“What, then, shall we say in response to these things?
If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31 (NIV)
Have you ever felt beat up by discouragement? Has your mind been bullied by thoughts of doubt such as:
I can’t do it all!
I am not cut out to be a wife, a mom, a daughter, a _______, a _____ and all the other things God has called me to.
In my Proverbs 31 devotion today, I share how I felt bullied by doubt one morning when I woke up. My thoughts were completely against me, and my feelings were too.
While I was laying in bed feeling completely inadequate, my radio alarm came on and my thoughts were interrupted by Twila Paris singing to me.
With confident assurance, she told me it was no time for fear, but a time for faith and determination. She challenged me not to lose my vision or be carried away by my emotions, but to hold on to all that I had hidden in my heart, and all I believed to be true. Then she reminded me of the most important truth of all: God is in control. [1]
Her words aligned my thoughts with God’s truth, and I went from feeling afraid to feeling determined and from feeling out of control to knowing God is in control.
We have the choice either to let doubt beat us up or to let God’s truth build us up.
I had set my radio to that station the night before so I would wake up hearing encouraging music and truth. Just like I intentionally set the dial of my radio alarm, we need to get intentional about tuning our thoughts into God’s thoughts toward us – every day.
In the same way a radio has AM and FM frequencies, so do our thoughts. They are either AM (against me) or FM (for me) thoughts. The truth is, we are often our worst critics and have a lot of AM thoughts.
If our thoughts are against us, our feelings will be too, BUT we don’t have to let doubt bully us anymore.
We have full access to God’s power and His promises to live with a confident heart. Yet it won’t just happen because it’s possible. We have to take action.
So, the next time we get feelings of uncertainty and self-doubt, let’s stop and ask the Holy Spirit to show us what we’re thinking that is making us feel that way. Then let’s compare our thoughts about that situation to God’s thoughts, which are reflected in Scripture.
Do they match? If not, find a promise in God’s Word to replace the lie that has filled your heart with doubt. Here are few to get your started:
• When doubt comes against me, saying I’m weak and all alone, I will focus on the truth that God is for me! I can be strong and courageous because the Lord my God is with me. He will never leave me nor forsake me. (Deuteronomy 31:6, NIV)
• When doubt comes against me, saying I’m not good enough for a certain role or position, I will remember that God is for me! He says I am His masterpiece, created to be new in Christ so that I could do good things He planned long ago. (Ephesians 2:10, NIV)
Lord, thank You that You are with me to fight for me against my enemies of insecurity and inadequacy. In all these things, I am more than a conqueror through You who loves me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
[1] “God Is In Control,” © 1993 by Twila Paris.
© 2012 by Renee Swope. All rights reserved.
In what area of your life do you currently have the most “against me” thoughts?
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Thank you for sharing these words with us. It really help me see that God is in control of my life. And that satan wants me to feel depress and unworthy.
Your post today was exactly what I needed tonight as I read it. The day had gone well until a meeting late in the afternoon. After it was all over and done with I knew I should rejoice with the person and celebrate what God had done, but was really struggling with it because of several things that had a part in the whole picture. After talking, crying, and praying with the person and then more later alone, and talking with my sister, God revealed that what I had done a couple weeks ago was in obedience to Him. And through my obedience not 1 but 2 families ended up being blessed. If I had not obeyed both families may not have been blessed.
The end result was it was not about what I did but my obedience to God. At first I was doubting my hearing what the Lord had told me to do, but after the exciting things that had happened I knew that I was truely hearing what God was prompting me to do.
So, sometimes doubt tries to turn you from obedience, but when you hold faithful to the Lord’s direction and obey He will bless you and others around you.
Thanks for those words of encouragement today.
Right now my AM thoughts are trying to outweigh my FM thoughts. With God’s help, I will not let this happen. Thanks for helping my to focus.
I really liked your email about Against me thoughts. My thoughts are against me most of the time in the area of forgiveness from God where the thoughts tell me I’m not forgiven. Another area where my thoughts get me is does God really love me so I have a lot of thoughts about God not loving me. I worry too much about these things and am currently on medication to help with the anxiety these thoughts cause me. Sometimes, I feel unforgiven and unloved by God so it’s hard to get rid of these doubts.
I don’t have a problem with doing what is right . Sometime when I get upset or talk to much that is what makes me think that I am not worthy of doing God’s will.Then .Sometime I don’t think I am qualified to do certain jobs or say certain things. I want to be able to do God’s will anytime
Your post today was such a blessing! I loved the analogy of the radio dial/am & fm! Man, do so needvisuals! I fall into such doubt regarding my healing of diabetes; because I feel such guilt of the choices I have made for over 20 years & still am doing so.
What a simple way to be aware of our own thoughts and help ourselves to bring them into obedience to Christ…I love the AM and FM thoughts. AM=lies. FM=Truth.
I have been having many against me thoughts today. I’m so glad that I
read this post. I just keep thinking that I have to do something to
be good enough, that I can’t just rest in who I am in Christ because
that would mean that I might be happy and fulfilled and be able to be
all God wants me to be – who I really am. It was revealed to me
yesterday that I have unforgiveness towards myself. I’m a young
talented single mom and yet i struggle deeply with my mistakes
expecting myself to be perfect or get lost from His presence because
“your just not good enought to be there.” I’m praying over myself and
other women that our lives would no longer be run by guil and shame
but by an overwhelming filling of God’s love that just HAS to be
shared. This is who I know i was created to be!
Hello Renee. I came home from SheSpeaks even more confident in what God was calling me to; I had even more confirmation last week. Honestly though, since this past weekend I have really been coming up against it. I feel like the AM radio is stuck on high and doubt is overwhelming me. I drove home from a meeting today, reminding myself of something Whitney said. I told God this just isn’t worth all of the struggle…but You are so worth it!! I asked Him for more encouragement and found it on the Proverbs 31 page. Your words today were just what I needed! I am extremely grateful!!! Many blessings to you!
Your book is such a blessing. I struggled with my past in that I knew I was forgiven but I felt God couldn’t use me. Through the scriptures, you have shown me how God takes me where I am. I love the AM and FM comparisons. My mind was filled with AM too long. Praise God I can turn the AM off and the FM on.
I was so glad to receive another devotion today! I have REALLY MISSED your lessons/devotions coming in during the study. I hope you received His blessings at the “women speaks conference”. I am sure you blessed everyone you came across.
This doubt situation is extremely larger than I ever could have thought. I always thought it was just me! I have always doubted myself and really had thought it has been just me. I mean, “No one could be as stupid as me”. It wasn’t until I read your book that it has been satan turning me against myself, every since I was very young. I have had so many AM thoughts, with people in my life confirming them (w/o knowing I had already thought of them). I still struggle, trying to catch all the am ‘s and replace them, but you have given me tools to conquer! For I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! I have learned so much from your book and telling everyone about it. God has truly blessed me through you. (I always lowercase the devil)
I am going through a rough peri-menopause time right now but still having to work full time and have four kids at home….two who are out of high school and having trouble finding jobs. I am tired and burned out and really really struggle with the AM thoughts and feelings. Please pray for me. My husband is fairly understanding and considerate but he can never really feel my inner pain. Only God can, but I find myself hiding from Him because I feel so inadequate and weak. It is good to know that other women struggle with the same things.
I’m neither. Not a wife, was never able to be a mom and unemployed AGAIN. Definitely having an AM day but moving the dial to FM – because I know what his word says… “I look to the hills for where does my help come from? From the Lord the maker of heaven and earth”. Ladies, would appreciate if you could keep me in your prayers. 🙂
I like your post and the scripture reminder. You are in my prayers for wisdom and favor with an employer. Psalm 138
mv, daughter of the Most High, am and will be praying for you. your help most assuredly DOES come from the Maker of the heavens and the earth! anchor on that. <3
Loved the post. I struggle with discouragement. But i love the am and fm idea….
Thanks so much for the devotional you sent today. I much needed that. I have noticed this summer my thoughts have seemed to consume me and steal my joy and peace. One of my biggest AM thoughts has been about myself being a mom and raising 2 teenagers (1 freshman in college and 1 freshman in high school). Feelings of disappointment and resentment come when they continue to disobey and lie. And then I have those AM thoughts while being a pastor’s wife. Today’s devotional was just a big reminder to take those thoughts captive and replace them with His FM thoughts/ promises from scripture. I am thinking I need to read your book.
What song was Twila Paris singing?
Sharon, the song was “God is in control” by Twila Paris
I think alot of women struggle with this, I know I do, I feel like I’m not good enough to be a Mom or Wife, most of all a child of God and live out His purpose for me.
I’ve got sooo many tools at hand to fight the bully, but Satan keeps knocking on my door and I let the bully in, it’s become a vicious cycle. I know what to do, but “feel” I don’t have it in me to get it done…..AHHHHHH somedays I want to scream, the Lord is showing me, why can’t I just grasp on and go for His ride?!?
Thankyou for this!!
Donna,
I so understand how you are feeling. I am going to order Renee’s book…..sounds like something helpful. My aunt just bought me a book called, ” Gods shield of protection” by pastor mike servello. It is a small book but I guess you could say I am a “slow learner.”. I keep reminding myself that if I am living in fear or anxiety or whatever my emotion is at that moment that I am NOT living in faith. I just sometimes wonder if God doesn’t hear me……struggles with severe depression for so long and it is now really interfering with my family life.
So, I understand about letting the enemy in. Anxious to read Renee’sbook!
Mary
Renee,
Your devotional thoughts and book have been such a blessing to me! I just can’t thank you enough for reminding me to think FM thoughts, when I often think AM thoughts. Having been faced with rejection and cruel words lashed at me, it is easy to believe the lies rather than God’s truth. Last week, I was hearing God’s words all day saying “Trust Me”, “Praise Me”. On my way home from the store, a woman smashed into the back of my car at a busy intersection. She had two precious, young children in her car and no one was hurt, although both of our cars were totaled. At first, my thoughts could have been “God must be against me or this wouldn’t have happened.” But, I chose, instead to praise Him for His protection and look forward to how He is going to use this incident for His good purpose in my life. I often reread your book and thank you for sharing from your heart and experiences, as you go through daily struggles. You have touched my heart with God’s love, Renee.
Thank you for your post today. I am a recent subscriber to your daily emails. What struck me personally as I read your comment about what assailed you first thing in the morning is at least you are doing all of those things. At leas you are a Mom, a speaker, a writer. I don’t intend to compare or be a pity pot. Its just that everything is relative. What is one persons struggle is another persons wish.
I have been trying to get pregnant for the last two years and am 45 years old. I wake up many mornings with doubt in my mind. Fear that my prayers will go unheard, constant striving to find the “right” prayer to reach God, assurance that he has heard my prayers but am met with silence and the constant battle to not let the Devil in my house (mind) and simply Trust God’s timing, which seems to take forever. I reach out to God, worship him, try to put him first but still find myself in a place of doubt, a lingering doubt that maybe I just should put the whole idea to rest and say it’s Gods will and if it comes to pass and I am not pregnant and never will be, so be it. But I can’t just let it go without pressing on and believing and fighting the doubt with faith. When will I get my revelation from God that this will happen or not? When does my doubt turn to total Faith and Trust with out a shadow of a doubt? Alas, no one has the answer and the biggest trick I’m told is that the answer lies within me and my belief.
Kris,
I am so sorry for your pain but do not allow the enemy to cloud your trust.
You know God answers prayers according to His will and in His time. Sara was well beyond birthing years but our Lord remained faithful to His promise. God’s time is not ours & I want to reassure you that God does hear your hearts cry. He know, Kris…b/c He created YOU. Remember also when the angel was held up in battle? U just continue in faith and expectancy!
My husband and I have been married for 18years and I walked in your shoes for 10 years.
Our first born is 13 and to our surprise 3 years ago we were blessed with our second healthy child on this side of God’s creation. BUT, I have ten (twins included) beautiful children who have been made whole with Jesus. No, they were never to be in my arms but they are always in my heart (and tears, sometimes). I was pregnant every year from 2001 – 2007…(twice in 2001). Then in 2005 we lost our precious Benjamin “Ben” at five months gestation.
Yet through all those “maybes” God spoke to my heart and re assured me of just how blessed I (and my husband) am to have children already in His presence. As the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, I realized I am NOT defined by my losses! I am not to waste the testimony that God has given. When I turned my WHOLE heart over to God and said, one is okay…He was already preparing our #2. I was almost 4 months before I knew. How gracious is that?! With all the first trimester losses can you just imagine the fear / doubt / wonder / He covered me from! He gave me a glimpse of her – so when a test result seemed to indicate Trisomy 18 – fatal diagnosis…I could be reassured. He will give you the same confirmation!
Now, it’s NOT been an easy journey and believe me God and I are going to have some kind of conversation :), yet each step of the way He comforted me / us. I do not know God’s response to your petition but I do know He is FAITHFUL and SUFFICIENT to meet you where you are. AND He IS always there! I know your walk and I pray for you to be encouraged as you walk in God’s time…not your own.
Grace given to 1
As I walk in God’s time…not my own~
Renee,
Thank you SO much for sharing! As I read your reply I felt God’s presence rush over me. As you shared your pain and struggle I felt reassurance, a heightened Hope and my Faith strengthened. I will read and re-read what you wrote and thank you from not just the bottom, but my whole heart.
Great Reminder thanks for sharing Renee.. JUst finished reading your book and Loved it!!
Dropped my son off at school and heard your thoughts on doubt and fear. I had just had a conversation with my son about this very thing. He is gripped with fear and doubt as he starts a new school and group of friends. We have just moved to a new town. He was in his former school since kinder and now is in 7th. He is in athletics and as we all know, 7th grade is where it all begins. Dressing and undressing in front of others, showering in front of others, coaches that are not ‘volunteers’ any more, but fighting for their jobs. My son has allowed fear to just grip his whole being. Your advice was a HUGE light bulb. I got to work and went right to my computer and pulled up your blog. I am going to share with him all of this when I pick him up today. Thank you Renee.