If you are looking for inspiration for yourself or for your daughters, below is a list of women who have great influence and who you can trust you and/or your daughters to look up to. These are all women in ministry who have made an impact in my life, although (mostly) indirectly. I hope their lives, stories, and ministries do the same for you.
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Lisa Bevere:
She has a heart for women – for women to rise up and become powerful, to be ones the devil is scared of. If I could choose a spiritual mother, it would be her. Her books have inspired and impacted me in ways I don’t think I could fully explain. I feel like I can take on the world, be the woman God created me to be, and do all that God has called me to do. I wish I could meet with her daily to glean from her wisdom and love.
Lysa Terkeurst:
I wish she could be my mom too. Lysa is the creator of Proverbs 31 Ministries and an amazing role model in many areas. Her books have reached many who have experienced rejection and believing they are unloved. She has a heart for women and helping them grown deeper and more full in their relationship with God. She has incredible wisdom and insight that will leave a mark on your life.
Sheila Walsh:
She has a pretty incredible story. Though diagnosed with clinical depression, she does not let that define her life. She may still have dark and hard moments in her life, but she is full of encouragement, strength, and passion for Christ. She has allowed God to use her and redeem her past as she reaches out to others to impact their lives.
Darlene Zschech:
I remember the moment when I found out she had cancer. I was devastated. Just like with my pastor, I found it difficult to pray for her, fearing because I did so, God wouldn’t heal her. But amazingly, she has beaten cancer! I look up to her for her faith, which is now more unwavering than before, as well as for her passion for life. She does not let anything tear her down and is using that season of brokenness and pain to bring God glory.
Christine Caine:
Christine is a fiery, warrior for Christ. She is a founder of A21, an organization that works to free those who have been sold into sex slavery. Her team has rescued many from all areas of the world. She has a heart for the unwanted as well, as she was born “unnamed” by the woman who should have loved her unconditionally. But she doesn’t let that define her. Instead, she takes Christ’s name for her to define her life and uses it as fuel to reach the nations.
Kari Jobe:
There are people who can lead worship (I personally say anyone can) and then there are people who can lead you into God’s presence through worship. Kari Jobe is the latter by far. There are only two others in my life with this ability (that I can think of off the top of my head). She wears her heart on her sleeve in every area of her life, especially when she is worshipping God. She is authentic, real, silly, and full of the gift of influence. You can’t listen to her music without feeling a change in your heart.
Audrey Assad:
Her songs have power, though she might tell you otherwise. She is authentic and real and I have the upmost respect for her because of this. She has taken the embarrassing stories from her past and has allowed God to use her to touch the lives of many. If you get a chance to check out her testimony, do so!
Britt Nicole:
I have loved Britt Nicole since I was young. I could listen to her music all day and I could listen to her speak all day. She has an influence that is not like any other – she can build bridges with many in interesting ways. In fact, her song “Gold” can be heard in many “secular” places as well as different movies.
Rebecca St. James:
If you’ve been a Christian since the 90s, you’ve probably heard of her and her song, “Wait For Me.” It may be a little cheesy, but I love the power of the lyrics. Rebecca is one of my biggest role models as she has a huge heart for purity and waiting for your future spouse. She’s written quite a few books about it that are very informative and inspirational.
Natalie Grant:
Natalie and her friend Charlotte started a women’s conference, Dare To Be, a few years ago that I would go to every year if it was hosted here in Portland, OR area. She has an incredible heart for women’s ministry, for the “every day woman” as well as those held captive in sex slavery. I love how she uses her impact to change lives, not only through this conference, but also through her music.
Jamie Grace:
If you have any young teenage girls in your life, whether biologically or just in general, I encourage you to introduce Jamie to them. She has a heart for the young and their relationship with Jesus. She is feisty, authentic, funny, and inspiring. She’s in her early 20s and has a way of encouraging young women in the area of relationships/lack thereof. Every time I hear her talk or joke about relationships, I’m encouraged to continue keeping my standards and waiting for God’s best.
Brooke Fraser:
She’s quirky, funny, and does her own thing. Her faith remains a vital part of her life and you can see it influence her music. She also has written some of the most amazing Hillsong songs.
Carrie Underwood:
She knows her standards and sticks with them; Hollywood has no reach when it comes to her. This is what I love most about Carrie. Since she rose to fame from American Idol years ago, her character has remained unwavering.
Sadie Robertson Huff
Author of Live Original and Live Fearless, host of Whoa That’s Good podcast, and a star of the show Duck Dynasty, Sadie’s been an incredible influence for many years. For anyone looking for a girl they’re own girls could look up to, Sadie is definitely someone you can point your girls to. She’s kind, lives authentically, and has incredible wisdom and insight that she shares often.
Natalie Met Lewis
Natalie is the author of a couple different devotionals, one of which I own and LOVE, “Wholeheartedly Devoted” (for singles) and “Eternally Fixed.” She has a passion for others and their relationship with the Lord. I’ve only worked through her first devotional and let me just say… it changed my life! SO good. You can find her on most social media, but I heavily recommend Instagram: nmlforsingles or nataliemetlewis.
Stephanie Anderson
I personally know Stephanie and let me just say she is an amazing and authentic woman. She recently came out with her first book, “Read The Book,” which is about reading God’s word and our overall relationship with Him and how to improve it. It is next on my list to read and I can’t wait to hear the wisdom she has to share! She also currently has a blog titled “Andersonswife.” If you get a moment, check out her stuff! You won’t regret it.
She Reads Truth
Initially created by Amanda Bible Williams and Raechel Myers, this ministry is something I highly recommend spending the $2 a month it takes to have access to all the Bible studies they’ve put together. On their She Reads Truth app, there’s studies on individual books of the Bible as well as topics. They even have studies on particular seasons of celebration such as Lent. If you’re looking for another source to grow and develop your knowledge of God’s Word, check out their stuff!
Eunice Makinde
Oh… where do I start with Eunice? Basically, she’s amazing. I know this since she’s one of my most favorite friends. She’s a powerhouse and influencer and full of amazing wonderful characteristics such as compassion and grace. She currently runs her own blog/ministry called Chasing Proverbs and is currently a director at Embrace Oregon. She has a heart for the truth and empowering women, especially women of color. She is a woman of wisdom who I can guarantee is someone you can trust. She’s gonna change the world and I can’t wait to see it happen.
Woman of Purity 