Our word for the week: LIGHT (You can download it in a PDF or download in MSWord). Please print it and post it everywhere as you allow His word to light your path this week.
His WORD for us this week: “I am the light of the world. If you follow Me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12, NLT
Today’s Assignment: Start or continue reading chapter 5. This is a shorter chapter but oh so important!! Be sure to highlight or underline anything that resonates in your heart and journal what you sense God is showing you.
Connecting: What are one or two things you’ve read so far in Chapter 5 that you sense God’s bringing to “light” for you? Are there verses or sentences you’ve underlined or highlighted? Click “share your thoughts” just below this post and do just that.
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Online Sisters! First off, I am continuing to pray as many of us continue to work on our timelines…what a challenge it was for me to start mine! I was afraid and didn’t want to scratch the scabs off of my wounds AGAIN! Through a few days of prayer, I finally faced my fear…and it’s been so worth it. I can’t explain to you the feeling I had after I just wrote one thing down…and then another…and another… Talk about a HAPPY DANCE!
On to Chapter 5… Had you ever thought about how WE create shadows of doubt by blocking out Jesus, The Light, and His truth? I don’t know about you, but I have tried to blame many of my doubts on others. It’s crazy how easy it is to focus on us and others’ thoughts/opinions instead of what God thinks about us. Let’s turn our thoughts completely toward Him by thinking about His strengths instead of our own weaknesses. (Sounds like we are up for another challenge!) Let’s find our identity as children of His so that our hearts can find lasting confidence. (We can do this!)
Sisters, it’s amazing to me how many of our stories are similar. Yes, I was the only one out of my closest buddies who grew up in a single parent household, too. And, had a dad who wouldn’t pay child support making me feel “not worth it.” And the stories continue… But hey, let’s process our past pain WITH Him so that He can heal us from those hurts and give us hope to move forward. Easier said than done, but with time, I am confident we’ll get to where we are turning towards God, toward His truth, and toward the light. Let’s ask Him to use our doubts to draw us into a deeper place of dependence on Him and His promises.
It’s comforting to know we are all on this Confident Heart journey together! It’s awesome to read stories about how God is working in our lives along the way. Big group Online Sisters Hug!
i am just now starting to read chpt 5 and its interesting how this chapter goes, because i can sort of relate to gideon. because he asked the if the lord is with us,why do these things happen? because i find myself doubting and wondering too as well. but when i stop to think i do realize that with gods strength and grace we can get through doubts and fears or anything that may come our way in everyday life. this book you have no idea how its been challenging but yet rewarding to know that we have an awesome god that is with us even when hurting or fearful or whatever we go through. its been such a blessing. thankyou.
Wow! Chapter 5 spoke to me so clearly too. I too have a daughter with sensory issues, low level autism and anxiety issues. I so relate to all the comments here about having special need children and feeling less than because of comments from family, friends and sometimes strangers. Chapter 5 reminded me that I need to let go of my doubts about my parenting ability and STOP listening to others comments that make me focus on my insecurity and instead focus on God and his love for me and remember that he choose me to be her mother. I was told I couldnt have children but I was blessed with 2 beautiful girls. They were a gift to my husband and I from God and he will lead me down the right path for parenting both of them. I just have to stop focusing on MY thoughts and refocus on God’s promises and love for my life and trust his plan for us all.
Im still working on my timeline events. That has been difficult for me but I know in the end it will be worth it to process all those painful places with God. Ive already realized most of my hurtful places cente around feeling abandoned in so many different ways. Now to let God in to that hurtful place. Thank you Renee this book is such a phenomenal gift to my life. Thank you for the many blessings it’s already brought to me.
“Often God will call you beyond your limitations to do something that requires faith. It’s not so much about what He wants you to do as what He wants to do in you, as you depend on Him.” This goes along with another quote I heard this week in another Bible study and that is “God won’t protect you from what He can perfect you through.” This is where I am right now and trying so hard to just let go of the struggle and let Him perfect me through what’s going on right now. This study is helping me to have the confidence I need to let go and step out in faith and to go beyond what I see as my limitations and let God guide me to a place He wants me to be. I’m looking to the Light and staying focused on letting Him shine through my struggle as He perfects me.
May God Bless you all as you grow in confidence in Him this week!!
On page 87, you stated “When we follow our natural inclination to preserve and promote ourselves or perform for others, we eventually end up in a place of darkness and doubt. It’s just too much pressure. Even if we achieve success or have a few good days, eventually it won’t be enough, because we can’t maintain it.”
That is so true!! It is way too much pressure! And boy, that shadow of doubt loves to creep in at this time reminding me of how others have full time jobs and their house is clean and they make dinner and they have time to bake cookies, ha! It’s funny how things look to us in our perspective when the shadow of doubt is in control. We have the capability to do all those things too at our own pace and in our own time. And more than likely, the same goes for those too in who we compare ourselves to. I am not at their house EVERY MOMENT to see if it really is always clean or if they really do have dinner on the table. That shadow of doubt loves to bring us down and make us compare ourselves to everyone else’s BEST moments.I know I have my good moments too!
Thank God for His reminder of where my focus needs to be – on Him!!
Romans 8:6 … the mind set on flesh is death but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace. We are called to live in the light to turn away from darkness and God has been shining a light on those places in my heart that i thought were healed. I had been so focused on “why me” for so long, that I morphed into “poor me”, which then led to “why not me”…..me, me, me. With all that it’s no wonder I didn’t think twice about how my “me business” was making me full of busyness SO then how in the world was I supposed to have time to hear God when all I wanted to hear was me? I was having quiet time but going through the motions not being still knowing God, knowing He was there with me, knowing His thoughts and plans for me are what matter, not the acceptance, not the opinions, or not the love of others. God never fails and I am thankful for his never stopping, never giving up, always and forever love.
🙂 That is awesome!
“When we focus our attention on ourselves, we turn our attention away from God. We leave no room in our thoughts to listen to what he is thinking about us, because we have given that place away to be occupied by other people’s opinion.” This part of chapter 5 was meaningful to me. I grew up with a lot of teasing about the way I look and not fitting in. Even after all of these years, those negative things that I heard others say to and about me still find a place in my thoughts. It has been very difficult to be confident in who God made me to be.
This chapter reminded me that I need to constantly choose the focus of my thoughts and reflect on God’s thoughts about me rather than the hurtful ones.
Wow Renee, this chapter really mirrored my childhood! My parents divorced when I was a little girl. I was raised by mom living in apartments while my dad lived in his fancy house. I remember how my sister and I were embarrassed by our mom’s car, that we dubbed ‘the tank.’ Thank you for showing me how God’s light can be reflected even when don’t start out with the brightest of circumstances!
I finished reading Ch5 late last night and it was what i needed to hear. It is awesome that God ass the answers we seek if we call on him and sound time searching the word n listening to hear his voice for direction.
one thing that spoke out to ne n gave me understanding was on pg. 86…”When we find ourselves n the shadow of doubt many times its bcuz our thoughts r misty about ourselves: how we perform n what others r thinking about us.” And Gods answer is…when we lose focus on hm we leave no rm n our thoughts to listen to what HE thinks about us. Rom. 8:6 the mind set on flesh is death but the mind set on the Spirit is life n peace”This just brought ne to another verse that talks about setting our hearts n minds on things above.
i also lived the Gideon story n how God want to use our limitations to do something great that requires faith…he wants to use us n shape us as we depend on him.
I do let my thoughts get the best of me, not good enough, no talent.. not smart enough, I need to trust that God has a plan for me and He has given me what I need to move forward in that plan, I feel so called to do something in Women’s ministry but have no training no theological background, just a love to do His will and such a sense of calling in this area. I continue to pray and seek His guidance and try, try, try not to talk myself out of doing this from fear and self doubt. I am so thankful for this book and study. I really need this to help me see His great love for me and to hear and OBEY His voice.. blessings for all the women who are in this study. May God show you all how wonderful and talented you are and reveal to you, what you can do to honor Him.
Question 2…asks when I doubt myself? Addiction is very strong, I believe it is one of the Evil one’s biggest weapons today. I have been doing so well and have been feeling much better about me and working hard not to go back and to stay the course…As I have been doing this study i day by day am feeling stronger. All it takes is something near me, one thing and I go back. I have not had that opportunity nor have I wanted to. But…all it takes is one temptation and I give in. I promise God I don’t want to and that i won’t but yesterday i did give in and I am so believing today that this is why God can’t and shouldn’t use me. Self doubt and oh just this once, i wont have access again…And I give in and mess up…Forgive me Lord, i am so not worthy of your love….My insecurities have come flooding back…Help me Lord!
Peggy, I lift you up in prayer today, may God give you strength for just today, help you to overcome the voice that whispers you are not good enough and that you can not do it.. God loves you so much. I pray that you would feel His loving arms holding you up and you can find strength and comfort in Him.
Thank you Peg…I am so depressed today…I am in the study and trying to get out of this place…Thank you for your prayers…
The first thing that I realized is that like Gideon my doubt comes from my perception of myself based on my past. I have tried mst if my adult life to separate myself from the way I was raised, but I always have that voice telling me I will never amount to anything because of what and where I came from. I want to be able to recognize the negative emotions from my past keep me from living confidently in my present and future.
The second thing this chapter helped me realize is that when doubt sets in it is because I stop living in the security of God’s promises. This is so true of my life. I get so busy with life that this darkness just creeps in and I don’t even know it until I’m so frustrated and disappointed with myself for everything going on around me. My prayer is that through this realization I will be better able to recognize this happening before it even starts, at the first lie I tell myself I will be able to use God’s promises to walk in his marvelous light.
On page 87 you say “we leave no room in our thoughts to listen to what He is thinking about us, because we have given that place away to be occupied by other people’ s opinions. ” This is so true. Often I am not a good steward of my confident heart because I give it away to others. Your statement places the responsibility squarely on my shoulders or should I say heart to be intentional about listening to Him in order to prevent “heart disease”
Renee, I am really enjoying your Bible Study. I often take my eyes off from God’s strength and focus on my weaknesses (p.91). I often think this book was written about me. That is how closely my struggles and lack of confidence relate to what you have shared in your book. I praise the Lord for the victory He gave you, and I hope and pray one day I will share that same victory. You are such an encouragement to me and to others. May God richly bless you and your ministry.
Thank you once again for another great, but challenging chapter. God’s really using your words to begin my transformation to becoming the woman of God that He had intended me to be. Even though I still have a ways to go, It feels so freeing to let go of the things of the past that have been keeping me from moving on. Thank you, Renee!
God spoke to me today through you. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
To receive is hard for me too! It’s easier to believe for someone else than me. I struggle with this a lot. I want to draw closer to Jesus and this Bible study has been helping me so much. I want to believe for myself that I am worth loving as much as others are.
I think the little girl in me hasn’t quite grown up yet and am struggling with that. Sometimes it is confusing to me.
I do need to believe God’s love for me is for me – to get it from my head to my heart!
Good Morning my sisters in Christ! One thing that I kept feeling after reading this chapter was on page 89.”Sometimes the hurt little girl has too much to say in my heart. If I listen to her, powerful yet immature emotions from my past rise to the surface. But, they are not truth in my life! The insecurities from my past are not the truth in Peggy’s life today either. ”
I struggle with this!!! They will try to keep me from living confidently in my present and my future!! It is so there that I don’t even realize it….That is where learning to “turn to God and how He feels about me”, and getting out of the place that brings me to be down and discouraged or depressed gets difficult. It is not habit yet to just feel good, just remember God loves me. To receive is hard for me!!! I am struggling big with that now. I have given of myself so much!!!
People, places and things cannot be the only thing that makes Peggy feel whole. it has always been how I feel good about myself. It is an oxymoron right? That is what God has us do!!! Get out of yourself and be that which Jesus would be for others and feel better about me. In doing that I cannot make that who I am….I have to receive God’s love from what I do without making it who I am….Am I making any sense??? Help me Lord!!!
I am so struggling with myself….I have such problems with addiction. When i read all about the confidence I should have in Christ I go back to when i fall like yesterday. I went back and took something i have worked so hard to stay away from. I beat myself up horrible and wonder how God can ever use me because given the opportunity I give in the the flesh. Then i just beat myself up and have to start all over again. It is the devils biggest weapon, Addiction, i so believe it is. So, in answer to question 2???? How could he ever use me when I fail, when I can’t trust myself, when I don’t look to Him instead of the thing that takes my confidence away. Every time I think I am over it, I am tempted and give in…Help me Lord! I am so far from where i want to be, I was doing so well and all it takes is one slip and….I am on my knees…asking forgiveness and having a hard time receiving it….
I wish I could give you a hug and let you know you are loved and not alone.
Thank you Peg…I feel the same. As much as I loove this study and others I have done Online, sometimes i just wish we were all together sharing our hearts. my struggle is not like many of the busy women, I have been there but now am in a place where my kids are grown, they don’t live close…I miss them and my grandchildren…I am trying to rebuild a 30 yr marriage as it has been so broken over the years but I am home alone most of the time. I am a people person and with the economy jobs just are not there for a 50 something with no college…just the University of Life! I sit and try to do things that will occupy my mind but I am a doer and not a crafty one either. I walk through the house and am not good inside my own head. I sometimes have things to keep me busy but spend much to much time alone.I am grateful we have a business and my husband makes the money we need, I just don’t have a feeling of self worth. It is what i am trying to find with help from this study, getting my confidence in Christ, but i wish I could be around women and share and give and yes receive also….Thank you Peg for your encouragement…Hugs