Reaching Your World with Luis Palau

Have you ever seen a child get really excited? I can remember when my kids were very young and would get excited about everything. I loved watching them get animated about day to day things, but more than anything, I loved watching as my children became excited about their faith.   Last year I was in Argentina for a festival. As my wife Wendy and I rode down the street, several children formed a small parade to welcome us with drums and songs and cheers. They were so excited to welcome us, and to hear the Good News of Jesus. This humbled me and this experience has stuck with me as an example of how we ought to be when we share the Gospel.   I have no doubt that God delights when people are excited about their faith, and about the hopeful prospect that comes with sharing the Good news. In 1 Timothy 4:12 the Bible says, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity”. This week, I encourage you to imitate a child’s enthusiasm for life and for God. They don’t hide their excitement, and neither should we. Share the exciting news of Jesus with someone this week.   This is Andrew Palau.

A few years ago, I was holding a large evangelistic festival in Arkansas with my friend TobyMac. Laura brought her young sons and some of their friends because they were so excited to see TobyMac perform. Laura was looking forward to seeing God work and change people’s lives. She was already praying for those who would make a decision for Christ. Near the end of the night, Laura listened to the Gospel message that she had heard so many times before. Her 8-year-old son Tucker was sitting with her, listening very closely. After I finished praying the sinner’s prayer with the crowd, I asked those who had just made a decision to follow Christ to raise their hands. Tucker’s hand slowly went up. Tears filled Laura’s eyes, as she realized her little boy had just given his heart to Jesus. He had made the decision on his own. Now she knew she would spend eternity with her son, as part of God’s family. It was one of the best moments of Laura’s life … and Tucker’s too! Jesus said, “let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” Children can understand the power of the Gospel, and nothing gives their parents more joy than knowing they are now part of God’s family. Pray for your children to know the love of Christ, and rejoice when they receive Jesus as their Savior.   This is Luis Palau. 

Years ago, I had a big evangelistic campaign in London, and the famous British singer, Cliff Richard was one of the people there with me. Judith believed there is a God, but she wasn’t sure about Jesus. She WAS a big fan of Cliff Richard, though, so she decided to come to the event. Judith was also very anxious. She had just been diagnosed with cancer, and she had two young daughters that she was afraid she would not see grow up. That night she heard a message about how Jesus loved her and if she accepted Him, He would be with her forever, even after death. She received Jesus right then. Her life didn’t instantly get better. Her cancer did not go away, but she definitely felt God’s comforting arms around her during her battle with cancer.Judith asked God to give her ten more years to see her daughters become teenagers. The Lord blessed her beyond those ten years, and she saw her children marry and have children of their own. Jesus doesn’t promise that the road will be easy. In fact, He says that we will share in His sufferings, but also that He, the God of all comfort, will comfort us in those sufferings. Judith also got the chance to comfort her children with God’s love as they grew. What a change the love of God can make in the lives of His children, if they only let Him.  This is Luis Palau.  

Gloria was a committed follower of Jesus, but every time she talked about her faith with her mother, her mother would reject it. Gloria’s complete trust in God made her mother feel defensive and angry. For thirteen years Gloria prayed for her mother to accept Christ, but Gloria’s relationship with Jesus only made her relationship with her mother more difficult. Then Gloria heard I would be speaking in the all-Spanish service at her church in Illinois. She was sure her mother would not want to come, but she asked anyway. To Gloria’s amazement, her mother said yes, she would come!Gloria prayed through the whole service that the Lord would open the eyes of her mother. And when I asked who had committed their lives to Jesus for the first time, Gloria was overjoyed to see her mother raise her hand. At 69 years old, her mother had received Jesus into her life. Soon after, Gloria’s mom had breakfast with her, and they read the Gospel of John together. John’s Gospel says, “But to all who did receive Jesus, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” Finally, both Gloria and her mother were children of God! What a story of persistence and prayer. If you are waiting for someone you love to become a child of God, keep praying and don’t give up — even for thirteen years.                        This is Luis Palau.  

A number of years ago, I was invited to speak in the country of Colombia, in the city of Medellin. I had been told by leaders in the city that fewer than 500 people in the whole city were Christians, so not to expect too much. Instead, thousands of people came to hear the Gospel including one woman who was very depressed and hopeless because a younger sibling of hers had recently died. This woman had heard me on the radio, and asked her older brother to take her to the festival. At the festival, God spoke to her heart, and she and her brother both accepted Christ into their lives. I heard later that over the next few years more than 40 members of this woman’s extended family came to know Jesus Christ, and many of them became pastors and leaders in their church communities. Now, hundreds of children and grandchildren know Jesus all because one brother and sister, grieving the loss of their sibling, came to hear the Good News. When families are broken or lost, Jesus is the answer. He will welcome you into the family of God. He says you are no longer a stranger or foreigner, you are part of a family that lasts forever. If your whole family knows Christ, encourage others you know to join the family. If not, keep praying! God can do mighty things through the power of a family. This is Luis Palau. 

Every time we give in to fear, we need to humbly acknowledge it, remind ourselves what to do next time, and then move toward that “next time” as quickly as possible. This is true in every sphere of life, and it all begins with a biblical understanding of who the Lord our God is and what He has to say about fear. So it’s clear, He doesn’t like cowardice, but He also discourages bravado. Biblically, this is how the Lord wants us to fear and trust Him and Him alone: 1. Fear the Lord, which is the beginning of true wisdom. 2. Fear the Lord and do what He says. 3. Take courage in the Lord again today. 4. Encourage others to continue trusting the Lord. 5. Trust the Lord continually without wavering or doubting.  6. Trust the Lord by continuing to do what’s good and right 7. Trust the Lord and do not fear what others might do. 8. Trust the Lord no matter what is happening in your life. I love these 8 ways the Lord wants us to fear and trust Him and Him alone. May you experience their power in your own life. To read the list I gave you, go to reachingyourworld.org and look for the message titled “What God says about Fear.” This is Andrew Palau.

Every morning, I love to spend time praying and claiming God’s promises from His own Word. Here are half a dozen promises that have been especially meaningful to me. I encourage you to make them a part of your own life. First, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, `Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you,” Matthew 17:20. The second promise says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart,” Psalm 37:4. That’s one of my favorites. Third, “If our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him,” 1 John 3:21-22. Fourth, “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you,” John 15:7. Boy! I love that one. The fifth promise says, “The Lord will keep you from all harm—He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore,” Psalm 121:7-8. Last but not least, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe,” Proverbs 18:10. What is the need of your heart today? The Lord has promised to meet that need. Take Him at His Word and rejoice in His promises.  This is Luis Palau.

I find many Christians struggle when it comes to believing the promises of God. Oh, they sound nice, and sometimes they even cheer us up. But we wonder, “Do they really work?” Unconsciously, at least, we question whether God keeps His word. In the Old Testament we read, “Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled” [Joshua 21:45]. Solomon later declared, “Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses” [1 Kings 8:56]. None of God’s promises have ever failed! In Scripture, the Lord has recorded what 2 Peter 1:4 calls God’s many “very great and precious promises.” True, we must be careful not to haphazardly claim promises intended for someone else. But any of God’s promises that we can claim in Jesus’ name are guaranteed and will be performed for us by God for His glory. We’re told that both in John 14:13-14 and in 2 Corinthians 1:20. Look it up. Why wait? Claim God’s promises for yourself today. Enjoy the blessings of God and share God’s blessings with others through His promises. This is Luis Palau.

Very often I find that those we consider close-minded are actually quite open to talking about Jesus Christ. So, what are we afraid of? I think I know: Many Christians are secretly ashamed of Jesus Christ. Sometimes they’re sinfully lazy. Often they are afraid of offending people with the exclusive truths claimed by His Gospel. They’re afraid of rejection. They’re afraid of being branded as excessive in-your-face old-school evangelicals old-fashioned fundamentalists. I’m so glad that Jesus Christ was fearless, especially when He set His face toward Jerusalem and all He would suffer there on the cross during Holy Week.  I’m so glad the apostle Paul was courageous, despite beatings, floggings, and stonings; despite imprisonments, nakedness, and hunger; and despite so much more. Pray for me. Pray for my ongoing struggles with lung cancer, but mostly pray for God's enablement to stir Christians everywhere to be bold. May you, like many others, become an active witness to a world in desperate need of Jesus Christ. After all, He still is the one and only true “light of the world,” John 8:12. Let'sshare that Lifht as often and fearlessly as we possibly can. This is Luis Palau.

Are non-Christians often more eager to hear about the Lord than we Christians are to share His Good News? At a meeting in England, a woman named Jane stood and said, in effect, "What's wrong with you here? Why are some of you so opposed to evangelism?” Jane then proceeded to tell us how God saved her. Jane described a wild life filled with trouble when she was single. Ironing clothes one day while high on pot and drinking vodka, she panicked as she shook and recalled a friend's advice: “When you hit bottom, listen to these two messages.” She listened to a Good News Gospel message I had given at London's QPR Stadium. Halfway through that message, she called her friend, who had given her life to Jesus Christ at QPR, and begged her to come. That day her friend led Jane to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. “I was saved from drugs and drunkenness and a terrible lifestyle,” she said. “Now I'm married and my husband is pastor of a great church. I don't understand why you're against evangelism.” May you and I never be ashamed of the transforming power of the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ, as in Romans 1:16. This is Luis Palau.

Have you ever felt downright discouraged? Maybe you feel that you just don’t measure up to work standards, or you don’t meet the expectations of someone you love. We’ve all felt discouragement at one time or another! But as believers, we have Good news! God is a source of unending encouragement and unconditional love. And we’re called, as the family of Christ, to imitate this and encourage one another. Romans 15:5 says, “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other…”   Both Christians and non-Christians go through difficult seasons in life. Sometimes, struggles and discouragement are caused by our own decisions, and sometimes these struggles are caused by forces beyond our control. We live in a fallen world, so it is impossible to avoid challenges. But, during these hard times, we can take comfort in knowing that God never changes. He promises to always love us and to always remain by our side.    As you think about reaching your world, consider whom you can bless with the encouragement found only in Jesus. Perhaps something as simple as a smile can lead into a conversation about the faithfulness of God.   This is Andrew Palau.

Have you ever felt tired of doing something—even if you know it’s worthwhile? I know a young man who feels called to be a doctor. He was raised by missionaries, and since he was a young boy, has wanted to become a doctor to visit third world villages and spread the Good News while bringing medicine to the poor. Today, this man is in medical school, but he recently confided that it’s really hard! He feels tired. He feels exhausted. It would be easy to quit—but he’s not going to, he says, because he knows his vision to serve the poor is from God. Maybe you’re feeling tired of doing something good, such as praying for a relative who just never seems to change. Or working at a marriage that still has issues. Let me encourage you to not give up. Galatians 6:9 in the Bible says, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” This week, pray about what it is God is calling you to do—then press onward. Do not give up! When I was a teenager I asked a famous preacher to autograph my Bible, and he did.  And then he put this verse from Revelation chapter 2: “Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”  So, I leave it with you.  “Be faithful unto death,” says Jesus, “and I will give you the crown of life.”      This is Luis Palau.

I remember one year, in my home state of Oregon, we had a terrible snowstorm. I’m talking two weeks of crazy, blizzard-like weather with ice and snow. The airport was closed. Traffic stopped. Schools were cancelled for almost ten days. It was treacherous outside. But—inside my home, I felt safe. And the snow actually looked pretty through the window! At times in life, we go through our very own “snow storms”. Things get busy, hard, and emotional. Sometimes, we don’t even know what’s happening and suddenly—we’re buried in snow. But God is like our home. Our shelter. Our refuge. When life gets crazy, God is our calm in the storm. In Him, we are safe. The Bible talks about God as a sanctuary. Psalm 119:114 says, “You’re my place of quiet retreat; I wait for Your Word to renew me.” When we retreat to God, we can look out into the storm of our lives with more clarity and wisdom. This week, look for someone who is experiencing a snow storm in their life. As you offer them encouragement, share with them about Jesus, who is our shelter from anything life throws our way.                                    This is Luis Palau.

Let’s call the man Dominic. He has been incredibly successful on many fronts. He has started successful businesses, and lives in a big home. From the outside, you might think he has it all together, but recently he confided in me that he has a terrible time sleeping. “Luis,” he said, “I’m up all night, stressed about my next business venture. I worry about finances. I worry about failure. I fear losing my company. I fear letting people down. It’s all on my shoulders, and not sleeping is driving me crazy. What should I do?” I told my friend that God is big enough to handle our fears, worries, and doubts. Think about it—God made the entire universe. Of course he can handle our problems! I told Dominic that when we trust Jesus, we are inevitably less stressed. The Bible says in Psalms 4:8, “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety”. And in Isaiah 40:28, the Bible says, “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God. The creator of the ends of the earth; He does not grow faint or weary…” This week, consider someone in your life who is letting stress affect them. Is there someone who seems rushed and tired and exhausted? Is that person you? In any case, share about Jesus—who created us, and who has our best interests in mind. Tell of how we can rest in Him, instead of trying to handle the pressures of life on our own. This is Luis Palau.

Susan was a first-time mom. She and her husband loved their six-month-old, but more often than not, Susan just felt exhausted. The house was never clean. She didn’t remember what a full night of sleep was. She tried to meet the expectations put on her as a new mom, but she felt she was always falling short.  In time, these things wore Susan down, and she began feeling overwhelmed. Then one day, Susan was reminded of Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28 and 29: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly of heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” This is exactly what she needed to REST. As busy as she was with a new baby, Susan needed to take time to pray, and listen to what God was putting on her heart.    You know, in all my years of ministry I’ve seen a lot of people like Susan. Just plain exhausted Sometimes we’re tired because of things that happen beyond our control. And sometimes, we’re exhausted because of pressure we put on ourselves. In any case, going to Jesus, confiding in Him, and resting in Him is the best way we can feel rejuvenated. This week, think about an area of your life where you need rest. Then, talk to Jesus about it. Rest in His almighty presence.                           This is Luis Palau.