I wish we could sit in a coffee shop and chat today.
I’d love to talk with you about things that may be weighing you down. They always seem to lighten when shared with a friend.
I’d tell you about the year I let my problems pile up… and how all that pressure almost took me down. It’s all in chapter 9 of my book, A Confident Heart, including the story about the time I accidentally took my dogs medicine. Yes ma’am. I sure did.
At the end of every chapter, I also share a prayer – weaving my tangled thoughts and sometimes-consuming concerns with His Words and wisdom. Praying in this way helps me to take my cares to Him with confidence, knowing when I pray His Word I am praying His will for me {and others}. Here’s the prayer that was birthed out of my piling up and tumbling down year:
Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. When concerns consume me, remind me that You are with me, holding me by my right hand and guiding me with Your counsel. Though my flesh and my heart may fail, You are the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Help me turn my burdens over to You, knowing that You will take care of me.
Because You are my shepherd, I shall not be in want. You promise that when I dwell in the shelter of the Most High, I can rest in the shadow of the Almighty. You are my refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life; You stretch out Your hand against the anger of my foes, and with Your right hand You save me. Thank You for making known to me the path of life and filling me with joy and peace in Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen. {See Psalms 139:23–24; 73:23–26; 55:22; 23:1; 91:1–2; 138:7; 16:11.}
From A Confident Heart by Renee Swope, Chapter 9
© 2013 by Baker Revell Publishing. All rights reserved.
Over the past few years God has been changing me and rearranging me. He’s taught me how to use prayer to turn my worry into worship. He’s also given me a practical way to physically hand Him my concerns! Since we can’t chat in a coffee shop today, I’d love to share them with you through this short video message:
Message Notes: You can download my “Video Message Notes” in a PDF here or in a Word doc here. They include the points of my message, verses and blanks to fill in. {If you’d like to watch more FREE Confident Heart videos based on my book, click here.}
FREE DOWNLOADS:
Download my “Printable Prayers Collection: How to Pray for Those You Love from Head to Toe.” Today, I’m offering “Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe” {click here to download}YOU CAN also RECEIVE “Praying for Yourself from Head to Toe” and “Praying for Your Children from Head to Toe” when you sign up here to enter your name and email. Then come back so you can enter to win today’s giveaway below!
TODAY’s GIVEAWAY:
Share one thought or something you want to apply after reading today’s devotion, blog post or hearing my video message. Click “share your thoughts” right below this post and do just that. 🙂
Enter to Win one of 4 copies of A Confident Heart, OR the grand prize which includes A Confident Heart book PLUS a coffee shop gift card and a Godiva chocolate bar.
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Update on My Mom:
Thank you for your prayers for my mom. She’s had ups and downs but her kidney pain is less and less each day. Ive been concerned she had gotten pneumonia because she started running a fever, coughing, has had pain in her lower lung and some breathing issues {plus she has a history or pulmonary embolisms and has been off of her blood thinners for surgery.} We’ll be seeing her doctor on Monday to check on her kidney and lungs. I think she’s okay but it will be good to hear the doctor confirm that. 🙂
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I loved Chapter 9 and this video! It spoke to so many issues in my life. Every time I think my life is under control, something pops up to prove otherwise. How blessed we are to have a caring, devoted Father who is there to walk us through all life’s trials! What a mighty God we serve! I loved the suggestion of writing out the cards and laying them at the Cross. I also love the prayers based on the Word of God! I don’t do that nearly enough & really want to start doing so. I have given “A Confident Heart” to a good friend of mine. She worries NON STOP!!! I told her to skip right to chapter 9. She read it and it has helped her so much already. She said, “This book is a jewel!” Renee, thank you so much for writing this book and sharing your heart with us! Glad your mom is doing better. Hopefully by now all of you are back home again. Will be praying for all of you. Praying for all you sisters as well. God bless you all as you continue to seek Him.
I cannot even say how many times I have over committed myself, got overwhelmed, and then resentful because it seemed that no one saw, or seemed to care that I was doing everything. I have been to the point of snapping at my family, because they didn’t notice all that I do for them and that they never seem to offer to help. Then I feel bad, all this ends up in my head at night, which keeps me awake, which makes me tired, and then I get up in the morning, only to start the same cycle all over again. So silly, when all I really need to do is have a conversation with the Lord ( then be quiet so I can hear Him speak to me) I need to stop trying to do everything, be everything to everyone. I need to spend more time with the Lord, and allow Him to do what He does. Thank you Lord!
I am famous for letting things pile up,….and then I am even better at saying, “everything is fine” and then I passively (agressively) make sure everyone knows, ‘things are definitely not fine’. :o\ Thank you for this opportunity and I’m sure glad that you survived the ‘dog medicine’ incident!
today, insecurity showed-up in my life and my heart felt heavy on me. I am so thankful for the prayer @ the end of Chapter 9- it reminded me that He is still God in any circumstances…thank you renee for sharing your heart
Will you please pray for me today. I am having a very down day.
A much needed message I needed today………:)
Hi Renee, when I started to read this blog my mom was sitting opposite me and the tears were running down her face. I had to smile at God’s perfect timing once again as this is just what she needed to read and hear. So I held her left hand as God is holding her right and we read your blog together and watched your video. Thank you! Huvs M (Huvs is one of my words and is hugs+love)
I have always love the passage “Search me oh Lord” I also sometimes feel like my thought are tangles too!
I also like Ps 138:8 He will perfect hat which concerns me. I am learning the slow down, instead of jumping to conclusion, long suffering, patience and kindness. My husband has been out of work for 2 1/2 yrs. it’s been though, today praise th Lord he had a good interview for a job. Please pray God’s will and praise Him for the outcome. Anxiously waiting for the blessing of employment and being in God’s will. “Search me oh Lord”
Praise Him and Thank you for this Bible Study and others you all offer, oh what a blessing!! Great Team!