About the Author

Renee Swope is a Word-lover, heart-encourager, and grace-needer. She's also a wife and mom of three Joshua (27), Andrew (24), and Aster (13) and the best-selling author of "A Confident Heart" and her newest book, "A Confident Mom," released in February! Renee loves making memories with her family, creating beautiful...

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. I live in N.I. and I can’t get the In—courage Bible. Amazon says I have to use the US site.
    Which in turn only lets US addresses use it.

    • Beatrice, What a joy to know you’re joining us from N.I.! I’m sorry you’re having trouble ordering the (in)courage Devotional Bible on Amazon. That’s frustrating! It’s also available on DaySpring.com, international shipping rates will apply. Here’s the link: https://aws.incourage.me/bible

      Let us know if that works out for you!

      Blessings,
      Becky Keife
      (in)courage Community Manager

  2. If I spoke to my friends the way I speak to myself, it’s likely that I would have very few friends left.
    Thank you for this challenge to turn off the spigot of self-condemnation and to lean into the truth of Romans 8:1–“There is, therefore, now NO condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”

    • Michele, oh that we would love ourselves like we love our friends! With encouragement, affirmation and kindness. I know we can, with Jesus’ help. That’s going to be my prayer for us today! ♥️ And I love Romans 8:1!!

    • Oh Michele, if only we would love ourselves the way we love our friends. Isn’t that a beautiful haughty- offering ourselves kindness, encouragement and affirmation! ♥️ I know we can, with Jesus help. That is going to be my prayer for us all today. Also, I love Romans 8:1

  3. Renee,
    WOW! Right between the eyes….that’s where this post hit (in a good way). I find that I ask that exact question of myself a lot! My husband even commented on it just yesterday as to why I always ask that question. We may think there is no harm in asking an “innocent” question, but like you pointed out, the intent that is implied is that there IS something wrong with us. Oh how crafty the enemy is. I definitely need to stop myself in my tracks when that question starts to come out of my mouth and instead ask the questions that you suggested. This way I’m putting the blame where it belongs. Speak truth vs. Asking lies….great and much needed recommendation for me this am.!! Thank you….I needed this!!
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

    • Bev, thank you. Thank you for letting me know that I got to block one of Satan’s punches aimed at you. He got exposed today and now you know you are not alone. We are not alone. Satan attacks in such subtle ways; it is so easy to even recognize it. That day I stopped and the Holy Spirit showed me what I was doing — it was a huge crossroad. I felt so discouraged all that but was completely unaware of how mean I was being to myself and more importantly, the source of those twisted lies that were forming such a critical spirit in me.

      Sister, YOU are a masterpiece, and a powerful instrument in God’s hand and the enemy hates it. Don’t let him keep lying to you and getting you to lie to yourself – k?

      PS. you’ve got a good man to point out/ask why you ask that question so often. 🙂

  4. Renee,

    You know me so well. I often hear the lies”stupid, dumb, why even try” when mistakes happen. Instead we need to have scripture memorized so we can refute those lies. It’s not easy at the moment. Usually happens early morning when I’m tired. Satan is crafty. He knows exactly how & when to hit us. He loves nothing more than to see us defeated & depressed. We need to do what Jesus did in the wilderness. Rebut all Satan’s lies with scripture. Reminding Him & ourselves of who we are in Christ. This world makes it easy to seem like we are inadequate. We don’t have big platforms, large audiences or large bank accounts. If we are Christians (baptized into Christ) then we have everything we need. It is stored for us in heaven for all eternity. We just need constant reminders of that.

    Blessings 🙂

    • “He (satan) loves nothing more than to see us defeated & depressed.” <<< This is something I have had to remind myself of so often lately. He's been coming at me from every angle to make me feel defeated, discouraged, depressed and sometimes even despair. BUT the more I write and share about my struggles and expose his schemes, the more I find out that I'm not defective. We're not defective. We are just becoming casualties in a war that we forget we are even part of. Let's ask Jesus to make us alert and aware. To be prepared with the S(word) of His spirit - the Word of God. Just like He was in the desert - such a good reminder!

  5. Renee I’ve been doing this all weekend so thank you for the reminder.
    I’ve been tired and overwhelmed which hasn’t helped as it lets my guard down and give the enemy a foot hold.
    No more!
    Xxx

    • We are so vulnerable when we’re tired and overwhelmed. Ive been the same way lately. And here we are, two weeks after I wrote this reading words and Truth He knew we would need. I’m so glad He timed this message for you today – and hopefully you’ll let this devo be the hand that slaps satans mouth shut when he starts picking on you with self-condemnation.

      He knows God is doing a mighty work in you, and through you. And it’s all going to be for HIS glory. There’s nothing wrong with you friend – sick, coughing, tired and weak. You are the perfect blend of all you were meant to be!

  6. What wonderful encouragement, Renee. In Him, we’re already OK. Even more, so is everybody else — in Him! What a glorious challenge. Thank you for this great wake-up! Happy Monday! With love, Patricia

    • Amen sister. Thank you for your encouragement! It’s my birthday and reading all these notes tonight, seeing God loving on His girls is such a sweet way to end my day!

  7. WOW! This spoke to my heart this morning! I am constantly telling myself that something is wrong with me. Just knowing that these are the lies of Satan is something I never even thought of. I have told myself that there is something wrong with me all the time that is why my friends don’t want to do anything with me outside of work at all. That I’m not good enough for them and the they want nothing to do with me. They hang out together all the time, but I’m never a part of that and that is why I feel like I’m not good enough for them. Just this morning I told myself that I’m not good enough because they are doing something together and of course I’m not included in any of it. So I keep asking myself what is wrong with me and why I’m not good enough to hang out with them outside of work. It really hurts!!!

  8. Unfortunately, it is my husband who speaks these discouraging, deceitful things over me on a pretty daily basis. Not only has it caused great emotional, mental and spiritual heartbreak, it actually began to effect me physically by my hair falling out, sleeplessness, headaches and vomiting. Thankfully my doctor encouraged me to seek counseling and I have been blessed with an amazing Christian women to talk to. It is a struggle because I know my worth in Christ but when someone you love constantly tells you otherwise it is difficult not to ask yourself “what is wrong with me” and even to see flaws that aren’t really flaws, mistakes that aren’t really mistakes, weakness that isn’t weakness. It takes constant Faith, prayer and effort to feel good and attempt to overcome the pain and destruction that is left. Thank you for this message today, it is so important that we do not tear ourselves down when there are so many others in this world trying to do that very thing!

    • Jennifer, I am so, so sorry for what you are going through. I know it’s happening more than most of us realize, in homes and families all around us. I am praying for you right now — Jesus please continue to surround Jennifer with wise counsel, Biblical truth, and encouragement to take care of herself – heart, mind, soul and strength. Remind her daily, hourly and minute by minute that she is worthy of love, honor, and care. Lord who her what healthy emotional, mental and spiritual boundaries look like, and Jesus please move in a big, healing way in her husband’s heart, mind, and soul. too. In Your name we pray, amen.

  9. i needed this reminder! it makes me think of something i once read and forced me to change my perspective on clothes. when i would try on clothes, i would focus on my hips being too narrow for the outfit to look right on my frame. or, my chest not being big enough to make the shirt look right. after reading the woman’s “come to Jesus” moment, i stopped looking at what i lacked and realized the clothes just didn’t fit and that was okay. now instead of berating myself for what i’m not, i blame the clothes for being the wrong size or they just don’t work for me. (at least this is how it goes 90% of the time, lol!)

    so thank you for reminding me that the enemy is a liar! he thrives on inserting doubt. but those times when i remind myself that he’s lying and can’t help but lie, i then realize that i am fearfully and wonderfully made and God didn’t make a mistake on me.

  10. Yes, and Amen. This is an extension of my Bible study journaling from yesterday. The things we think and sometimes speak
    over ourselves and others have more power than we realize. Sneakily, untruths can morph into “truths”.

    Fortunately, speaking, praying, claiming scripture over ourselves and one another is more powerful.

  11. Renee, I totally love this! I recently studied about our identity in Christ and made myself a list of some of the things we are in Christ: known, loved, connected, unstoppable, delightful to Him, etc. I taped this list to my bathroom mirror and every time I wash my hands, I think I’m really washing my brain! (Brain-washing in the truest sense of the word. Lol) It’s making a difference in the way I talk to myself and wow! I had no idea how often I was berating myself, too! (What’s wrong with me? 😉 Just kidding.) Praise God for the truth of who we are in Him. Thank you for this crucial reminder.

  12. Wow!! This was exactly what I needed to read this morning. I struggle with this so often! I am going to keep reminding myself that I am a child of the one true King. I am saved by his blood and his amazing grace. That is something that the world or the devil can never take away from me!! I am so glad I stumbled upon this blog post this morning!

  13. I need to remember that my past is part of me and he’s healed me and redeeming me with it and can/will use it for his purpose. I need to stop thinking that my past disqualifies me. And, I need to stop thinking that the emotions that still challenge me from my past will be there forever.

    I need to remember today that I am worthy and I am loved!

    • Yes you are, Rebecca. You are worthy and loved!! I know it’s hard to believe in the depth of your heart that you are not what you do or have done. But it’s true. For all of us who have been redeemed. When we exchange our lives for His, our actions taken and decisions made are just that – actions and decisions. Not definitions. You are defined by His grace and redemption, child of God, beloved, chosen and cherished. Amen for us all!

    • You are so welcome Brittany! Im so glad these words God gave me to share met you right where you were, right when you needed them. Right when you needed Him. xoxo

  14. This message was exactly what I prayed for today! I asked God what was wrong with me! I asked that he send me a message that answered my fears and doubts! He did… this message! Thank you There is NOTHING wrong with me! I am a child of God! He made me in his likeness! How can I question that logic? Fear is what Satan puts in me and causes me to doubt who I am and who I have become! I will not listen to his lies.

    • Wow, Debbie!! How amazing is God’s love, grace, mercy? How tender His timing? I wrote and prepared this blog post two weeks ago — and He led me to share this. He knew you would need it. And He led you to read it right when you did – and in doing so, He said: Here I am. Here is my answer child.

      Makes me want to give Him a big hug, and you too. Thank you for letting us see His heart for you, and for us.

  15. I nodded YES, as I read this. Really great. Just recently I was telling a doctor friend, quite sheepishly, that I had googled my symptoms and found a huge list of terrible things that could be wrong with me. I told him how dumb I was to do that. But then, he kindly took the shame away by saying, “You’re right. Google searches can make you think you have the worst case scenario, but don’t feel bad about wanting to solve your problem quickly. Humans are problem solvers, and you were just trying to figure out a way to health. Don’t feel bad about that.” It helped me! Thanks for sharing, Renee. 🙂

  16. Ah! This was soooo good! Thank you Renee, for sharing truth I need to hear over and over and over again… like for forever.

    Next time I say, “What’s wrong with me?” (which will probably be within the next hour 😉 ), I’m going to stop and turn that question around on my REAL enemy. “Hey Dude, what is wrong with YOU? Don’t you know who I am? Don’t you know WHOSE I am? You don’t mess with the children of God. I would think you would have learned your lesson by now. I’m out.”

    It feels good just typing those words! Thanks again, Sister. There’s so much power and freedom in your piece.

    All of God’s BEST to you,
    Becky