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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Renee thanks so much for your videos they have truly been a blessing in my life. I am a HUGE worrier. There was a time not to awfully long ago that I was traveling every weekend. I felt like I was being pulled in a million directions. my family and husband needed things from me, friends were complaining that they had not heard from me, and I felt like God himself knew I was having a difficult time and also wanted my attention! I am not sure I always hear God and that I know what his plans are for me. I listen a lot to my inside chatter …..How do I know if it is God talking to me ? I must say though, God did point out that I was not reading my bible, I was not spending time in my bible study and that I was not talking enough to him. I mean he didn’t take a brick and drop it on my head or anything, but some of my kids on our gymnastics team did say to me, ” Coach Chris are you ok you seem really sad lately “. It was at that moment some of the girls gave me hugs. I felt God’s arms around me. Like I was being held by God himself.
I can totally relate to travel stresses…the worst part is not the physical travel, but having your regular routine pushed out of whack. Quiet time with God is usually the first thing to go, and then the family pressures…it’s amazing anything gets done. But you’re right, reading the word, learning to listen to God in spite of distractions is key. Renee put it so well, that we need to set a “DATE” with Jesus, the same way we make time for people we are in relationships with. I know I have to be creative with this, especially when I’m busy, but it is so rewarding. He does want to hug you, and show you He can give you rest.
Renee I have been living everyday for the last three years in FEAR!!! I am doing your online bible study with your book. I have posted a couple of times about the abuse I endured as a child and the fact that I have been receiving mri’s and cat scans every three months watching this abnormality I have of the brain. it is a growth that has been maintaining one size and just recently has increased in size. So I am of course on lots of meds. Well a couple of weeks ago I received healing and prayer for this specific ailment. Today was my three month testing and the amount of time it was taking for the the tests seemed endless. I was told The doctor would call me around two with the results. So now was the endless wait of FEAR one more time. you know what, I was not anxious, stressed, and I had no anxiety at all. Was calm my time waiting on the phone call was Gods complete cover. The doctor called around 3:30 to tell me that there was NO evidence of an abnormality !!! Praise God it was totally his healing and wonderful promises that have restored my health. God is so faithful and loving.
Good Morning Renee and all the Ladies. Thank you Renee for todays word and video. Thus is so meaningful and i now have to put it into action and apply.. I give this trip that I m taking today alone to My Jesus I worry about it I am anxious and I do have fear a about following the directions correctly. I give this trip to You Lord and I thank You for always being with me never leaving my side. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
thank you for sharing yourself through Gods Word,making it easier to see God,and to trust Him more.Thank you for your e mails and your book The Confident Heart. Watching your video makes me feel like I am not alone in wanting to grow closer to God daily,not letting circumstances dictate what God is, or is not to me. I look foward to reading this book and then sharing it with a close friend.Thank you for allowing God to work through you .
I used to pray scripture often for myself and others but have gotten away from that practice. This is a good call to action for me! There is such power in God’ s word!
I have never had a strong prayer life, even tho I have seen several of my prayers answered. Lately, it seemed that life has crowded in on me and when I start to pray it just seems like it is a struggle knowing what to say. I have prayed scripture before and love doing that. Thank you for your devotions and inspiration.
Hi Renee,
thank you so much for putting these nifty God’s Word-based prayers for us (now we do not have any excuse not to pray God’s Word! 🙂 )….and thank you for incorporating into today’s devotion’s prayer to ask God to point us to verses that He wants us to pray…I will have to do just that from today on, and surely hope I will remember to do it! 🙂
Renee thanks for the video, I love hearing your sweet, soft, comforting voice on them to start my day. Oh the index card idea is awesome and I love the cross on your bed stand. What a great idea to physically lay those cares at the foot of the cross. I am going to look for one to do the same. The action of doing that is something I need to help me release those cares to God. Thanks for all your creative ideas that you use and share with us for helping you in your day to day walk with the Lord. I am not so creative to think of those things, but I am a good copier 🙂 And thank you soooooo much for all your PDF video notes and the free downloads, and your prayers of praying God’s promises, they are so helpful to me. You are such a blessing and I praise God for you everyday!! ♥
Thank you, Renee! Here is another tool in helping the body of Christ become healthier! I can’t wait to share it with my summer book club!
Thank you Renee, I struggle with prayer, with peace with the turmoil in my life right now. I know the anchor for my hurting heart and restless soul is my God. I want powerful, peaceful, heartfelt prayers that are more than a wish list. I am going to take time to start personalizing prayers by going to His Word and praying them back, little by little, pieces at a time and I think I’d like to keep them all together in a journal.
Thank you for this encouragement and please pray for me, my husband for us.
Blessings,
Karen g
Renee, I love how u pray scripture. I just ordered your book & I can’t wait to get it. God bless you!!
Hi friends,
I’ve wanted to post here all day but I am actually sitting at the hospital with my mom after a simple procedure this morning to remove a kidney stone turned into a big deal.
But God… He knew. And He time it perfectly that it would all happen on a day when I had a Proverbs 31 Ministries devotion about praying God’s word and a video message I recorded for you about giving our cares to Him.
I was reminded of these truths all day. And as I prayed God promises and kept giving my cares to Him, He did take care of me.
Mom is now resting and the extreme pain the Drs couldn’t get under control seems to be responding much better to the pain meds tonight. She had a kidney stone removed but the wire that was used to scope her kidney also tore a place in her ureter and they think that urine may have leaked into the area around her kidney and cause severe problems. We’re praying that tear heals quickly and that no surgery is needed – no infections are caused and that her recovery goes back to what she had last time {which was simple, fast and almost pain-free}.
She’s such a trooper and it was so hard to see her in such agonizing pain. But tonight she is resting and quiet and I am so grateful to be by her side. And to have this minute to stop by and connect with you.
Praying we’ll get to head home tomorrow. Im reading your stories and praying for each of you. And we’d treasure your prayers for mom too. 🙂
Renee, praying for your mom and asking Gods healing upon her that she will be free of pain, and will heal quickly, and praying that He will give you strength and find rest in His loving arms. I love that you say your mom is a trooper…..I had just sent my sister a text telling her that our mom is a trooper… I give thanks to God that you are able to be with her, and thank you for finding time to touch base with us…God bless you all
Renee, praying for your dear Mom this morning that all will be well and that she is free of pain! She sounds a lot like my mom, too! Strong but gentle! I can’t count the times over the last two years that I have waited by my sweet Mama’s hospital bedside awaiting news of some procedure or test….however, I have never failed to feel the precious Holy Spirit encouraging me and removing all fear. My the Lord bless you and your entire family the same way this very day!
Hi Renee praying for your momand the whole family. Hope you get to go home soon. In Christ Love
Praying for your mom and all of you. Kidney stones are rough surgery even without the complcations!
1 Peter 5:7 is just the verse I am in need of! Just this week, I’ve learned that there will be big changes coming to my workplace in regards to compensation, benefits, and other policies & procedures. I have been reading through the new manuals that I received with a try-not-to-worry-heart. I have been praying to the Lord to take away my worries, and to help keep me keep a sound mind. He has reminded me of the statistics I read in chapter 9 that 12 percent of our worries are about opinions of others that cannot be controlled. In my situation, I am unable to control the changes that are to come. All I can do it trust in Jesus that the changes will only benefit me, and not burned me. Sufficient onto today, is my Lord!
How refreshing to read the excerpt from your book. A dear friend and I were just sharing how The Lord has taught us that nothing short of His Word brings true healing, hope, and power to walk in His ways amidst the daily as well as momentous struggles that we face. Thank you for compiling a book that weaves the power and authority of His Word into the application of walking with and in Him!! I can think of several people for whom I will share your book.
Praying scripture is very powerful and I have tried to continuously use this method in my prayer life. Thank you for the reminder and your encouraging words.
Since Dec. my family has been going through some very rough times, My oldest son had to go to rehab my youngest son is in the military and couldn’t be here for his brother. I have cried and worried until I was absolutely exhausted, so I have a crystal cross that my oldest son gave me one year for christmas…well I wrote down my concerns and left them at the cross, it has helped me so much, I still worry because I’m Mom but at least now I can breath because I left those worries with God.
It’s a great idea to write down our concerns and “give” them to God. A mother’s heart is always with her children, just remember that they are God’s children too. He’ll take care of them always, and you too. May you find peace in Him today.
Thank you, Julie! I appreciate your kind words of encouragement and I will be praying for you, as well! May the Lord bless you!
Thank you, Renee, for the truly God inspired word today on worrying and becoming weary. For the last couple of years or so I have been trying to live through similar experiences you shared in your video today. My precious Mama and I live together and have done so since my father was killed while working at his job 19 years ago. She is an awesome woman of God and she’s my best friend. We have struggled financially, but the Lord always provides. However, over the last 3 years she has been challenged by unbelievable health issues. I am the youngest of five children, but my siblings do not wish to share in her daily care or even call her. Four of them haven’t spoken to her for the past year and they live in the same town as we do. Plus, I have been dealing with a broken engagement by a man I truly loved. In the process, I lost almost 30 pounds and became very weak and anemic. Thanks be to God…He has healed me and my mom, but there have been days of late that I thought all the pressures would crush me…even asking The Lord to take me home to Him. I still have a hearts desire to marry a truly Godly man and have children. Not to be rescued but to be my helpmate and to be his. I’ve waited for him so many years and am trying to not give up! Also, thank you for the story about taking your dog’s meds…I have almost done the same thing when I was stressed and multitasking! Please pray for my mom, Katherine, and me. We are still dealing with some pretty heavy issues,regarding finances and trying to keep our home… I trust in the Lord that He already has this worked out for His glory! Love, Cynthia Renee
Thank you for sharing these very difficult struggles. Sometimes, problems arise all at once and everything feels so overwhelming. But God is good and He doesn’t give us more than we can handle, though He may push us to the end of ourselves so we will depend on Him. May He continue to heal you and provide for you, dear sister. You’re in my prayers!
Julie, oops! Think I replied in the wrong section! Thank you for your prayers and encouragement… I will be praying for you, too! Cynthia
Wonderful study teaching me yet again to cast my cares on Him. Sometimes as a single mom life gets very dificult and the enemy keeps whispering in my head, I am so glad that I have learned to turn to my Bible and keep claiming God’s promises for our life.
Thank you for your encouraging words. I too often feel inadequate when praying and then I am reminded that God knows all my thoughts and He understands whether I have the right words or not. I continue growing in my prayer life for which I am thankful and being a prayer warrior is one way I can help others when I am mainly confined to home as a caregiver.
I’ve always struggled with prayer! I always feel inadequate or not smart enough. I’ve learned a lot through life recently that my thoughts are powerful and the Lord know heart regardless of my words.
I’ve struggled with prayer too Jessica. I had always talked to God like he was sitting in the room with me having a coffee. But it became a struggle while at bible college when a tutor told me I couldn’t pray that way as it was disrespecting the power of who God is. From that moment I felt inadequate and didn’t pray aloud for nearly 20 years. But even now I sometimes have to force myself out of fear mode of what others think and just pray my way. Our relationships with God are all different and because of that we need to speak to him as we normally would no matter what others think. You are not inadequate, your relationship with God is just that ‘your relationship’ You pray how you want to. We don’t need big smart words God knows our hearts. Anyways in Matthew 6:7 he tells us not to babble!
I am now going through this study with my girls. It is the second time for me and I love how it continues to minister to my heart. It’s been wonderful to read this together with my daughters. We are all growing and enjoying it so much. Thank you!
As I lay my head on my pillow after what seemed to be an endless day and actually became the next day, I am going to heed your advice and counsel and cast the days’ cares to Jesus… I will leave them at the foot of the cross and trust Him to take any worries and/or anxieties and fill their empty vacancies with His peace and love…
AMEN, Miss Mary! when i find myself worrying, i have to pause and admit that what i’m really saying is: i don’t trust you, God. i don’t believe you are who you say you are. i don’t believe your Word, and i’m not going to live it.
since i’ve chosen to trust God, and i DO believe His Word, that puts an end to my worrying 🙂
thank you for this…I needed to hear some truths about my worrying lately. I do trust and I do believe!