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?
For me the second half of a line “… my doubt was distorting my thoughts and overpowering my emotions with confusion and questions.” really talked to me! I am ALWAYS second guessing myself! Did I make the right decision or what if are phrases that I hear in my head after every decision that I make! Even the tiniest decision I will second guess myself on! Like most of the women taking this bible study I struggle with my self-esteem, if I am a good parent, and just being confident in anything!
I love it when Renee stated, when I CHOOSE to dwell in the assurance is Whose I am and Who I am in Him! I so long to truly rest in this truth, so I can be free from trying to please man- which only leads me to fear.
Amen to that
I know this is kind of long, but in line with what so many have been talking about in regards to speaking the TRUTH out loud. I thought that I would share this:
NEVER AGAIN
NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on “I can’t,” because the Word says: “I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on fear, because the Word says: “God has not given me a spirit of fear, but one of power, love and a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on doubt and a lack of faith, because the Word says: “God has dealt to each one [every person] a measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3)
NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on weakness, because the Word says: “The Lord is the strength of My life” (Psalm 27:1) and “The people that know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits.” (Daniel 11:32)
NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on the supremacy of Satan over my life, because the Word says: “Greater is He that is within me than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)
NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on defeat, because the Word says: “God always causes me to triumph in Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 2:14)
NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on a lack of wisdom, because the Word says: “Christ Jesus has become for me wisdom from God.” (1 Corinthians 1:30) and “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5)
NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on sickness, because the Word says: “With His stripes I am healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) and Jesus “Himself took my infirmities and bore my sickness.” (Matthew 8:17)
NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on bondage, because the Word says: “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” (2 Corinthians 3:17) and “My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 6:19)
NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on worries and frustration, because the Word says: I am “Casting all my cares upon Him who cares for me.” (1 Peter 5:7)
NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on condemnation, because the Word says: “There is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1) I am in Christ, so therefore I am free from condemnation!
NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on loneliness, because the Word says: Jesus said, “I am with you always, even till the end of the age [forever].” (Matthew 28:20) and “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on curses or bad luck, because the Word says: “Christ has redeemed me from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for me: that the blessings of Abraham might come upon the gentiles [that’s me] through Jesus Christ: That we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” (Galatians 3:13-14)
NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on discontent, because the Word says: “I have learned in whatever state (circumstances) I am, to be content.” (Philippians 4:11)
NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on unworthiness, because the Word says: “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on confusion, because the Word says: “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.” (1 Corinthians 14:33) and “We have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.” (1 Corinthians 2:12)
NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on persecution, because the Word says: “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on the domination of sin over my life, because the Word says: “The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2)
NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on insecurity, because the Word says: “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; For the LORD will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.” (Proverbs 3:24-26)
NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on failure, because the Word says: “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37)
NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on frustration, because the Word says: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3)
NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on fear of the future, because the Word says: “As it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.” (1 Cor 2:9-10)
NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on troubles, because the Word says: Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I second that
Powerful! I am going to share this at our Women’s Bible Class! Thanks for Sharing!
That is really good. Thanks for sharing.
I love that! Thanks for sharing!
This is so timely for me ~ all of the things I need to be reminded of ~ thank you for sharing!
This is amazing!
Amen!!!!
What a great proclamation to end my evening. Thank you Laura for His powerful word that comforts and reassures us.
Love this!
Love this. Great scriptures to combat our weaknesses.
Thanks for the scripture references I am going to write them down !!!!
Amen! I love all those never again statements, thanks for sharing!
ME TOO!!! I got these in a devotional that one of my friends sent me a couple of weeks ago and have them saved so that I can repeat them over and over again!
This is wonderful! Thank you!
Thanks so much for sharing that, Laura! Definitely something to put up on the fridge and read over and over until it becomes a part of who we are!! God bless you. <3
I’m going to put it in every room and on my desk at work and anywhere else I can think of. Thanks for sharing i needed this.
There was so much in the first chapter that seemed to have my name written all over it. Insecurity has caused me to doubt myself so many times when God has called me into a ministry. I think the one thing that said it best was I only see the shadow of my doubt when I turn away from the light. As long as I keep my focus in my Heavenly Father I can walk with more courage and confidence. When I take my eyes off of Him I fear that I will fail so I don’t do what God is calling me to do. Really excited about this study. I have read the book before but looking forward to studying it now.
I read the 1st chapter and really need this Bible Study. I didn’t realize how insecure I really was until I read Chapter 1, read the prayer and answered the questions. I realize that what I think about me is more important than I thought. I know I will be able to get through to the other side of this. I just didn’t know I needed this much help. Thank you for having this Bible Study.
What spoke to me was on page 25…”When we pray God’s words out loud, and hear them, the Holy Spirit engraves them on our hearts and writes them in our thoughts”. Encouragement to start reading scripture out loud to have HIS words come to me whenever I am doubting myself
“You can only see the shadow because you have turned away from the light. Turn back toward the light.” This statement really stuck out for me. Some other reading I have been doing talked about praying God’s Word. I’ve know this… but am not consistent in doing this… so this part of the chapter really stood out as well. I find when I am doubting,overwhelmed, tired, on overload… I slip back into habits that aren’t as productive. I almost put the book down, when I was reading during my lunch time today… but then had to give my thoughts back to the Lord. This study really grabbed me and I believe it was a prompting of the Holy Spirit. I could relate to you story … when you talked about the whispering doubts and It’s not supposed to be this way. Self talk can really mess with a person’s mind and keeping scripture in front of me really helps. Thank you. I look forward to the rest of this study together.
“All of a sudden, it dawned on me. My uncertainty had created a huge shadow of doubt. Just like my shadow on the wall was distorting my shape, my doubt was distorting my thoughts and overpowering my emotions with confusion and questions. The shadow of doubt had become bigger than what I doubted – myself.”
Loved this quote, Renee. Since being laid off late last fall, I have had moments of total doubt that I would ever continue in ministry or that my calling was somehow in question now. And when I focus on the doubts, they loom larger and larger in my mind. I love your emphasis on reading and praying God’s word in this chapter. I believe that is what has helped me the most over the last few months as I’ve worked to combat attacks from the enemy and battled anxiety over whether I will ever be employed again! I am clinging to the promise in Isaiah 49 that “those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”
Thanks for a great start to this study!
Amen Holly!! Im praying for you too!! Oh how I wish we could hire you full time and answer that big ole prayer. We love you and you are such a blessing to us at the office. You are highly favored, dearly loved and a valuable tool in the hand of our GOD!!!
SO glad you are doing the study with me/us!! <>
I am excited to be part of this study. The last few years have been one of constanct self doubt. My daughter is bi-polar and when she is off her meds, her father and I are evil. When she does go off, I am constantly tearing myself up for not being good enough for her. She’s off her meds again. I am struggling again. But this time, this time it’s going to be different. Doubt and hope can not live in the same heart. I am so tired of doubting myself, trying to please everyone and feeling like I am not pleasing anyone. I try so hard and always feel like I come up short. It starts new today, today I will begin anew. Thank you Lord for all you do! For your mercies, your grace, your unconditional love. I love you Lord!
I am excited to be doing this study with so many women who like me have experienced a lack of confidence. While going through my divorce I totally fell apart. My husband made sure that I knew I was worthless and messed up everything I touched. Funny that God didn’t feel the same way and He began to pick me up and put me back together again. I read Renee’s book a couple of months ago and it spoke deeply to me,so I was excited when I found she was going to be conducting a study for us here online. Since the time I read the book, my life has been turned upside down once again. A year after my divorce I began dating again and fell in love with a man I thought was wonderful. What a shock to find out recently that I was just one of many women in his life and this wonderful relationship was all a lie. What confidence I had built was totally broken down when I discovered his cheating and lies. I am so very thankful to have this study right now. I desperately need to hear from God and need the support of other women who are feeling discouragement and fear like I am right now.
Rene,
I’ve been where you are and my heart goes out to you. You are not alone in how you feel, please know there are plenty of us out there. I’ll be praying that God does some wonderful things in our lives.
I have been lost and just exisiting for the last 3 years. I am thankful to Renee for writing this book.I feel like things are never going to change in my life and that I don’t have anything to hope for any more. I keep wondering what’s the matter with me? I am really good at hiding how I feel from others , heck, even from myself. The self doubt, panic, and no confidence in myself is robbing me of any happiness, joy , and peace.I set goals make some progress, then I quit, I don’t understand why I do this! So I guess I have j quit for good, I give up! The pain inside of me hurts so bad. My mother never wanted me and abused me in many ways. My husband has hurt me with lies, porn, and touching women at work. I just wonder why I wasn’t enough for either one of them?!
The sentence that struck me was about being good at hiding my doubts and no one knows the PARALYZING POWER they have on my life. I suffer from what I like to call “death by recliner”. I function day to day seemingly fine. I go to school everyday, teach my children, write my lessons, interact and laugh with my colleagues and no one knows that when I get home I plop into my recliner and am overcome with sadness, loneliness, and a great sense of inadequacy which make it difficult to rise up both physically and emotionally. It is exhausting living a double life! I am active in my church and my church family doesn’t know the real me either. Part of me doesn’t want them to and part of me longs for someone to recognize that I am struggling and offer to help me through it. I have begun recently to experience an awakening (a gift fro God I am sure) to things in my life that have contributed to what I am feeling and I am truly working hard to find healing. This study being one step in that direction. I feel blessed to be on this journey!
I could remember having self-doubt as early as 6-7 years old. There are so many things I wanted to do but never tried or followed through with because I thought I would just fail. Now that I am an adult woman and have been ministering to other women for the past 3-4 yrs, the statement on page 16 of the book, really made me realized I’m not the only one: “I wondered if perhaps my self-doubt was a sign I was in the wrong calling. I mean, if God calls you to do something, shouldn’t you feel confident about it?” That has been my struggle for the entire time, even though the blessings are there, I still didn’t see them or acknowledged them.
My prayer is that during these weeks, I will surrender all that I am and put all my trust and hope in Him. I know in my heart that God has called me into ministering to women and I pray I will not spend another day not doing God’s work because my lack of confidence. I will be made anew!!
Hi Renee,
This study group is a complete God send. I feel the way I grew up learning about God has shaped the way I approach Him. I am trying desperately to hear him and to BELIEVE what He says, not just believe in Him. My husband of 20 years (I’m 40 so that is half my life) walked out on me and my three children. He spent yesterday at Easter services with his mistress while never once trying to see his wife or children (although we were not at the same church, I cannot for the life of me understand how he thinks it is okay to stand in the house of the Lord with the woman he is cheating on me with). I have been having daily panic attacks and trying so hard to become confident and not ask “why am I not good enough”. Thank you for writing this book and organizing this study, I am praying I will be changed and become secure in God’s promises…not just believe them, but believe IN them.
Big hugs to you, Meg! Keep praying and reaching for God because he adores you and wants you engaged with him. May he bless you and comfort you on this journey!
Thank you so much Cyndy 🙂
My dear sisters you are not alone, I have struggled with these issues my whole entire life, I have always asked myself “what was wrong with me, why am I so insecure with myself?” I have been through so many challenges in life and struggles of feeling unworthy, unloved, alone, scared, not good enough, not strong enough, just plain self doubt all the way around. God has been working through me my whole entire life but it just has been the past few years I have put the pieces together. My biggest challenge right now is God has led me in a direction of seeing how strong I really am. Several years ago I was a liturgical dance instructor for a church I use to belong to, and about a 2 years ago I started working out and went to a dance fitness class. since I was so unhappy where my life was going, a year ago I became certified to teach, but the music didn’t inspire me as much as uplifting Christian music, God started working in me as I started to choreograph my own routines, I wanted to encourage others around me in my new church and community, that through all things if we put our full focus on what really matters in life everything else will fall into place. But as I was doing my classes I heard a voice of self doubt come over me, a voice of I”ll never be good enough, it is very hard to overcome these feelings when you don’t have support from family, but as I’m reading this I am learning it doesn’t matter what others think of you, I am doing this because this is the direction the Lord has asked me to follow, I think the biggest challenge is going out in the community to spread the word to others about Christ, I could be completely booed and shunned and am I strong enough for this?? Since in my area I’m the only fitness instructor that turned to all Christian music, people have laughed at me, called me crazy, I’m good when I do the routines for my class at church, it’s other places I just seize up and it over powers me.
Rom 8:28 speaks volumes to me, I must trust that whatever obstacle that have been placed in my way. God knows my path since he has already laid the foundation for me to follow, I just need to focus on him and ask for his help and strength.
I feel like this is the book & Bible study that I’ve been searching for & needing for a very long time. I can’t put the book down, & even though we’re only supposed to read chapter one (1) for now, I’ve moved on to chapter three (3). I have always wondered why even though in the midst of all the goodness in my life that I still always felt empty inside & that nothing was or is ever enough for me. I’m extremely insecure, & codependent in my relationships with men. I have always felt like I need a man to complete me, but all I need to complete me is God. None of my relationships have ever worked out & I’ve lost a few really good friends by being so needy & clingy. It’s draining for most & they eventually have to walk away to safeguard themselves. Everyone says why can’t I see the goodness in myself (what others see in me), after reading just the 1st three (3) chapters, I’m finally beginning to see what I’ve truly been missing & have needed so desparately in my life & in my heart. God is the only answer to my emptiness. He loves me unconditionally, & does not pass judgement on me like so many others have & still do. I’m truly looking forward to this Bible study in hopes that it can free me in a sense. I have always believed in God but never had the close relationship that I’ve always needed to have with Him. I’m hoping that this study will teach me how to develop that relationship to it’s fullest. God Bless all of you taking this Bible Study, feels good to know that I’m not alone.
I really enjoyed chapter 1. Something that stuck out to me was when it talks about self-doubt blocks the promise of Gods power and truth to change us from the inside out so that we can live with a confident heart. I was 14 when my dad died and since then i have really struggled with self doubt. Not having a positive father figure growing up in the most important times in my life to really tell me who I am and to have a dad who really loved me.
My confidence has been shaken a lot recently with a move to a new town where I don’t know many people, being newly married and in a new job where some of my beliefs are being called into question. This study comes at a good time for me that way! I liked Hebrews 10: 35, 36 and 39. What a great command from God, a promise as well and a reminder of who I am and the confidence I can have in standing as one who believes and is saved!
Resonated thoughts:
1. Doubt and hope cannot live in our hearts at the same time. pg.23 (spiritual warfare)
We live in a fallen world. We believe people’s comments good and bad! However it seem the bad out weight the good. We believe satan’s lies rather than GOD”S TRUTH. Each and everyone of us is here for a reason, fighting against satan lies so that we can learn to live in the God’s truth. Satan does not want us to do God’s will, so he tries to fill us with doubt. But God’s words can set up free. I have lived in doubt so much of my life, and have been a people pleaser rather than a God pleaser.
2. When we pray God’s word out loud, and hear them, the Holy Spirit engraves them on our hearts and writes them in our thoughts. Which then give me the confidence that God’s is who HE says HE is. Loved all the bible verses to look up at the end of the chapter. Hebrews 10:35-36- Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. PATIENTS PATIENTS I know that is God’s will for me so that I can become mature seeking God’s will for my life.
Thank you Renee for this bible Study. I can’t wait for the next step.
On page 23 it said that God doesnt want us stuck in a cycle of defeat or living in the shadows of doubt. Isaiah 49:23 tells us that when we hope in the Lord we will not be disappointed. This was a wonderful thing for me. I reread it many times, as I have been stuck in that bad cycle. I love later on when she writes that God declares with confedence that things CAN change. Praise God for wonderful words of encouragemen!!!!!
The sentence that really stuck out 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.” I am a new Christian. I have always know about God and Jesus, but this is the first time I am actually serious about it. Out of all of my family and friends only three people are actually excited for me in following Jesus. So I am constantly doubting if I am making the right decision. But I know I am and I can feel God being beside me and helping me. I will cut back on tv and on facebook. I will also go to bed earlier to get up earlier to do this bible study and read my bible.
I am very excited to start this bible study, because this is my first bible study and my aunt and I are doing this together and on here with all you ladies and Renee.
I have always had self-doubt. I don’t remember not having it. It has mirrored my entire life. I know that God does not want me to live with self-doubt,but I have never allowed Him to help me conquer it. My prayer is that through this study I can open my heart to be transformed and renewed to be a confident woman of God. The line on page 23, “He’s led me beyond believing in Him to really believing Him by relying on the power of His words and living like they are true no matter what my feelings tell me”, really spoke to me. I am so bad about reacting and living according to how I feel. I am ready to be changed.
I feel the exact same way, Tina ~ let’s be changed!
“You can only see the shadow because you have turned away from the light. Turn back toward the light.”
I love this line, because it really visually demonstrates what is going on in my head when I doubt God’s promises or get overwhelmed in circumstances. Renee’s story captures themany scenario’s in my life when God is asking me to do something outside my comfort zone or NOT to do something as I am tempted to focus on the what-ifs instead of His promises.
Reading the promises of God out loud, and even having someone read it to you is more powerful than anything else – it is like listening to the most powerful piece of music that truly does move the soul and secures it on the foundation that it needs to be set on. Learning to not be “shaken”.
In the shadow of doubt, insecurity paralyzes us…… so true. I have fought this battle for so long. I am so ready to let His Word change the way I think, which will determine the way I feel and eventually transform the way I live!!!! Thankful for this opportunity to take this journey and know that I am not alone with these struggles.
I can relate doubt keeping you from trying things. It has kept me from so much and I don’t think I realized it until I thought about it in this book. I believe doubt and fear are compatriots in the war against my mind and keep me from having that confident heart that you talk about.
Some of the things that stood out to me from this chapter were…
~”Sometimes we agree with them and they become our own.” -talking about insecurity thoughts
~”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.”
~”Perhaps you are so good at hiding your doubts and no one but you knows the paralyzing power they have on your life.”
~”Doubt keeps us from believing things can get better. Doubt convinces us that it’s not worth the effort.”
~”God doesn’t want us stuck in a cycle of defeat or living in the shadow of doubt.”
~Wee need to hope that life can be different. Otherwise, doubt will win every time and our hearts will be eroded by attitudes and emotions of defeat–but it is not supposed to be this way.”
~”He’s led me beyond believing in Him to really believing Him by relying on the power of His words and living like they are true no matter what my feelings tell me.”
~”The God of all hope is calling you out of the shadow of your doubts so you can live with a confident heart!”
~We’ll learn how to live beyond the shadows of doubt by holding each of our insecurities up to the light of God’s Word.”
These are a few of the things that have spoken to me from this chapter and I pray that the Lord will use them to mold my heart and my thinking so that I won’t continue to walk in my doubt and insecurities, but will instead walk in His confidence and value.
I love the remark someone said about not running away from things, but running to HIM, thanks, good instruction!
Yes! In church on Easter Sunday, the words on the screen said–” It’s not what you are running from, it’s Who you are running TO that matters!” I need to remember that. As I look at decisions about possible job changes, possibly staying home instead of working part-time, I need to remember to look UP rather than at all of the options, decisions. I wrestle in my mind with loving some things about my part-time job, but knowing my boss doesn’t treat me the way I deserve to be treated…but, there are lots of good things about it, too, so do I stay and push through it, or look for an opportunity elsewhere?? I need to run to HIM instead.
Shanny,
Thanks for sharing and yes always look up and quit wanting more he knows whats happening.
I love the hope in this statement- “When we pray God’s words out loud, and hear them, the Holy Spirit engraves them on our hearts and writes them in our thoughts. We internalize God’s truths as our faith grows and we are transformed from the inside out!” – We can all pray God’s words and hear them. This is actually possible by everyone.. it’s not too expensive, it’s not too time consuming, we don’t have to drive 100 miles to do it! Praise God for meeting us right where we are!
My ultimate goal – each time I have uncertainty I will choose hope instead of doubt. (transformation)
My goal for this week is to give myself the tools to help this become a reality. ” Read God’s word, Pray God’s word, allow the Holy Spirit to engrave them on my heart and write them in my thoughts”.
It’s wonderful to be participating in an online bible study with all of you beautiful, godly women sharing your struggles and encouraging your sisters in Christ with wise and uplifting biblical counsel!
What resonated with me was: “His truth waters us, sustains us, breathes new life into us and remakes us into the women He always intended us to be.” Many times my daily busyness of work, housework, errands, emails, internet, etc. take priority over spending time reading the Bible (the Truth, His Word). It makes sense now why during those times I feel parched, tired, empty and not who I was intended to be. Like a plant, I need his Truth to “water” me so I can grow and flourish. I need to work on consistency – making time in the Word and with Him my first and highest priority, and not allowing the “cares of this world” to distract/sidetrack me. My prayer is that the Lord will use this online study to help me develop the consistency I so desperately need, as I feel I am an easily distracted person in this area. Praying for all of us to be victorious over every struggle and to enjoy God’s richest blessings!
Thank u Renee. I’ve come 2 a point in my life where I need 2 start healing & break free of the doubts & unworthiness that I have let people & the devil put in me. This is just the Bible study I need. God’s blessed me with the opportunity 2 go back 2 school at my age. The old devil puts all those doubts back in there. My life started out with sexual abuse & my family making me feel like I was not worthy of the right kind of love. My parents gave my brothers & me away @ an early age. So I always felt unloved. Have always tried 2 please & take care of everyone else. Always thought God didn’t love me either cause if He did where was He when all that bad stuff happened. About 3yrs. ago I found a church that has taught me bout God. I study every day. I pray all the time. But still feel like I’m not worthy of something good 2 happen 2 me.I really want 2 know & feel that verse Romans 8:28. I pray with this study & everyone’s prayers & feedback those doubts will disappear. God Bless u all.!
Pretty much everything in this first chapter I could relate to in your story….even down to putting on my mascara with mouth wide opened….lolol. What resonated with my heart the most were the things you spoke about on pgs 21-23….the things that doubt whispers to us and how it causes our thoughts to be distorted with confusion and questions. As far back as I can remember, I’ve listened to these whispers and have come to believe them to be true. This is going to be a long hard road to travel to change this area in my life (my thought patterns) but I’m determined to do it as I know these whispers are only lies straight from the pit of hell. And I know, according to God’s Word, that my perseverance will be rewarded! I have trust issues as a result of listening to the whispers of doubt and this has affected my trust in the Lord as well. My desire to achieve through this study is knowing that I can trust God completely…..even with the little things in my life. I am a graduate of a Bible College so I know Gods Word pretty well….having said that, the one thing I’ve never put into practice is reading his Word “out loud” and that is something that I am starting to do….especially with verses that speak directly to my heart….so my ears can hear His Word and drown out the lies that satan keeps trying to feed me!
I read chapter 1 and found that what resonated most with me was the idea of doubting our calling. I am a dancer and have danced in competition and performance for many years. In the last 15-17 years I have begun to do sacred dance in prayer, praise and worship to our Lord. It has not always been met with enthusiasm and I have come to rely more on the opinions of others than what my heart hears from God. But He is so faithful and led me to a church that not only invites me to share what He is telling me, but ladies there want to learn how to praise God with their whole being including with dance. God faithfully provided me with an education in storytelling through dance and He has equipped me with all I need. Still, honestly, some days when people tell me that this is not a true gift from God, or they accuse me of showing off or even roll their eyes and say, “Oh brother,” I shrink and I hurt and I think, “Okay, I am on the wrong bus here.” Then a song comes on or a story or a scripture and boom God gives me a vision and I am up and sharing, dancing and teaching. My main problem, is I really care what others think. That erodes my confidence more than anything else.
Jer. 17:7 – not only are we to trust “in” the LORD, but to trust the LORD. I knew that in my head, but in reading it and answering the questions, it reached a heart level – because God IS trustworthy- He is in control, I don’t need to give in to fear, & I can walk confidently, knowing that He knows what is best for my heart – regardless of what I think of the situation & will bring me through whatever He brings to me.
I It’s nice to know I’m not alone, I’m tired of living an unvictorious christian life. I’m in the process of climbing out of a pit of despair. I slipped from doubting to despondency into despair with a lot of help from those who should’ve loved me the most (Christian church going family, my family of origin.) I’ve been betrayed, mocked for my weakness, told to submit when everything in me said RUN, I’ve been so angry, hurt, and rejected…this from my family. Its most difficult when Satan uses your family designed by God to try to destroy you. He’s ever so cunning isn’t he and such a counterfeit! The culmination of this is a 5 year( ongoing)struggle with my health with significant physical pain and a diagnosis( finally) of Lupus which attacked my nerves killing them slowly and terrible joint pain..resulting in a TOTAL surrender to God I might add ( take that Satan!). He broke me so he could begin something new. He kept telling me to forget the old, see I am doing a new thing. He demolished Everything so He could build a new on the Correct foundation of Jesus Chris tearing down any stronghold or thoughts that occupied my mind that where not of Him…what HE thought of me, how precious I am, how loved I am. The result is trusting in God’s sovereignty . Do we or don’t we….really believe he wants good for us in our worst night mare. See I want the true things of God not pat Sunday school answers …In pursuit of HIM. Remember in the midst of our suffering CHOSE to willfully and whole heartedly ponder the Lords goodness and PRAISE him. “They have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained victory over me. Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrow long. BUT the Lord IS righteous he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked Psalm 129:2-4 From my heart to yours I’m here with all of you working and praying with my sisters. ” Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble.
I have been so lost for so long and although I started Renee’s book earlier this month, I continue to put myself in a vulnerable position with a man who doesn’t love himself. Not once, but twice, and again for a third time. I have listened to God’s words which I am slowly beginning to believe, but it comes with many tears and frustrations. I said goodbye this am and was confident in my decision until the loneliness and heartache rears it’s ugly head again. I know I have done the right thing for me and for him, but it still hurts therefore I am starting over yet again. Hopefully this book, blog and study will help me. As well as my dog, Emma, who needs to be walked and loed whether I feel like it or not! 🙂
What spoke the me the most was “Yet, doubt and hope cannot live in our hearts at the same time.” It wasn’t until I read this sentence that i realized that I have been doubting that God will send the right man into my life. I definitely hope and trust that he will. But I never thought I doubted he would. Now I see that I have been doubting Him and I refuse to doubt Him any longer. 🙂
I loved the part about not only believing in God but believing Him, relying on the power of His word in my everyday life, that living like His word is truth no matter what my feelings are. THIS is where I want to be and I know it’s a day to day struggle so to speak. How great it feels on the days I can walk with God and pull this off!!!! I too loved the praying Gods word part and have done it, need to do it more. Especially love Phil 4:6-7 cause I have got to let go to Him for th e peace and the wisdom that I know only He can give. I’m looking forward to stepping even more out of the shadow of doubt and gaining a more confident heart!!!!
The paragraphs about seeing your shadow on page 21 of Chapter 1caught my attention. The part where you said your shadow of doubt had become larger than what you doubted – yourself really spoke to me. I have struggled with self-doubt and insecurity since I was a small child. I know that shadow of doubt became much bigger than who I doubted – myself. I have learned that when I doubt myself, I am really doubting God. The scriptures in Chapter 1 were just what I needed to read. I rewrote them so I can refer to them again and again. I am looking forward to the rest of this book. Chapter 1 could have been my story.
The foreword really spoke to me. As a child I longed to feel loved. As a teenager, I longed for love and attention as well. Sometimes, I resorted to not so good ways of getting that attention. I have had failures and loss along the way. I started renewing my faith in June of last year. I have not had the opportunity to read the first chapter yet but I know I am meant to do this study because when I read the foreword, I thought this is me! I am looking forward to this.
The first few paragraphs grabbed my inner spirit. Two issues named in those few paragraphs, provided clarification of some of my hesitations when working in ministry. I have great self doubt and uncertainty. This comes from spending too much time focusing on man and not enough time with God. God has major plans for me and I feel it in my spirit, but that self-doubt is so troubling. I am ready to release the weights Satan is pulling me down with and do what is in God’s will for me, according to His purpose.
Hello Reneee. I enjoyed the chapter, and felt encouraged by your godly advices and revelations God had imparted in you that you shared in this chapter.
Yes, I too suffer with doubt often. It has A lot to do with my past, but I know my redeemer will redeem my life story and write a new story in my heart beginning with a confident heart.
I am too hard on myself and most often want everything to look A OK before going on with (especially wen it come to making a decision) I have to make. And, when things don’t go the way I would expect them to go, I fall into fearing my path which leads to doubt. I am afraid of taking risks due to that. However, I have seen God come through each and every time thus blessing my soul and increasing my awareness of HIS presence with me at all times. Example: when I suffer with doubts especially with remembering the WORD of God, and If my testimony or my advice would even benefit anyone, the Lord has always come through in a mighty way reminding me a verse and a chapter in the Bible (take note, I don’t even read my Bible often), and blessing someone mightily through me.
What you wrote on Pg 22, when you said “Have you ever agreed with the whispers of doubt and found yourself living with a sense of discouragement and defeat? YES YES YES, and….I am ashamed to say it has somewhat immobilized me to move forward in live, and causing me to become fearful of the world around me.
**Yes, it is my goliath that I have to conquer, and I trust reading this book and memorizing in the verses given and praying and having an intimate conversation with my FATHER will help me overcome it**
Thanks again for doing this study. May God continue to be glorified thru you.
Tati
The sentence that spoke to me the most was on page 22. Renee said, “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 really need this. I’m always asking God to show me what He wants me to do, but then I doubt if I can even hear Him. I hope that this study helps me to hear God.
I long to have a confident heart! I am so very excited to see how God is going to change me during this study. You had mentioned you are a small group kind of girl….. I pray that during this study I will be able to attend a small group in my church and not feel insecure. Too many big voices telling me I am not as smart as other woman attending,not thin enough or pretty enough. The thought of attending small group makes me so nervous that it is not possible to do so. My amazing husband would love for us to join a group. It makes me sad to not be able to do this with him. All things are possible! I have open heart and hands as I begin this study with you Renee and others online.
What a blessing, reading the thoughts of so many sisters in Christ! Thank you, Jesus, for this community of believers, and for Renee’s heart to share with others what you have taught her.
There are a lot of highlighted passages in my Chapter 1, but of particular importance to me includes:’
1) pg 24, “…believing Him by relying on the power of His words and living like they are true no matter what my feelings tell me. and …when I choose to dwell in the assurance of Whose I am and who I am in Him, I have a confident heart.” and …”let His Word change the way you think, which will determine the way you feel and eventually transform the way you live (Rom. 12:2)”
I have been “walking in the valley” with the Lord for about a year following a time of spiritual drought, and He has shown me that my belief and my actions need not be, should not be, determined by my feelings. My feelings can change in a heartbeat, with a tone of voice, or a fluctuation of hormones:-) They are not to be my compass! I am learning to trust Him for meeting my needs, as He is the only one who truly can, and to believe that I am who He says that I am ~ fearfully and wonderfully made, precious, a child of the King! But to know what He says about me, and about Himself, I have to be reading the Word! So, I have been making my Bible reading a priority in my day, learning to dwell in the Word; not as duty or evidence or proof of my faith; not because “good Christians read their Bible”; but as the absolute essential food to nourish my otherwise starving soul! I can’t yet say that I read my Bible every day, but I no longer count that a failure. I count it a success that I am reading my Bible at all, and God is awakening my heart to how life-giving it is.
2) pg 25 from Romans 10:17: “faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ”, so let’s pray these promises out loud again and again.”
The word of God is powerful, and spoken aloud it adds a new level of impact for me. If faith comes from “hearing”, reading God’s word aloud, speaking God’s truth to myself, and preaching the Gospel to myself will be increasing my faith, even when I can’t tell!
The sentence that really got to me was, “Although you’ve been miserable, at least misery is familiar where you are now.” I currently live in a city I hate, but God moved me here for my job. I am extremely unhappy here (don’t like the environment, place, behaviors of people, the commute), but I am too scared to leave and move back to the city I love without a job. The job hunt has materialized into nothing. So as tough as it is being here, I stay here out of fear! Fear of the unknown, fear of living by faith without a job for a while. So I stick with being miserable because of fear. A friend once said, “until you get sick and tired of being sick and tired, you will not do anything about it.” She is so right!
The doubting whispers are so true and sometimes they are not whispers, but actual people who speak into your life, loudly and constantly. Often they speak from their own personal fears and which we allow to shatter your confidence.
I love Philippians 3:12-14 and am trying to live by it daily, “Not that I have already obtained this or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)
Although I have only read chapter one of the book, I am so looking forward to the rest of the book and our online discussions. Thank you Renee for stepping out in confidence to write this book and share it with all of us!
“But I’ve found that when I choose to dwell in the assurance of Whose I am and who I am in Him, I have a confident heart.”. Love that sentence & I need to remind myself of Whose I am.
Thank you for this great study and for all the many wonderful ladies who are part of it, Praying that the Lord will richly bless each one of us and give us a confident heart. I really struggle with confidence when dealing with my own family (parents & siblings) W’e attend a different church then they do and it seems to really have put a distance between us and anything we do is wrong, I feel ‘fake’ being a Christian around them – that doesn’t really sound right but it’s like we are being judged by them…. I know in my heart that we must do all to God’s honor and glory but it’s hard when you feel like you’ve offended them but know that if you did anything any different I’d be offending God. So that part of being in front of the mirror really moved my heart. This has been a struggle I’ve had for many years. I really notice it because my husbands family is a strong Christian family, we have a real Christian church family that we are close with and that is all missing in my extended family . I know only God can fill this void in my heart but I have a hard time giving it all over… please pray that being in God’s Word, in prayer and part of this study will help over come that. Praying that whatever area each of you struggle with too that the Lord will fill that void. Thanks for ‘listening’!
The negative phrases, such as, you’ll never be good enough seem like déjà vu. I seem to hear that and others daily in my thoughts. The prayer really brings home the heart of Jesus and what I need to remember first and foremost. I am re-writing the prayer and pitting it on my fridge as a continual reminder!
What speaks to me most is on page 23, “As God’s girls, we need to know and believe that change is possible. We need to hope that life can be different.” I know that it can but sometimes it is just really hard to believe.
Tina, it is difficult to believe at times, but we must remember that with God all things are possible. Praying for you as you begin your journey.
I am not one to post comments on blogs but after reading chapter one and coming to the first question I pondered for a couple moments and began to cry. The question to answer was ‘What was your earliest memory of doubting yourself or feeling insecure?”…well I thought it was my first swimming lesson, but I heard a little voice in my heart say what about when you were about 4 and were lost in that department store? The tears began to flow, you see I was with my biological father and his new wife when I lost them in a department store. I began crying and calling for him, I couldn’t find him anywhere….a store clerk eventually found me and brought me to the cashiers desk at the front of the store. They asked my name and being 4 I had a speech impediment and couldn’t pronounce my last name correctly. I was terrified I would be left alone when the lady said the wrong name over the loudspeaker….I screamed ‘No!!!! It’s Michele Becker not Michele Buckle….’ my mouth couldn’t pronounce Becker only Buckle. I was hysterical with fear. Finally my ‘father’ came and got me. This memory triggered other memories that led to his eventual abandonment when I was 7. I was somewhat of a tomboy and when I would visit him on the weekends his wife would immediately run me a bath and tell me I was filthy-like I said I was a tomboy busy climbing trees and digging for worms in the dirt. I remember one time having a blemish on my cheek and she kept squeezing it and scrubbing my face with a washcloth-it hurt! She took me shopping to buy new clothes…since she was Scottish she bought me Scottish tartan skirts, crisp white blouses and patent navy blue shoes…beautiful but not who I was. This memory has been stifled for over 35 years but upon pondering the first question of chapter one I see I never felt good enough to be loved by my own father. I’ve always doubted peopled’s love and struggled with the fear of rejection. Praise the Lord He is my father who will never leave me nor forsake me.
I have had a desire on my heart for over a year. It seems so impossible. For me the first chapter God spoke to me. Praise God! There has been so many discouraging times throughout this year and I have asked many times for Him to take the desire away. He confirms to me to keep praying, trust, His timing, and be patient. This first chapter and the bible verses in it have been a HUGE blessing to me today! Glory to God!
Thanks Renee for this on-line bible study. Although I feel I have been healing from being a people pleaser for nearly 40 years, I still fall back into people pleasing when I don’t get into God’s word enough and trust him for all things and not rely on the world to tell me what my worth is. Being raised in an alcoholic home (my father is an alcoholic), my insecurities were huge when it came to feeling like my father loved me unconditionally. But I know now that my Heavenly Father loves me no matter what. Thanks again for sharing your book and I look forward to learning more and growing more confident through Christ. Praise his Holy Name!