Hi friends! I am so excited to start this “Confident Heart” journey with you!
We have just about 3500, 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 for us!
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 others who have to share theirs — so that we can see again and again that we are not alone in this journey and struggle towards a confident heart.
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.
So, what’s my best advice?? Each time I do something new like this, I ask the Lord what I need to give up – so I can give more to Him. And this time is no different. I’m cutting back on checking emails all throughout my day (which I love to do) and saying no to some fun projects and other time-consumers so I can give more of me TO HIM and to you (for the next 10 weeks)!
Will you pray and block out at least 5 to 10 to 15 minutes every day to let HIM give you all that He has for you?! You are worth it….but more than anything…. JESUS is worth it, right? Are you ready? Here we go:
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(Day 1) Assignment
Please Read the Acknowledgements. This will just give you a peak into more of my current personal life. I think that’s an important part of building community and I’ll be asking you to share more about you later this week 🙂
Please Read Chapter 1. Please highlight verses and sentences that grab your attention or tug on your heart. What is God saying to you though this chapter? Write down what you sense God speaking to your heart in the margins of your book and/or in a journal/notebook that you’ll use throughout this study.
Let’s Connect: What sentences in Chapter 1 connect with you or resonate with your heart? What might you cut back on to make time for Him and yourself these next several weeks?
Click “Share Your Thoughts” below and do just that. {If you’re reading this via email, click here to return to my website/blog and connect with us in community.
Please Check Your Inbox: Our first Online Study Email was sent and in it I explain how our online study will work. Just want to make sure you know it’s there. If you can’t find it, here’s a link to it online.
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First I’d like to Thank all of you, just reading all the shared thoughts makes me feel much better about me being me, I am one of those women who feels I’ll never be good enough, pretty enough, skinny enough to fit in so I most of the time struggle with my confidence, Many times I get brave enough to get up and get out BUT only if I know who’s going to be there so I can already set myself up- sometimes to fail sometimes to succeed? Funny how DOUBT plays with your head. I believe that doubt keeps us from believing things can get better, Doubt convinces us that it’s not worth the effort!!! BUT after reading chapter 1 I know It’s not supposed to be this way. I love how Renee says “AS GOD’S GIRLS, WE NEED TO KNOW AND BELIEVE THAT CHANGE IS POSSIBLE.” I pray to continue to draw close to Him- and make time for Him daily!
Aloha-from beautiful Hawaii
I cannot live in the hope of God’s promises and hang on to my self doubt. I KNOW God’s promises are all true and are for me. I am excited to grow and learn HOW to find the confident heart God gave me, but is now over-laid with a blanket of doubt and fear.
Lord God, guide me through this study to reveal what I need to heal from past hurts and help me to uncover the couragous heart You gave me. Father bless me with the confidence I need to do your will, to become all You created me to be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Isa 49:23 – Those who hope in me will not be disapponted
I am struggling to connect with my church family and often don’t go to church or bible study b/c it feels like it doesn’t matter if I’m there or not. I asked Jesus to be my Savior 10/13/03. The person who encouraged me to come to her bible study, my first ever, was the catalyst for becoming a christian. She became my best friend and we shared more than I have ever shared with anyone and I know it’s b/c of our God connection. She died Dec14 of last year and I feel lost . I’m hoping this bible study will help me find my way back to the arms of Jesus.
Christine It does matter if you are there with your church family. Just go and keep going. God loves you, He has his arms stretched out to you right now. He wants to wrap you up in His love. Go to church, pray cry out to Him, you are His, He will listen.
I think we are all Sisters in Christ here at the Study and I pray you will find a connection and feel loved by this online communtiy 🙂
Lord God I want to lift up Christine to you, let her feel herself blanketed in your love. Help her to find a connection with her home church family, comfort her heart Father for the dear friend who has come home to you Lord. Give her comfort and strength to go forward and live in Your Promises. In Jesus’ name Amen
Thanks Karen, I needed to hear that. I guess I forget being in church is about God and me and not anyone else. It’s hard to tell people face to face about my doubts. It just seems like all the women are so busy and have their own friends. Maybe God is wanting me to look to Him to fill that void . WOW that was a new thought I don’t think I would have had without this study and your kind comment. Thank you again Karen
I’m loving this bible study and am thankful for the circumstances aligned for me to want to participate. I love how this griup is encouring each other already.
There’s a song called “The Voice of truth and the 2nd stanza remindes me of what doubts tend to do:
But the giant’s calling out my name and he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times I’ve tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again, ‘Boy, you’ll never win!’
‘You’ll never win!’
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, ‘Do not be afraid!’
And the voice of truth says, ‘This is for my glory’
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
I’m planning on spending less time on facebook and reading other books. I think God is calling me to do more scripture memorization.
Great song- hadn’t thought of it in connection to this, but it definitely fits! Thanks for the reminder!
I am going to be working on a morning routine for me, I think if things are better managed then I will be able to be more productive and have more time set aside for God’s Word.
I connected with the sentence….I avoided some great opportunities beacause they brought the risk of rejection. I have always felt like this…..So reading this, I knew I was meant to be here in this study.
I forgot to add what I will be doing. I am going to do what was suggested in getting before God for 15 minutes each day. I pray often for others, but not enough praying and seeking what God has for me. I started today!
“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.”
This is so true. When I keep my thoughts on my Lord I can do anything. If I look around and depend on people to make me feel good, I am often disappointed. There are many people in my life and each one can have a different opinion. There is One God and He loves me! 🙂
Oh that is a big one, other people disappointing us – that was a huge thing for me too. It is so freeing to know that you only have to please God and that He does indeed love us 🙂 will be praying for you.
What sentences in Chapter 1 connect with you or resonate with your heart? What might you cut back on to make time for Him and yourself these next several weeks?
I highlighted several sentences that caught my heart …
“Doubt keeps us from believing things can get better. Doubt convinces us that it’s not worth the effort.” – This really struck a cord with me because it made me realize that when I don’t think things are getting better that it is probably because I have doubt that it will … That was very eye opening !!!
“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.” – I have read this somewhere before and it is so powerful. I can believe IN Him all day long but do I really believe Him … Do I really believe what he is telling me or that His word is true? I tend to rely on just my belief in Him and don’t focus on what He is saying to me !!!
“One way God tells us that confidence will come is when we ask Him for what is already part of His will.” – Pray for His will … Not what you want !!!
I am very excited to be joining this study and to be a part of this group. I have always been very anxious about everything and constantly worry and doubt my actions and decisions. I am looking forward to becoming a more confident Christian through this study. I saw a saying today that really stuck with me: Pray hardest when it is hardest to pray!
I feel the same way. I worry about things way to much. I need to learn to give it to Him and let him handle it. I too look forward to becoming a more confident Christian from this study. I pray that God uses this study to help us all grow and learn.
God bless!
The statement that stood out most to me was: “Turn back to The Light”! I had journaled while reading Chapter 1, this scripture – “I have no greater JOY than this: to hear My children are walking IN The TRUTH”!:)
3 John 1:4 I’ve had far too many ‘shadows’ dictating my past and I could SO relate to your honest ‘confessions’ in Chapter 1. I too am working hard to keep ‘turning back to the light’ and away from those distorted lurking ‘shadows of doubt’!
As I came to your comment blog, this was the very scripture I saw on your fb post!:) I thank God, and you, for offering this study and this book! Upon first reading the offer, I had committed to take the time to do this study with you and others, even tho as I’m certain with all of us, we are BUSY women! I’m not ‘giving up’ anything to commit my time to these ‘truth treasures’!…..well, maybe just a little housework!:)…that can wait…this can’t!:)
Blessings to you and your family, as you take the time to lead us on this ‘heart healthy-fit & active’ journey!:)
There is a line from chapter one that spoke to me. It is a little random but it explains what I feel like I have been missing. It is: “If you are looking for a friend you can trust with the things of your heart, this book is a great place to start”. As I have mentioned before I have very few friends and not any that are really very close (girl friends at that). This sentence spoke to me and I pray God will bring friends into my life who can be the friend I need; someone to be there for me, someone I can talk to; some one who will not judge me. And in return I will be that friend for them.
Once again I look forward to learning and growing with you ladies in this study!
God bless!
Renee-
thank you for the opportunity to participate in this study. I have recently taken a step toward really having a relationship with the Lord and getting to know Him. I too, have struggled with insecurity and doubt. Its always a huge shadow over myself…whether I’m getting ready while putting on my makeup (that passage spoke to my heart…I hear ya girl…that is me totally). But, also with the doubt of “I can’t do this…I can’t walk with God…nor can I heal”. See, I’m in recovery to heal from the emotional abuse of my parents I have suffered and continue to suffer. I was never told to trust God…or even have confidence in myself because someone always knew better than I did (that was what I was told). So, this is a huge step for me. I know that some things need to be cut shorter right now so I can delve in this study and get to know some of the women here so we can interact together. Its been hard for me to get out and meet women who are believers given how intensive and exhausting my therapy has gotten. so, I look forward to walking with ya’ll as we move through this together. Some of my TV time at night will be given us, as will going to bed earlier so I can wake up earlier and spend some time learning God’s word and reading how Renee writes to us. I love her style of writing and how its just like she’s sitting down talking to me like girlfriends do. Bless everyone…we are in this together..and we will overcome insecurity and doubt!
Brooke, welcome to the study. I am so glad you are here and taking this step. And as for Renee’s style of writing, I can tell you it truly is just like she is sitting down talking to you. She is just like that in person, makes you feel that you are the most important person.
I will be praying for you throughout the study Brooke. I can’t thank God enough for bringing you here to us and having you participate in this study. We WILL overcome insecurity and live with CONFIDENCE!!!!
Whether we call it self doubt, fear or insecurity….God does not intend it for us.
I have read Renee’s book but have never done the online study. Her book has helped me: God is using her. I am so grateful for her obedience to him.
I look forward to this study and anticipate further great awakenings and freedom!
We were made in the image of God. The distorted image (page 7) is just that when we think ourselves to be any less than the miracle God created when he formed us in our mother’s womb.
We are good enough. Those who say we are not, have their own issues and we should be praying for them instead of allowing their poison to pierce our very souls.
We need to believe in ourselves….life can and will be different.
(There you have it….my pep talk to me….shared with you.) :0)
I LOVE your pep talk 🙂
I have let doubts push me so low I am on medication. God has been telling me to get that I am love and I need to start loving myself as he loves me. But there again My doubts. Why Bother cleaning up you’ll never get finished. Don’t try for that better job you are not qualified.
BUT THAT STOPS NOW
I will start loving myself. Thank you for this study to help me find my footing
Father God, I lift Kay up to you ask that you would feel her to overflowing with your promises and your confidence. Take away those thoughts that fill her mind that aren’t of you and fill her with your promises that we know and recognize to be truth. Cause her to focus her thoughts on you. With each turn of the page of A Confident Heart give her a deeper understanding of Whose she is and who you are in her. Let Kay see herself as you see her. Encourage her. Empower her. Fill her. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
I too am in that given-up phase. Except obviously I didn’t give up, because God didn’t give up on me. He led me to find first this free kindle book, and then the on-line study to go with it. Thank You, God! (And Renee!)
Several lines/verses spoke to me but the main one was like several others about moving from believing in Him to really believing in Him. I need to go from “reading” the Word to really studying the Word and meditating on it. I think this will help me to make that transition. I am such a task oriented person that I feel more accomplished if I can read through several chapters of the Bible instead of just focusing on what verse/scripture/story – whatever it may be and staying there until I really receive what God wants me to receive. I am going to try (really hard) lol to get up earlier in the morning to “ponder” one verse from something I have read the previous day.
Blessings to you all and I pray that each and every one of us gets out of this study what we put in, and more!
Kelly, i understand that. I have read the whole Bible cover to cover probably 5 or 6 times but I never really took it in, I didn’t let the Word speak to me. It’s hard for me to stay on a short passage when I really want to keep reading. I haven’t found the best way to go about this yet for me, I have tried different techniques but I still end up reading ahead. Good luck on your goal, I will be praying for you.
I think one of the passages that I most identified with was “Doubt keeps us from believing things can get better. Doubt convinces us that it’s not worth the effort. Doubt shouts from the sidelines:
‘It’s too hard.’
‘You might as well quit.’
“Go ahead and give up. Just close the book now and walk away.'”
Wow, that sounds like the voices in my head. I am so thankful for the free download on my Kindle. I had been wanting to get the book for awhile but this past year, we’ve had a lot of financial problems with my husband having two major surgeries and a job loss because of it. I do not make friends easily and two of my best friends have moved to different states in the past several years. I have a 2-year-old son and hardly any close, soul-sister friends in the same season of life as I am. However, I do have one friend (she has a 2-year-old daughter) who used to be in a singles Bible study with me before we were both married and we are wanting to start up a young mom’s Bible study this summer. I am thinking of using this book for the study! I know that most women struggle with doubt. I, personally, know that God can do ANYTHING but I doubt whether He’ll do it for ME. Not sure where I get that, but that’s a struggle.
I look forward to the coming chapters/weeks.
God, I thank you for Leann and pray that you would empower her in mighty ways. Remove her “stinking thnking” about herself that is not of you and replace those thoughts with your truths and promises. Guard her thoughts when the lies of Satan creep in. Cause her to throw away those thoughts that are not yours. Encourage her. Take those doubts that she has about leading a group and increase her confidence in you and in herself as she moves from one chapter to the next. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Thank you, Donna! 🙂
So many sentences stuck out to me in chapter one. I think the concept of BELIEVING God rather than believing IN him is so key for me. Today as I answered the reflection questions of Chapter one…I decided to answer them in a way that was more like writing an entry in a journal…it seems like more “stuff” comes out that way instead of trying to give a flat answer. I ended up writing four pages in my journal…which was really good. Doubt and insecurity has been a way of life for me most of my life…and I have masked it, so well that people don’t see me as insecure. Boy are they wrong!! I know this journey will be word…it’ll be hard work…digging deep into the roots of my doubt and insecurity. However, I am ready!! I want to be the kind of woman I described in my journal who is confident!!
Awesome Cherie….so glad you are here in this study. I agree, journaling for me helps me to get so much more out of the chapter. I am glad I am not the only one who writes pages and pages when I get to writing 🙂 It will be worth every minute of hard work, I promise you that! Praying for you.
Veronica, I write lots in my journal, too. I love to write. I can’t wait to get “A Confident Heart” in my mailbx.
Sisters in Christ,
Laurie 🙂
Ladies,
It is so encouraging to know that there are other women out there who are dealing with doubt, depression, anxiety, etc. It feels so good to know that I am not alone. I do not have very many close friends. My best friend is my boyfriend to be honest. And while that is great, sometimes I miss having a girlfriend to talk things out with. I would love to make some new christian friends in this journey. I pray for each of you; that God will speak to you and help heal of you. If anyone would like to chat outside of this blog I will post my e-mail: [email protected]. I welcome anyone if you are feeling alone and just want to talk about life or would like to talk more about this study. I am so blessed to be involved in this study and I look forward to the next few weeks!
God Bless!
Kristen, so thankful that God has pointed you to this study. There are a lot of “me too’s” out there that struggle with the same doubts and same anxieties that you have. We just need to remember to pray for each other and never forget God’s promise that HE will never leave us nor forsake us. Praying for you and can’t wait to see how God works in your heart as the study continues.
What a great first chapter. Makes me excited to read the rest!
I know this is an odd sentence to stick out…but I highlighted “We’ll look back so we can move forward, and talk about how we got to his place of being SO HARD ON OURSELVES.” When you asked in question 5 about what hinders us from living with God-confidence, this is what came to mind. I am so hard on myself. I want perfection…right NOW! God is reminding me that I am a work in progress. So thankful He keeps working on me. I’m excited to see what lessons He has in store for me in this study. 😉
Oh yeah! Hi my name is Veronica and I am a recovering perfectionist!!!! I have to say that hindered me soooo much and I never realized it until this study. It’s still something I have to take to the Lord daily otherwise I get off track but I too love that I am a work in progress. Enjoy the study!! Will pray for you.
I am a single mom to 2 and 3/4 adult children. I have a son 29, daughter 24 and another son 17 (he’s the 3/4) :). At this point in my life, I’ve been single again for about 3 years and they have been filled with doubt, fear and a total loss of confidence in myself. I’ve questioned my ability as a wife and a mother. I look at my oldest son who was brought up in a Christian home, a leader in his youth group who is now claiming to be an athiest and is an alcoholic,is into self mutilation and I fear into drugs. My daughter raised the same way is not quite as bad, but is trying to ride the fence between the world and God. My 17 year old is about to graduate from high school and plans on going into the navy and work his way through to be a chaplain. All was going so well with him overall, and two weeks ago he seriously rebelled against me for the first time in his life. I should be thankful that it’s the first time and in a way I am, but it was so devastating. Looking at all of that began to make me question my ability as a Godly mother.
Now, I am embarking on this new phase in my life and to be completely open, at a risk, I’m scared to death and don’t know how to deal with being all alone. I know that I have God. It’s just that most of my other friends that are about to go through this empty nest thing have spouses and they just don’t get it. I’m afraid of so many things that come along with this. I’m going to have to size down from a four bedroom house in the country to a one bedroom government section 8 housing. I have physically limitations that make me wonder how I’m going to get through when I can’t get out of bed for days. And then what happens when I have to have my upcoming surgery and none of my kids are around to help. I have a church family, but I just can’t ask that much of them.
At any point, I find myself at the lowest point of my life. I used to be so free and confident in Christ and who I am in Him, but over the years of abuse and so on, I’ve lost that along the way. I’m praying fervently that this study will help me replant my feet upon the solid Rock that is higher than I!
hi there, maryjo. i am reminded of what paul wrote in 2 corinthians chapter 12: “three times i pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. but He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” therefore i will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. for the sake of Christ, then, i am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. for when i am weak, then i am strong.” we (moms, wives, christian sisters) so often place upon ourselves the burden of those around us. and so very often…there simply is nothing that we can ‘do’ to make the situation change. but we can always pray and intercede. and prayer is always effective because of Whom we are praying to.
i pray that, as God hears your cry, He will continue to reach to you with merciful compassion and grace and healing and deliverance. <3
Mary Jo, you certainly can ask for help from your church family! I believe that when we feel we are imposing or draining others, Satan is robbing us from an opportunity to experience Christ’s love in a tangible way- and we are keeping others from an opportunity to serve and to be obedient to Christ. Let yourself be vulnerable, and let others love on you in Christ’s name during this difficult time.
Mary Jo, Lydia G is so right. I am on disability and for the longest time I thought I couldnt ask for help from my church family. The reality was I was denying them the chance to be the blessing that God was calling them to be. Another lesson I learner was that it is so much easier for the person doing the blessing to know what I needed than to try and guess. I know it wont be easy to ask for help, but trust meit is worth it. And it is only a matter of Gods timing when you will be able to return a blessing back to someone who helped you or pay it forward to someone else.
Not asking for help is just another way we “hide our doubts” The Bible teaches us to Humble ourselves before the Lord. This has been very hard for me to do as well. I am praying that this study will help me grow in this area. I do not want to appear weak to others, when inside I am falling apart, but I can never admit it to anyone.
Mary Jo, I want to pass on, remember: God loves your kids even more than you do. He feels your pain – He also has you in His hands, and them in His plans.
And Karen, that is exactly my problem – totally falling apart inside, but no one knows.