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Renee Swope

Encouraging and equipping moms to parent with God's grace and confidence.

Read An Excerpt: Chapter 1 & 2

Telling Ourselves the Truth (+ 2 Give-Aways)

Welcome to my eastern NC HIS Radio friends stopping by after hearing me talk with Briney this afternoon during “drive-time.” I’m so excited to have you join me here today! I’ve got a special guest I want you to meet, and some R3 Event tickets to give away, too.

As I write this, I’m picturing smiles stretching across your faces when you meet my sweet and amazing friend Jennifer Rothschild. Jennifer is a wife, mom, national speaker, founder of WomensMinistry.net and author of several books, including “Self-talk, Soul-talk: What to Say When You Talk to Yourself“ as well as “Me, Myself and Lies Bible Study.“

She’s also one of my favorite people, and I was so happy we got to have breakfast together this week while she was in Charlotte for a video shoot. I knew she’d have something special to share about the power of our words, so I grabbed my flip video camera on the way out the door. Turn up your volume, click on the arrow and join us for some girl-talk:

Jennifer’s points really are worth remembering, and obviously I need to write them down. So, here is what she encouraged us to do with the not-so-encouraging words we speak to ourselves.
  • Recognize – Recognize if your self-talk matches up with God’s thoughts.
  • Refuse – Refuse any self-talk that is not consistent with God’s words.
  • Re-phrase – Re-phrase negative thoughts to align with scripture. Tell yourself the TRUTH, and nothing but God’s truth!
When we take these 3 steps, God begins to erase the negative self-talk and lies we tell ourselves.Speaking of erasers, Jennifer needed one. That morning she bent over to get something and hit her eye on the edge of the desk. {Cringe} She had a video shoot for E-women at 1pm and a lovely black eye. So, I whipped out what I call my “magic eraser” makeup and covered it up. Look. You cannot even see the deep dark purple mark under her eye.

And it did a nice job on my dark circles, too. [The after-effect of my 2yr old waking up at 3am that morning.] So, what is my “magic eraser”? It’s Maybelline, and only costs $7.99! Now, here’s your chance win some, along with more fun stuff. I’ve got 2 give-aways!

“(R3) Refresh, Renew & Recharge Gift Pak” (1 winner)
2 tickets to my R3 women’s event in Williamston, NC Feb 19th
(must be able to attend event to win this gift pak)
Rest Assured message on CD by Renee Swope

To enter, click on the word “comments” right below this post and write in the white box.

  1. What “not-so-encouraging” things do you sometimes think or say to yourself? What’s a verse you can use to re-phrase that thought, if you know one? I know this is a vulnerable topic, but I hope you’ll go there with me. The first step is recognizing and naming the lies.
  2. If you are able to attend my event Feb 19th in Williamston, NC, let me know and you’ll be part of the 2nd give-away, too.
  3. Share a link to this post and all that Jennifer shared with us – via email, Facebook, Twitter or your blog. Then leave another comment letting me know, and you’ll double your entries!

On Friday night Monday(I decided to extend it through the weekend) I’ll post the winners and several of God’s promises to help you tell yourself the TRUTH. {PLEASE subscribe for email updates in my sidebar to receive your promises, and to be notified if you win.To just be notified of winning, you can leave your email in your comment.}

Comments

  1. What a message! I find myself believing the lies Satan whispers in my ear. I am a daughter of the King of Kings but sometimes forget that fact! Thank you again for this reminder that I can choose to believe that Christ walks with me to help me moment by moment. If I won giveaway I'd share with my friend Nancy who also has a hard time believing she should live the good life with self esteem.

  2. Negative internal dialogue is what I am an expert at. I can go from being a poor person…bad mom…bad wife…bad financial planner for our family etc you name it…I wish I could shut it off but it is a daily struggle for me. I have to say I believe it stems from childhood bullying that caused me to think I am not worth anything. I have learned to at least identify that I am doing it…but to fix it is a daily battle. I try to raise my children…all 7 of them…with constant praise and building their esteem because I never want them to grow up like I have. Thanks for the chance for this give away. Pampering the soul is always a blessing!! I have turned a lot of my "issues" over to God in the last 6 months!! Love your blog!! It is a ray of sunshine in my sometimes gloomy mind-set!!

  4. I shared a link to this page via facebook.

    The books by Jennifer sound amazing.. esp the one about the me,myself and lies bible study… I could use that one….

  5. I am not a great self-encourager
    Very critical of myself sometimes

    The verse about not setting our minds on things above and not on earthly things…….

    ** Unfortunately NH and NC are a distance away .. maybe someday I will get to hear you again…..

  6. I sometimes think/say that I'm not "enough" in whatever I'm doing. Although I am certainly not going to get anywhere in my own strength, I am fully capable of doing all things through Christ who strengthens me!

    Prayers and blessings,
    Rebecca
    [email protected]

  7. I just posted the video on my blog because it is a perfect follow up to my story.

    Beautiful and Glorious! The transforming power of God and His Live-Giving, Freeing Truth!!

  8. Loved this blog. Its so true the lies that we allow the evil one to put in our heads. Often my biggest lie to fight is, "what if they get mad or upset at me" I often don't take risks because of fear of conflict. God is teaching me that I have him on my side always! He is for me and not against me!

    [email protected]

  9. Our Ladies Bible Study group has done several of Jennifer's studies and she is wonderful and so encouraging. I am guilty of being very negative on myself as a mother, wife, homemaker. Cooking and Cleaning are not my favorite activities:( I know the Bible instructs me in Prov 31 to be a godly woman and I do strive to grow more into that woman each day. Thanks for sharing all your encouragement!!!

  10. Renee, what wonderful words to remember, Recognize, Refuse, and
    Re-phrase! We all have faults and luckly I've never been a victum of verbal abuse, but I know of women that have and convincing them that those words that have been spoken to them are not true is very difficult. I plan to share this (from your link to mine) on Facebook and hopefully other will be touched by this video and your wonderful Blog! Hugs to you and thank you!

  11. I am never going to be loved no matter how hard i try i only feel lost. i try to build up other people but i just can't do the same for me. If i find a good friend i end up either loosing them or driving them away it's just so hard.
    i don't have a verse that speaks to me and i just keep wondering how is this gods plan and what does he want me to learn from it?

  13. I so enjoyed this! My not so encouraging words usually return to the comfort of what I thought of myself as a child. Mainly, worthless is my favorite go to bad feeling word. Lots of lies are whispered into my mind and heart daily. It takes constant practice to keep then on track and in check. Jeremiah 29:11 and Gal 5:1 are the two verses I use most often to combat it.

    My birthday is the 18th and while I'd love to see you in NC on the 19th, that is not possible. I am in Oregon but also going on a lovely womens retreat at the beach and I am soooo excited! Alone time to write, while looking out at the ocean, while laughing and loving on close Jesus girls!

    Blessings,
    Mel
    Please feel free to stop by: Trailing After God

  14. Wow…what do I say most often to myself? That I am 'just Carla", not anyone special or important.

    I know in my head who is behind those lies. And I am claiming the TRUTH for myself [and for my children]:
    I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)
    The king is enthralled by my beauty (Psalm 45:11)
    God so loved me, that he gave his only Son…(John 3:16)

  15. I'm my own worst critic every single day. I'm always telling myself things like I'm not pretty enough, smart enough, sucessful enough. I'm also telling myself things like I don't have real friends because they don't come to me first — I feel like I'm always chasing them to spend time. I grew up with a very negative image of myself and it still haunts me to this day.
    I've done Jennifers Me, Myself, and Lies bible study with a small group and it was just fabulous! I absolutely love her! I haven't read her book and would love too. Wish I lived closer to NC to come see you, but that's not going to work for me.

    Stephanie
    [email protected]

  16. Poor self-talk is nothing new for me, unfortunately. But, with God's great grace and through working with preschoolers, I'm learning to combat the negativity with God's Word. I am reminded that "I am fearfully and wonderfully made" and that God will "rejoice over me with singing". Imagine if our preschoolers could all start with really believing these promises, and more!

    I've shared your blog on my FB profile.

    Looking forward to reading more of your thoughts on this topic,
    [email protected]

  17. I just bought Self Talk, Soul Talk today!!! I can't wait to dig in!! As I've shared how ugly I talk to myself, several friend have recommended it. I say things to myself I would never say to or about anyone else. Ever. My mama would wash my mouth out with soap if she knew!!

    I'm starting to realize my biggest problem isn't that I don't believe God is who He says He is but it's that I don't believe who He says I am.

    Thanks and big hugs!! xoxoxoxo

  19. Thank you so much for sharing this. I struggle with it so much…I am going to repost now on my facebook and memorize those 3 R's 🙂 I am excited to look into some of her books too!

  20. Hi Renee — I am entering the contest to hear you speak in Williamston, NC, on behalf of my sister (who lives in Greenville, NC). She would LOVE hearing you.

    Angela Wilson

  21. I'm always saying things to myself, like how can my husband really love me. I am so fat, nagging, etc. Lately, I've been tryin to tell myself that God loves me no matter what and to focus on all the love and attention my husband gives me instead of focusing on the "what ifs". thank you for the giveaways and chance to win.

    [email protected]

  22. Tried to leave a comment earlier and google wouldn't take it..so will try now.

    Thanks for the great post. I'm sure your words and Jennifer's words have encouraged a great number of people.

    My main issue is trusting Him for provision for the future. My husband is self employed so our money has never been truly consistent and the last few years, it's been spotty…yet I can trace the hand of God and He has never let me want for anything and I have an overabundance compared to some. When the fear hits, I think back to specific times He has provided at just the right time and how He has always protected and provided for me all of my life.

    It breaks my heart to read of so many young people who are being led astray by the evil one in to thinking that they are less than what they are. Jennifer's books should go a long way in helping with that. His Word never fails. Thanks for giving it out…Blessings on your ministry.

    I live out of your state, so can not come to the conference. Thanks for doing this…

    Mary Lou
    dlowran1(at)comcast(dot)net

  23. When I 'mis-fire' in an activity, my self-talk says something to the effect of 'that was a really stupid thing to do, you dummy'. I need to work on letting my words minister grace to myself as well! (Eph. 4:29)

  24. Thanks for this post! I am doing a study now on what a great impact our words have on others! This is so great! There is so much power in words. We need to use them carefully, even with ourselves.