My mom and I went to a local church to hear this year’s Women of Faith event simulcasted. So much truth, so much inspiration. Surrounded by women who can relate on pretty much any level, worshipping God together, listening to His Word being taught together. There’s nothing like concentrated time like that to refresh your soul. And it was fun to go with my mom, because we got have a sleepover Friday night. :)

I’d like to share my takeaways from each speaker… maybe they can ignite your heart toward God like they did mine.

SHEILA WALSH

I am not the good news, Jesus is. She touched on the amount of baggage we, as women, carry around all day every day, and she said “If the weight you carry could be made visible in this room, you probably wouldn’t want to claim it, would you? And you certainly wouldn’t want to take it home with you.” We would enjoy this journey a whole lot more if our bags weren’t so heavy — Jesus tells me to hand all that over to Him (Matthew 11:28), that He can carry it, and lighten my load. Why hold onto it when He’s asking me for it? He wants to carry it for me. I’m saying to myself, GIRL, take Him at His word! Trust Him!

PATSY CLAIRMONT

One of the spunkiest women I have ever met (via video). She was hilarious, gracious, bold, with a confidence that can only come from years of living life in relationship with Jesus. She talked a lot about God’s new mercies He gives every day, and how when God gives us something He expects us to do something with it — in her words “splash some of your mercy onto other people.”

PETE WILSON

He challenged everyone to ask themselves “what would you do if you were confident that God would be with you?” In other words, do you put your faith in circumstances that you see, or in God’s identity that never changes, that’s always good and faithful? He also made a cool statement about faith, after sharing that some people think because they have some level of unbelief that must mean they can’t have faith… in response he said: Faith is having belief AND disbelief, but choosing to act on the belief. 

CHRISTINE CAINE

The sassy Australian founder of one of the organizations I’m most passionate about, the A21 Campaign. She always recharges my soul, reaching deep down into any kind of doubt and throwing God’s truth on it, dispelling all room for doubt. “Greater is what Jesus has done for you than what has been done to you.” What our souls are continually searching for is what we were created for: God’s purpose and pleasure, an active relationship with Him. She also reminded us what I feel I continually forget: It is for FREEDOM that we have been set free. That is our inheritance, that is our destiny. She related us to the Israelites after they were delivered from Egypt… in the wilderness they were delivered, but they were not yet entirely free. How often do we circle the same mountains, the same struggles and challenges and problems, because we do not believe and embrace that Jesus died for us that we may live in freedom? How often do we put ourself in our own shackles, walking around like we’re sucking lemons, instead of having a resurrected Savior gleam in our eye? Joy, freedom, bravery… life abundant. 

LYSA TERKEURST

I had never heard Lysa speak before, but I’ve read a couple of her books, and admire her. She taught out of 2 Samuel, charging us to be wise women. One of her statements was this: “Go where wisdom gathers, not where it scatters.” She also challenged our faith, saying that oftentimes God just wants us to bring as much willingness as we can muster, and He’ll meet us where we are.

The conference theme thread was “survival to revival.” Not merely surviving as women of God but claiming His promises for our own, reviving our own hearts and those around us for His purposes.

My soul feels light.

How great Thou art.