wants to work full time or stay at home. My prayers are that both of our needs are answered.
“Self-doubt blocks the promise of God’s power and truth to change us from the inside out so that we can live with a confident heart.” This is so true. Once we start doubting ourselves those thoughts take over and it’s really difficult to focus on anything else, even God’s truths. It becomes this downward spiral, which is nearly impossible to stop, especially in our own power. But this is where God comes in and can save us. And scripture memory is one way of doing this. If we have a storehouse of verses pertaining to what we struggle with, we can better equip ourselves to fight our self-doubt. Thank you Renee for giving us so many scripture references regarding confidence, God’s promises, and the importance of trusting in The Lord.
I am so glad I joined this bible study. I look forward to learning how to stay confident through all situations in life with Christ.
What sentences in Chapter 1 resonate with your heart or speak to you in a personal way? How did you relate to my story in this chapter?
“Doubt and hope cannot live in your heart at the same time.” This spoke to me because it means I have to make a choice. What am I going to choose to believe?
Sometimes it is just easy and comfortable to continue having a poor attitude and living in defeat, but “it is not supposed to be this way!” I love this. I need to hear this every day.
I really related to Renee’s story because she plays the “what if….” game like I do!
There is so much of the first chapter I felt a connection with. Like someone else said, I had courage as a kid to try new things, but when I really think about it, there were many times I held back because I just didn’t think I could do it, or doubted I was good enough. These doubts continue to get worse as I have tried to find things to fill the area I now know needs to be filled by our Lord. I am at a difficult point in my life. I am safe, I have a good husband and we have a beautiful little girl who I love more than I ever thought was possible, but I still seem to be sad. I don’t have any close friends and that just adds to my lack of confidence. I really want to move past the doubts and disappointments of my past and forge a closer relationship with my heavenly Father.
As we go through life, we get distracted by what we see and allow circumstances to dictate our actions. The Word of God is our nourishment. We can not live our best life unless we allow it to take root. Our spirit will thrive as we fast, pray and develop. If we would just hold on to God’s unchanging hand and trust Him to be God in every facet of our life, then will we be anchored in Jesus…no matter how tumultuous the storm (life). Let’s strive to produce fruit that will draw others and make God say, “Well done my good & faithful servant!”
Reading the forward, I knew this was the book God had led me too. I never had a close relationship with my dad. I was a pawn between two parents that hated each other. My dad only attempted to love me because he knew it would get back at my mom. He treats me today with cool indifference. I never had anyone tell me I was good enough, now at almost 40, I am constantly filled with self-doubt. Then, as I read further into Chapter 1, I knew God was speaking to me when it talked about changing jobs but was too scared to do so. I am so miserable in my job and really want to change, but I am scared that I am not good enough, even though I have plenty of support and have past evaluations that say I am, self doubt says “NO!” God is putting on my heart that he wants me to “get out of the boat” and trust Him. I rededicated my life to the Lord in July 2012. For the first time, I feel that I truly have a relationship with the Lord and want to grow in His love. I am so excited for this journey!!!
The line that really hooked me was on pg. 22 “You can only see the shadow because you have turned away from the light. Turn back toward the light.” I feel that sums up how I have lived a majority of my life. I think to the prayer at the end of the chapter. It talks about moving from believing in You, to “truly believing You.” That is where my faith has always hit a road block. I have never fully trusted God and the work that He is doing in my life. I have doubted Him when things have hit a rough patch and I have praised Him when things were good. I was not truly listening to what He was trying to tell me through all the ups and downs in my life. I am in my late 20’s; the age when everyone is getting married and having children. My confidence takes a hit often because I am not married or in a relationship and I don’t have kids. I doubt that I am worth marrying- that based on how I look, act, where I live, etc. that is the reason for this. I get angry and blame others and I have lived a very unhappy life for over a year. How I feel about my personal life causes me to doubt my abilities at my job- being a teacher. If I don’t have child of my own, how can I work with them each day and be successful? I’m not married or with someone, so my life must be meaningless. Doubt fills me each day as I step on the scale and realize I haven’t lost those pounds and those jeans still don’t look good on me. As a young women in today’s culture, I constantly feel as though I don’t measure up. I pray that as this study goes on that I truly start believing in the plan laid out before me by God and that those disappoints and lack of confidence has lead me here. A place where I can finally put all my fears to rest.
Feels so warm here 🙂 so many women sharing their hearts and encouraging others ♥ ♥
My problem is that I can’t remember most things from my past. I’ve never had any kind of traumatic happening in my life but i’ve forgotten too many things… Maybe the enemy doesn’t want me to remember so I don’t get rid of the bad stuff. I need to pray hard about remembering my past and start getting through it and grow more and have a confident heart ♥ My other problem is that I’m too positive or maybe that’s what I think or want others to think? or maybe I’m just too stupid to think everything is ok when is not! or maybe I’m too coward to see the negative stuff in my life and fight against it ..but I’m so sure that they might be doubts and shadows in many areas of my life I just need to relax and concentrate and remember.
Thank you very much for this Wonderful Study ♥
The part of the chapter where you were talking about the shadow in the bathroom really hit me. “You can only see the shadow of doubt because you have turned away from the light.” If we stay focused on Jesus, he will be all that we see. No shadows of doubt. Only light and truth.
The part that resonated with me was when you said, “Instead, I wanted to stay home and do something predictable like fold laundry, order pizza, and watch a movie with my kids”. I often feel like I hide in the predictable things. It’s easier to stay home and do what I have always done then reach out to people and try new things.
I am glad for this study, which has got me to pick up the book again and really work through it. I started reading the book when \i was especially struggling last year and I still struggle with REALLY believing that I will not be dissappointed and that will God really work things out for good and will i see his glory be revealed. Which I know to be true, but my biggest thing is trusting God that i will get through my current situation, and see that the end result will bring God’s glory. That his plans are not always what we think or want but are even better than we could ever imagine. Yet i can praise him in the midst of everything as he turns the things of this world around and he brings good out of the trials.
I am learning to Trust him and to see the big picture, so I don’t get bogged down with the day to day mundane and all that is going on around me.
My time of trouble as you might put it has brought me closer to God and I am learning ever so much more to focus my eyes on him, not my circumstances or others.
I am more determined to ‘fight the good fight’ as nothing can seperate me from the love of God. I just want to change and be more like him, to draw close to him, to focus on him, as my security comes from him.
It is great seeing so many other women going through similar struggles with the way we think or feel, and to know our God is bigger, and our god brings us Hope and a purpose.
Thanks for inspiring each other and rennee for setting this up.
I am so ready to spend more time digging deep into the heart of God. Thank you for sharing your story and for inviting me on this journey. Im excited, journal ready! I also love the prayer at the end of chapter one.I will say it daily..On to Chapter 2 :O)
So today I drove 2 1/2 hours to do a study group with a friend and when I showed up she wasn’t there. I called her 3 times and texted her. There is no way she could have forgotten about the meeting because I texted her the night before reminding her. There was no reason why I had to go to school except to help her retake her test but she stood me up and her excuse was that she had court. That’s always her excuse for me to wait around for her. Im sick of it because you know court dates ahead a time . Worst of all there was no apology for the time and the toll money and gas I lost today I spent 40 dollars total on a blank trip and 6 hrs of my time. Im wondering why ppl feel the need to take advantage of me and then when I tell them how I feel they shrug me off as if I don’t matter. Please pray for me because this is damaging to my self esteem and im beginning to give up on ppl all together. All I was trying to do was help because shes struggling in a class but in return it backfired.
What an excellent Bible study this is! I have read the book not so long ago by myself. It was so good! And I am so excited to be a part of this online study together with so many women. I have struggled with self -doubt since I was a kid. I honestly don’t even remember the time in my life when I felt confident. The shadow of my fears and insecurities has kept me from enjoying my life. I feel like I live in a prison of my fears. I am so looking forward to breaking free of these chains and living my life with confidence! It gives me peace to know that “things can change” and that “all things are possible” even when doubt keeps me from believing that things will get better.
I could relate to the paragraph on page 32 of Chapter 2 where you talked about your longing for your father’s love. In my case, I was longing for my mother’s love. I too thought if I could be perfect – in my grades, my accomplishments and in my obedience to her, she would love me and value me. Sadly, my mother never did value me or love me but I forgave her anyway. I learned to forgive her each time I was in her presence when she would say hurtful things to me or ignore me. She went to be with Jesus a couple of years ago and I told her before she died that I forgave her. She did not answer me but somehow, I think now she knows how much I loved her and still love her and things would be different if she were still here on this earth. My Lord has healed all the hurt I experienced and made me whole. Thank You Lord for loving me. It is my prayer that You will help me to show Your love to everyone I encounter because I don’t know what hurts they may have.
Wow! So many stories. I wish I had time to read everybody’s stories. Those that I have read have resonated in my heart and encouraged me that I am not alone. I didn’t always struggle with having confidence. There are so many pictures of me as a little girl going out and grabbing life, with no fear of anything. I look at those pictures now and long to be that little girl, saddened that the people in my life and the things of this world have destroyed that little girl. My heart’s desire is to be that little girl again. To believe in myself and not fear being hurt or rejected. The sentence that hit me was “I desperately wanted to move out of the shadow of my doubts, but all I could do was go throught the motions and pray that God would zap me with confidence.” That is something I want so bad. I don’t want to doubt myself. I know that he can make me like that little girl again and move me out of the shadows of doubt. This is not the life I want to live and I know that it is not the life that God wants me to live. I have spent too many years hiding from life and I am tired of it. I want to live life but I let the fear get to me everytime.
The sentence that most resonated with me was, “I wondered if perhaps my self-doubt was a sign I was in the wrong calling.”
This is something I struggle with all the time. I look into the future, and I see nothing – mainly because the present is so changeable. Regardless, I try to focus on today, or this week, or month and try to ask God where He wants me now, but it is discouraging when I am talking to someone and they ask “So what do you want to do with your life?” Even though I’ve got down my casual answer about whatever God wants me to do, it still makes me think about the furutre, and then feel scared and doubtful because I don’t have a plan.
I can see myself in the introductory story. I am always ready to go somewhere or do something, until a couple hours before I’m suppose to leave, I suddenly feel fearful and doubtful of what might occur, or how it may hinder my health by going (I am a recovering cancer survivor). Mostly, what I’ve been missing is church and small group. I try to make up for it by listening to the sermons and doing the lessons on my own (and it really helps) but I don’t think it’s the same. I want to confidence to attend and not be afraid about what happens next because God can get me through.