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.
$40 in Confident Heart Resources {FREE}!! When You Purchase A Confident Heart this month, you can receive over $40 in FREE RESOURCES and EXCLUSIVE downloads.
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. 🙂
Discover more from Renee Swope
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
This Devotion for today, ” Praying with Confidence”, really blessed me, thank you! I am going through some obstacles in my life, and handing over all the issues to God. I would love to read your book. I am very curious to read it now. Especially Chapter 9. Thank you for sharing this Devo today!
Hello to all,
I started receiving daily devotionals from Proverbs 31 ministries (and I love them) and this is how I came across Renee’s wonderful website, just today. And, after reading a lot of thoughts shared today, I said some prayers for everybody. I wanted to leave a couple of Bible verses (there are so many verses that are my favorites) that have helped me get through some trying times when life and everything around me was just so heavy, and I hope these two are a help for anyone else that may read them.
Fear though not for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee; yea I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10
But those that hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31
Take care to all.
Thank you Renee for all the wonderful things in your website. 🙂
Thanks for that verse from Isaiah 40 Karen, I really needed tohear that right now.
Dearest Babs,
You are very welcome. 🙂
Praying God’s promises back to him is an awesome idea!
I have had problems with my mind wandering to my to do list or other things and not remaining focused on what I want to pray about. For several years now I have kept a journal. I feel like I am talking to God when I write in it, and for me writing allows me to remain focused. I love your prayer from the end of chapter 9 in your post!! I am copying it into my journal.
I really like the idea of writing down my burdens on an index card and laying them before a literal cross. I am going to begin doing this. I am also very excited about the husband prayer! Thank you so much.
This post is so timely, especially with the onset of graduation. Looking at how you used scripture in your prayer really helped me as I found myself doing the same thing this morning. I know God has the rest of my day planned out how He wants it which is infinitely more important and gives me much more peace than my tendency to micromanage every hour, which leads to overwhelming stress when I can’t/don’t get it all done. I think I’m learning to pray for Jesus to make my schedule every day instead. I’m excited to read this book, and I’m pretty sure I already know that God’s going to use it in amazing ways!
I find what I need for the day reading your site. God is good & I feel very blessed. Thank you.
Thank you Renee for this book, and especially this chapter so far. I am going to try with all my being to “push the pause button” and take my worries to Jesus. This is comforting to finally know. I like many women I am sure, have too much on my plate. Loss of my mother, worried about my father, my poor dog is ill, our finances are stretched to the very limit, I am the only believer (so far) in my home, etc. etc.. I am going to take the time to really try to “listen” to Him and hopefully “hear” Him. It is good to know finally, that I do matter and that I am not alone ever for He is with me. Thank you again so much! God bless to you and all these women that are writing on here.
Oh thank you, Renee, for your P31 devotion today. I saw myself as soon as I started reading. I have avoided praying at times because I thought my answer was best. I also tended to try to control and manipulate others and I slip into that thought pattern without realizing it. You reminded me today that prayer is not about getting the results I want; it is sweet time spent in Daddy’s lap, growing closer to Him. I miss that. I will return to reading and praying His word and listening for His tender voice.
My pastor is doing a sermon series on praying the scriptures. I have struggled with prayer and really appreciate your thoughts and encouragement.
I praise God for his word, this is a word that I need to keep in my heart and know that God is in our side with our children while Daddy is the foreign country. Instead of worrying, I need to start praying more and believe that God is working. I needed this revelation in my heart.
Wonderful study…each chapter is so applicable to my life. I’m excited to use some ideas from chap 9 for my daughter as well as myself. Thank you! Have you considered publishing your video clips as part of your book study for those interested in doing this again or with a bible study group?
Confession I’m a big time worrier. I pray for others, and know God will answer, but I sometimes struggle with the lie that my burdens are not important to God. The key to greater freedom for me through this book has been that God cares about me, and I can trust his heart toward me!
I am working on my prayer life right now because honestly it is lacking! I want to learn how to pray God’s word back to Him. Thank you for sharing this today Renee!
After coming across your blog and reading your encouraging words, I can not wait to get my hands on your book!
thank you so much for the encouragement to bring our worries, concerns, and desires to Jesus with the confidence we are promised in His Word. too often I have allowed the enemy to let me feel defeated both in my knowledge of the Word as well as my consistency in prayer. thanks for the encouraging tone of this post, with no condemnation or guilt. blessings!
I absolutely loved the idea of laying our concerns (on a card of which I’ve bought many for my kids in school and don’t know what to do with) on God. I usually lay awake after everyone has gone to sleep and keep a sticky pad by my bed where I’ll write all my worries so I can rest!
My husband was given a cross recently that said “When He was on the cross, you were on His mind”. He put that cross on his dresser where he keeps all of his other “residue of the day” junk, like his watch, business cards, mail, a deck of cards that I converted to a 52 reasons why I love you deck – anyway…as I was dusting a couple of nights ago I thought “Jesus, you look cluttered there with all the other stuff” and I put the cross on my dresser where it’s clean and clear of clutter. It’s funny too because lately, I’ve been feeling that I’ve had stuff keeping me from His Truth with my worry. Now, I can just marry the two actions and put my anxieties and fears that keep me up at night and lay them on the cross. The visual and physical act will be VERY powerful for me so thank you.
Thank you for this!! I am feeling so overwhelmed right now with so many things going on. I keep telling myself this is just a season not a destination for my family and that God has a plan for us. I’m struggling with completely letting go and just trusting and waiting. I know what I need to do but I struggle with it. I love your advice on writting my concerns, fears, whatever it may be down and giving them to Jesus and leaving them there.Thank you for your pearls of wisdome and helping so many of us!!!
Sis Renee I thank God for you. I too can identify with that same situation but I thank God for the Word prayer. I will continue to use it and even make my own word prayer. It is important. Continue to pray for and with us. Victory is already ours!!! It is just for us to receive it. Sisters, we are in this thing together and we win!!!.
I too struggle with prayer and what to say. I have had stuff piling up on me lately. The place I work is closing, my little sister is lost in drug addiction and I’m afraid that she’s dying, my husband isn’t walking with the Lord, ect. so, some days all I can say is “Lord, you know what’s on my heart, please help.” Most of the time I feel a sense of peace and know He’s at work, but there are time I really struggle. I will try hard to put my worries at His feet and leave them there.
Thank you for this devotion and video today Renee, I really needed it!!!
Huge prayers for your sister and for you. My 16 year old sister went through the same thing so i know what you’re feeling. Our God redeems & restores. Jesus we pray for Lauras sisters’ complete recovery and your hedge of protection around her and peace for dear Laura. Thank you Lord for hearing us. Amen.