Sometimes in the desert of life, we run from the narrow path leading towards God to chase mirages that we believe will quench our thirst. Other times, though, we try too hard, thinking that we can find our way out of the desert through our own determination. When I was a teenager, some friends and I started all-night prayer meetings each Friday. We listened to sermons by visiting preachers. We rededicated our lives to Jesus. We served, and prayed, and read the Bible. We just about killed ourselves, we were so eager to be holy. My times of study and prayer and work became a cycle of grim determination, and the results never changed much.

I was on the verge of giving up – not because I saw any lack in God, but because I was weary of struggling and seeking to persevere through grim determination. Finally, I saw a film of Dr. Billy Graham preaching from Ephesians 5:18. Dr. Graham seemed to be looking at me and asking: “Are you filled with the Holy Spirit?” I wasn’t! I was trying to do everything out of my own power. Prayer, service, and Bible reading are important, but we don’t do these things because they are required. We do them so we can live with more joy!

So, in desert times, look for the Holy Spirit’s movement, and invite others to encounter that Spirit with you. It’s the surefire way to be refreshed and ready to continue reaching your world for Christ. 

This is Luis Palau.

When dry desert-like times come into our lives, and we find the joy of our salvation lacking, there are a few different ways that we can react: some of them good, some of them not so good. I can speak from experience! For example, one way I reacted to the desert times was by running from them to any cheap oasis I could find. I chased mirages through the desert, thinking one of them could give me the joy, the living water that I lacked. I cooled towards my God and my church, because I blamed God for my troubles. I blamed him for the thirst I was feeling.

As a young teenager, I became quite good at running toward non-Christian parties and soccer games and social clubs. I spent time with friends who would make fun of the religious people around them – religious people like I used to be. But as I ran from one oasis to the next, none satisfied me. I started to wonder what I was doing. There was no purpose in my life, nothing to look forward to. Finally, I realized I had to stop running. I prayed to God, “Get me out of this, and I will serve You and give my whole life to you!” That was the turning point for me. I turned to Jesus and drank from the living water He provides.

So many people turn to other things to satisfy them, but Jesus is the only one who can quench our inner thirst. Let’s point people to that one and only true fount of living water; their lives will never be the same.    

This is Luis Palau.

I became a Christian at the age of 12, and I grew up to become an evangelist, spreading the good news of Jesus to people all over the world. However, this doesn’t mean that every step of my 70 year journey with God has been easy. I have not always listened to Christ’s voice and been filled with the Holy Spirit. Sometimes I found myself wandering through deserts, wondering if I was even on the right path anymore. As Jesus said, “the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life.” Sometimes I wandered the wrong way when I was young.

Wandering often happens in the desert, when we feel far from God and the joy of our salvation. Many Christians feel this way. They’ve given their hearts to Jesus. They love Him. They show up at church. They serve and do all the right things, but they have little joy, little freedom, little fruitfulness. In a moment of honesty, they’ll admit they’re not really happy.

Desert times do come, but what matters is how we act in them. We must remember who we are: children of God, fueled by his power and confidence. In the desert, God is our water source, our sustenance. He is the source of our joy, and we can be content and fulfilled no matter what life throws at us. The path we walk is narrow, but others will see us walking well and want to join us, and we will reach our world for Christ.

This is Luis Palau.

I love what the Bible says in the book of Daniel.  It says, “As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance."

Sharing the Good News because you care about your friends shows your love for them and for God.  Sharing the Good News because Jesus commanded it is another great reason to reach your world. But, if either of those isn’t enough incentive, the fact that God promises a reward should be.  God wants us to endure.  He wants us to be faithful in sharing the Good News because He wants to bless and reward us in eternity.  God is so good and loving to encourage us about the long-term rewards of our efforts in ministry.  We can enjoy some rewards here on earth, but think how many more there will be in Heaven.  Let’s be faithful so that someday we’ll receive those incredible promises of God.

I don’t know exactly what these rewards will look like, but I know that God has something amazing in store for those who love and serve Him.  Let that be an encouragement to you as you go out to reach your world.

This is Andrew Palau.

A while ago, someone asked me how the Gospel message has changed throughout the years. They said, “Everything evolves. Has the message of Jesus evolved?” I was shocked at this question. I told them that the Gospel message has never changed. And it will never change. Like Jesus’ love for us, the Good News is the same message today, as it was yesterday. And it will be the same tomorrow. Sure, the ways we share the Good News have evolved some--like the music has got louder, and the church buildings might look different with trendy names. But the message of the Gospel has and always will remain the same. Churches might grow or shrink. Pastors might come and go. But Jesus’ message is true for everyone. And anyone can receive salvation when they accept Jesus as their Savior.

The Bible says in John 14:6, “I am the Way, the Truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." And Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Wherever you are today, I urge you to share the unchanging Good News with someone in your life who does not yet know Jesus.

This is Luis Palau.

Over the years, I’ve had countless people approach me and say, “Luis—I just don’t know what to do. I’ve been praying for so-and-so for YEARS, and they still don’t know Jesus!” When I hear these complaints, I first empathize with the feeling. I get it. It can be discouraging to want someone to know the Good News, only to have them resist it or reject it. I’ve been there. But let me encourage you to be patient and be persistent in prayer. Do not give up!

When my son, Andrew, was in his early adult years, he had walked away from the church. For years, my wife, Pat and I prayed for him. We talked to him about Jesus whenever we could without being obnoxious. Years went by. It was tempting to give up, or to stop trying -- but we persisted. And guess what? Andrew came around. He heard the Good News, responded, and the Lord changed his entire life. And Andrew isn’t the only one. I have seen God change hearts in hundreds of sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers.

If you know someone who doesn’t know Jesus, or who has walked away from the church, pray for them. Talk to them about Jesus. And do not give up.The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing” and in 1 Corinthians 15:59 it urges us to be “steadfast” because our labor is not in vain. 

This is Luis Palau.

Years ago, I read a devotional called “You Are My Hiding Place” by Amy Carmichael and David Hazard. One devotion that really struck me was about reputation. The authors asked, “Would you still share the Gospel, even if your reputation was damaged because of it?” The reality is, popular culture is increasingly hostile towards Christianity. Being a follower of Jesus isn’t “popular”. And talking to people about Jesus is often labeled “extreme”. By all accounts, we may lose our reputation because of our faith—but I promise you, a life with Jesus is so much greater than a life of popularity.

The Bible says in Matthew 16:24 that “Jesus told his disciples, if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me”. Sometimes, this means denying ourselves the popularity that comes with hiding our faith, or giving up our morals.

This week, I urge you to be bold in sharing the Good News. Instead of worrying about what people might think of you, consider how many hearts God could reach using your testimony. You’ll be surprised by how many of your friends would like to know your faith story. So begin to tell it.

This is Luis Palau.

Sometimes I think we, as Christians, forget how urgent the Gospel message really is. We think, “Once I’m comfortable with so-and-so, then I’ll share the Good News…” or “I’ll only share the Good News if they bring it up.” I think people have this idea that we’ll always have more time to share Jesus with the lost. But let me tell you: this couldn’t be further from the truth. The Gospel message is an urgent one. Life is fragile, and in the blink of an eye we could be gone. Whether people have or haven’t received Jesus will affect them for all eternity.

The Bible says in Proverbs 24:11, “Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.” So let’s share the Good News – the Gospel - boldly, honestly, and clearly today.

Who in your life needs to hear that Jesus Christ came to earth to die on a cross so they could be saved? Who needs to hear of His love and redemption? Who needs “rescuing” by the Gospel? Pray about these things—then start conversations.

This is Luis Palau.

Around the world, every nation, tongue, and people group loves stories. Stories about their history, their community, their family. Stories about their own lives.

Here in the U.S., especially, story is deeply embedded in our DNA. It’s deeply embedded into our very ways of thinking, feeling, relating, educating, entertaining, understanding, and conducting business.

Contrary to popular rumor, however, our own stories are not supreme. Instead, what’s supreme are the stories by and about God, Creator of heaven and earth, who formed us from the dust of the earth, who loves us, and who sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Lord and Savior.

So, how do we get today’s generation interested in God’s stories? By genuinely being interested in hearing their stories. In our day, people have to pay big bucks to hire a counselor to listen to them without interrupting. Other people aren’t willing to listen like that. They really aren’t.

So, when we listen, people are more vulnerable and willing to open up and talk. They simply need to know you genuinely care enough to listen to them. Do just that! If you take the time to hear their story, you may get the opportunity to share yours. That includes what Jesus has done for you.

This is Andrew Palau.

This past month I received a letter from a lady who says: “In 2016 and 2017 I was brought to the very edge of hell through numerous very intense personal heartaches.  During that time I would daily go on a 5- to 6-hour walk, crying out to God, yelling out to God, and actually being brought to my knees on the side of the road in deep heart pain.  It was during this time that I also started listening to you on this Christian radio station and would hear your words of encouragement and wisdom come through.  It was from God, through you to my hurting and broken heart that God began to work in me and He has been teaching me more of Himself and dependence on Him.

"You don’t know me.  I’m a faceless person to you, but maybe we will meet in heaven around God’s mighty feast table.  What a glorious day that will be!”

Man, are you absolutely right, sister!  We shall meet at the feast table in the presence of the throne of God. And we shall celebrate with joy what Jesus did on the cross, giving His blood to forgive our sins.  I’m so glad that by listening to God’s word through the radio you came to peace with God through the blood of Christ.

And if you are listening and you feel like this woman, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,” the Bible says, “and you shall be saved.”         

This is Luis Palau.