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Wednesday, August 10, 2011

August Challenge: Seventh Question (A Guest Post!)


How are you doing with the challenge? If you're new to journaling, do you like it? Is it getting you thinking, pondering, reflecting? If you've been journaling, are these questions helping you take your journaling in a new direction? I hope so.

Today we have a special guest providing the question. Renee Swope is a long-time friend and the proud author of her first book, A Confident Heart. I asked Renee to join us today and provide a question that goes along with her book. She ended up sharing a whole post about how journaling (our focus this month) contributed to the content of her new book. And she's shared some questions for you to answer as well. Be sure to read all the way to the end and find your chance to win a copy of this book. Renee, take it away!


Do you ever feel like you’re not good enough, smart enough, or valuable enough? Me too.

I used to try my best to make my feelings of inadequacy go away. I’d go somewhere like the mall, or do something like organize my closet, or eat something like ice cream… hoping I could change the way I felt. But eventually, my yucky feelings of uncertainty would come back. Over time I learned that I couldn’t change the way I felt until I changed the way I thought.

The same is true for all of us: our thoughts determine how we feel, and our feelings greatly influence how we live. In my book, A Confident Heart, I share my story of overcoming a lifetime of self-doubt by exchanging my “against me” thoughts with scripture-based God is “for me” thoughts.

As I wrote the book, I traced the process of God changing me from the inside out through decades of my personal journals. By writing down my thoughts, fears and doubts I learned to identify where my feelings were coming from and thoughts that had triggered them. Writing them down help me name them. By naming them, I then knew how to ask God to help me process and overcome them.

Through the practice of journaling I learned how to exchange the uncertainty of my circumstances and emotions with the certainty of His promises. At the end of each chapter in A Confident Heart, I have reflections questions to help women identify their most common doubts, see how they are affecting their lives and learn how to replace their insecurities with the security of God’s promises. Here are a few questions from Chapter 1:

1. What is your earliest memory of doubting yourself or feeling insecure?

2. Has insecurity ever kept you from doing something?

3. Describe how it makes you feel when doubt whispers:

I can’t do this. Things will never change. My life isn’t going to get better. It’s too hard. I might as well quit.

4. Describe what happens in your heart when you read God’s words:

“Those who hope in me will not be disappointed” (Isa. 49:23).

“See, I am doing a new thing!” (Isa. 43:19).

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28).

“All things are possible to [her] who believes” (Mark 9:23 NASB)

Read the first chapter of A Confident Heart

Watch the trailer for A Confident Heart

Sign up for the 7 Day Doubt Diet, which includes a week's worth of FREE devotions from A Confident Heart.


To enter to win a copy of A Confident Heart, share a link to this post with friends via Twitter, Facebook, email or on your blog. Let us know you did by clicking on the word “comments” below. Two winners will be announced Friday. (UPDATE: I HAVE EXTENDED THE DEADLINE UNTIL MONDAY! YOU CAN STILL LEAVE A COMMENT OVER THE WEEKEND!)

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27 comments:

Zibilee said...

Oh, this post was made for me! I can relate to everything this post is talking about, and would love to be able to change some of these things about myself. I found this post incredibly helpful today.

♪♪Melody♪♪ and Puddin said...

I posted a link to this post on Facebook. Thanks

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing Renee's book, Marybeth. Me thinks it's time to dig into it. :-) I posted a link on FB and hope many others find out about your encouraging blog and Renee's powerful book.

Blessings,
Mary Kay

Jackie S. said...

I've read about this book and it sounds great....would love to win it.
I don't do FB but will Email a friend about it. I am loving the journal idea, Marybeth.....it has been such a blessing to me!

jackie.smith[at]dishmail[dot]net

Anonymous said...

Love how your blog has got me thinking this week...and hate it too!!!ha ha Sometimes it is easier not to think about things....We have very recently moved...been here 3weeks.We are excited about this move(some we have not been) My husband is with the R.C.M.P. so moving is part of the job but along with it comes...CHANGE!!! This can sometimes rob me of confidence and I also know it can be hard on the kids...new school/friends/church. It is also exciting to see what God has planned...new friends etc. Thanx for your blog Marybeth and I also follow Renee's so was excited to see her guest post. I will forward this on e-mail as I am not on F.B. unless I sneak on my kids...ha ha
Nicole

Connie B said...

This sounds like just what I need! I emailed a friend- hope to win! Seems like a lot of us are on this journey together.

Amy said...

Would love to win - I'd love to read this book!

FB'd it.

Nancy said...

Just posted the link on FB.

susie said...

I am not sure if it is too late to post but I have shared with my friend via my business and also on Facebook!! I am IN LOVE with this book!! I am reading it as we speak and if I were to win it I would give it away because I think this book is going to change LIVES! Thank YOU!!

Kendra Cameron-Jarvis said...

I heard you speak at She Speaks and cannot wait to read your book. I felt like you were speaking directly to me.I shared this post on twitter.

Blessings,
Kendra
www.abusywomanslife.com

Granny said...

I shared this link with my daughter. I think this would be a wonderful book to share with my daughter. I am currently reading the book but would love to give my daughter her own copy. Blessings to you.

Phyllis@Aimlessconversation said...

Shared via Twitter & FB. Excited about this message. I have been pondering the ideas of self-worth and value all summer long. So many sisters need to apply God's powerful truths to the lies all around us and the tapes that play in our own minds. I believe Renee's book is a valuable, timely tool to fight those battles.

Renee Swope said...

Love reading your comments and hearing your heart. Praying for each of you today. Thank you for sharing this post or sending a link to friends via email. Praying for contagious confidence that we can share with others as Jesus gives us lasting security through the power of His promises!

Anonymous said...

I'm reading Renee's book slowly, it is not meant to rushed through but savored like God's word as she has a great deal of meaty scripture in it. The questions at the end of each chapter are really challenging, moreso than in most books I read, they require journaling or at least some considerable thought.....I love this book and it makes me love my Bible even more.

Jennifer said...

Journaling is something I have wanted to start (and be consistend about!) for a long time. I enjoyed this post - it speaks to some of the struggles I am going through right now. I will also be sharing it with a friend!
Would love to win the book!

Jennifer said...

forgot to say I am sharing it on FB. :)

Troop Coordinator said...

I posted the link on Facebook to share with my friends.

Deidra

Cara Sexton said...

Tweeted about the giveaway. Looking very forward to reading this book.

Anonymous said...

Was just challenged/encouraged by two friends yesterday to begin journaling. I love how God never gives up on my stubborness! :) I sent them this link on FB.

Anonymous said...

Posted on my f.b. for all my friends...

Gina said...

Thank you for this one. I used to keep a journal about 15 years ago and then again about 12 years ago (first time after my best friend, who was also my boyfriend at one time, committed suicide and the second time after I got to where I didn't wanna live anymore also). I still have those and every now and then I will get them out and read them and realize just how far I've come and how God helped me get through those times. Maybe it's time I started keeping one again. Sometimes it's so much easier to write down just how you feel.

Gina

Mel said...

This sounds like such an awesome book! I have passed on the word through my blog and on twitter.

God Bless!

Carol said...

I sent a comment and I did not see it I believe it got lost in cyber space.
First of all I fight insecurity everyday about wandering if I am good enough always feel like I don't measure up.this was taken away from me as a child and by a family member so I never had a childhood and I feel that is where my doubts were and are coming from. At this point in my life I feel like I should have part of my life together and I don't most of the times I feel my life is just crumbling down all around me. So I am so ready to get me some God -Confidence back in my life and have a foundation.
I have done some journaling but I have never thought about putting my doubts and fears down.
Thank you for Renee and her writing this book
I shared on FB and Twitter
Carol

Anonymous said...

Would love to read your book, found the first chp. very interesting. It sounds so much like me. Thanks for the bible verses, after the questions they were great.

Unknown said...

The statement that stood out to me in this post was "Over time I learned that I couldn’t change the way I felt until I changed the way I thought." That is so true and I can relate to that.

Anonymous said...

Will be posting a link to this on Facebook. Have started to read Renee's book and really relate to it. Thanks so much, Renee!

PattiS said...

I'm doing the doubt-free diet. I really enjoy it. I love the scriptures selected so far. I also shared a link on my facebook.