A few years ago, after a festival, a young man – call him Joe - approached me. He said, “Luis, how can I share the Good News? I’m not an evangelist. I’m not a pastor. And I’m not a missionary. I’m just an ordinary guy.” In response, I said, “Well, has God changed your life?” Of course, Joe said “Yes!” So I told him, “If God has changed your life, then you have what it takes to share the Good News. You have personal experience. You have a first-hand understanding of the power of Jesus.”

Often, I see people like Joe, who are afraid to share the Gospel because they don’t have some credential that gives them some imagined authority. But the truth is, we don’t need the title of ‘Pastor’ or ‘Missionary’ to tell the Good News. All we need is a heart for Jesus, and the story of Him working in our lives.

People cannot argue with how God has changed your life. So this week, be bold about telling your story. Tell the world how you went from being lost, to being found in Christ. Tell of the peace you have in Him. Be honest. Be vulnerable. And be confident that God can use your story to bring others to Him.  He said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you shall be my witnesses.”

This is Luis Palau.

A few years ago, my family and I were flying to Jamaica when our plane had a crash landing. The plane overshot the runway, breaking into pieces a few feet from the sea. Thankfully, all the passengers survived the crash, but let me tell you: it was one of the scariest experiences of my life.

  So that’s a sensational story.  But this type of tragedy plays out usually in the more mundane areas of our life and there’s no news flash, no flashing lights, no ambulances.  It happens in our day to day. Things seem perfectly fine. Then, out of the blue, tragedy can strike. In a thousand ways life can seem like a plane crash. This is when faith is truly a game-changer.  You see, when we put our faith in Jesus we know He is with us; we know for certain that our future is secure with Him. We can respond with courage and hopefulness even in the scariest and saddest of situations.

Grab hold of the call God gave Joshua for yourself. Joshua 1:9, “…Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

I encourage you to lean on God in every situation you encounter, and in doing this you will provide a testimony that people need to witness as they face the realities of the world.This is Andrew Palau.

Some of the greatest inventions of our time, some of the best medical advancements, and the biggest impacts on society, came because people believed in the impossible. I mean, when I was a kid, I couldn’t have possibly imagined the idea of “Facebook” or “Instagram” or electric cars. When I was a kid, doctors had not yet developed a vaccine against polio. But now, these things are commonplace. What seemed impossible became possible.

On a much bigger, grander, and more infinite scale—this is how God wants us to live in light of His Truth. The Bible says in Luke 1:37, “For nothing will be impossible with God.” And it’s true!  When we trust God, and when we act boldly to proclaim His Good News, nothing is impossible. There is no person that God cannot reach. There is no mountain that God could not move, if He wanted to.

This week, consider what you believe to be “impossible.” Perhaps you have a friend or family member who is far from God, and seems like a lost cause.  Pray about finding an opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus with them. Pray about it. Ask God to give you bold faith that sees beyond “impossible”. Then, go and boldly follow Him. With bold faith, God can accomplish anything He pleases through us. This is Luis Palau.

I enjoy watching newlyweds, because they are so passionately in love. But nothing beats seeing couples who have been married twenty, thirty, or even fifty years—-because you know their love has been weathered. It has seen storms. Two people have chosen to remain committed; they’ve stood by each other during the rough patches.

Sometimes, our faith can be a similar experience. New Christians are passionate, full of a certain excitement for the Word of God — and that’s great! But storms do come. Temptation will occur. Hard times are going happen. And when these situations arise, we must choose to remain determined, consistent in our faith. When we are tempted, we must be conscious about remaining faithful to Jesus. Bold faith is unwavering in trials. Bold faith seeks Jesus, and praises Him, even when things are really hard.

  James 1: 2-4 in the Bible says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

So, be bold in your faith by remaining steadfast, persistent even during trials, temptations, or storms. This is Luis Palau.

Has your spouse, friend, or parent ever called you and asked for a favor? My wife Pat will sometimes call and say, “Luis, can you pick up some bread on the way home?” or “Would you drive me to the mall?” Of course, because I love her, I do these things. And I’ve found most people respond this way to the ones they love. So, what if God called you? What if He said, “Hey, you down there… would you tell that person in your office about me?” or “Will you talk to your friend about what it means to have a relationship with me?” What would you do?  If you love God, you would certainly try to do as He asks.

The truth is, God doesn’t just ask us for favors as other people in our life do. God is the Creator of the Universe, so he doesn’t need any favors. But God does command us to do things. In fact, in John 15 Jesus says, “I command you to love each other in the same way I love you.” And in the Great Commission, in Matthew 28:19, Jesus says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

The point is, Jesus has called you to do something. Now, it’s up to you to respond. Will you answer His call by sharing His good news? Even if you are nervous about sharing?             

This is Luis Palau.

I know a woman named Abby who was raised in a family that considered itself very “religious”, but did not understand the importance of a relationship with Jesus. When Abby was a child, she began to wonder why certain prayers were recited, and why religious leaders in her church held specific traditions. Abby asked someone why these things happened, and they replied, “Because it’s always been that way. If you ask questions, you lack faith.” So, Abby stopped asking questions, and she went through the motions of religious duties she saw others going through.

   When she was a teenager, however, everything changed. A friend brought Abby to a summer Bible camp, where Abby learned about having a relationship with Jesus. She received Jesus as her Savior, and began to walk with Him. As Abby grew, and as questions arose, she prayed about them. Abby talked to Jesus. She called to Him when she was confused, lost, or unsure. Instead of silencing her questions and going through the motions, Abby opened her heart to the Savior. The point is, Abby exemplifies bold faith.

Bold faith is not just going along with the motions or trying to please God with good works. Bold faith is knowing Jesus intimately – walking with Him, trusting Him, obeying Him.  Do you yourself have that kind of relationship with Jesus?  You can.This is Luis Palau.

Whenever I find myself seeking meaning in something other than God, I read the Bible verse John 10:10. Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I come that they may have life and have it in abundance.” I love that word: in abundance. So often, I see people getting caught up in things that fall short of abundance. I have been in this situation before. In my book, The Secret Life of a Fool I share about how for many years I sought worth and meaning in my corporate job, in wrong relationships, and in my friends. But I was empty inside. And that’s because, even with an increasing accumulation of these things, I wasn’t walking with the Lord.

Friends, until I turned and relied on Jesus 100% my life did not have the type of true abundance that God offers. The enemy will try to persuade us to chase after these worldly things, but when it comes down to it, the deep longings within us will not be satisfied outside of Christ. John says, “There is a way that seems right to man but in the end it leads to death.”

This week, I urge you to reach the people in your corner of the world about the life and love that come from walking with Jesus. That is abundant life.         This is Andrew Palau.

I know of a man who was single for many years. During his time as a single person, he became increasingly selfish. He liked things the way he liked them, and whenever he began dating someone, he became easily frustrated if the person didn’t cater to all of his standards.  Everything revolved around him. After years of dating and never feeling satisfied, the man began to wonder if he would ever get married. He felt lonely, and he desired a spouse, and he couldn’t understand why it never worked out.

Finally one day, in church, the pastor spoke on Ephesians 5:21, which talks about “Submitting to one another out of fear of Christ." The pastor explained, “We submit to one another, we serve one another, because we are called to follow after Jesus, who served us by offering his very life. He was the ultimate sacrifice. We are called to be selfless, not selfish. Servants, not demanding kings.” The man experienced a light-bulb moment. He decided that instead of demanding things to be his way, he would make every effort to serve his next girlfriend in a godly way.

Not long after the man realized the need to change, he met a woman, who is now his wife.

Maybe you are in the same boat as this man. Maybe you need to focus more on what you can do for your friend, or spouse, or family — than what they can do for you. Whatever the case, God calls us to follow His example in word and deed.

This is Luis Palau.

I knew a woman who had accepted Jesus into her heart as a young girl, but who lived many years without actually following Christ. She lived for the approval of others. She made an idol out of work. She got her confidence from her outward appearance. And on the surface, she appeared to have a great life, but deep down, she was depressed.  She didn’t have the peace of the Lord in her heart. She felt like she was spinning her wheels without really getting anywhere.

One weekend, she went back to church after not going for a few years. And when she did, the message spoke to her. The pastor spoke on Matthew 6:33, which says, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Finally, it clicked. She had pushed God aside, and she had been seeking other things.

As this woman began to make Jesus a true priority—more than just a thought in the back of her head—she began to experience big changes in her life. Instead of needing the approval of others, she felt confidence in the Lord. Instead of immersing herself in fleeting thrills, she immersed herself in God’s Word. She felt peace, and true joy. Maybe you can identify with this woman. Maybe Jesus has been second or third priority in your life. If so, I encourage you to really seek Him first. When you do, you’ll notice some big changes.

This is Luis Palau.

Years ago, Evangelist Charles Finney had just finished a big outreach in Detroit when a man approached him and asked Charles to follow him. Charles followed this man down an alley and into the back door of an old building. When they got inside, the man pulled out a revolver from his back pocket. He looked at Charles and said, “Do you see this? This revolver has killed four people. Is there still hope for me?” Charles looked at the man and said, “The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.” The man couldn’t believe it. Then he said, “I also own a saloon… and I’ve sold every kind of substance to every kind of person. Is there still hope for me?” Again, Charles repeated the message from his sermon. “The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.” The man continued sharing his dark past, and each time, Charles said, “The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.” The next night, that man and his entire family showed up at the next evangelistic outreach, and he surrendered publicly to Jesus Christ.

I love this story, because it’s a reminder that no sin is too bad to hinder God from loving you. The Bible says in 1 John 1:7. “But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light…the blood of Jesus Christ purifies us from all sin.” If you have yet to receive Jesus Christ into your heart, I cannot urge you enough to do so today. Let Jesus give you forgiveness and a new life.

This is Luis Palau.