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From Chapter 2, A Confident Heart
“Jesus knew Sam’s (the Samaritan woman’s) story and He knows yours. The Greek word for “know” is yada. It means a deep emotional experience; a bonding between two people when one truly feels the emotions of the other. Jesus knows your pain, fears, doubts, and disappointments. He understands your dreams and desires.
Although some of us feel uncomfortable that God knows so much about us, it is good to be known, to be listened to and not judged. Jesus is the only One who can meet our deepest needs to be accepted and delighted in simply because of who we are. We can offer nothing but our presence, and He will desire us just the same…
There are many religions but did you know that Christianity is the only faith that offers a relationship with the living God? We don’t just know about our God; our God wants us to know Him. And we were created for that kind of relationship.
Jesus created us to have lasting soul-security in knowing we are valued and pursued by the One who knows and loves us—the One who created our inmost being and wove us together in our mother’s womb (Ps. 139:13). Have you let the gospel of God’s grace move from your head to your heart, so that you know without a doubt you are known intimately and loved completely by God?” (p. 40 printed copy)
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Our word this week is “Known”
Our verse of the week is Jeremiah 1:5 – “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…” (NIV)
This week’s video message is below. Please click the arrow to watch it – all the way through. You’ll be so glad you did.
(from video script)
I WANT TO BE KNOWN
I want someone to look at my face
And not just see two eyes, a nose,
a mouth and two ears
But to see all that I am, and could be
all my hopes, loves and fears…
And YOU know me
You actually know me
all of me and everything about me
Every thought inside and hair on top of my head
Every hurt stored up, every hope, every dread
My past and my future, all I am and could be
You tell me everything,
You tell me about ME
And that which is spoken by another would bring hate and condemnation
Coming from Youu brings love, grace, mercy, hope and salvation
I’ve heard of One to come
who could save a wretch like me
And here in my presence, You say
I AM HE…
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Today’s Assignment:
- Download Free Printable PDF of this week’s word and verse — or find it here in a Word doc format.. Please print it and post it everywhere so you can remember God KNOWs YOU and He loves you!!
- Read this week’s memory verse (Jeremiah 1:5). Ask God to remind you all week that He knows the way you long to be known, pursued and loved!
- Start or continue reading chapter 2. Remember, take your time and highlight or underline sentences that resonate in your heart.
Connect in Community:
What about today’s video or sentences in Chapter 2 resonate most with you?
- Please click “Share Your Thoughts” below this post and do just that. (Remember to go to my website to do this)
- Optional: I’d love for you to share one of them on our Confident Heart Community Page and/or share them with me on Twitter (@reneesswope). I’d love to retweet them! Also let’s use #AConfidentHeart so we can encourage one another and find them easily.
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I’ll announce last week’s winners in my Weds. post.
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I’m glad God knows me and my desires and allows me to get to know Him. I have longings that only He can fulfill
That was very good!!!! I’m 42, been saved since I was 13 but have been in and out of church for several years now. I’ve had some health issues that have brought me back to God, and I am so thankful that He is right there ready to take me back no matter what I’ve done, or where I’ve been 🙂 So grateful for this study and sooo many wonderful people here 🙂 Have a blessed day everyone!!!
The sentence…”Pretending leads to hiding and isolation” spoke to me. I hide my fears and loneliness which makes me feel more alone. It is hard for me to share my feelings with anyone except Jesus and I am so thankful for Him. I pray everyday for a confident friend.
Yep. Powerful words in that sentence and so true. I pray God will bless you with a confident heart and a confident friend.
I’ll probably say more later but for now the only word I have for this poem is POWERFUL!
This was a great poem. I must say the entire poem spoke to me. I am so grateful that God sees us for who we are and He accepts us. It is so awesome that we have such a great God who understands us when we feel that no one else does. He loves us for us, not for what we do. We have a faithful God even when we aren’t. God I love you!!
This chapter was such as great reminder that God REALLY knows me, and despite the shortcomings I have, he loves me as only a Father could. I’m learning to accept the differences I have that sometime isolate me from others, and make me feel that I won’t be accepted because I’m not like someone else. This walk of becoming a confident women is allowing me to accept those AND say to myself, “God made me this way, and I’m okay.” The confidence I have to say that is because of the love God has for me. He understands me better than I understand myself. That takes away the struggle for me of wanting to be understood by others.
i also want to know God i know there are many ways in knowing God. thank God i am part of this
I read it after listening, what a powerful message. No other words necessary other than, Thank You!
What an awesome video, poem! This video really moved me this morning. I actually had chills as I was listening. It was a great message that all of really need to take the time to soak in. God does know us, and He loves us. I know there are many times that I shy away from people because I don’t want them to know me. I think that I am to complicated or that no one understands me. This morning I am reminded that someone does understand me and know and despite my shortcomings loves me. God knows all of my struggles, even before I do. Times when I feel alone I need to remember that I am not alone. I have God who knows me better than myself. Times when i feel that I don’t have any one to talk to, I need to talk to God as my father and my friend. Understanding that the Lord does know me and Loves me gives me such a feeling of peace. We all need to put our trust in Him and I know things will work out the way He intended.
I so agree,Kimberly! I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that I am guilty of looking to other people for acceptance, when the only One who matters, knows all of my faults,and has always accepted me! I am so blessed!
What a wonderful message. And I love this weeks word- known. During the hrs before surgery my body would not give the “sample” they requested but could not give one, So my friend who went with me stood with me and prayed that God knew – my inner body and knew what I needed and to touch those parts for a successful outcome and within minutes they were given what they needed.. When prayers were lifted to God and confidence was placed in the fact that we knew and trusted him, things came together. To have someone know us that intimately can be both a good thing and a scary thing.
That is an awesome testimony. Thanks for sharing. God truly does give us what we need but we must be humble enough to ask and to believe.
Today’s video was awesome. Though the words were powerful indeed…it was the delivery of the passionate young spoken word artist that truly resonated with me. There was the desperation that we all feel when we view ourselves as outside of love and then the tentative hope that there is someone out there that might just love us for who we are, the good and the bad…and finally the elation of truly believing that that love is true, is faithful, and yes is for us too. Thank you so much Renee for sharing!
I’ve always thought of the samaritan woman as someone else. Watching today’s video i realized she is me
Allmy faults and failures…she is me.
All the sins and ugly words…she is me.
When i refuse to go to church…she is me.
When i cry and hurt and feel alone…she is me.
I hide from the world and wonder why l’m alone…she is me.
I ask for help and then refuse it…she is me.
Known intimately by God…she is me.
Knowing He will always forgive…she is me.
I am less and more and Jesus loves me anyway.
May i never forget what is always the truth…she is me and is loved by the Savior.
Christine, I totally agree with you! She is me as well. Every single thing you said is ME too. I have excuses, reasons and feelings that cause me to think I am unlovable but he is telling ME and YOU he KNOWS us COMPLETELY and loves us anyways!!!
Hi Suzeann, I’mnot sure wherethose words came from because i dont usually have that kind of insight. My only explanation is Jesus. It was kind of scarey saying some of those things so i’mglad to hear i’m not the only one who feels that way. Makes me wonder how many women we could connect with if we were just honest about ourselves..May God bless us as we continue to reveal what we think is unloveable
To read what you wrote, Christine, sounds very confident but then to find out that you were a little scared to write some of that shows that God is is definitely doing a work in your heart. The enemy has done a good job of stealing some of our voices and I agree with you wholeheartedly…imagine the connection we could make with others if we were more open and honest with ourselves and others. Truly amazing! I have experienced that lately with my Pastor’s wife who decided to “get over herself” and become transparent with me and many others. It is such a sigh of relief to find others that seem to be so super spiritual struggle with alot of the same thing we do. I’ve learned that it is up to us to do something about it…such as going to God instead of waiting for Him to change us. Such a learning experience & it’s just getting started!
Like you, Kelly, I used to think that the leaders in the church were so much better. Now as I am grown and work full time in ministry myself I realize that we are all human. We all have our struggles and victories to gain in Christ for we live in a sinful world.
It’s kind of awesome to think that we have a Heavenly Father who doesn’t miss a single detail in every person’s life. Just like the Samaritan woman, He knows all of my struggles. It’s hard to fathom because we as finite human beings are never able to do that with one person, let alone a whole universe.
Hello Ladies
I am comforted to know that we are all so alike underneath. It makes sense when I consider we were all made in His image. I wonder if our different circumstances are all that separate us? Our sameness is the God part. Does that sound wierd? I am thankful that God is so generous and gives us forums like this to learn about Him and each other. God is the glue that binds us together. I’m looking forward to see what chapter 3 will bring.
Wow, Christine. Your words are amazing, and put Sam’s story into more perspective for me. She is ME too … and knowing that He went out of His way to meet her re-affirms for me that He’s ALWAYS willing to meet us where we’re at. Blessings to you!
Thanks Angie
It is comforting to be reminded thatHe loves us as we are, warts and all..This is my first online bible study and it is exceeding all my expectations. I look forward to getting to ” know” my sisters better. May He continue to bless us all.
Wow this was awesome! To be reminded that God really KNOWS me and STILL loves me…it’s amazing! He knows my every thought, my present, my past, and my future. He loves me…that’s all that matters to me!
Amen, for He is the only one we must answer too. God Bless
What a great way to start the day, to start this new week! Interesting that the sermon yesterday was about Psalm 139 (being a true follower of God, having an intimate relationship with Him, knowing Him, and Him knowing me!) and then this week’s chapter, verse, etc are all about KNOWING Me! I am one that wants everyone one to like me (I am sure that is most of us who are doing this study!! 🙂 ~ we don’t want to be rejected!) so a lot of times I don’t really show the real me, my real struggles, I like to be seen at the distance. Thank you for the video clip this morning! And thank you for this study!
I am so thankful to be a part of this study. I struggle with knowing and being known. But I want and pray to know God more intimately. Not survival mode, or based on what is needed at hand. But just to be with Him. Just when I think I am growing in this area, somehing happens in my life that completely throws me off course and causes me to doubt my growth and even who I am sometimes. I truly am seeking the Lord so that at the end of this study, I will have an unshakeable confident heart in Him alone.
Jamie…I know so much how you feel! I believe that the enemy works hardest when we are closest. When we feel that we are growing in Christ, the enemy is losing, and he doesn’t take that lying down. Jeremiah 29 is so helpful….when we seek Him with our whole heart, He will let us find Him.
I have to agree. It seems as though when I am feeling closest to God and so confident in my faith that the enemy.. the FATHER of LIES… steps up his game and tries his best to knock me off course. He sure is clever and knows where my weak points are but thank God that my heavenly FATHER knows me and loves me and walks with me every step of the way. I really don’t know I how I made it before I turned my life over to HIM but I am so thankful that he loved me enough to rock my world in order to get my attention. Thank you God for rescuing me!!!
The poem hit on so many things. I’m still trying to take in it’s full meaning. As I was reading chapter 2 a couple sentences really stood out to me. “If you’ve ever doubted God’s personal pursuit of you,Let this truth sink in, my friend, wherever you are, He wants to meet you there. He is waiting for you to stop, come up close, and turn your heart to listen to His. You don’t have to pretend things are fine when they aren’t. Nothing could keep Him from wanting to be with you.” I have been running for so long and yet He is right behind me all the time waiting for me to stop and turn around. I have put on a mask for so long of being okay when I’m not and I can finally take that off and let God begin healing me. He wants to go below the surface into the deepest parts of my heart that need healing and repair those areas but I have to be willing. What an amazing thought! He knows me and loves me as I am.
I asked the Lord to speak into my heart on the word “known”. I am sharing with you. I am enjoying this study and your book.
Being Known
Beloved,
I KNOW you.
I have always know you.
I will always know you.
I have known you every moment of your life,
Every coming in and every going out.
Not a secret has been hidden from Me.
Because I know you inside and out,
I love you.
I have been there through each season of your life.
Loving you during easy times and the hard times.
Loving you during times when you were unaware of Me,
As well as times when you drew close to Me.
I know every sorrow, every joy of your entire life,
Past, present and future.
And I say to you,
You ARE My beloved daughter.
Nothing will ever cause My love for you to dry up.
There will never ever be a time when I do not love you.
The invitation I offer is to COME to Me,
To lean on Me,
To rest in Me,
To allow Me to carry every sorrow, every sin and every burden.
Will you come afresh to lean on Me this day?
My invitation is to come as you are,
In order to become more fully,
Who I created you to be.
So Beloved daughter,
Come known (fully loved and accepted)
In order to know that you are,
Known and loved just as you are.
As you know Me more fully,
You will become secure in Me.
oh, joan! so beautiful! thank you for trusting the Father enough to share this with us. “The invitation I offer is to COME to Me, to lean on Me, to rest in Me, to allow Me to carry every sorrow, every sin and every burden.” thanks, also to the holy spirit for working this in your <3. it blessed mine so much. <3
You are welcome. Love when Abba speaks to us but it is intended for others as well. God bless you as you go to Him, lean on Him, rest on Him and allow him to carry the “stuff”.
Thank you, Joan for sharing this with all of us. It really spoke to my heart and I believe it was Spirit-inspired. What a comfort to be reminded, “I have known you every moment of your life.” Even when I was a small girl and before I could offer any service to Him in return, He loved me unconditionally. Thank you!
It helps me too when I remember that before I knew Him, He knew me but even more He loved us before we loved Him. Isn’t it amazing?
Joan,
Thanks for sharing what God shared with you. It reminded me to focus solely on Him as He knows everything right now.
God bless you and lead you as you lean and focus on Him. May He give you the desires of your heart.
Joan – Thank you for blessing us by sharing this. The invitation of our Father – To COME to him is so powerful. I have a friend who I plan to share your words with today.
Dear Karen, May His peace arise within you and your friend. God bless you.
This is such a beautiful poem! Thanks for sharing this!
Hannah, you are so very welcome. I simply love when Abba God speaks into my heart for me and for others. May your heart be at rest in His this day.
Joan
This was beautiful. Thank you for sharing this. It has always been the desire of my heart that I be KNOWN…”yada.” I’ve always looked for a man to fill that part of my life, and even though I’ve been single for the past 11 years, I’ve had a hard time believing Jesus could be that for me. This poem helps me to feel not only it’s possible, but accept it as truth-moving from the know in my head from what the bible says to the faith in my heart. Thank you! 🙂
Joan,
Thank you for sharing thiis. It’s beautiful. The line that resonated with me most was “There will never ever be a time when I do not love you.” There’s such comfort in that statement. Growing up I attended a legalistic church where you were judged on how you looked (no makeup or jewelry and we weren’t allowed to wear pants). We weren’t allowed to go to the movies. There was so much that was wrong and it was oppresive. And even though it’s been yrs since I left that church, a lot of that baggage is still with me. I need to be constantly reminded that God’s love is unconditional. Thanks again. Blessings to you!
This is what really jumped out at me: “My invitation is to come as you are, In order to become more fully, Who I created you to be.” I’m having a really hard time lately because some recent minor surgery has changed the look of my face and I don’t recognize myself in the mirror anymore, so I’m feeling especially sad and ugly. But God wants me to come AS I AM in order to become more fully who I was created to be. God is creating me on the inside. I’m trying to remember that what I look like is not who I am, but it’s hard. However, it helps when God speaks to me through people like you – who I’ve never even met! He is so loving and awesome! Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful. Thank you.
Joan,
This is soooo beautiful and really spoke what I needed to hear in my heart! Thank you! Would you mind if I shared on my facebook page (Healthy Success with Kristy)??
My heart is so heavy and I have always been seeking someone to LOVE me even though the KNOW me. I have always said that once someone gets to really know the real me, they will no longer love me. I am too sensitive, too needy, depressed…too much! With friends and relationships, I have always found this to be true, or at least I perceive it to be. I so need God to fill those holes in my heart instead of searching for others to do it…that is what HE has been trying to tell me…
Thank you girl!
Kristy
This entire poem spoke to me….
I am recently divorced.. my husband left me a little over a year ago. He is a good man but so lost. The feeling of being unloved and abandoned and unworthy is overwhelming sometimes. But to know my Savoir loves me and accepts me NO MATTER WHAT is so soothing and fulfilling.
This online study came at just the right time. I need to get back on track and know it is not another person or thing that makes me feel worthy…. It is God. He made me and gives me the strength I need to be the mother, daughter, wife, friend, sister, person He wants me to be…
Blessings to all!
Dear Jan,
I can relate. Daily struggles when our hearts are broken can seem overwhelming, but God knows us and pursues us – sometimes in spite of ourselves – and He never gives up! Don’t be discouraged … He always “meets us where we’re at”. I LOVE THAT! 🙂 (PS – You belong to HIM so your not JUST Jan! You’re Jan, CHILD OF A KING!)
Sincerely,
Angie
I too have been divorced for just over a year. I also know what it is like to feel unloved and abandoned. I need to know that God is always there for me and loves me for who I am…no matter what.
Gail, I want to let you know that aim going to pray for you. You are never alone, God is always by your side. He will never ever leave you.
Jan, thank you for reminding me that It is not anyone else that makes me……it is God. This really hit home with me! I needed to hear just that !
Let me run back to town
this is way to much for just me
There are others: brothers, sisters, lovers, haters,
the good and the bad, sinners and saints
who should hear what you’ve told me
who should see what you’ve shown me
who should taste what you gave me
who should feel how you forgave me
Would that every person who meets the Saviour would feel these words deep in their soul and run back to those she knows with the good news.
“And you know me
You actually know me
all of me and everything about me
Every thought inside and hair on top of my head
Every hurt stored up, every hope, every dread
My past and my future, all I am and could be
You tell me everything,
you tell me about ME
And that which is spoken by another would bring hate and condemnation
Coming from you brings love, grace, mercy, hope and salvation”
While there were several parts that spoke to me, this just jumped out at me like a flashing neon sign. It was soothing to be reminded that He knows EVERYTHING about me and still loves me. He brings me grace, love, mercy, hope and salvation. How great is that? I have been struggling with a lot of shame and conflicting emotions and this chapter has really hit home for me. I not only need to get back on the right track but I WANT to. I have fallen off the wagon. I am getting back on the correct path again and I feel so much better for it, it is just hard for me to resist certain temptations so please pray for me. Pray that the will of God overcomes the will of my temptations.
praying for you, Paula…That you would continue to walk in the knowledge that you are loved so fully, so amazingly…so unconditionally….by Jesus Christ…
I feel the same way. I know God is walking with me right now as I try to find a new job once again. I feel so scared since I have no income coming thru. I was reading the Bible and crying last night for I want a stable job. In addition, I feel like I’m letting my friends down but I know that’s the enemy talking. On the positive note, I do have an interview for this Thursday. Trusting in God. That’s all I need is Him. However, I like to see things visible which is sometimes is hard but I know that is where “Faith” comes in. In addition, He created me so who would know best.
Hello my sisters,
This week I am a little behind in responding but I was really impacted by this chapter because I remember the days that I was so obsessed with trying to be everything to everyone and making everyone happy and striving to be perfect and then berating myself when I just not reach the mark. so much of the chapter resonate in my spirit but I think the one that I want to mention is located on pages 39-40 ” Have you ever put on a facade that everything was okay when it wasn’t ? Have you ever been afraid to let people know who you really are? Wouldn’t you love to be in such a safe place that you could stop pretending and be real with God and yourself(and eventually other people) about where you are and how you got there?” the answer for me was a resounding” yes.” I am truly grateful to God that He provided a place for me to do that and I am also thankful for the timing of this Bible study with Renee and all of my beautiful sisters on this journey with me. The poem just really speaks to me about the grace of God who sees me as precious in His sight and who loves me unconditionally and only wants me to spend time with Him so that I can know Him intimately too. I am so amazed by His mercy and grace and I am eternally grateful for my salvation and I am learning to place all my hope in Him because God never fails me nor forsakes me. To God be the glory!!!