Chosen…I love that word. I don’t know a heart that doesn’t long to be chosen?
Yet the disappointments of life and the deep pain of broken relationships can cause us to forget that we are – chosen, loved, and sought after.
“You are a chosen [woman], a royal priesthood, a holy [daughter], a [woman] belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of HIM who has called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9, NIV
Yet, broken hearts and broken circumstances can make us doubt we are valuable, that our future relationships can be healthy, or that anyone would ever want us. Without even realizing it, we begin to see ourselves as disposable. Easily replaced. Not good enough.
As I shared in Chapter 6, this happened to me after my fiance broke our engagement – twice.
I had always believed I wasn’t good enough and now I had proof.
But God…used it to show me a deep place in my soul that would only be complete when I realized that in His eyes, I was just right. Forever loves and chosen.
“It wasn’t until He was all I had that I realized He was all I needed (really needed). Recovering from the heartbreak of being unwanted and rejected, I started to discover my identity and permanent value in who I was in Christ for the first time. The promise of God’s nearness and the fact that He chose me as His own was the only assurance I could hold on to.” (Chapter 6)
{I have a song that I know without a doubt God picked for me to share with you…and then He led me to this version of the music video. How do I know? Because there are photos in it that I’ve used in different ways over the years, but I didn’t know they were in this video until I watched it. Please take time to listen and let your heart respond to these truths – let this words remind your heart that you are secure, significant and accepted. You are CHOSEN and your heart is spoken for.
Oh sweet friends, I pray you would let these words soak deep into your heart. Watch it again and again until your soul knows it’s true!!
***
Today’s Giveaway: Click here for my Chapter 6 – AM/FM Thoughts Download to print and post, and also share with a friend!
And the winners are:
- Last week’s randomly yet prayerfully selected winner of my “Living Loved” give-away is… Rita Walters.
- This week’s winners randomly and prayerfully chosen from over 885 of you who participated in ACH Online Study roll call are:
- Kimmie – who will receive a year’s subscription to the P31 Woman magazine
- Stephanie – who will receive an exclusive P31 radio CD with 40 0f our favorite shows
- Kathy – who will receive a $10 gift card to Target or Starbucks {you choose!}
PS> I know it’s disappointing to not win, and I think it might be as disappointing for me to not to be able to choose every single one of you!! That is why I take forever choosing a winner. But I also know you’ll be thrilled for each other ’cause that’s just the kind of women you are. I love that about you {and I”m telling you – Iam seriously enjoying reading our roll call!! It’s so amazing to see where we are all from. In fact, I’m compiling a list to share with you all next week :-).
Time to Connect: Ok, let’s all share our answer to #7 in the questions at end of Chapter 6. And any others you feel comfortable sharing, too. {I now know you all know how to leave a comment 🙂 – after 885+ of you participated in our “roll call” here! What a blast I’m having reading all of them!!}
Click “share your thoughts” right below this post and do just that. I’ll be here reading and praying and commenting too. LOVE you guys!!!
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I feel as if I struggle with AM thoughts almost every minute of every day. I never believed anyone could understand what I go through, but In reading I see, I am not alone.
My heart is spoken for – I repeated it many times, I needed to not only understand it, but believe it – in my heart – my spoken for heart. It’s amazing to me, to think of the love God has – for us – for me… Me? What wondrous love is this indeed.
I smiled so big at the part of the song -“to hear you say this ones mine”. Because truly we are His. I need to remember this when those AM thoughts come to assault me. Ive never felt cared for the way I am to understand that God cares for me – never. It seems to take some time to get used to -oh but to know that this love is available to me. Dont wake me if Im dreaming.
Renee, thank you for sharing the video and for allowing God to bless my life and many others through this bible study. We haven been chosen by God before the foundation of the world and our hearts have been spoken for, what an awesome revelation, Chapter 6 has shown me so many things about myself and about others, doubting God’s promises makes it hard to trust His heart. (I have some trust issues) That’s why we need to recognize satan’s lies and refute his temptations and rely on God’s word. Compariing our selves with others is foolish and will always leave us feeling like we’re lacking something. (2 Corth 10:12) We must change the way we talk to ourselves and only speak what God says about us, sadly we often believe satan’s lies and live like they are true. No longer will this be true for me and all the other women in this bible study because the enemy has been exposed and kicked out forever !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let God Be True .
I am So Amazed how much we are loved by the Lord.
My AM thought is that I cannot really hear the voice of God, that it’s just my own thoughts. I struggle with this when I feel God telling me something that is my desire. I don’t really have a problem when it comes to Him telling me to do something or that I shouldn’t do it. I’ve been praying and waiting for a certain thing in my life for 2 years now, but when I feel Him telling me to keep trusting him, wait for him, put my hope in him, he is working I’m plagued with the thoughts that I’m missing what he really wants for me by waiting for what I want.
John 10:27 The sheep that are My own HEAR and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow me.
AM I will never change – PM Philippians 4:13
AM I am incapable of sustaining disciplines such as quiet time, Bible reading PM Romans 8:31-39
The song is so beautiful! Thank You for sharing. I just happen to know another person who I am also going to share this song with who I think it will also be a blessing to. As I think back on the last few weeks and our little Bible study, my mind was so filled with doubt at the beginning of this and very little confidence in myself unless someone was cheering me on and giving me confidence as I went. I have grown from that point and yes, I am learning to fall forward and trust God. I simply began by writting down verses that spoke to my heart through this Bible study and also through reading. I have carried them with me and when those feelings of doubt would sneak in I would pull them from mind or from my piece of paper and stand on His promises for me. Satan comes in so quiet and so sneaky that we begin to doubt ourselves sometimes before we even really think about it. So now I just ask myself is this the peace of God or the confusion of the devil and pull out my verse such as my grace is sufficient for thee or all things are possible to him who believes. But most of all I look at myself as who I am in Christ and that I am His child and a child of the King. I still have a long ways to go but, oh my, have I grown.
My am thought at this point in my life is doubt coming against me saying I can’t do something because it’s too hard. 18 months ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer and as I was dealing with that the position I was in at work was eliminated and I was asked to take on a role that I knew I couldn’t do and felt God didn’t want me to do so they laid me off after 26 years. I have had to adjust to living with my disease and learning a new job (which God provided). But I will cling to the truth that God is for me! He says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me and He will restore health to me and heal me of my wounds, says the LORD. ( Phil 4:14, Jere 30:17)
Thank you for the words of encouragement. Through all of this, here you are standing on His promises and setting an example to all of us. I am praying for you Linda. How God puts new direction into our lives and He has new things in store for you. We may not understand it all right now but we will one day. I too stand on that verse often: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Your sister in Christ, Linda
Renee the one am thought is that I am weak and all alone,from the time that I was a small child and even some time’s even now I fill alone but with God’s grace he is letting me know that he is alway’s with me even when I fill alone,because even when I am around people I can still fill alone but the more that I study God’s word and pray that God will help me with this I know that God is with me and will never leave me nor forsake me. Duet. 31:6 so that is fm that I will replace am with!
AM-I am not smart enough to do anything that is worth anything. FM- Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strenthens me.
Am-I cannot share my struggles or experiences with others because I am too shy to speak out and fear if I do it will not come out right. FM-2 Timothy1:7 “I have been given a spirit of power, love and a sound mind.”
Sherri B
I have also had the same filling’s like that too your not alone!God bless you! It’s like you took the word’s right out of my mouth.
first to question 1-3 which thursday said respond to.thereas struggle in with thinking im not good enough is looks ive always had doubt about being pretty enough never thought i was good enough no matter what i did. to #2 ive been lied to cheated on left 3 times in 9 years by my ex so he could go play the last time was at 9;30 at night and we had been doing fine for a few months.#3 who am i in christ 3 that stand out are i have direct access to the throne ,i have been brought with a price and belong to god,i am a child of god he loves me no matter what i do or look like if i mess up and say im sorry and try hard not to repeat the mistake he will forgive. #7 i have answered the usell im not pretty or good enough
Here is a verse that I pray will help you Marie, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9) Hang onto that promise for He is preparing good things for you and not evil. Keep trusting Christ because He Loves You!
My am is myself i am torn between two jobs one pays more and causes me grief the other pays alot less but would make me happy( i dont have it yet) my fm is with out a doubt the lord! He is always there when i need him, thru a song with just the right words or a phone call from just the right person
Hi Renee,
Thank you so much for the song. It was so beautiful and encouraging. The words and the pictures.. I love how you said, “to remind our hearts that we are secure, significant and accepted.” I have not finished chapter 6 yet, haven’t touched the questions, but I really relate to the chapter so far. I have said, “What’s wrong with me?” many times to myself and brought back memories of one significant time, when I even questioned what God thought of me. How awesome to be reading this book and see exactly what God thinks of me. God is so amazing how He could bring this study into my life at just the perfect time.
By the way, thank you Renee and to everyone who prayed for my family last week.
Wow, Just got to read the post and to listen to song. That was great it made me cry.I don’t know what else to say but wow. Thank you for posting it. God Bless you for all that you do.
Thank you, Renee for the beautiful video! An AM thought I have struggled with is “I am too shy to do…” and I am replacing it with “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil 4:13 I must share that I have felt the heaviness lift off my chest since I have been doing “A Confident Heart”. There is joy in my heart. Praise God! It is a minute by minute journey to turn my thoughts to God’s promises as He begins to transform me from the inside out. His promises are healing balm. I also praise God for the work He is doing in and through you Renee in reaching so many many ladies who are struggling.
Sharon,
Your words are very encouraging. I can relate to what you wrote. Thank you for writing.
Thank you V for your kind words. I know how to pray for you!
My life has been plagued with depression, dispair, rejection, abandonment, hopelessness and feeling unloved and unworthy. I have been a christian for over 30 yrs. and still have a hard time believing God’s words and promises. I can believe them for somebody else but not me. This study is helping me to put God’s word into my life. I love the concept of the AM vs. FM ~ which one am I going to tune into more? I am finding when I start personalizing God’s word by inserting my name and say it out loud it has a stronger affect within me-so I am now trying to do this more when I read HIS words about me. One of these days and hopefully soon it will ring true for me where I won’t hear the “AM” station anymore where there will be no more signal to pick up. I will only get the “FM” station coming in and no more static.
1. (AM) I am not loved or wanted. (FM) Before I was formed in the womb {Cindy} I knew you. Before you were born {Cindy} I set you apart. Jer. 1:5
{Cindy}, I will never leave you or forsake you. {Cindy} you are mine, I have adopted you into my family. You are the King’s Daughter. Eph. 1:4-5
2. (AM) I’m not good enough, I am a failure. .(FM) {Cindy} you are fearfully and wonderfully made; all His works are wonderful and {Cindy} you are one of them. Ps. 139:14
3. (AM) I will never change, how can God use me I am hopeless. I will never measure up to anything (FM) {Cindy} I have a hope and future for you, plans to proser you {Cindy} and not to harm you {Cindy}.. See {Cindy} I am doing a new thing in your life. {Cindy}, do not look to the past , forget the former things. I am taking you {Cindy} out of the dessert and am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
my life also has been fullof hurt people leaving and lieing im going thou it now and i try hard to remember god/jesus loves me and is there will never give you more then you can handle but i also end up saying why me alot why cant i have some good luck.
My AM thought recently has been that I’m not acceptable or good enough. I am a single 41 year old woman who actually has never once even been on a date because the world cannot see past the outside. According to the world there are visible things about me that are not acceptable. I know that my experience has been very different from most and it makes me think there is something wrong with me. I know that God made me with a plan and purpose and that people who judge and jump to conclusions based on what they see don’t know the real me.
Jennifer,
Thank you so much for sharing. Although my story is different, in ways I do relate. I have thought before that something is wrong with me, but as you wrote, God does have a plan and purpose for each of us, we are perfectly created by Him, our creator.
One AM thought that I have had before in the past is, who cares what I want? I have felt rejected many times in my life but, this was actually said to me by a loved one recently. I know that without the confidence I am gaining from this study I really would have been very hurt. Instead I recognized it immediately as being from the enemy and I have replaced it with FM thoughts – 1 John 5:18 I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me. Romans 8:28 I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
I did not respond in any way to the person who made the remark only to forgive them in my spirit and know that I have the Word Of God in my heart and mind and for that I am thankful. I thank you Renee for sharing the wisdom that God has given you to help people like me to live knowing we can trust in Christ to be all we need. For He cares for me! “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit”. Psalm 34:18 I Praise Him!
I know doubting the Lord, His work, His ways are not smart. Trust (confidence) is where it is at. Sometimes it is VERY difficult for me to do it. I plan to watch the video (song) over and over. Thank you!
Thank you soo much for the encouragement ..i am very broken from past and present hurts ..sometimes its all i can do to just breathe..i am thankful for the Lord in my life..
Jolene,
I felt this way after my first husband died. We were only married a little over a year and it really was taking life moment by moment, to just breathe. I will pray for you.
I just can’t stop crying…
His love is SO AMAZING…
humbled I am..to be His.