Conference Recap

A beautiful string of pearls

Well friends, it’s been a week since the Pursuit conference ended and I have marinated on the messages and the impact of the event over the past few days. Isn’t the Lord so good to give you encouragement right when you need it?

At events of this nature, it is no coincidence when messages and themes can be strung together like a set of beautiful pearls--it is the Lord’s hand on the speaker's preparation and the Spirit’s influence pressing into their hearts what the people need to hear.

Over and over at this event, we heard similar messages, themes, scriptures and the speaker would say, “I didn’t know what she was going to share, yesterday, but my message perfectly dovetails.” Or, “I didn’t know the worship set songs, but they were the perfect set up for my message.”

Just look at how the messages aligned--

Thursday night we heard from Pastor Judy encouraging us to “Stand Strong” and understand our power, authority and position in the Lord. She told us that “location matters” and we have no option but to stand strong in the Lord and in the power of his might--resting on the truth of His word and promises to us through that word.

Friday morning, we were blessed with a worship set from David and Nicole Binion where they led us straight into the throne room of heaven with their powerful and anointed example. It was a reverent time of admiring the holiness and power of the Lord.

Friday afternoon, Pastor Delana reminded us that though people might be struggling [in their faith walk], she harkened back to the message from Pastor Judy reminding people to just STAND. And then went on to tell everyone to stay in the fight and get in the ring. She used some powerful object lessons and visuals centered around fighting. I appreciated her use of familiar movie clips and powerful visual imagery that reminded me that the current struggles I might be walking through are training and preparation for what the Lord has in store for me next.

Friday evening, Karen Wheaton brought a powerful word on prayer. Though I was familiar with the passages from Luke, her fresh perspective and object lesson around asking a friend for bread from a house of provision was life-giving to me. Luke 11:8 says “But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.” Karen’s admonishment to be both bold and shamelessly persistent in prayer resonated with the crowd, but also aligned so well with the previous encouragement to stand strong in our faith and to stay in the fight/get back in the ring.

Saturday morning ended with a tag-team message from two dynamic young communicators and a powerful time of prayer and impartation. First Kaylee Tuttle shared her personal testimony of overcoming fear, anxiety and panic attacks and connected her victory over fear to learning to use her voice. Her message had broad applications for those who have let fear intimidate them or who have let circumstances silence them. She used the story of Jehosophat from 2 Chronicles 20 to illustrate how in the middle of terrifying circumstances, when we use our voice to praise the Lord, he acts on our behalf. 

Then Morgan Daye closed out the event with a reminder that we have greater access to the glory of God than even Moses had and she challenged everyone in attendance not to waste such a precious gift. She had a vision where she approached a large gate and was right at the threshold, but didn’t cross over.  We have access to the other side and authority in Christ, but we let the devil and his minions threaten and intimidate us.  She challenged everyone to push through--Victory is on the other side. Don’t let Satan derail you from walking in victory and experiencing the glory that God has revealed to us.

I loved how the thread of messages connected all through the weekend, like a beautiful string of pearls, they built one on another.--Stand strong, stay in the fight, persist in prayer, use your voice [power and authority in Christ] to overcome challenges, push through fear and intimidation to cross the threshold into greater glory.

Only God could orchestrate such a perfect package of encouragement and empowerment. I hope your heart is full, your faith is strong, your prayers are more persistent and bold, you're ready to get back in the fight and use your voice to overcome the messages of fear and intimidation that are swirling around you and that you are fighting from a place of renewed strength because you are walking in the fullness of the revealed glory of God.