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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Renee,
I started th 7 day diet as well as this study together. I’ve been a christian for 34 years (since I was 5?) and the Christian walk has stalled since having children. I have a 3 1/2 and a 1 year old, and I haven’t had a full nights sleep since the 1st was born. My pastor (a women) says I need to be doing the disciplines (prayer, bible study, worship) but I’m just trying to keep up with the laundry and the dishes. I needed this book because I’ve been hearing lies “Your christian walk will never get better.” for example, and listening to them! I know I need to dig in to God, but where’s the Grace? Why is God’s blessing dependant on my study? I’m just so tired.
Hi Dawn,
Having raised 6 children of my own, I can relate to your feelings of “just trying to keep up.” I think the idea is to think on His words while you wash the dishes, clean the house and cook. Even focusing on one scripture a day will be enough to opening the door to receive His Spirit. Thinking on His words and singing hymns invite the Spirit and as a result we feel peace, contentment and sometimes great joy.
He knows you give it your best each day and will bless you for it. You are doing a “great work” in being a mother to those children.
The Christian walk gets better and better as long as we stay on the path. I believe it’s when we get off the path that life becomes harder. Anxiety, fear and insecurity grows when we stop attending church, praying and looking to Him for guidance and strength. He is a protector from those things.
We grow in faith, as a result of turning to Him during difficult times. As our faith grows, so does our peace, contentment and joy. Every struggle that I have had has been worth it. I am so glad I hung on during the difficult times and I have had some really difficult times…my husbands health problems and the death of my daughter. I kept my faith and my integrity.
You need to study-compemplate on His words because it can make you stronger and happier. You will probably have to find ways to do it while you are doing something else. Listen to Christian music or pick out a scripture to think about from this book. May you find refreshment as you seek His light. His words can prevent you from becoming worn down. It’s about inviting Him into your life, so He can make it better. God bless you….Charlene
I have for as long as I remember, listened to “doubt’s whispers”. I don’t really know why…my parents loved my wonderfully! I was never abused. I can’t think of one good reason for my lack of confidence, but trust me it is there!!!
I so desire the prayers of all of my sister in Christ!!!!
You have them (prayers). I think sometimes we get into comparing ourselves to others…don’t know if you do or not…but I have. If so, just remember God made you precisely the way you were meant to be…and that He desires to use you in ways to bless others and accomplish His will that only YOU can do…you were created for such a time/place as this. Be blessed!
I do too Cherri–it’s something the enemy uses against me so much. But I am like you, I am determined to stop letting the enemy beat me up so. Grow in knowledge of Whose I am and Who I am because of the Blood of Jesus flowing through my veins. Several years ago I watched a Christmas play and the message kept being “All you need is a willing heart”–God can/will use anyone who is open to His call. So I am believing this Bible Study is for me right here and right now in this season of my life to change me forever into being Who God wants me to be. I HAVE a willing heart. I’m very thankful for all of you who are doing this with me and posting. I don’t have any close friends anymore to share things with and talk to, but reading y’alls posts makes me know I am not alone and God has put us together. God Bless everyone of My Sisters on this journey with me.
Pages 22 and 23 particularly stood out to me. I am very guilty of listening to doubts whispers and believing them to be true, I will never be able to achieve something either because I’m not good enough, or I don’t deserve it. I have a lot of friends who are extremely confident and can be domineering and I have always been “in the background” and thought that I could never be that way. I don’t think I would want to be, its not in my personality, but I would like to be more confident in myself, my abilities and discovering the gifts God has blessed me with. Right now I am not working and sometimes feels like I don’t have a use or a purpose, I long for my husband and I to have a baby and yet that is happening to everyone around me but not me, I am doubtful it will ever happen! My greatest desire in life, however, is to see my husband come to know the Lord. Sometimes I see little steps of progress and the devil comes right along and tells me its never going to happen and I might as well just give up trying!
I bought this book after I had finally got out of job last year that had made me feel worthless, insignificant and rejected. I read a couple of chapters and never picked it back up, I am terrible at reading. When I saw the opportunity to do the study online with others, I immediately picked it back, signed up and am dedicated to completing this study – thank you Renee for challenging me! I look forward to hear what God has to tell me.
I struggle with believing this for me. It seems God is always fixing other people, but not me.
Missy,
I used to feel the same way. Everyone else had discovered this great support system-Him and I was still trying to find Him. But now it is different for me. I wake up early in the morning and have some quiet time where I strive to be close to Him. In time He blesses me with peace and goodness. I guess what I am trying to say is that one needs to make time for God and spend time with Him, thinking, praying and reading. It will take time but eventually you will feel His peace, His presence. You won’t feel that way anymore, that He is not there for you. Then you will want to keep doing it. We have to pay a price to know God…by being still and inviting Him into our lives. God bless you in your journey. Once you find Him, your life will never be the same again.
The sentence that spoke the most directly to me in Chapter 1 is on page 23 at the top “Perhaps you are good at hiding your doubts and no one but you knows the paralyzing power they have on your life” This is true in general, I am good at hiding doubts, fear, feelings, the real me, even good things like faith, witness, friendship for fear of rejection…..In fact, maybe I have been my own worst enemy by not discovering who I truly am in Christ and allowing and trusting God enough to surrender my will and my way to His.
I am so glad I signed up and took the time TODAY to commit to reading my bible and then diving into the book again. I desperately need to reconnect with the Lord and focus on time with Him daily.
Reading the doubt statements was like taking a journey back in time! I realized when I have listened to those whispers of self doubt in the past that it was then I made mistakes in my life. I crippled my athletic abilities in high school, my wife abilities when I was married, mother abilities and christian abilities now when I fall for these statements… “they weasel their way into our minds and disguise their voices to sound like ours.” It was pretty scary to read…the adversary is a weasel and I dislike when he caprtures my thoughts!
Hi Corina,
I agree with you, the adversary does try to destroy us through doubts and fears. I believe in the adversary as much as I do God. I think they are both trying to reach us and there is a night and day difference between the two voices. The adversaries goal is to destroy our lives and make us miserable. He does this through our thoughts. God’s plan is to free us from fear and despair and for us experience peace in spite of our circumstances. He will help us live a full and rich life. I also don’t want to fall for those lies, I want to stand up to them and seek truth about myself and God. God bless you…Charlene
Hi ladies,
I decided I wanted to start this journey, because like all of us, I, too, need to grasp the idea and actually believe in having a confident heart. I was not going to write down my past and put myself out there, but I am in desperate need of finding that healing only He can give me. I need encouragement, CONFIDENCE, to not listen to that voice inside me saying “if you share you’ll only be weak. You’re going to throw yourself a pity party” I am not. I don’t need anyone to feel sorry… I just need His healing, His truths. I grew up in a non-believing household, although my mother will tell you she believes it’s not what I have been shown in the past year a believer is. My heart grew cold and hard at a young age… divorced parents, single mother raising 4 children on her own, me being the oldest I had to take on a lot of responsibilities. Help raise 3 kids while being a kid myself. Having a father who was there but not there for us. Being molested by a man who I thought cared. My heart became hard, sad; depressed… my faith was running low. Then I thought I was in love and got pregnant with my first child at 19… a boy. He died when he was 6 months old. He was born very sick. My faith…. I didn’t have faith. Hurt and anger filled my heart. I felt alone, lost. I felt as if He did not love me… if He did why did I go through all I went through… He blessed me with a GREAT family… and 4 BEAUTIFUL children. I accepted the death of my son but still felt empty… This emptiness I have felt as long as I can remember. I oldest daughter was diagnose with cancer about a year and half ago… it pushed me over the edge. I felt more hopeless than ever. I thought I was truly untouchable in that department. I thought He wouldn’t allow me to suffer from a sickness in one of children again. I was like a zombie, really hoped I would not wake up to live another day. Then one day I met these two most beautiful, soul, women who have changed my life forever. They are women of God. I wanted the beauty and love they had for life. I wanted my emptiness to be filled. I didn’t want to long to be loved anymore. I met Jesus and my whole heart has changed… I’m not perfect and I struggle with myself everyday because I want His approval. I want to be like Him. I want to love and be obedient. I want to be used for his purpose. My emptiness is not so empty anymore. He is who/what I have been looking for all my life. I’m hard on myself as we all are. I just need to tell those discouraging voices to be quiet and have the courage to pray His word over my family and myself. I need guidance and I have prayed for guidance… I found the women of Proverbs31. Their devotionals are fascinating; I find them helpful in my journey to grow closer to Him. Thank you for allowing me to vent. I hope that this will be the beginning of my transformation to becoming a woman with a CONFIDENT HEART in Him and me!!! I am truly blessed to have found you all. God Bless ALL of YOU!!!
“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.” I’ve known since a was a little girl what God has called me to do for Him and I’ve always held onto it. After a failed marriage of almost 7 years where I was verbally and physically abused, I felt as if I could never walk in the calling again because of my past. I stepped away from the calling for a few years and kind of hid inside the church, where I was told that I could not walk in the calling the way I had felt because of having two children so in a way the verbal abuse continued. God moved my family to another church (about 3 years ago) where we are being taught that God is a God of second, third, fourth, etc chances. Within the past couple of years, I began walking in the calling, like I had felt I should, and have really enjoyed it more than I did before my 1st marriage failed. Within the past year, my second husband of almost 11 years and I were asked to lead worship for the children’s ministry at our church. I know my past and though God is still taking me through the healing, I have almost quit this new adventure many times. Because of my disappointments and embarrassments throughout my life, being told that I can’t do whatever or I’m not good enough, I struggle to live confidently in that God will provide all of our needs and because of Jesus I’m good enough to do whatever He asks of me. I really want to live a life confidence.
Angel, I’m so glad OUR God guided you to another church where they were able to teach you your worth. You are a strong woman and deserve nothing but the BEST God has to offer… and more. Keep walking in faith and have that confidence He wants you to have. He’s been waiting for you for a long time. He is an awsome God and so proud of who you have become with all you have gone through. God bless you and your family!!!
I admit I began reading through ‘A Confident Heart’ several months ago but never completed the whole book. So, I am very excited to go through this study with you ladies. In reading through Chapter1, there is a short paragraph on page 22 that emphasizes how we are ‘not alone’ in dealing with self-doubt and insecurities. I can’t explain how powerful a statement that is to me. I’ve struggled with personal insecurities for as long as I can remember and to have this statement “You are not alone” pointed directly at me is such an encouragement! Thank you so much!
I journaled about and appreciated many things from the first chapter, but the part that by far stood out the most was the story surrounding the verse from Mark 9…”All things are possible to (her) him who believes.” It wasn’t so much the verse, though the verse often encourages me. It was the story of the father. You see, this man had a son who had suffered from demon possession since childhood. I don’t know how old the son was, but I figure it had at least been a FEW YEARS that he had seen his son tormented by demons…convulsions, foaming at the mouth, thrown into fire, thrown into water, trying to destroy him. What torture to see this done to your child. So, he had already asked the disciples to help, but they couldn’t. Still hoping/seeking, he then goes to Jesus and says, “But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” I hear the incredulous voice of Jesus, “If You can! All things are possible to him who believes.” Here’s the part that stood out…and here’s the part that I hear in the cry of so many on here…”Immediately the boy’s father cried out and began saying, ‘I do believe; help my unbelief.’” I hear the desperation in his voice…I’ve been tortured seeing my son destroyed. Please help me have whatever I need to believe…to not keep him from healing. I believe that is the type of sincere cry our Heavenly Father is longing to hear from us. We often carry our burdens unnecessarily for so long. He’s waiting for us. And, as he said, nothing is impossible… with Him. I have found that when I’m finally completely honest and heartfelt, raw…that’s when I truly find the grace, comfort, strength of the Lord…fully relying on Him…knowing there is no other solution…and that it’s futile to seek another solution. May we all know and trust this Lord who loves and saves. I’m excited for the journey each of us has started on here…though better perspective would show it has been and will continue to be a lifelong journey. May we all be blessed as we read.
Whoo! Amen! This whole post just tugged on my heart and just filled me with sadness and hope. I have so many people in my life (including myself) who struggle with things that just sometimes feel like they are impossible to ever overcome…and you go through seasons of praying, believing, and thinking that “this time” it will really stick!…and then it doesn’t, and it is so hard to begin again. Your perspective is very powerful and I am SO glad that you posted this. I needed this reminder. God bless! (I’m going to copy and paste this for someone I love who really needed to hear this)
What a very beautiful and profound way to share that particular scripture. I will never see it the same way. Thanks so much for sharing that!!
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. I really needed to hear that . I have trouble completely trusting God. I tell Him i give this problem or situation to you Father but in the back of mind I am trying to figure a way to fix it. And this story really hit home foe me. I just need to break down and believe. Thank you so much 🙂
Something that really became apparent to me when reading this is that Satan will use whatever he can to make us insecure. Some of the previous posts talk about situations with abuse, neglect, alcoholism, etc. However, based on my experiences, Satan will also use situations and circumstances that aren’t so extreme. In my case, an emotionally absent father and a critical mother. For years I felt my insecurity wasn’t “justified”, but now I realize how resourceful Satan is!
My sentiments exactly Kristin. I grew up in the same boat as you! The struggles I faced with my parents the enemy used it to created a huge barrier between me and God. Aren’t you glad we have such an amazing Heavenly Father that never abandons us and that never criticizes us for our mistakes? I’m so happy for His grace and faithfulness… and that we get to enjoy it every day!!
I as well grew up with an absent father and my mother made me feel like i could never amount to anything. It has been hard for me in my walk with our Heavenly Father because I have never had a close relationship with my own parents and I feel stuck as to how do I develop a relationship with Him. So I hope that we all can together “not just believe in God but truly beliveve” like Renee puts it 🙂
When I read chapter 1 I did not know I had a twin – experiencing the same thing. All excited to work for and with God and when the time approached I wonder if I am worthy. Then the words “What if” starts to play in my mind. I wonder if those listening will understand. Am I bringing it across just as the Lord will have me to do it. Doubt starts to arise in my heart plus fear (trust me they work together). I will cry out to God to help me. Even ask my prayer partner (God bless her loving and understanding heart). to pray with and for me. I loved when God allow you to see and to explain that large and distorting shadow on the wall of your bathroom. When I read it I got the spiritual implication right away. My heart’s desire is that I and we all will recognise that shadow and deal with it immediately as you did. Pray for us and one another. i pray God I will not listen to those doubt whispers. I will receive strength to overcome (I John 4:4). To be honest – sometimes I get the victory and sometimes (which seems too many) I don’t. But by the grace of God I decree and declare I will come out of this and the WOMAN WITH A CONFIDENT HEART to help others. God bless you again. There is so much to say. Let’s pray one for the other.
I am so looking forward to reading this book with all of you. I have also struggled my whole life with insecurity and never being good enough. I was always trying to be someone I wasn’t for everyone else. For so many years my husband had sensed God calling him to another country of serve, but I struggled with doing this with him. I would also say no, I can’t. We are currently serving in Southeast Asia and God has given me peace that I never thought I would find. I pray this book will help me to finally believe that I am good enough in God’s eyes and my insecurities will go away once and for all.
What really struck me in Chapter 1 was how Satan just festers that self doubt and insecurities to put a gap between us and the Lord. As said, it blocks God’s power and truth. wow! We need to keep going back to God’s word, to His promises, to His love for us! I need to keep reminding myself of that – some days I feel very alone and at wits end — I must keep in my heart and remember that God is right there beside me – I AM NOT ALONE!!!! He wants me to have that confidence – I need to trust in Him.
The words, “Things will never change.”…I’ve said them over and over. Now I am ready to change my thinking and “ready to let His Word change the way (I) think” – not just some of the time, but all of the time. I want to learn to “rely on the power of His Words” day in and day out.
Thanks Renee! A wonderfully written book. A wonderful start! 🙂
Praying for you!
Susan G.
The passage that -as a very big light bulb moment for me was “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. It spoke to me because it would just make sense that God can’t get in the gaps if all we do is fill them with what we don’t have, can’t do and won’t try. All that being said I am so low on the confidence scale that there are so so many days that I don’t even feel like God should love me or waste his time trying and when my self doubt starts in my head God so badly wants to say that if she doesn’t get it by now she never will. I am so glad that he doesn’t say that and I get to try everyday to do it better and differently if necessary than the day before. I am excited to learn how to turn my self doubt around so that God can change me into the girl he wants me to be and so that I am more equipped to hear what he has to say to me and through me.
P.S. I am so excited and honored to share my journey with all of you!! He will use us all 🙂
I’ve always felt some sort of doubt or worry my whole life. I have never been truly confident of who I am. My insecurity has kept me from doing so much and also kept me from being the person God has made me to be. I’ve never felt good enough. I’ve told myself that I’ve messed up too many times. I’ve always had this voice inside me telling me that my imperfections have walled me off from God, His love, and forgiveness. That I am undeserving of those things. These thoughts are so tormenting and ruinous and they have kept me from having a passionate relationship with my Saviour. I feel like I am trapped in a hole where I can only barely see Him….where I am just out of His reach.
I know that I have been saved. I gave my heart to Christ when I was a teen. But I feel like I am never going to be good enough to be truly saved. (Which in reality is true.) There is nothing I can do to earn salvation. Learning to accept His grace has always been a struggle. I can’t be perfect. I accept that. I will fail. How do I get the picture of Him shaking His head at me, tsking, and writing down my most recent failure, out of my head? How do I connect with the loving, forgiving God and stop dwelling on the God of judgement and wrath? Living in fear has imprisoned me and keeps me from feeling and living in His promises. I need to take a step out of the shadow of my fear-one step at a time and let Him claim each step. Let Him fill the voids. Let Him fix my heart. Let Him cleanse my soul. Let Him give me value. Let me rely on Him. Let me believe His truths. Let my heart be filled to the brim with His love.
To be a woman with a confident heart, I must become comfortable with who I am. I must have an open heart ready to hear and accept the truths God has for me. I must become sure of the power Christ has in my life. I cannot let fear run my life or my relationships. I must take time to build my relationship with Christ. I must trust in God & believe that I will be blessed.
I started reading this book a couple months ago. It was a journey I wasn’t sure I was ready to make. I made it through the first few chapters and got caught up in life and never finished. When I found out that Renee was going to do this online study, I knew that I had to be a part of it. I know God has a plan for me. I have to lay down all those bad feelings, the fear, the insecurity and dive in head first. So here I am, taking the plunge. I feel like sharing my feelings is the first step to becoming free.
Yes, you have taken the first step Sarah. And Im so proud of you. So very glad you are here with us walking this journey out together. Praying for you as I go to sleep tonight!!
Chapter One resonated with me because I often doubt myself – my abilities, my worth. There is a little voice of negativity inside of me that takes over and is very difficult to silence. I have doubted so many aspects of myself. From my ability to start my own law firm to being a good mother. I have also doubted whether I’m meant to have a relationship where someone loves me unconditionally. I have doubted whether I’m worthy of love. Just writing this down saddens me, because I believe everyone is capable of achieving their goals and are worthy of love. I believe this because of the very love God has shown to us by giving His only Son to suffer on the cross so that we may have eternal life and forgiveness of sin. So why do I think of myself as the exception to my own beliefs. I have often wondered why I give great advice to my friends, but find it so difficult to follow it myself. I now realize the answer is because of my own self-doubt.
Elda,
I completely understand your feelings. I feel the same way about myself. I doubt that I can start my own business and be successful, even though I have a Masters degree and have done a stamp / scrapbook home business for over 13 years. I also doubt that anyone will love me unconditionally. I don’t know why I feel this way, but I do and want to grow beyond the doubt. I hope we grow in this area and become the strong, confident women Gad wanted for us both.
I’ve been thinking of the times I too was excited about an opportunity, said yes, then wondered why I ever said yes; jobs, ministry, teaching a Sunday school class, giving my testimony. I’ve also had the reverse happen where I was asked to do something, did it with doubts that I could accomplish it and it ended up working out and building my faith.
Page 21 “If God calls you to do something, shouldn’t you feel confident about it?” That’s where I am at this point in my life with searching for my next opportunity. Because of some issues in previous jobs, I’ve lost confidence in my skills and talents. I’m praying this study is going to get me back on track and I’m excited about what God will do with me in ministry or my next job opportunity.
I really could feel your heart when as a little girl you already knew you had a problem with confidence. I think when you wrote that you wouldn’t go on the carousel because you were afraid that your Dad wouldn’t wait for you nearly ripped through my heart. When I was three my Dad died. I never saw him. I never said goodbye. That day is burned into my mind and my heart. My Mom cried so hard and the sounds were like those of a wounded animal. I remember feeling from that point on that I could never make my Mom cry that hard again. I don’t think I really thought it rationally. It was just there. I was Daddy’s girl and he had abandoned me. Disappeared. Gone to heaven. I never let my Mom our of my sight. I was always afraid she would also disappear. And when I couldn’t find her, it was like my world crumbled. I was sure she was dead until I found her and then I would cry even harder from sheer relief. We moved to a new house and in the doorway between the dining room and the kitchen there was a bright, shiny hole. Small as I was, I never imagined it was for a pin hinge. 🙂 I was sure it was how my Dad had been taken to heaven. Each time my sister and I walked through the door way, we would hold hands, look solemnly up at that bright spot that seemed so far above us and observe a kind of silence. Then we would continue on our way. I am not sure if it was respect for our Dad or it was because we were certain that God was in that small gateway to heaven. Somewhere inside of me, that little girl is still there. The adult me knows that God loves me desperately. The little child in me is never sure he is coming home. ~~ I am so looking forward to doing this study with the other thousands of women who are not quite able to grab onto their confidence and hang on. I will be praying for you all and I hope you will do the same. God bless each of you as you take this journey, Ev
Thank you so much for sharing your story. How powerful for you to put that all down tonight and to name what you felt and what you thought and your fears. That little girl needs the big girl in you – the woman you are now – to love her into a place of knowing the truth of what happened and how you can let go of those fears.
Im so sorry for what you went through but so very grateful that you are here now – with us walking step by step out of the shadows of our doubts and fears and into the arms of our Heavenly Father who wants to lavish us with His love and confidence!!
Thank you, Renee. I am sure God brought me here on purpose to help me turn face-full to the light and not be afraid of the shadows that always are looming large behind me. Looking forward to walking in confidence, knowing that I can trust God and not just trust in Him. Powerful difference!!