DEEPER STILL: The Event

Last weekend I traversed the traffic filled freeway to San Francisco to attend Deeper Still: The Event. (Or I should say good friend Trish drove the maze of chaos while I sat in oblivion in the back seat.) First of all, let me say, if you have a chance to attend, do so. It is well worth the fee. You will be bathed in a weekend of worship, awesome music by Travis Cottrell and Anthony Evans, and amazing insight and teachings from three internationally-renowned Bible teachers—Kay Arthur, Beth Moore, and Priscilla Shirer. And that's not to mention what God may do while you're there!

Priscilla Shirer started the weekend off Friday night with wonderful insights about David and how, despite his mistakes, God still used him and considered him a man after His own heart. One statement she made really stood out.

"Often times the greatest hindrance to a new move of God is the last move."

She spoke of how God wants passion, not perfection and gave five "M" keys to learning to discern God:

1. Look for the MESSAGE of the Spirit (not how you feel)
2. Live in the MODE of prayer
3. Search out the MODEL of Scripture (if it contradicts, it's not God)
4. Submit to the MINISTRY of Eli (have a mentor)
5. Expect the MERCY of confirmation

Priscilla really challenged us to believe God is always right at our side, literally, then asked how this would change our thinking and actions, knowing God walked so closely with us.

On Saturday morning, Beth Moore spoke of three things we can do to cooperate with God for a "huge" work in our lives:

1. We have to move past our devastation with God. She used the story of Uzzah who was struck down when he reached out to steady the ark (2 Samuel 6:1-10). David was devastated by what happened, especially since his intentions had been good. However, he broke the rules that were established early on as to handling the ark. He eventually moved past this and did bring the ark but according to God's rules.
2. We've got to return to whole-hearted obedience. Her key point here was that sometimes God brings us into a season of trial that has nothing to do with obedience, but sin can result from a hard heart or bitterness. She referenced Song of Songs 6:12 in reference to David returning to God and then bringing the ark to the city of David.
3. If we're going to have a "big testimony," we have to have the courage to see God's fulfillment.

In the afternoon, Kay Arthur emphasized that it's the power of God that takes us deeper in our faith, and that we need to appropriate His power (grace). She quoted 2 Corinthians 12:9:

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

She pointed out that God is greater than our sins and failures, and that He convicts, not condemns. She emphasized God's sovereignty, thus anything that comes into our lives is filtered through the fingers of God first. Three things she said really stood out to me:

1. God's grace was in place before David sinned.
2. David served God in his generation. Am I serving God in mine?
3. Faith is not faith until it is tested.

Truly an amazing weekend. Worshiping with 9,000 other women was pretty incredibly. I'm still digesting everything I heard. My prayer is that this experience truly changed me and will continue to glorify God.