I was incredibly curious to read Audacious after hearing about it in a meeting a few months ago. Many of us have participated in Beth Moore’s Bible studies over the last 20 years, have attended an event and heard her teach, or at least know who she is. She’s serious about Scripture, never short on a great story, and always leaves me longing to know Jesus more.
When she said that this book was the thing she wished she could say to all women, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. I expected to be challenged and to love the book, but I didn’t expect for this book to absolutely wreck me. I started reading it on a plane, and basically cried through every page. I couldn’t read it in one sitting simply because I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss a thing. It did more than bring me to tears—it’s caused me to rethink how I’m living my life. The call to live an audacious life comes at a cost, but Jesus is worth every bit of it.
Here’s the official book description:
“Thirty years in the making, Audacious is a deep dive into the message that has compelled Beth Moore to serve women around the globe. Glancing over the years of ministry behind her and strengthening her resolve to the call before her, she came to the realization that her vision for women was incomplete. It lacked something they were aching for. Something Jesus was longing for. Beth identifies that missing link by digging through Scripture, unearthing life experiences, and spotlighting a turning point with the capacity to infuse any life with holy passion and purpose. What was missing? Well, let’s just say, it’s audacious and it’s for all of us. And it’s the path to the life you were born to live.”
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
If you and I are going to live and love audaciously, we’re going to have to quit answering the door when hopelessness bangs its ugly fist at it. It has no place in our lives. Hopelessness is a liar.”
“Taking the risk of failing or looking foolish as you figure out who God has placed you on this planet to be and what He’s placed you on this planet to do is scary. An inevitable part of discovering what we’re good at is discovering what we’re not.”
“Discipline can make us more Christlike but it cannot make us love Christ more. We will never love Him just because we need to. We will only love Him audaciously because we want to.”
“We want to see that, what we have, we could only get from being with Jesus.”
“Every single day Jesus pursues you. Every single day Jesus fights valiantly for you. Every single day He gazes on your face and brings you one step closer to seeing His. Do you have the audacity to take what He’s done personally? Do you have the audacity to believe to your bones that He has adventurously, daringly, and boldly pursued you with a passion as fiery red as blood?”
This book is for all women and I believe that within its pages lie truths that we all need to hear. At the heart of it, it’s all about Jesus. It’s not for the faint of heart, but for those longing for something more. Wherever you are, whatever you’ve been through, you’ll see yourself in the stories and on the pages of Audacious.
God has used Audicious by Beth Moore to stir something up in me that I can’t shake, and I pray He does the same for you.
Mary Margaret West is an Event Project Coordinator at Lifeway in the women’s events area. Connect with her through the MARKED podcast and on Twitter @marymargaretc.