A Confident Heart {Devotional Giveaway}
I’m thrilled to have my friend Renee Swope guest posting today, sharing from her new A Confident Heart Devotional, and giving away 2 copies! This devotional a wonderful tool to help grow your relationship with God. It is filled with 60 encouraging devotionals from Renee (and a few from her friends, including me!) Be sure to enter today’s drawing and find out more about another HUGE giveaway Renee is doing on her blog {details below}.
“I had everything I wanted yet felt empty and confused. Although my life was full of relationships and accomplishments I’d worked hard to gain, none could fill or fulfill me.
Frustrated by my aching emptiness, tears streamed down my face as I thought about the guy I dated through high school and college. Our future plans had crumbled under the pressure of me expecting him to be all I needed. I had been crazy about him — a little too crazy.
I’ll never forget the time a friend mentioned my ex-boyfriend was heading to our hometown for the weekend. We worked near each other, so Friday afternoon I parked by his office and waited for him to leave.
We both “happened” to be at the same fast food restaurant, at the same time and bumped into each other. After getting my order, I got in my car and followed behind him, hoping he’d see me, realize he couldn’t live without me and signal to pull over so we could talk.
Seriously, what was I thinking? As you can guess, he never stopped. I was hopeless and humiliated.
A few weeks later, I was taking a walk around my college campus. My eyes drifted to the buildings, dorms and other landmarks of memories. Suddenly my mind filled with a collage of faces, reminding me of my efforts to win the approval of advisors, friends and professors — hoping their affirmation could fill my emptiness.
Although I was graduating soon, had a few great job offers and achieved success in many ways, my heart still felt restless. And I couldn’t help but wonder: Why was all that I had never enough?
A thought rushed through my soul, stringing together two words I had never put next to each other, and I sensed God answering me.
Renee, all you have ever wanted is unconditional love.
Unconditional love? I didn’t know there was such a thing. Then God whispered into my soul: You’ll never find the love you long for in anyone or anything but Me. I AM the unconditional love you’re looking for.
The thought of God loving me without any conditions was inconceivable, yet something deep in my soul told me it was true. I’d been looking for love that didn’t have to be earned. Love I didn’t have to fear losing.
Honestly, it was hard to see how God’s love could fill the emptiness in my heart. It took time, but I came to understand that God created me with a need for fulfillment so He could meet it.
Proverbs 19:22a, says, “What a person desires is unfailing love.” That word “desire” comes from the Hebrew word ta’avah, which means: to greatly long for, deeply desire or crave. Interestingly, unfailing love is mentioned over 30 times in the Bible, and not once is it referencing a person. It is only attributed to God.
God gave us a desire for unfailing love because He knew it would lead us back to Him.
His love draws us to Him. Only we can stop God from reaching the deep and hidden parts within us that need Him most.
Let’s invite Jesus to look into our hearts today so He can show us what, who and where we might be looking to be fulfilled. Then let’s ask Him to fill us with the promise and reality of His unfailing love instead.
When I say… I’ll never be content.
God says… Let My unfailing love satisfy the longings of your heart.
“What a [woman] desires is unfailing love. Proverbs 19:22″
* Today’s post by Renee Swope is a partial excerpt from her NEW A ConfidentHeart Devotional. Used with Permission from Revell Books.
About Renee’s NEW Confident Heart Devotional:
Expanding on her popular “When I say–God says” statements from her best-selling book, A Confident Heart, Renee Swope has written a new 60-day devotional that will encourage, empower and equip you to overcome your most common and crippling self–doubts so you can live confidently in your God-given roles, relationships, and responsibilities! Each devotion features a “When I Say…God Says…” statement, prayer and a promise to guide your thoughts and emotions that day, and an easy-reference chart that includes all sixty ”When I Say…God Says…” statements in the back of the book!
Enter to WIN a copy TODAY!
Enter to win one of 2 copies of Renee’s new A ConfidentHeart Devotional book in today’s comments: Share why you’d like to win a copy and let us know what friend you’d give it to, if you won 2 copies. Winners will be announced Friday. Giveaway extended through Sunday night.Winners announced Monday, Feb. 17th.
ENTER the Let God Love You Contest:
Enter to WIN a $50 gift card, 2 additional signed copies of Renee’s A ConfidentHeart Devotional and more at www.ReneeSwope.com
I would give Renee’s devotional book to my adult daughter. Thank you for this opportunity.
I would love to give a copy to my dear Mother. Although I see her as a strong woman of God, who has raised her children and even others children, she often can’t find the strength and gets weary at times.
Two books – this is awesome! I would give one to my 30 year old daughter. Thanks for the opportunity.
This looks like the perfect devotional and I would like to share it with my daughter. Thanks! :)
My oldest daughter has SADD and needs this to perk her up.
I would love to have a copy of this book. I would give a copy to my sister who is going through a real rough time right now.
I would give the book to my close friend who has a birthday the end of February. She’s probably under stress right now…husband with cancer and son getting married in April.
I did the online bible Study and love this book! I have a friend that is a new Christian and is dealing with a couple of health issues right now that do not seem to be getting any better. This book would be such a blessing to her and help her with find that confidence that God is walking with her through these dark days!
I would give the copy to the mommy of the little boy I babysit for! She is a new mom that is an ER nurse and very busy wife. I love to follow all your blogs and Renee’s blogs. I have learned so much….thank you for sharing.
Oh I would share one with my niece who moved away to Oregon. She thinks she has to prove she is mature and grown up. She will always be my little niece. Sometimes we think we have to earn love and reading your post is exactly what I want her to know…
I so needed to read this today! Thank you! I would give a copy to my sweet friend who is about to become a mother in the next few weeks.
I am an assistant pastor who loves relational ministry! This would be helpful for myself and for all I come in contact with! If I won 2 copies, I would share with a friend who’s dreams for life seem to be unattainable, at the age of 30, and needs to feel confident in the heart God has given her!!!
I would give Renee’s devotional book to my adult daughter, who is single and going through a very difficult period in her life. We could share the daily devotions and support one another each day.
I am a huge fan of Renee Swope, having just gone through A Confident Heart with the P31 Online Bible Study. Knowing the depth of this study, and how it impacted my life, I want to read the devotional and share the 2nd copy with my sister-in-law. She is a new believer and has been working through the various books and the Bible to grow closer to God. But whenever we talk, I sense so much fear and anxiety in her heart. She is scared. But I want her to know that God is here, and God has many beautiful promises in his Word that bring comfort, peace, and confidence. Renee’s devotional is a perfect fit for her heart.
Two copies of this book…what a blessing! I would give one away to a good friend of mine who is going through a very rough time in her life right now. I am praying daily for her and asking my Papa God for words of wisdom for her. I would love to be able to hand her a copy of this book and know that God ordained that moment in time for my hurting friend ;)
We have new families in our church.the women of these families are so hungry to learn more of God, and to have a closer walk with him. I would give them both to these ladies.
I would share the extra copy with my dear friend and sister in Christ who inspires me to persevere against seemingly impossible odds. She has such a strong faith but still struggles in one area of her identity in Christ. How awesome it would be for each of us to go through Renee’s devotional daily and then share what we are hearing from the Lord by text messages and phone calls.
I would love this book. And I would give one to a friend of mine who could use it. She has two children and has been going through a lot with inlaws and work. And lately her or her kids have been sick. One right after the other. She could use this.
I would give Renee’s devotional book to my adult daughter, who is single and going through a very difficult period of her life. I believe this book would greatly help her!
I have a ministry to the pastor’s wives in our association of churches. I would share one of these with the one of them who struggles with insecurity & self-doubt.
I would share with my dear friend. We joke that we are married to the same man. Our husbands are so alike and we tend to lean on each other and talk each other through struggles. Even when we don’t talk often a single phone call can change the week for us.
I would give the copy to one of my best friends :) We love to read and do devotionals together so we can pour into our respected ministries with all that we are learning together.
I have a good friend who I think this would be great for! She is a mom of three little girls and I think this would speak to her.
I would give a copy to my dear friend and pastor’s wife and would love to share a devotion with her each day. She is a big hearted, compassionate soul who has had poor health and big struggles over the past few years.
I’m a flight attendant and writer so I’d keep it in my tote bag and have it ready to give to a fellow flight attendant as the Lord leads.
So many dissatisfied, hurting, women in this industry. Thanks for your generous heart. Betsy
I relate to your post Betsy – I found it amazing & heartbreaking the number of hurting women in the Inflight industry and was thrilled whenever I was privileged to fly with another believer in Jesus. I tried at the end of every trip to give each flight attendant a LUV note of appreciation and encouragement written on a red heart cut from construction paper along with a piece of wrapped chocolate. I would sign my name and include Psalm 91:4 ….”He will cover you with His feathers and under His wings you will find refuge…” It was a blessing to be a blessing and I was thankful for the opportunities God gave me. God bless you in your ministry in a much needed area. FlyinGramma7