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Baker Publishing Group - Renee Swope

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102 pages

English

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Often the biggest obstacle to living out our faith is our own doubt--about our worth, our abilities, our relationship with God, and situations in our lives. A Confident Heart gives voice to the questions, doubts, struggles, and hopes so many women have. Author Renee Swope shows women how to identify, overcome, and even use doubt in order to live confidently in God's power, truth, and grace. Perfect for women's small groups or individuals, A Confident Heart is an authentic, insight-filled and encouraging message for any woman who wants to exchange destructive thought patterns with biblical truth that will transform the way she thinks, feels, and lives.

Informations

Publié par	Baker Publishing Group
Date de parution	01 août 2011
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781441214270
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0360€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

© 2011 by Renee Swope
Published by Revell
a division of Baker Publishing Group
P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.revellbooks.com
Ebook edition created 2011
Ebook corrections 7.19.2012, 10.10.2014, 06.09.2021
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4412-1427-0
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2010 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
Scripture quotations marked AMP are from the Amplified® Bible, copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked GW are from God’s Word ®. © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked Message are from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked NASB are from the New American Standard Bible®, copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.lockman.org
Scripture quotations marked NLT are from the Holy Bible , New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Published in association with the literary agency Fedd & Company, Inc., 606 Flamingo Blvd., Austin, TX 78734.
What Readers Are Saying
“ A Confident Heart showed me how much self-doubt affects every area of my life. This book encouraged me, equipped me, and changed me. Honestly, I think everyone should read it!”—Jill B., Iowa
“Rich with the truth of God’s love, compassion, patience, and never-ending supply of power, this book moved me from looking at my past with sorrow to living my future rooted and grounded in the confidence of Christ.” —Danielle J., North Carolina
“Through A Confident Heart Renee reminded me that I may fail God, but He will never fail me. I love the Scriptures woven into prayers at the end of each chapter. They hold such a wealth of truth! I will continue to use them as daily prayers.”—Joy B., Ontario
“ A Confident Heart gave me courage and clarification to believe in my calling. I now see beauty in my brokenness—something I saw only in everyone else. God used this message to help me to see myself as beautiful in a way I never had before.”—Cris N., California
“I practically highlighted whole chapters. Renee helped me see how ‘the God of all hope is calling me out of the shadow of my doubts so I can live with a confident heart!’”—Melinda T., Oregon
“ A Confident Heart moved me from believing what God says about me to receiving it and living in it. One thing Renee taught me is how to ‘fail forward’ by learning from my mistakes and leaving them behind for good—along with my guilt, shame, and worry!”—Lisa S., Texas
“Renee helped me see that ‘salvation is a one-time decision, but finding satisfaction in Christ and living in the security of His promises is a daily process.’ I will read A Confident Heart over and over to keep it fresh in my heart and mind.”—Margaret S., North Carolina
“Renee showed me how ‘I can find lasting satisfaction when I continually drink from the source of God’s unconditional love.’ I’m giving a copy to my daughters and their friends. I wish I’d read this when I was in my twenties. How differently my life may have turned out.”—Lelia C., Nebraska
“Reading A Confident Heart helped me realize that I’m not alone in my insecurities. I am normal, loved, accepted, and approved by a mighty God.”—Tammy N., Kentucky
“I received A Confident Heart the week I found out my mom was in her final days on earth. I ended up reading chapters out loud to her. The message was so powerful. The Scriptures were right there. I would say, ‘Mom, listen to this!’ Renee’s words lifted my heart and carried me through.”—Kirsten S., Pennsylvania
“In all of my fifty-five years, I’ve never read a book that spoke to me, moved me, and set me free from so many issues. I couldn’t put it down!”—Debbie L., North Carolina
JJ, Joshua, Andrew, and Aster
Thank you for believing in me and this message, and for giving me time to write it. When my confidence wavered and my heart grew weary, God provided His strength for me and His confidence in me through you.
But blessed are those who trust in the L ORD and have made the L ORD their hope and confidence. (Jer. 17:7 NLT)
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
What Readers Are Saying
Dedication
Foreword
Acknowledgments
1: Discovering the Shadow of My Doubts
2: Because God’s Love Is Perfect, I Don’t Have to Be
3: Finding Love That Won’t Fail Even When I Do
4: God Promises Hope for My Future Despite the Pain of My Past
5: Living beyond the Shadow of My Doubts
6: When Doubt Whispers “I’m Not Good Enough”
7: When Doubt Whispers “I’m Such a Failure”
8: When Doubt Whispers “I Don’t Have Anything Special to Offer”
9: When Doubt Whispers “I Can’t Stop Worrying”
10: When Doubt Whispers “I Can’t Follow God Consistently”
11: The Woman I Want to Be
12: Living in the Security of God’s Promises
Notes
About the Author
Proverbs 31 Ministries
Back Ads
Back Cover
Foreword
A s a little girl, I longed for a daddy to pick me up, swing me around, and tell me that I was special. That I was beautiful. That I was treasured. And most of all, that I was loved. But my daddy never swung me around with great delight, and he never said the words my heart desperately longed to hear. This rejection became an adult emptiness and brokenness that made me doubt I was lovable.
Insecurities cut deep. Shame ran rampant. Desperation for acceptance drove me to seek out all kinds of misguided remedies.
My primary remedy was to find someone or something that would make me feel secure and significant. It was as if I carried around a little heart-shaped cup and held it out to whatever or whomever I perceived might fill it.
I presented the cup to my education: “Will you fill me?”
I offered it to my husband: “Will you fill me?”
I held it out to my child: “Will you fill me?”
I extended it to my material possessions: “Will you fill me?”
I presented it to each of my jobs: “Will you fill me?”
Within this question were many more entanglements: “Will you right all my wrongs?” “Will you fill up my insecurities?” The more I offered my emptiness, hoping something could fill it, the more inadequate I felt.
Why do we look to things of this world to give us security, self confidence, and fulfillment?
I think it’s because the message that worldly things can fulfill us is all around us. It’s on TV, it’s the focus of countless songs, and it dominates advertisements. We can’t even stand in the grocery store checkout lane without being bombarded by empty promises for a more fulfilling life. A better husband. A better body. A better career. A more beautifully decorated house. The magazines seem so slick, their promises so enticing. They sneak into our thought processes and make us think, If only I had __________, I’d be so secure and fulfilled.
But the reality is, every single thing the world offers is temporary. No person, possession, profession, or position can ever fill the cup of a wounded, insecure heart—not my heart, not your heart. It’s an emptiness only God can fill. Only God can give true confidence.
And how does God give us the gift of His security, fulfillment and confidence? He sends His words like love letters from Heaven to fall fresh on our parched and tired souls.
His truth waters us, sustains us, breathes new life into us and remakes us into the women He always intended us to be.
That’s why I’m so excited about Renee’s book. She is the friend you will find at the heart of this message. She’s walked this journey and gives us the gift of truths she’s discovered that will sweep away self-doubt and usher in the godly confidence we’ve been longing for our whole lives. Read this book and get ready to live with a confident heart.
Lysa TerKeurst, president, Proverbs 31 Ministries; New York Times bestselling author, Made to Crave
Acknowledgments
I ’ve never had the opportunity to thank the people who have helped shape my life and my confidence—people who believed in me long before I believed in myself. I am so grateful to get to do that here. Some I’ve known all my life, others for several years, and still some I haven’t even met in person. I’ll do my best to say a lot in a little space, so this doesn’t become the longest chapter of the book. And if my forty-something-year-old foggy brain forgets someone, please know I love you and thank God for you!
First to my husband and hero, JJ, you are an amazing man, husband, father, and friend. I don’t know how I got chosen to be yours, but I’m so glad I did! Without your words of affirmation, your confidence in God’s calling on my life, and your servant’s heart, I’m not sure I’d have had the courage and perseverance to do this. Thank you for sacrificing so much because you love me, but more so because you love Jesus and desire that He be made famous through the message He’s entrusted to us. I respect and love you more than words can say.
Joshua, your passion for reading and your gift of writing inspire me. But your thoughtfulness, perseverance, and wisdom blow me away and make me proud to be your mom. Thank you for your constant sacrifice and support during our year of “impossible.” I pray your courage and stre