I once knew of a woman who had a very bad form of cancer. She was young, and recently married. Her prognosis wasn’t very good, and the doctors told her she would have only a few months to live. This woman could have been angry, sad, or frustrated. She could have retreated, or given up on life in general. But instead, she lived joyfully to the very end. She thanked God for the time He gave her on earth, and she knew with certainty that she would be with Jesus in Heaven. Other people in her life were affected by her joyful spirit; even during her darkest days, this woman showed what it meant to live joyfully with Christ.    

When we have received Jesus as our personal Savior and are walking with Him, He fills us with joy. We can be at peace when life is difficult, because we know that God is with us each step of the way. 

The Bible says in Romans 15:13. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” This week, I encourage you - choose to be joyful. Let your light shine to others regardless of your circumstances so that they may see Christ in you.

This is Luis Palau.

A high school teacher asked his class, “What would happen if we didn’t have any laws?” At first, the class said things such as, “It would be more fun,” or “I could do whatever I want.” But after a few minutes, a young woman said, “Honestly, it would be total chaos.” And everyone agreed.

Indeed, without any sort of structure and boundary within which to live, society would be chaotic. While people say they want complete freedom, if we didn’t have any laws, things would be dangerous.

Christianity is far from being a strict set of rules, but as followers of Jesus we are given helpful guidelines that act as a roadmap for us. The Bible is filled with wisdom, hope, encouragement, and boundaries within which we are called to live. Of course, we will never be perfect, and it’s not about living a blemish-free life. But following God produces fruitfulness that can’t happen any other way.

I urge you to keep God relevant in your life by reading the Bible and following His Word. As Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

This is Luis Palau.

The book “The Shack” stayed on the New York Times Bestsellers list from 2008 to 2010. The story is about a father whose youngest daughter is murdered, understandably pushing him into anger and pain. One day, this father, named Mack, gets a letter that leads him into a shack, where encounters with God propel him to ultimately forgive his daughter’s killer. Mack discovered that forgiving the one who hurt him removed all the hold the killer had on his heart.

In life, we will all experience levels of pain. It will be unavoidable. But when we have God in our heart, we are empowered to forgive even the worst offenses. God is relevant because God shows His mercy and grace and forgiveness—and He empowers us to show others the same.

The Bible says in Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” This week, remember how God has forgiven you. Then, consider who you need to forgive.

This is Luis Palau.

Years ago, at a luncheon in a large city, a successful businessman said to me, “Luis, when my life is busy, I am happy. But when things slow down, I begin to ask myself questions and I get anxious. Who am I? Why am I here? What is my purpose? Surely, there has to be more to life than just making money…” At the time, this man wasn’t a Christian. His questions are common for people everywhere. You have probably asked yourself similar questions before. I would argue that many of society’s problems come from people who can’t figure out their meaning, their purpose, or their significance.

Thankfully, as believers in Jesus, we know the answers to these questions because they are shared in the Bible. Who are you? You are a son or daughter of Christ. You were created by a Divine being. You were not a mistake. And your purpose, as a Child of God, is to share the Good News of Jesus. It is to live in a way that shines the light of Jesus to those around you. The Bible says you were “fearfully and wonderfully made”- so you have unique abilities that differ from people around you who don’t know God. And I believe that God gives us the courage to live out our unique attributes as we walk with Him.  You can rest securely, knowing that your identity, purpose, and calling are rooted in Jesus Christ.  

This is Luis Palau.

Prayer is a great mystery. The concept of mere humans engaging in communion with the God of the Universe is hard to fathom. As absurd as it may sound, you and I can engage in prayer and have a conversation with our Creator. We can seek Him and expect tangible results, a reply.

The Scriptures are full of accounts of God being pleased when people come to Him in prayer. Philippians 4 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Did you get that? God cares about everything we care about. I’ll be the first to confess that His answers never cease to amaze me.

Do you have a friend who doesn’t know the Lord Jesus? Pray for the lonely without the voice of God in their life. Ask the Lord to reveal Himself to their heart. Ask for an open door to share your testimony, and walk into it when it comes.  But begin with faithful prayer.  As the Bible says, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

This is Andrew Palau.

Alex met Julie at a coffee shop. Julie was a barista, and Alex was a customer. Alex went to the coffee shop almost every day, and began having conversations with Julie. She found out that Julie was an artist, she came from a large family, and she had lived in the area for only a year. As Alex began to pray for opportunities to spread the Good News, God revealed to her that she could start with the friend she had made in Julie. Alex invited Julie to hang out, and she listened as Julie shared more of her life story.

Through weekly get-togethers, the two became close friends, and Alex ultimately led Julie to the Lord. Now, Alex does not just see Julie at the coffee shop, but they go to church together.

Colossians 4 says, “…pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ.” Alex is just a regular person, like you and me. Yet God used her to make a huge impact on Julie. This week, be on the lookout for open doors. Make conversation really matter, and reach out, in word and deed, to everyone you meet.

This is Luis Palau.

You know, I think sometimes we believe that missionaries and pastors are the only people called to spread the Gospel—but this couldn’t be further from the truth. God’s plan is to use all of us according to His purpose. You may be thinking, ‘Okay Luis, this is easy for you to say. But I’m a Lawyer in New York. How can I spread the Good News Gospel?’ but the answer is quite simple: if you open yourself up to being used by the Lord, the Lord will find a way to use you.

Perhaps God can use you by showing others around you that you hold yourself to a high standard of morality and integrity. As people in your office, school, or neighborhood get to know you and see something different about you, this will open the door for you to talk to them about Jesus. I know many godly people—businessmen, doctors, lawyers, factory workers, teachers, students, moms and dads—you name it! The bottom line is: God has given each of us our own unique skills. In Psalm 139, the Bible says that God knit us together in our mothers’ wombs. He created us to have certain interests and skillsets, but he created us this way for a purpose—and that purpose is not only to achieve success within our industry. But also, it is to live a life pleasing to our heavenly Father, by spreading His Good News and living out his commands.

This is Luis Palau.

William Cameron Townsend was a missionary in Guatemala, trying to reach indigenous tribes in the early 1900s. Townsend wanted to reach these people with the Good News, but he had no way of translating the Bible at the time. His goal was to find linguists, and have them help teach tribes to read, so they could learn the Good News Gospel. Aside from this being an enormous task, Townsend did not have any funding or linguists to work with. Many would have given up, but Townsend prayed, and persevered.

When he went back to the United States, he began recruiting volunteers and raising funds. Just a few months later, he returned to Guatemala with a group of people to start his project. Eventually, this turned into Wycliffe Bible Translators. Because of Townsend’s vision, people all over the world now have access to the Bible in their own language.

I know that in my life, there are huge tasks God has put on my heart. At times, these tasks can seem overwhelming, but by praying and resting in the Word, and relying on the power of the Holy Spirit, I can persevere. And so can you.

What is God putting in front of you? Is there a task, a dream, or a goal he has planted in your heart? If you feel this is too big for you to accomplish—take heart! You are not alone. Philippians 4:13 says we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. I urge you to rely on Him as your source of strength, pray continually, and persevere.

This is Luis Palau.

When I was a young boy, my parents told me all sorts of stories about missionaries from the 1800’s. Even today, I get excited to hear great accounts of courageous, amazing men and women who served God overseas. It reminds me that all of us are called to go and proclaim the Good News.

One of the missionaries I admire most is Hudson Taylor. He was an Englishman, the first missionary to the interior of China. He later founded the China Inland Mission, where hundreds of missionaries followed, spreading the Good News all over China. Taylor tried to “move men through God, by prayer." To him, prayer was a crucial part of evangelism. And you know, this is still true today. In fact, it was this mindset that I believe made Hudson Taylor so successful in his missions.

As you consider reaching people in your part of the world—whether at school, in your neighborhood, at work, or in your city - I urge you to first start with prayer. Pray: how can you use me, God? Then, pray: where will you use me, God? Some people are called to serve overseas, and others are called to make an impact in their cities. I urge you to pray about these things, then, let God use you to spread His Good News to the World.

This is Luis Palau.

In the Bible, Jesus repeatedly told stories of God’s love for the lost. God is like the shepherd, searching for the one lost and vulnerable sheep. He is like the father who celebrated when his lost and confused son returned home repentant. These stories illustrate God’s patient search for every single person. 2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish…”

In other words, God is all about relationships. He cares for each and every person. I know this for a fact, because in my young-adult years, I myself was the lost sheep, and the son who left home. And yet, God showed me love and mercy through countless people in my life — especially my parents. God has this kind of love for everyone, and that is why I share the Good News every chance I get. I want others to understand that their lives are valuable. That God has a plan for them and that he loves them very much.

As you hear this message, consider who in your life is the lost sheep or the son who has not yet returned home. Do you trust that God loves them, and wants a relationship with them? If so, don’t give up! Pray without ceasing. You can reveal that love to them. Look for opportunities to share the Good News. Reach your world.     

This is Andrew Palau.