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?
Looking forward to connecting with all of you that seek His will and His promises. May we lift each other UP as we move forward….growing closer to His truths, and not the lies of the enemy. Praying that we all learn a little more about the heart of God and how it intertwines with our heart. Let’s be confident!
Lindsey,
Feel the fear and do it anyway is a remarkable book to read. God has amazing things for you. Trust in
the Lord with all your heart and soul. Thanks for sharing and take care Godbless 🙂
What do you think hinders you most from living with God-confidence on a consistent basis?
I wish I lived with more God-confidence in all areas of my life, but I’ll share my work issue here tonight.
I work at one of the largest universities in the world. I love it there. I love the people. BUT (and it’s a BIG BUT), no one discusses faith at any point, ever. In fact, it’s really seen as a weakness…anti-intellectual…etc. So, I hide it at work because I’m afraid of what people will think. I fear that it will hinder my success there. I’m ashamed of that. So ashamed.
I’m working to be “in the world” but not “of the world.”
Right there with you. I own my own business and always want to keep everyone happy. I dont bring up faith or religion much at work because its easier to avoid making others uncomfortable. I am ashamed that i dont talk about it for fear of judgement/criticism from others…or that i wont be able to “defend” my beliefs. Its very frustrating.
The one thing that I have already been growing in and was mentioned in Chapter 1, is not just believing in Him, but BELIEVING Him. I mean really believing Him. I have prayed often in my christian walk, Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief, and He is answering that prayer.
“You can only see the shadow because you have turned away from the light. Turn back toward the light.” This resonated with me and hit me like a ton of bricks. Before I had went through my first divorce my relationship with the Lord was ever growing, I was speaking to Him and He was speaking with me, life was great. Then I went through the first divorce and yet another divorce and here I am two divorces and lacking in confidence I once had. When I read the above sentence I to myself , that the Lord spoke to Renee, i thought “That’s it I have turned away, I mean I have my relationship with the Lord, He has gotten me where I am today, but it’s not no where like what it use to be like.” I feel Him and see Him work but because I have turned away, not reading like I should, not talking like I should, not doing what I should I am becoming consumed with self doubt. I have always been pretty confident with the Lord’s help up until now and my life decisions have caused me to doubt and try to figure out where i have went wrong and in doing so without Him which has allowed self doubt to creep in and it reek havoc. I am feeling the havoc, at home and with my extended family, at work and pretty much every where. I am looking forward to turning back to the Light and gaining my Confident Heart back that I have lost do to my past failures. So excited about this study God Bless you all and all the ladies participating may we all walk away more confident in our hearts!!!
The paragraph on page 22 “These are the voices of insecurity that cast shadows of doubt over our perspective and keep us from becoming the WOMEN we want to be – the WOMEN God created us to be. 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”. Wow! That is powerful. This totally is the truth. The voices we hear are usually not real and the voice of God is. (I have plenty of voices that prohibit me from being that beautiful WOMAN that I want to be-no I am not a mental case – just insecure thoughts that get the best of me). And as Renee wrote, this gets old.
We all need or at least I do listen to Gods voice because we are wasting our time and energy on things that are not real with those voices. God doesn’t want us to live in the shadows of doubt. If we hope in him and give those insecurities to him we win, God wins. To know that God who made each one of us different and beautiful in our own way, we need to look in the mirror and recognize how lucky and beautiful we are as a WOMAN. We need to look in that mirror and say thank you God for making a beautiful woman inside and out and walk with our heads held high and our hearts open to Gods words. Lastly as Renee writes, doubt and hope cannot live in our hearts at the same time. I choose hope! Hope through myself, other women and God.
Thank you Renee for coming into our hearts and souls. You are touching the hearts of many……….especially mine.
First let me begin by thanking you and God for this wonderful opportunity. I just happened to one my email with an adverstisiment for the book and study group and I truly believe it was God putting what I neede right in front of my face, literally.
The sentence(s) that resonate with me the most are: “As a child I doubted I was worth keeping”. I never felt that I was good enough in my parents, teachers, or anyone of importance eyes. I was compared to my brother, I was disregarded, I was made to feel insignificant and that I really didn’t matter. Another sentence that resonates is the doubt whispers “never have the confidence I need”, that no matter how hard I try it doesn’t matter. Having said that, there are sentences that filled me with hope and resonated in a positive way, the one that does it the most is “doubt and hope can’t live in our hearts at the same time”. Sometimes the simplest statements have the most power and this one does for me. Hope and doubt are fighting for space in my heart and I have to stop letting doubt win.
The most relatable part of the story for me was large looming shadow of doubt, bigger than myself.
I’m grateful for this opportunity to share in this experience with everyone and am thankful to God that I actually looked at my email that day to be able to be a part of this!
Michelle, I am so glad that God directly you to this study. God’s ways and timing are always perfect. May He guide you through this journey.
When I started reading the forward I knew that this book was for me. I am really scared and excited all at the same time. I also carry around a cup and ask everthing/everyone “will you fill me”. When those temporary fillers go away I feel so sad, angry and alone. I start to feel ashamed and just broken. When I started reading the chapter and I got to page 23 ” Perhaps you are good at hiding your doubts and no one but you knows the parazlyizing power that they have on your life”. I am parazlyed. Pralyzed by the fear that I will never be able to get out of this up and down cycle. This cycle of doubt. I feel like I pray, but deep down I know I don’t because the thoughts I am not enough, my prayers aren’t good enough, I will never change all run through my head. I’ve had this book just under a year. I only made it through two chapters on my own. I’ve been waiting for an online study FOREVER. When I read the first chapter today, I felt peace and encouragement come over me. On Page 25 Renee says “so lets pray these promises out loud again and again” I was sitting in subway and I just wanted to start praying out loud!! I knew right then and there that if I pray out loud over and over again to God with all my heart, put all my heart into this study, the self doubt will get less and less. I felt a glimer of confidence.
I pray that other ladies out there who feel broken and alone start to feel that same confidence to as they read the book. I pray that we can call come together and lift each other up and help each other remove that self doubt from out hearts and fill it with praise for God!
Hi Ladies and Renee,
I am very glad to be doing this study as well! I find myself relating to what Renee said about the fact that “doubt and hope cannot live in our hearts at the same time. We need hope that life can be different. Otherwise, doubt will win every time and our hearts will be eroded by attitudes and emotions of defeat.” I am constantly putting myself down with negative talk and, all too often, live within the realm of defeatedness and hopelessness, feeling as though my weaknesses will never get any better. I have gone through a lot in the past 5 years, from losing my mother to cancer and then having my marriage of over 28 years end in divorce. Through all of that I have struggled a ton with my weight and, because of that, how I feel that I am less of a person and viewed by others as unworthy and incompetent. Of course, most of this is probably not reallly how others view me, but how I perceive that they view me. I am hoping that through this study, I can gain confidence and more fully understand the truth of how God sees me. I am also hoping I can break this cycle of negative thoughts and attitudes about myself. The verse that I am hanging onto is Isaiah 43:18-19 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” God can take my past and turn it into something good and new and as refreshing as streams in the desert! What a glorious promise to have!
Robin I will be praying for you! That is an amazing verse to remember. Thanks for reminding me of it.
When you talk about wanting to go home from your event and just do something totally familiar, this really struck a nerve. When I know I need to do something, I tend to go into avoidance mode. Because I have lost all confidence in myself, I have such a terrible time just stepping out and doing what I know needs to be done. Not for the first time, I have broken my husband’s trust by mishandling our finances, and letting it go so long we are in dire straits by the time I tell him about it. I am so lucky and blessed that he loves me and has no wish to leave me for what I have done, but I have to find a way to change. He thinks I do not trust him, when it is my own lack of self-worth that causes me to withdraw and hide. I need to trust God so that I can learn to trust myself and be the wife my husband deserves.
Thanks for the study Renee! I am excited about the delving into the Word of God more deeply and allowing His spirit to renew and refresh me as I pray, read and study. It is a blessing to be involved in a study with so many women of God. One of the scriptures that really stood out for me in chapter 1 was Isaiah 49:23, “Then you will know that I am the LORD. Those who hope in me will not be disappointed.” While some of the events of our lives may cause us to bend, and almost break, we can rest assured that the end result will not lead to disappointment.
As I spoke the prayer at the end of the first chapter these words truly gripped my heart, ” My confidence is in Christ and I am no longer one who shrinks back and is destroyed”. Have I been shrinking back by allowing myself to be overrun with feelings of doubt and insecurity? Have I, as a result, been destroyed because of it? Many days I have certainly felt like it. I have felt like there’s nothing left of me, just a shrivelled shell of a woman who doesn’t measure up. I have often turned away from the light and was overwhelmed with the shadows…but failing to focus on the light and trying to “fix” things on my own has never turned out all that well. Isn’t that a surprise. Haha. This chapter has been a reminder to keep my eyes fixed on my Heavenly Father. I want what He has and wants for me…and it’s high time I let that happen!
i have known for years that i have had a void in my life that i have tried to fill by the the wrong things. i am happy that i am making the first steps to repair myself. i realized that it is never to late and anything is possible if you have the right person backing you. i realized all i need is god an he is the one that has never turned his back on me but i have turned my back on him. it feels good to know my dark days are finally behind me and i am worth it. i am not alone anymore.
Carolyn I know exactly how you feel. I know that God is there but it’s like I can’t let him in. I pray that this study helps you further repair yourself.
It is easy to have a confident heart when things are going well. My ex husband left me for another woman and then my boyfriend of over a year just suddenly broke up with me, no real reason.
I am bewildered, upset and broken and feeling like I was not good enough to make them stay.
I am able to fake it when I’m at work and in front of others, but when I am alone, that is when the emotions and doubt surface.
I started the book a few weeks ago, but really didn’t dig into it until now. I want to get my confidence back and squash the fear and doubt that has invaded.
Candy,
I can relate to your situation as my husband of over 28 years also chose someone else over me. It is heartbreaking and I know I told myself, “If I had done this, or if I had lost weight, or if I had tried harder, etc.,” he would have been happier and would not have looked to another woman. The fact is that more often than not it is more about his issues than it is about what you could have done or been. Human love will fail us at times, but I know this to be true and that is that the love of God our Father, never fails and He sees us as worthy and good enough! Look at yourself through His eyes and accept His unconditional love. Believe me, I know that is easier said than done, because I have been in your shoes and I know how low the pit of despair and loneliness can go. Just don’t give up! Keep your eyes on God’s love and allow Him to fill the void in your life! He will not fail you and you will not be disappointed! Time truly does heal!
I could relate to anything you said about having doubts about myself and my abilities. I grew up in a Christian home and became a Christian at a young age. I feel like I’ve always believed IN God. I liked the part where you talked about moving from believing IN him to BELIEVING HIM. I pray I can believe he has big plans for my life and he will be there to guide me in those big plans if I only believe him.
Sara, God does have big plans for your life. I pray that you will not only be able to believe Him, but also step out and follow His leading and not let doubts and fears hold you back.
Juanita,
Thanks yes I’m obidient to God and pray
His will be done not mine. Take care 🙂
I was tempted not to post at all since 1) the group is large and I felt I’d just get lost, 2) My story is so much like so many others.
I grew up hearing things like “Are you stupid?” “You are fat and ugly’, “Don’t you know any better?”
Like so many I never felt good enough, pretty enough or worthy of respect.
I have read this book once before on my own and gifted it to a friend and bought another for myself. I am hoping to solidify the lessons, the truth that I AM good enough and worthy enough JUST AS I AM.
I have made a practice the last few years of moving through my fears and “pressing on”. On June 8-9 I will be giving A SERMON (I have become involved, despite my fears, in the lay ministry of my church). I am so hoping to truly grasp that “When I choose to dwell in the assurance of Whose I am and who I am in Him, I (will) have a confident heart” (page 23) and can get through it without crying due to nerves!! 🙂
I want to start praying His Word and truly believe it and LIVE it.
Thank you, Renee. You and Lysa are wonderful role models to me and I admire and learn from all of you at Proverbs 31!
Im so glad you posted!! And Im so proud of you too. You are more than you think!! You have more to offer than you know. And the more you walk in that truth the more God is going to show off in you. Praying for you as you walk in faith and preach that sermon. You are highly favored and the Lord is with you!!
Thank you so much, Renee. Your words mean a lot to me!
“You can only see the shadow because you have turned away from the light. Turn back toward the light.” I can take that statement that appeared in Chapter One and apply it to a situation I found myself in recently. It was almost as if God was speaking to me when I read those words. It was a great relief to read them!!
The voices of doubt in my head are so loud sometimes. I know that I should get the word of God and read it out loud, but I just can’t seem to make myself do it. I struggle with insecurity, depression, rejection issues. I know I need to renew my mind with God’s truth, but it is hard to make myself do it. I am hoping this study will help me focus on what I can do and let God do what only He can do. I have stayed at a job where I am miserable and have been afraid to leave because the fear of the unknown was worse than the misery at work. I feel like God is wanting me to move on. I am praying that He will provide another job that I will be fulfilled in and bring Him honor and glory. I have been afraid that all my mistakes and failures will keep me from doing more mission-type work. If I can’t handle the fire here, what makes me think i can handle spiritual warfare in mission work? Anyway, I am praying for God to do a complete work in me through this study. I am going to pray for focus and endurance to complete it.
Tanya your first few sentence are how I feel. When I am down, there is that voice in my head that says read the bible, pray to me but I reject God becasue I always feel so rejected. I pray that you can renew your mind with God’s truth and this study helps you know that you are AMAZING!
“The God of all hope is calling you out of the shadow of your doubts so you can live with a confident heart!” It seems as though I lost all hope when my ex-husband who I’m back together with betrayed me again just this past January. I started to feel unwanted, ugly, unworthy, you name it, I felt it even though I KNOW I am God’s daughter! Nate and I began counseling at church and to make a long story short, the counselor thought it was best for him to see Nate alone. As I continue to let God lead me, I too knew I needed help…God wants to work on me too and I needed Him more than ever. I know God has placed it in my heart to wait for Nate to receive the counseling he needs, as God works on him. Regardless of what happens with Nate and his recovery, I know that this and all times I need God. About a month ago I questioned where MY confidence was and that constant questioning was followed by constant reminders on Proverbs 31 ministries website about this book and this online study. Like Renee says, “This will be a process that happens if you are willing to have honest, soul-searching conversations with God, yourself, and a few people you trust-conversations about where you are, how you got here, and where you really long to be.”
I am so ready to stampede over with all these doubts the enemy attacks me with!!!
Juanita,
When human love fails us, it is natural to feel unwanted, unworthy, ugly, etc. My marriage of 28 years ended for the same reason of infidelity and it really does a number on how we view ourselves, even though we know in our head that we are so worthy in God’s eyes. I just said a prayer for you and I hope that God will work a miracle in your marriage and, most importantly, in you! His love never fails or forsakes us! Praise God for that!
Completely get it Juanita, my husband betrayed me too. We started counselling at church and were referred to private counselling. Counsellor decided to see us separately. We are still together but he no longer wants anything to do with God or our Church Family. Somehow all his issues are my fault. My confidence has been trashed as he continually makes me feel guilty for going to church and bible study. I guess part of our healing is learning once again to trust not only our husbands but also God as he deals with them and us
I read Redeeming Love a number of years ago and identified myself so much with the main character Angel. Never in a million years would I have thought that now I identify myself with Michael, Angel’s husband. An obedient servant of our Lord God. Being obedient to His word, His plans, His promises. God is calling on our men’s hearts as much as He calls on ours. We need to lift our men in prayer. Ultimately it is God’s free will to each of us to decide the road we take. I pray we remain obedient and continue to hear and listen to Him and to do it in love. So much harder at times but our righteousness will be honored by God. Lifting you all in prayer 🙂
There are so many things that spoke to me in this first chapter. In my head I know and understand
these things. My biggest obstacle is the blockage between my head and my heart.
I see Gods promises at work in others and desperately want to see and feel them active in my own but I feel this whole painful thing of being unworthy. I know the things that happened in the past were not about me but the other people’s limitations The war that goes on between my head and heart causes a roller coaster of faith, emotion, fear and confidence. Believing that through this study God will help me find some balance and consistency in my emotional nightmare, self worth, faith, trust and confidence in him. Many thanks Renee for putting your experiences to paper so many of us can benefit from your journey. God Bless you, your family and team 🙂
I completely am in the same boat.. Sure I have head knowledge. It’s just not getting to my heart.
I am so intrigued about your book, you could easily be talking about me in this first chapter, I am so meek and shy and insecure, and no confidence in any way shape or form, and have such a sensitive heart that I cry at the drop of a hat, which sometimes is frustrating for me, but I really feel like this class will help me to grow and be a better person.
Felicia Hepburn,
I’ve been divorced also Thank God he helped
me through it . Am glad your on this journey
with me.
This study is so on time for me…I am currently experiencing a “winter” season and all of my insecurities and self-doubts are resonating loudly in my ear. I am in a city of unfamiliar people – no family and no friends. I feel so along…the truth is I am waddling in self-pity and God is right here – waiti g for me to “turn back to the light”. For me, that was powerful – I am looking in the shadow – looking at what is not of God and forgetting He is where is light, hope and truth!! I am ready to conquer my doubts – celebrating the new thing God s about to do…thank you for reminding me to turn around and looked to Him – from we’re my help comes from!
There were two sentences that strongly spoke to me in Chapter 1, page 21; (1) “…maybe you’ve sensed God calling to serve Him in a way that requires steps of faith, but insecurity has convinced you that you’re not smart enough or gifted enough”, and (2) that my doubts have been “distorting my thoughts and overpowering my emotions with confusion and questions”.
In reading Renee’s personal story, I can definitely relate to her struggles with self-doubt.
In reading and studying the Bible verses and reading Chapter 1, there were a couple of things that spoke to me. “The memory of past victories should inspire present endurance.” As well as Isaiah 49:23, “…those who hope in me will NOT be disappointed.” Those two thoughts have spoke to and uplifted me today.
The “It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way” section, really hit home for me. Renee wrote that “Doubt and hope cannot live in our hearts at the same time. God doesn’t want us stuck in a cycle of defeat or living in the shadows of doubt.” (pg 23) God knows us intimately, and knows whats in and on our hearts. Many times I find myself thinking that the way my life is (currently) is not what I thought it would be. According to my sinful human ways, my life should be going along according to MY way. I strive to take my eyes off my circumstances, and focus them on Him. Scripture tells us our ways are not His ways, just like His thoughts are not our thoughts. God is in control and I need to continually focus and put my confidence in Him. I LOVE the Scripture Renee opened with, Hebrews 10:35-36. “So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! 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.” (NLT)
My prayer is that through this study, and prayer that my confidence will grow in Him (therefore shrinking my doubt), so that I can be used to glorify Him.
Thanks Abagail u too God is amazing
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me, Philippians 4:13 – As this scripture hangs over my window, I read it and ask God to allow this scripture to mediate on my heart. Sometimes I will allow the doubt, fear and negative thoughts to overwhelm my mind and I can not focus at work. I have to pray and God for intercession and remove any thoughts in my mind that is not pleasing to Him. I want to be confident in what is calling me to do and do it according to His will. I want to be able to step out in faith, knowing that what I have done whether it is at church, my place of employment, my business or at home that it was done in confident and pleasing unto God.
The sentence that spoke to me was “All things work together for good to those who love God according to his purpose”. These words give me confidence and His words I need to pray to my God daily!
Lana S,
You are worthy and a valuable person.
What you say does count. We should
not be afraid to speak our minds. I love
what you have to say. Keep talking God
wants to know whats on your heart and so
do I. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I underlined so many things in the first chapter but can sum everything up with the very first two words I underlined, “What if….?” Those two words have haunted me my entire life. I have been shaped by the “what if” question. My fears and self-doubts have always began with ‘what if?” Before I do anything I as “what if?” I think if I could get beyond those two words, I might see some improvement in my life. I have lived filled with self-doubt and low self-esteem for 48 years. At this point, it is hard to believe that anything can change. However, I am trying not to give up. I am a new Christian and am trying to find some of the peace I seek through God’s word and getting to know fellow Christians. Finding this bible study was fortuitous. I am really hoping that I can learn something that will help me. I am a bit intimidated by it because I am not used to this type of a forum but I am going to give it a try. Without going into a lengthy backstory, the most pertinent thing in my life right now is that fact that I suffer from chronic depression and am just coming out of another major depression. I am really hoping to find some peace and maybe even some understanding by learning God’s word and the effect it can have on my life.
I look forward to reading more comments and getting further into this study.
In my doubts and lack of confidence I have missed out on so many opportunities just because the thoughts, “I’m not good enough,” “There’s someone better,” or “No one will want me to” float through my head when opportunities arise. It keeps me from volunteering at my church, fearing that it’s really not the are I’m being called to. I volunteer when others specifically ask me. It’s as thought I need them to ask so that I can feel my self worth.
“He 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.” I struggle with this and would love to one day quote this and truly mean it about myself. I read the Word, and at times it sinks in, but to hold onto it is difficult. Promises made. I know they’re for me, but I feel there are others who deserve them more.
“But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him” Jer 17:7. It’s not that I don’t trust God, but when He speaks to me in prayer I tend to doubt that these words are His. I feel as though I’m making them up myself, though at times the power behind them should be unmistakable as God’s. I have things to work through, and in my walk this week I have chosen to make sure I am doing everything prayerfully as I know I should. I am going to listen – to really listen – for Him in my quiet times and not doubt. I’m on vacation this week with my husband and three children (9, 8 and 5), and I’m relying on Him to use this time together and my commitment to Him and His Word to work something amazing in my life and in my family. I have already been presented with a challenge today that I will not be able to overcome without Him. After all, through God all things truly are possible.
WOW! I”ve been reading and skimming over all the posts. I fit right into this group. I have a lot of doubt from father issues to driving directions to wondering “Why me?”. I know I have missed many things in life because I took the safe route. I was afraid to try for fear of failing! I am a terrible decision maker because I am afraid to make the wrong decision and pay the price for that decision. I often argue with myself. When life is tough due to a string of events that are hard, I often feel that God is out to get me. My head knows better but my heart takes over. My first thought is to wonder what I did wrong this time to deserve this. When I come back around to rational thinking, I know it is a lesson to be learned. There is a reason for the events. Learn from them! That doubt often sneaks back in. I am tired of missing out on things in life. I am tired of worrying about every decision and questioning my self-confidence. I doubt when I think I feel God’s leading. I don’t always follow because I doubt it is His will especially when it coincides with what I want. I think it can’t be true. I often ask HIM to hit me over the head with a huge sign so I know for sure it is His will. It does’t always happen. I need to get passed this. My head needs to rule more often.
The part that struck me was the mention of changing jobs on page 21. This is something I’ve recently started praying about. I need to follow what He wants for me in this area. I am just not sure what that is. Again, I don’t want to make the wrong decision. Again, hit me over the head so I know. I want HIS best not my best. I am afraid I will make a mistake and be sorry.
Like others the statement on p. 22 about self-doubt blocking God’s promises struck me. Along with p.23 the quote about “Doubt keeps us from believing things can get better.”, etc. I know He will answer when we ask but why is it I have trouble with doubting what the answer is? Why can’t I just “know”? How did I get this way? These are things I hope to figure out and become a stronger God girl!
I don’t know where to begin. Wow. I happened upon this Online Study through a friends facebook page. It couldn’t have happened at a better time. I have done a lot of soul searching in the last few years. I have been sober over 3 years, have gone back to college, graduated, and I will take my liscensing test in 1 week. And, am I ever lacking the confidence!! I have come to the point where I am more scared to pass my test than I am to fail it. I have all the feelings mentioned in Ch. 1. My doubts are not whispering, theyare screaming! But, I keep going. I have always kept going, but now I feel like I might actually have some tools and support to help me. I am looking forward to this journey and pray that I can do more than just go through the motions. I have worked very hard over the last 3 years and hate the fact that I am scared to death. I want to be confident!! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this journey. It is absolutely inspiring. God Bless!
You will be confident. God has an amazing path for you that you have already begun to walk.
Erica, congrats on your accomplishments!! I too managed to go back to grad school and graduate, and landed a job here while I was still IN school. Now that I’m staring down the barrel of having to move on to another job, I’m terrified too!! There’s nothing scarier than the unknown……but that’s why we’re here–to reinforce our faith. Someone posted earlier about “remember Jeremiah 29:11…”. I’m by no means an expert on verses, but that one helps me a LOT. You can do it!! (with Him, naturally! 😉 )
Thank you Abigail and Pam! I hope my book gets here soon. I am a very hands on person and know that will help me with journaling and really getting into reading His word. I knew I was in trouble when I started feeling more scared to pass than I did to fail. But, you are right. WE can do this with Him! 🙂
Fear and insecurity will rob you of so much joy in life. I am grateful to have been led to this group to learn we are all in this together and we will overcome with help fro God.
I have been searching for this type of Bible study for quite some time. I attend Sunday school and church weekly but have found myself wanting to learn more. We have had women’s Bible stuidies in our church but I am involved in several activities in church that have kept me from doing them. Right away after reading the first chapter I realized that this was describing the same thoughts and feelings that I have been experiencing. God has called me to step out of my comfort zone and I feel as if I am holding myself back because of my doubt and insecurity. Deep down I know that God has fully equipped me to serve him as He has called me to do. There is this nagging part of my that will not let me go. I am a quiet individual who usually does not say much at all I just seem to listen to what others are saying unless I am spoken to. There is so much that I would like to communicate but I have a tendency to just sit and not say a word. I view this as one of my insecurities or doubts. I seem to be worried about what people will think of what I say. This usually happens to me in group settings especially Sunday school and Bible studies. I am excited about this online study and what doors it may open for me in response to what God has called me to do.
Felicia Hepburn,
Thank you God wants to know what’s on
Your heart. I want to know too your voice
does matter. Don’t believe the lies trust in
Gods word. Am proud of you for speaking
your mind 🙂
Thanks for the study Renee. I have always struggled with self-doubt telling me things that is not good for my spiritual walk with the Lord. I love the prayer at the end of chapter one; Praying God’s Promises. I pray that God will bless us all in this journey as we study. I also pray that God will bless me to continue this study this year. I have struggled with starting something and not finishing it, and then I found myself living in self-doubt of who I am in Christ Jesus. The scripture “I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me is my scripture that keep me going when this happen. God bless you all. I shall return soon. My job want allow me to come every day. Love you.
The sentence that spoke to me was, “doubt and hope cannot live in our hearts at the same time.” Doubt means that we hesitate to believe, which is totally opposite of what hope is: to believe, desire, or trust. I have doubted so many times but now my hope is built on nothing less then Jesus Blood and Righteousness. And with Him all things are possible. Praise Jesus
The sentence that stood out to me the most was about letting God’s Word change my mind and that that would eventually change the way I think and transform the way I live. It’s something I definitely need to learn how to do. I need to hold on to God’s promises and learn to see myself the way He sees me. And I could relate to your story when you said that fear and doubt kept you from doing a lot of things. That is something I’ve always struggled with. I’m afraid of trying new things or going beyond my comfort zone. I’m also afraid to do something when I “know” that it won’t turn our as good as I expect it to be. But I am confident that, through this journey, God will transform my life and that I will learn to trust in Him and live with a confident heart.
I am struggling with debilitating anxiety, worry, fear ~ I am so looking forward to this study and the community of like minded folks to be connected with as we study together.
Thank you Renee for offering this study!
Crystal, praying for you that God will help to release the hold that anxiety, worry and fear have on your life. Looking forward to studying and learning together through this journey.
I think that the sentence that resonated with me is that if God calls you to do something shouldn’t you be confident about it.
When i first i started out in my career, it thought i could change the world and love doing this forever. Years later, somedays it is such a struggle to go into work due to my anxiety.
I feel God calling me to something new, but I am too nervous to take the leap as one sentence said although you may be miserable at least the misery is familiar.
I am encouraged by Romans 8:28 and praying that God will use this study to develop a heart change
I love it when a book speaks right to my heart, and I can find comfort in knowing that I am not alone in mynstruggles. Fr as much of mynlife as I can remember I have struggled with self-doubt. I have been the young girl who did not participate in things others did for fear that I wasn’t good enough, or wouldn’t say or do the right things, I was the college studen’t who had a panic attack and almost changed my major when things got tough, because I thught I couldn’t do it. I am the woman who waited two years to fulfill my calling to bring a womans group to my church only to still struggle with am I enough for these women and what are they thinking about me. I love when Renee wrote that she heard Hod say that she could only see the shadow because she had turned away from the light! That really hit home for me. I know I need to immerse myself in his word and his truths and stop all these worry thoughts that run through my mind that come from the enemy. I am really lloking forward to the rest of this study! Thank you Renee!
What really resonated strongly when I read Chapter 1 was when you mentioned the statements that paralyzes us when doubt rears it’s ugly head. I can readily identify with everything that is written. Insecurity plays a big part in allowing doubt to rule…questioning my adequacy. I am really trying to get past this phase in my life. I am learning to speak and apply the Word of God in everything that I am faced with on a daily basis. 1 John 5: 14-15 has been a stabilizer for me; and I am grateful to God for directing me to becoming a part of this study. There is so much I desire to do in Kingdom work; and by faith in God and His directing my path, I am so confident that this shall come to pass. Thank you for writing this amazing book! I am so looking forward to Growing in God!
I know God is working in my life he has helped me through sexual,physical,emotional and mental abuse. He has also helped me conquer my addiction to drugs and alcohol. So why then do I still sometimes struggle with whats going to happen. I have to remember that Gods not going to let anything bad happen to me. I worry about my husbands job and whats going to happen. If hes going to get another job. I have to realize God knows whats best for us. I have a mental problem also I finally realized after watching a movie on Spiritual Warfare that it’s the devil trying to put lies and voices in my head. Am truly excited to be able to read A Confident Heart and let God keeping working miracles in my life. Am going to keep on reading God’s Promises and have faith everything will be ok. Mark 9:23 “What do you mean, ” If I can”? Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” Am truly blessed and grateful that I can be on this journey so I can be the best person God intented me to be. Don’t wish I can be someone else just be myself and quit comparing. Best of luck to everyone on this wonderful journey and Godbless. We’re truly children of God and He loves each and everyone of us. Thank you to all my sisters in Christ and thank you so much Renee this is just what I need. No more fear just Let Go and Let God.
Shelley, thank you for the wonderful reminder – we are all children on God and He loves each one of us very much. We need to find our confidence in Him and replace all those lies floating around in our heads with God’s Truth.
The things that resonate with me is the fact that even reading the verses, I was thinking.. that is for someone else. UGG I never realized how doubting I am. I want to be confident in God’s Word not just in God. How can I say I believe Him when I don’t believe His Words? I mean I believe them just not for… me. Wow how sad.. I am going to work on feeling good about me because I am made in His image so I am important
I did the same thing while I was reading those. They sounded nice, but meant for someone who really deserved them.
I know…what is with that? You read them, and you know in your mind that it’s right, but it doesn’t quite connect all the way THROUGH you. It’s not like I sit and consciously think, “Oh that’s for someone else” per se, but I’m definitely disconnected.
The good news is, we have many chapters to go! Read and repeat verses to self, repeat to self, wash, spin, rinse….. 😀
I penned those very thoughts in my journal last night. I wrongly tell myself that’s for the people God really loves and wants to use to make a difference in the world. May we all let the mind of Christ dwell in us.
As I read the acknowledgements and the first chapter I thought to myself “God means this for everyone else except me.”
Each inspirational Bible Scripture seems to written for the lady next door, the woman down the street but, not for me. I’ve struggled so much throughout my life to have a tiny bit of confidence that it just doesn’t seem possible.
Except, as I read and answered the questions and after I prayed the first chapter prayer out loud, I felt compelled to go outside and walk my dog. I met up with a new woman who lives in our campground and invited her in for prayer. My prayer was “Help me believe that you mean this for me too, God.” I feel a glimmer of hope and dawning belief that maybe, just maybe, God means his promises for me too. Thank you, Renee.
Andrea, I pray that God will open your heart and mind and see how this study applies directly to your life. Looking forward to studying together.
I am so excited to have found this book. I feel like it was written just for me and that God led it to me at the exact right moment in my life. I don’t think that I was ready to hear these words two months ago, but now my heart and mind are open and I am learning and growing in my relationship with Christ. Thank you!
Alicia, I am thrilled that you will be joining this journey. God’s timing is always perfect.
I have started many different bible studies hoping that a change will happen instantly. When the change does not I quit. I hear something tell me that ill never learn or something is wrong on my life and I dont deserve it. In the first chapter I saw me. Like I was the one you were speaking about. I want to stay with study, god says he had begun a new thing.
Mary, I am praying that with God’s help you will be able to stick with the study to the very last page. Renee does an incredible job of speaking directly to the reader.
I am so ready to get rid of this doubt (not good enough, body image) that has had a hold on my life for way to long. I am blessed to be a part of this online study. Thank you Renee!
God, I pray all the women on here will be released and have the confidence we are looking for in every area of our lives, You gave us a sound mind. Open the eyes of our hearts to see your truth and that it will penitrate our hearts, mind and spirits, bless Renee as she leads us and give her the words you want spoken, the heart that is sensitive to our needs and the strength to do this and all the other things she has going on in her life. Help us to be VICTORIOUS in this study, In Jesus’ most powerful name I pray, Amen!