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?
Something that really became apparent to me when reading this is that Satan will use whatever he can to make us insecure. Some of the previous posts talk about situations with abuse, neglect, alcoholism, etc. However, based on my experiences, Satan will also use situations and circumstances that aren’t so extreme. In my case, an emotionally absent father and a critical mother. For years I felt my insecurity wasn’t “justified”, but now I realize how resourceful Satan is!
My sentiments exactly Kristin. I grew up in the same boat as you! The struggles I faced with my parents the enemy used it to created a huge barrier between me and God. Aren’t you glad we have such an amazing Heavenly Father that never abandons us and that never criticizes us for our mistakes? I’m so happy for His grace and faithfulness… and that we get to enjoy it every day!!
I as well grew up with an absent father and my mother made me feel like i could never amount to anything. It has been hard for me in my walk with our Heavenly Father because I have never had a close relationship with my own parents and I feel stuck as to how do I develop a relationship with Him. So I hope that we all can together “not just believe in God but truly beliveve” like Renee puts it 🙂
When I read chapter 1 I did not know I had a twin – experiencing the same thing. All excited to work for and with God and when the time approached I wonder if I am worthy. Then the words “What if” starts to play in my mind. I wonder if those listening will understand. Am I bringing it across just as the Lord will have me to do it. Doubt starts to arise in my heart plus fear (trust me they work together). I will cry out to God to help me. Even ask my prayer partner (God bless her loving and understanding heart). to pray with and for me. I loved when God allow you to see and to explain that large and distorting shadow on the wall of your bathroom. When I read it I got the spiritual implication right away. My heart’s desire is that I and we all will recognise that shadow and deal with it immediately as you did. Pray for us and one another. i pray God I will not listen to those doubt whispers. I will receive strength to overcome (I John 4:4). To be honest – sometimes I get the victory and sometimes (which seems too many) I don’t. But by the grace of God I decree and declare I will come out of this and the WOMAN WITH A CONFIDENT HEART to help others. God bless you again. There is so much to say. Let’s pray one for the other.
I am so looking forward to reading this book with all of you. I have also struggled my whole life with insecurity and never being good enough. I was always trying to be someone I wasn’t for everyone else. For so many years my husband had sensed God calling him to another country of serve, but I struggled with doing this with him. I would also say no, I can’t. We are currently serving in Southeast Asia and God has given me peace that I never thought I would find. I pray this book will help me to finally believe that I am good enough in God’s eyes and my insecurities will go away once and for all.
What really struck me in Chapter 1 was how Satan just festers that self doubt and insecurities to put a gap between us and the Lord. As said, it blocks God’s power and truth. wow! We need to keep going back to God’s word, to His promises, to His love for us! I need to keep reminding myself of that – some days I feel very alone and at wits end — I must keep in my heart and remember that God is right there beside me – I AM NOT ALONE!!!! He wants me to have that confidence – I need to trust in Him.
The words, “Things will never change.”…I’ve said them over and over. Now I am ready to change my thinking and “ready to let His Word change the way (I) think” – not just some of the time, but all of the time. I want to learn to “rely on the power of His Words” day in and day out.
Thanks Renee! A wonderfully written book. A wonderful start! 🙂
Praying for you!
Susan G.
The passage that -as a very big light bulb moment for me was “Self -doubt blocks the promise of God’s power and truth to change us from the inside out so that we can live with a confident heart. It spoke to me because it would just make sense that God can’t get in the gaps if all we do is fill them with what we don’t have, can’t do and won’t try. All that being said I am so low on the confidence scale that there are so so many days that I don’t even feel like God should love me or waste his time trying and when my self doubt starts in my head God so badly wants to say that if she doesn’t get it by now she never will. I am so glad that he doesn’t say that and I get to try everyday to do it better and differently if necessary than the day before. I am excited to learn how to turn my self doubt around so that God can change me into the girl he wants me to be and so that I am more equipped to hear what he has to say to me and through me.
P.S. I am so excited and honored to share my journey with all of you!! He will use us all 🙂
I’ve always felt some sort of doubt or worry my whole life. I have never been truly confident of who I am. My insecurity has kept me from doing so much and also kept me from being the person God has made me to be. I’ve never felt good enough. I’ve told myself that I’ve messed up too many times. I’ve always had this voice inside me telling me that my imperfections have walled me off from God, His love, and forgiveness. That I am undeserving of those things. These thoughts are so tormenting and ruinous and they have kept me from having a passionate relationship with my Saviour. I feel like I am trapped in a hole where I can only barely see Him….where I am just out of His reach.
I know that I have been saved. I gave my heart to Christ when I was a teen. But I feel like I am never going to be good enough to be truly saved. (Which in reality is true.) There is nothing I can do to earn salvation. Learning to accept His grace has always been a struggle. I can’t be perfect. I accept that. I will fail. How do I get the picture of Him shaking His head at me, tsking, and writing down my most recent failure, out of my head? How do I connect with the loving, forgiving God and stop dwelling on the God of judgement and wrath? Living in fear has imprisoned me and keeps me from feeling and living in His promises. I need to take a step out of the shadow of my fear-one step at a time and let Him claim each step. Let Him fill the voids. Let Him fix my heart. Let Him cleanse my soul. Let Him give me value. Let me rely on Him. Let me believe His truths. Let my heart be filled to the brim with His love.
To be a woman with a confident heart, I must become comfortable with who I am. I must have an open heart ready to hear and accept the truths God has for me. I must become sure of the power Christ has in my life. I cannot let fear run my life or my relationships. I must take time to build my relationship with Christ. I must trust in God & believe that I will be blessed.
I started reading this book a couple months ago. It was a journey I wasn’t sure I was ready to make. I made it through the first few chapters and got caught up in life and never finished. When I found out that Renee was going to do this online study, I knew that I had to be a part of it. I know God has a plan for me. I have to lay down all those bad feelings, the fear, the insecurity and dive in head first. So here I am, taking the plunge. I feel like sharing my feelings is the first step to becoming free.
Yes, you have taken the first step Sarah. And Im so proud of you. So very glad you are here with us walking this journey out together. Praying for you as I go to sleep tonight!!
Chapter One resonated with me because I often doubt myself – my abilities, my worth. There is a little voice of negativity inside of me that takes over and is very difficult to silence. I have doubted so many aspects of myself. From my ability to start my own law firm to being a good mother. I have also doubted whether I’m meant to have a relationship where someone loves me unconditionally. I have doubted whether I’m worthy of love. Just writing this down saddens me, because I believe everyone is capable of achieving their goals and are worthy of love. I believe this because of the very love God has shown to us by giving His only Son to suffer on the cross so that we may have eternal life and forgiveness of sin. So why do I think of myself as the exception to my own beliefs. I have often wondered why I give great advice to my friends, but find it so difficult to follow it myself. I now realize the answer is because of my own self-doubt.
Elda,
I completely understand your feelings. I feel the same way about myself. I doubt that I can start my own business and be successful, even though I have a Masters degree and have done a stamp / scrapbook home business for over 13 years. I also doubt that anyone will love me unconditionally. I don’t know why I feel this way, but I do and want to grow beyond the doubt. I hope we grow in this area and become the strong, confident women Gad wanted for us both.
I’ve been thinking of the times I too was excited about an opportunity, said yes, then wondered why I ever said yes; jobs, ministry, teaching a Sunday school class, giving my testimony. I’ve also had the reverse happen where I was asked to do something, did it with doubts that I could accomplish it and it ended up working out and building my faith.
Page 21 “If God calls you to do something, shouldn’t you feel confident about it?” That’s where I am at this point in my life with searching for my next opportunity. Because of some issues in previous jobs, I’ve lost confidence in my skills and talents. I’m praying this study is going to get me back on track and I’m excited about what God will do with me in ministry or my next job opportunity.
I really could feel your heart when as a little girl you already knew you had a problem with confidence. I think when you wrote that you wouldn’t go on the carousel because you were afraid that your Dad wouldn’t wait for you nearly ripped through my heart. When I was three my Dad died. I never saw him. I never said goodbye. That day is burned into my mind and my heart. My Mom cried so hard and the sounds were like those of a wounded animal. I remember feeling from that point on that I could never make my Mom cry that hard again. I don’t think I really thought it rationally. It was just there. I was Daddy’s girl and he had abandoned me. Disappeared. Gone to heaven. I never let my Mom our of my sight. I was always afraid she would also disappear. And when I couldn’t find her, it was like my world crumbled. I was sure she was dead until I found her and then I would cry even harder from sheer relief. We moved to a new house and in the doorway between the dining room and the kitchen there was a bright, shiny hole. Small as I was, I never imagined it was for a pin hinge. 🙂 I was sure it was how my Dad had been taken to heaven. Each time my sister and I walked through the door way, we would hold hands, look solemnly up at that bright spot that seemed so far above us and observe a kind of silence. Then we would continue on our way. I am not sure if it was respect for our Dad or it was because we were certain that God was in that small gateway to heaven. Somewhere inside of me, that little girl is still there. The adult me knows that God loves me desperately. The little child in me is never sure he is coming home. ~~ I am so looking forward to doing this study with the other thousands of women who are not quite able to grab onto their confidence and hang on. I will be praying for you all and I hope you will do the same. God bless each of you as you take this journey, Ev
Thank you so much for sharing your story. How powerful for you to put that all down tonight and to name what you felt and what you thought and your fears. That little girl needs the big girl in you – the woman you are now – to love her into a place of knowing the truth of what happened and how you can let go of those fears.
Im so sorry for what you went through but so very grateful that you are here now – with us walking step by step out of the shadows of our doubts and fears and into the arms of our Heavenly Father who wants to lavish us with His love and confidence!!
Thank you, Renee. I am sure God brought me here on purpose to help me turn face-full to the light and not be afraid of the shadows that always are looming large behind me. Looking forward to walking in confidence, knowing that I can trust God and not just trust in Him. Powerful difference!!
I can so relate to your story. Right now, I’d like to start selling “Blessings Unlimited”; however, I am too scared and insecure. I’d like to do this to share God with others. I just can’t seem to let go, have faith, and trust enough to get up in front of a room full of ladies. I pray this study gives me that confidence!
I am so thankful for this Bible study. I love the flexibility as we study His word and become more confident. I love the way Renee helped me to make sense w/ the woman at the well story. But I guess what really stamped on my heart was the realization that God’s love is perfect so I don’t have to be. I need to say this aloud every single day!!
Wow! I truly needed to read the words in the first chapter. I have doubted myself since I was a little girl. When I saw the info on this study I immediately thought this is one that I need. I even encouraged my daughter who just had a baby and is trying to decide if she wants to work full time or stay at home. My prayers are that both of our needs are answered.
“Self-doubt blocks the promise of God’s power and truth to change us from the inside out so that we can live with a confident heart.” This is so true. Once we start doubting ourselves those thoughts take over and it’s really difficult to focus on anything else, even God’s truths. It becomes this downward spiral, which is nearly impossible to stop, especially in our own power. But this is where God comes in and can save us. And scripture memory is one way of doing this. If we have a storehouse of verses pertaining to what we struggle with, we can better equip ourselves to fight our self-doubt. Thank you Renee for giving us so many scripture references regarding confidence, God’s promises, and the importance of trusting in The Lord.
I am so glad I joined this bible study. I look forward to learning how to stay confident through all situations in life with Christ.
What sentences in Chapter 1 resonate with your heart or speak to you in a personal way? How did you relate to my story in this chapter?
“Doubt and hope cannot live in your heart at the same time.” This spoke to me because it means I have to make a choice. What am I going to choose to believe?
Sometimes it is just easy and comfortable to continue having a poor attitude and living in defeat, but “it is not supposed to be this way!” I love this. I need to hear this every day.
I really related to Renee’s story because she plays the “what if….” game like I do!
There is so much of the first chapter I felt a connection with. Like someone else said, I had courage as a kid to try new things, but when I really think about it, there were many times I held back because I just didn’t think I could do it, or doubted I was good enough. These doubts continue to get worse as I have tried to find things to fill the area I now know needs to be filled by our Lord. I am at a difficult point in my life. I am safe, I have a good husband and we have a beautiful little girl who I love more than I ever thought was possible, but I still seem to be sad. I don’t have any close friends and that just adds to my lack of confidence. I really want to move past the doubts and disappointments of my past and forge a closer relationship with my heavenly Father.
As we go through life, we get distracted by what we see and allow circumstances to dictate our actions. The Word of God is our nourishment. We can not live our best life unless we allow it to take root. Our spirit will thrive as we fast, pray and develop. If we would just hold on to God’s unchanging hand and trust Him to be God in every facet of our life, then will we be anchored in Jesus…no matter how tumultuous the storm (life). Let’s strive to produce fruit that will draw others and make God say, “Well done my good & faithful servant!”
Reading the forward, I knew this was the book God had led me too. I never had a close relationship with my dad. I was a pawn between two parents that hated each other. My dad only attempted to love me because he knew it would get back at my mom. He treats me today with cool indifference. I never had anyone tell me I was good enough, now at almost 40, I am constantly filled with self-doubt. Then, as I read further into Chapter 1, I knew God was speaking to me when it talked about changing jobs but was too scared to do so. I am so miserable in my job and really want to change, but I am scared that I am not good enough, even though I have plenty of support and have past evaluations that say I am, self doubt says “NO!” God is putting on my heart that he wants me to “get out of the boat” and trust Him. I rededicated my life to the Lord in July 2012. For the first time, I feel that I truly have a relationship with the Lord and want to grow in His love. I am so excited for this journey!!!
The line that really hooked me was on pg. 22 “You can only see the shadow because you have turned away from the light. Turn back toward the light.” I feel that sums up how I have lived a majority of my life. I think to the prayer at the end of the chapter. It talks about moving from believing in You, to “truly believing You.” That is where my faith has always hit a road block. I have never fully trusted God and the work that He is doing in my life. I have doubted Him when things have hit a rough patch and I have praised Him when things were good. I was not truly listening to what He was trying to tell me through all the ups and downs in my life. I am in my late 20’s; the age when everyone is getting married and having children. My confidence takes a hit often because I am not married or in a relationship and I don’t have kids. I doubt that I am worth marrying- that based on how I look, act, where I live, etc. that is the reason for this. I get angry and blame others and I have lived a very unhappy life for over a year. How I feel about my personal life causes me to doubt my abilities at my job- being a teacher. If I don’t have child of my own, how can I work with them each day and be successful? I’m not married or with someone, so my life must be meaningless. Doubt fills me each day as I step on the scale and realize I haven’t lost those pounds and those jeans still don’t look good on me. As a young women in today’s culture, I constantly feel as though I don’t measure up. I pray that as this study goes on that I truly start believing in the plan laid out before me by God and that those disappoints and lack of confidence has lead me here. A place where I can finally put all my fears to rest.
Feels so warm here 🙂 so many women sharing their hearts and encouraging others ♥ ♥
My problem is that I can’t remember most things from my past. I’ve never had any kind of traumatic happening in my life but i’ve forgotten too many things… Maybe the enemy doesn’t want me to remember so I don’t get rid of the bad stuff. I need to pray hard about remembering my past and start getting through it and grow more and have a confident heart ♥ My other problem is that I’m too positive or maybe that’s what I think or want others to think? or maybe I’m just too stupid to think everything is ok when is not! or maybe I’m too coward to see the negative stuff in my life and fight against it ..but I’m so sure that they might be doubts and shadows in many areas of my life I just need to relax and concentrate and remember.
Thank you very much for this Wonderful Study ♥
The part of the chapter where you were talking about the shadow in the bathroom really hit me. “You can only see the shadow of doubt because you have turned away from the light.” If we stay focused on Jesus, he will be all that we see. No shadows of doubt. Only light and truth.
The part that resonated with me was when you said, “Instead, I wanted to stay home and do something predictable like fold laundry, order pizza, and watch a movie with my kids”. I often feel like I hide in the predictable things. It’s easier to stay home and do what I have always done then reach out to people and try new things.
I am glad for this study, which has got me to pick up the book again and really work through it. I started reading the book when \i was especially struggling last year and I still struggle with REALLY believing that I will not be dissappointed and that will God really work things out for good and will i see his glory be revealed. Which I know to be true, but my biggest thing is trusting God that i will get through my current situation, and see that the end result will bring God’s glory. That his plans are not always what we think or want but are even better than we could ever imagine. Yet i can praise him in the midst of everything as he turns the things of this world around and he brings good out of the trials.
I am learning to Trust him and to see the big picture, so I don’t get bogged down with the day to day mundane and all that is going on around me.
My time of trouble as you might put it has brought me closer to God and I am learning ever so much more to focus my eyes on him, not my circumstances or others.
I am more determined to ‘fight the good fight’ as nothing can seperate me from the love of God. I just want to change and be more like him, to draw close to him, to focus on him, as my security comes from him.
It is great seeing so many other women going through similar struggles with the way we think or feel, and to know our God is bigger, and our god brings us Hope and a purpose.
Thanks for inspiring each other and rennee for setting this up.
I am so ready to spend more time digging deep into the heart of God. Thank you for sharing your story and for inviting me on this journey. Im excited, journal ready! I also love the prayer at the end of chapter one.I will say it daily..On to Chapter 2 :O)
So today I drove 2 1/2 hours to do a study group with a friend and when I showed up she wasn’t there. I called her 3 times and texted her. There is no way she could have forgotten about the meeting because I texted her the night before reminding her. There was no reason why I had to go to school except to help her retake her test but she stood me up and her excuse was that she had court. That’s always her excuse for me to wait around for her. Im sick of it because you know court dates ahead a time . Worst of all there was no apology for the time and the toll money and gas I lost today I spent 40 dollars total on a blank trip and 6 hrs of my time. Im wondering why ppl feel the need to take advantage of me and then when I tell them how I feel they shrug me off as if I don’t matter. Please pray for me because this is damaging to my self esteem and im beginning to give up on ppl all together. All I was trying to do was help because shes struggling in a class but in return it backfired.
What an excellent Bible study this is! I have read the book not so long ago by myself. It was so good! And I am so excited to be a part of this online study together with so many women. I have struggled with self -doubt since I was a kid. I honestly don’t even remember the time in my life when I felt confident. The shadow of my fears and insecurities has kept me from enjoying my life. I feel like I live in a prison of my fears. I am so looking forward to breaking free of these chains and living my life with confidence! It gives me peace to know that “things can change” and that “all things are possible” even when doubt keeps me from believing that things will get better.
I could relate to the paragraph on page 32 of Chapter 2 where you talked about your longing for your father’s love. In my case, I was longing for my mother’s love. I too thought if I could be perfect – in my grades, my accomplishments and in my obedience to her, she would love me and value me. Sadly, my mother never did value me or love me but I forgave her anyway. I learned to forgive her each time I was in her presence when she would say hurtful things to me or ignore me. She went to be with Jesus a couple of years ago and I told her before she died that I forgave her. She did not answer me but somehow, I think now she knows how much I loved her and still love her and things would be different if she were still here on this earth. My Lord has healed all the hurt I experienced and made me whole. Thank You Lord for loving me. It is my prayer that You will help me to show Your love to everyone I encounter because I don’t know what hurts they may have.
Wow! So many stories. I wish I had time to read everybody’s stories. Those that I have read have resonated in my heart and encouraged me that I am not alone. I didn’t always struggle with having confidence. There are so many pictures of me as a little girl going out and grabbing life, with no fear of anything. I look at those pictures now and long to be that little girl, saddened that the people in my life and the things of this world have destroyed that little girl. My heart’s desire is to be that little girl again. To believe in myself and not fear being hurt or rejected. The sentence that hit me was “I desperately wanted to move out of the shadow of my doubts, but all I could do was go throught the motions and pray that God would zap me with confidence.” That is something I want so bad. I don’t want to doubt myself. I know that he can make me like that little girl again and move me out of the shadows of doubt. This is not the life I want to live and I know that it is not the life that God wants me to live. I have spent too many years hiding from life and I am tired of it. I want to live life but I let the fear get to me everytime.
The sentence that most resonated with me was, “I wondered if perhaps my self-doubt was a sign I was in the wrong calling.”
This is something I struggle with all the time. I look into the future, and I see nothing – mainly because the present is so changeable. Regardless, I try to focus on today, or this week, or month and try to ask God where He wants me now, but it is discouraging when I am talking to someone and they ask “So what do you want to do with your life?” Even though I’ve got down my casual answer about whatever God wants me to do, it still makes me think about the furutre, and then feel scared and doubtful because I don’t have a plan.
I can see myself in the introductory story. I am always ready to go somewhere or do something, until a couple hours before I’m suppose to leave, I suddenly feel fearful and doubtful of what might occur, or how it may hinder my health by going (I am a recovering cancer survivor). Mostly, what I’ve been missing is church and small group. I try to make up for it by listening to the sermons and doing the lessons on my own (and it really helps) but I don’t think it’s the same. I want to confidence to attend and not be afraid about what happens next because God can get me through.
I think what really hit me was
“You can only see the shadow because you have turned away from the light. Turn back toward the light.”
I think that was so powerful and I have re-read that same statement over and over. When we turn away from the light of God, we focus more on ourselves instead of Him. It isn’t about me, it is how I can use my gifts and talents to benefit the Body of Christ.
So needed this!!
Thank you Renee for putting together this online Bible Study! I have A LOT of self doubt and actually have no clue when it started? As far back as I can remember I have always considered myself “backwards”. Why? I really can’t say, but I have a boat load of memories and insecurities! Do you personally or anyone else who’s reading this, REMEMBER how and when your self doubt crept in, and do you think it really matters “how” it happened, as long as you recognize it as “doubt” and deal with it according to God’s Word? Is asking the question “why do I have self doubt” actually an insecurity? I just started chapter two and look forward to reading more of your responses and getting to know everyone here! 🙂
Renee,
I want to thank you for this bible study, i was going to drive 2 hours 1 way to attend a two hour bible study. My resolution this year was also to draw closer to God and really grasp the meaning of bible verses. I admire people who can just quote Bible verses and tell you what it means. I want to have confidence when I talk to others about the Bible and tell myself “I can do this”, “Things will change”, My Life is going to get better” and “I will have the confidence I need”. Looking forward to this study. Thanks.
Finally got started today, lots of silent tears and thoughts of giving up already. I will push past the doubts and continue.
Wow…this is EXACTLY what I need right now. I have struggled my whole life with self doubt, insecurity and no confidence. I find myself unemployed in this struggling economy and my insecurities are bigger than ever. I just finished chapter 1 and Isaiah 43:19, “See, I am doing a new thing” gives me hope and eased my aching heart just a bit. I am very excited about this journey with so many wonderful women around the world. Thanks Renee!
This is crazy. You never know how much you have in common with so many people in the world until you join something like this. I am CONFIDENT that God has great things in store for those who love Him!!!! I have been so quiet about my fears and doubts and it has had such a negative effect on my relationships. I know God wants us free of this! Thank you Renee for opening this study up and making it easy for people who can’t make a small group or have a hard time opening up, This is a great platform to enhance that insecurity and ease into opening up in small groups with people God has placed to walk along side us.
thank you, thank you, thank you!
I am excited about this journey!!!
There are a lot of things that spoke to me in Chapter 1. “Doubt convinces us that it’s not worth the effort” was the first. There have been so many times that I’ve given up on something because I feel this way. I have tried to lose weight so many times throughout the past eight years, and doubt always convinces me that my efforts are not good enough, so why bother. Because of this, I reached a weight higher than I ever thought I would, and it makes me feel so ashamed. I’ve recently started losing weight again, and every day I struggle with thoughts of insecurity about it. I think this Bible study is exactly what I need to let go of my self-doubt and let God work through me.
I also really liked the part that said to go beyond believing in Him to actually believing Him. I’ve never thought of it that way, but I know there is more to a relationship with God than just believing in Him. I want my relationship with Him to grow stronger and steadier. I put God on the back burner a lot instead of letting Him into every part of my day.
That’s something I’m working on, and I really feel like this study is going to make such a tremendous difference in my relationship with the Lord. I can’t wait to keep going and see what’s in store!
I am so thankful for this study! I have been feeling really down lately and this is just what God knew I needed! I especially enjoyed answering the questions at the end of chapter 1 and really thinking about them. Jeremiah 17:7 (actually most of Jer. 17) really spoke to my heart and where I have been lately…living like a shrub in the desert & not being a tree planted by the riverbank. I want to be the tree that is abundantly fruitful and not feeling parched and wind blown. Thank you again!
What spoke to me was…”As God’s girls, we need to know & believe that change is possible. We 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.”
Changing the way I think is hard. That insecure, self doubting voice likes to butt in and tell me how worthless I am. I have allow God to step in and tell me truths about myself. I have to believe that He did not make a mistake by making me who I am. I have to remember Who’s I am and that He is the only one that I need to make me feel special.
Thank you so much for this study!!
I am a people pleaser. I love the acceptance of others, crave it, work for it because I cannot accept myself. I have spent most of my life doubting everything about myself, even as I became an Olympic swimmer, have achieved most of my personal and professional goals and am happy with my life. I always find myself wondering how and why? How did I get here and why am I here because surely I am not what everyone perceives me to be. I think that all women suffer from a feeling of self doubt, because we are typically raised to be “servants” to our families, jobs, dreams, etc.
I recently moved to a new school as an administrator from another school where I was miserable… and even then, was scared to leave, doubting my abilities, as moving to different grade levels was out of my comfort zone. When I got to my new assignment, I was amazed that people had prayed for someone like me to come to their school. And I wondered why? I “accidentally” interrupted a group of teachers who were praying and became part of their group. Since my arrival at my new school, I have been privileged to experience the power of prayer, witness a REAL, TRUE miracle and be the recipient of prayerful healing.
Having been raised a strict Catholic and subsequently fallling away from the church and God, I found myself looking for Him again. I know that He brought me to this place, where I would be surrounded with women and men who were God’s faithful and through their help, prayers and now this study, I would be able to renew my relationship with God. I have always known He was there, but I never felt His presence. I look forward to this journey with thousands of other women who also doubt their abilities, who have insecurities just like me. I want to believe God, not just believe in Him. Even now, I doubt that He could love me…. I doubt my willingness to learn more about God and accept Him into my heart. By taking this journey, with the support of my online ‘classmates’ and the support of the faithful women around me, I am confident that I will gain the confidence I need to be the person others think I am and to be the person God wants me to be. I yearn for His acceptance and it’s only with my confidence that I will be able to believe that He loves me.
What really spoke to me is that I am not alone in doubting and lacking self confidence. There are so many times I feel alone in my own doubts and that I am not good enough. My own doubts and lack of confidence have held me back from many activities as well and I get caught up in the vicious cycle of not only doubting myself but also the being so hard on myself because I feel like a failure. I am so grateful for this study, and I am looking forward to becoming the confident girl God’s has always seen!!!
Renee,
My story is similar to yours. I have spent many years of my life making unhealthy choices trying to find the love of my Dad. I would “do anything for a hug”. Trying to fill that empty black hole with anything that would make me feel loved; and, it didn’t work. Just knowing that God’s promises are mine will hopefully give me the courage to stop listening to Satan’s lies!!!
As I begin reading this book I am excited for the truths God can reveal through others’ experiences, but I am hoping that this isn’t just the same ole talk. I know what God’s word says about Him being here for us and for us to cast our worries on Him (I’ve been reciting those verses for years) but it’s so much easier said than done. I am praying so hard that this book will finally aid me in gaining the confidence I need to be who God intended when He placed me in the roles of my life. I am incredibly blessed between my husband, 6 month old daughter, family, friends, church family, and job but constantly doubt my worth and need something more than just words to help me change.
Like many of you, I, too, felt “spoken to” by the words on page 22. “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 have also struggled with feeling like I am not as connected to God as I had been. I am realizing that I need to do ” the most important thing first: spend time digging deep into the heart of God so we can learn to depend on His heart toward us.” (Page 24). I pray this study will bring us all to the place God wants us to be…in relationship with Him, with a confident heart.
The words from Ch 1 that really resonated the most for me and inspired me the most were “…let His Word change the way you think, which will determine the way you feel and eventually transform the way you live.” This has been a truth I have been working at applying to my life daily for about a year and a half now. How and what we think totally creates our reality, and keeping God’s truth in our thoughts keeps our reality focused on Him and His love for us and His plans for us.
What really stood out to me was to pray out loud, ” faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (NASB), so let’s pray these promises out loud again and again.” I am someone who only prayed when I needed something, but never took the time each day to pray, and to pray out loud to God for all that he has given me and to pray for him to help me become who he wants me to be. I feel the more I learn to pray out loud and speak with God, I will feel the imprint on my heart and will begin to be transformed from the inside out.
Another thing that I really thought about while reading this first chapter and reading some of the posts on here, it is easy to hold onto things that have been said to us, hurts that have been created, and mistakes we have made. We tend to measure our self worth by others and what other people say and by our concerns for what other people will think or say of us, but something I need to remind myself of on a daily basis to help me overcome my MANY insecurities is the fact that it only matters how I am seen by GOD, it only matters how I am loved by GOD, and that I am living the best life I can for him.
AMEN!!!!
I am making a big adjustment from a career woman to a stay at home mom with my 4 month old daughter. I am hoping that this book will help me to gain confidence in myself so that I can be a good mother and start figuring out the purpose that God has with the rest of my life. Right now I am struggling with a lot of confidence issues such as breastfeeding with family members give me dirty looks and I am terrified that I will unwittingly continue the abusive tendencies that my mother had when I was growing up. I guess the only answer is following choosing to “…dwell in the assurances of Whose I am and who I am in him.”
This first chapter reminded me that too many times I have agreed with the whispers of doubt. I have let it take control of my life for far too long. Renee reminded me that I am His child and He doesn’t want me to be stuck in a cycle of defeat or living in the shadows of doubt. The Bible verse Renee uses to remind us of this hope we have in Him comes from Isaiah 49:23, “Then you will know that I am the LORD. Those who hope in me will not be disappointed.” The God of hope is calling me out of this shadow of doubt and I’m ready to let Him in so I can live with a confident heart!!
Should we begin reading Chapter 2 now? Or wait for an email? Sorry, just not sure how this all works. I posted yesterday but I don’t see my post on the page now.
Today’s post was just posted around 1pm EST. We’ll start into chapter 2 now. You can find that post here: http://reneeswope.com/2013/04/week-2-to-be-known-is-to-be-loved-2/
This Online Study is absolutely perfect for me and I am so thankful my friend forwarded me the information for me to be a part of this.
Self-doubt, a lack of self-confidence is something I have struggled with and still struggle with for quite a long time. I’m 33 and can say it’s been a hard thing to let go. I’ve been married to a wonderful Christian man for 10.5 years now and have 2 kids. I have a successful home business, but I struggle. I.HAVE.A.TON.OF.SELF-DOUBT!!! I’ve struggled with that since I was a teenager and have added depression to that since my husband and I went through times of struggles almost leading to divorce and then when our son was born it was hard hitting post-pardum. Our son is now 6.5 and our daughter is 4 and the self-doubt, depression and lack of self-confidence is something I just can’t release fully to Him. I am praying this book will truly help me gain that confident heart I desire so much. Thank you Renee for writing this book and for having this online study. It’s nice to see others going through the same thing and knowing I’m not alone (not that I want to see anyone going through the same thing, but…you know what I mean.) I’ve struggled with this for so long it’s kind of like I don’t know myself any different. I’m scared to see what is under this self-doubt but I’m ready to really let it go, FOR.GOOD!!