Kati Metro, 74, was hiking near Phoenix, Arizona, when she fell, injuring her face, wrist, and hip. A rescue helicopter flew in, and workers strapped her to a stretcher. Unfortunately, the winds were fierce, and a line failed that was supposed to prevent the stretcher from spinning as they pulled it up to the helicopter. The incident, which was caught on camera, was terrifying. Kati, suspended horizontally on the stretcher, started spinning around faster and faster, like the runaway hands of a clock—over 170 times in two minutes. She survived the ordeal, although she was dizzy for several days. The video transfixed social media, and I wonder if it was because, as horrifying as the experience was, it’s a bit of an analogy about how a lot of people feel right now.

They trudge through life, have a fall, encounter difficulties, and suddenly their lives spin out of control. They feel they’re at the end of their ropes, dangling dangerously in high winds. Life can be truly dizzying if you lose your perspective.

Anchored in Christ

Two things make all the difference in keeping life in perspective. First, we have to be anchored in Christ. Kati started spinning out of control when the line became disconnected that anchored her rescue basket. Hebrews 6:18–20 says that we—who know Christ—can lay hold of the hope set before us. “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus.”

When we come to Christ, we’re throwing the rope of faith into the heavenly place, and our anchor snags onto Christ, the immovable Rock.

Warren Wiersbe said, “The anchor was a popular symbol in the early church. At least sixty–six pictures of anchors have been found in the catacombs…. However, this spiritual anchor is different from material anchors on ships. For one thing, we are anchored upward—to heaven—not downward. We are anchored not to stand still, but to move ahead! Our anchor is ‘sure’—it cannot break—and ‘steadfast,’ it cannot slip. No earthly anchor can give that kind of security!”¹

This is the wonderful experience of being totally committed to Jesus Christ. We have to come to Him and say, “Lord, I want all of You to have all of me. You gave Your life for me, and I am anchoring my life in You.” That’s the starting place for maintaining a healthy perspective.

Focused on Scripture

The other element is staying focused on Scripture. Our world is forcing too much clutter into our brains. The world is screaming at us. We obsess over social media. The all–news stations open every story with “breaking news” banners. People are more polarized than ever, and on top of all that, we have mindless entertainment flowing like polluted streams across our devices and into our minds.

How can we keep our perspective in the midst of it all? We begin by learning to focus on Scripture. Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

The word meditation is a biblical word, having to do with what we mull over, what we ponder, what we think about.

Let’s take up that word “meditate.” I’m surprised how allergic a lot of Christians are to the practice of meditation. The world has stolen that word and now identifies it with Eastern mysticism. But the word meditation is a biblical word, having to do with what we mull over, what we ponder, what we think about.

The Bible tells us repeatedly to meditate on the Word of God. Or, as Paul puts it here, to think about things that are:

1. True. Jesus said, “I am… the truth,” and “Your word is truth” (John 14:6 and 17:17). Truth is whatever aligns with the facts flowing from Jesus and His unfailing Word.
2. Noble. This word means “honorable, worthy of being honored, worthy of respect.” Does that describe most of our screen viewing or most of our thoughts? We must learn to align our mental patterns with noble things. James 2:7 says that the people of the world “blaspheme that noble name by which [we] are called,” referring to the name of Jesus.
3. Just. This word means “right” or “righteous or whatever conforms to godly morality.” The angels in heaven sing, “Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!” (Revelation 15:3)
4. Pure. If something is pure, it contains no traces of contamination. Psalm 12:6 says, “The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.”
5. Lovely. Lovely things are satisfying to our senses. They give us pleasure. Hymnist Grant Colfax Tullar wrote, “Oh precious Jesus, how lovely Thou art! Come and abiding, rule in my heart.”²
6. Of Good Report. Some translations have admirable or commendable instead of “good report.” In 2 Thessalonians 1:10, Paul talked about the day when Jesus will come “to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe.”
7. Virtuous. The word here means “excellence of character, outstanding goodness.” Second Peter 1:3 says, “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.”
8. Praiseworthy. This means “something or someone worthy of high commendation and praise.” The psalmist said, “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable” (Psalm 145:3).

These, then, are the things on which we’re to meditate, and that alone clarifies our perspective and keeps our focus. How, then, do we meditate on these things? Nothing will help you stay anchored and more focused this year than learning the art of biblical meditation.

5 Strategies for Anchoring Your Thoughts

First, spend time every day before an open Bible. You cannot meditate on what you don’t read or study. Disconnect for a few minutes from the cluttered noise of life and be still and know that He is God. Close your door and open your Bible. As you read, underline any verses that speak to you or make notes in your tablet, your journal, or the margin of your Bible. Train your mind to notice each word of the text you’re reading.

Second, make a note of the verses that speak the most to you. You might want to use notecards and sticky notes, or you may keep a list on your smartphone. The point is, don’t close your Bible and go into your day forgetting what you learned during your time of meditation. Recall those truths throughout your day.

Third, discipline your mind to think about that verse or passage when you’re preparing for the day. Some surveys say that most of us don’t think anymore except when we’re showering or driving, or perhaps while running, jogging, or walking. If so, let the Scriptures circulate through your mind during those times. It’s as practical as this—when you turn on the hot and cold water and step into the shower, take your Bible verse along. Instead of letting your mind run to all your upcoming obligations, say to yourself, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). Think about what that means. Audibly recite Scripture to yourself.

Fourth, keep your favorite verses with you throughout the day. Check them on your smartphone as often as you check your social media. Memorize some of them.

Finally, reflect upon those verses as you go to bed and fall asleep at night. Let your final thoughts be of Jesus and His Word, which is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and worthy of praise.

Let me end with a good verse to start the new year with—Psalm 31:15: “My times are in Your hand.” Charles Spurgeon meditated on this verse, and he said, “‘My times, these change and shift;’ but they change only in accordance with unchanging love, and they shift only according to the purpose of One with whom is no variableness nor shadow of a turning. ‘My times,’ that is to say, my ups and my downs, my health and my sickness, my poverty and my wealth—all those are in the hand of the Lord, who arranges and appoints according to his holy will…And we are glad it is so.”³

Don’t let life spin out of control this year. Keep life in perspective. Stay anchored to Christ and focused on Scripture. Set your mind on things above, for your times are in His hands.

Advice columnist Ann Landers, when asked if there was a common denominator among the thousands of letters that came to her, said that the great overriding theme of all the letters was fear—fear of nearly everything imaginable until the problem became, for countless readers, a fear of life itself.

Yet Proverbs 3:25–26 commands, “Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; for the Lord will be your confidence.” It seems two of the most terrible criminals live within our own hearts—the diabolical duo of fear and worry. They stalk us whenever we board an airplane, open a bill, visit a doctor, walk down a darkened sidewalk, or glance at the clock when our child is late for curfew.

Fear Is a Universal Problem

Christians aren’t exempt from fear. Judging from Scripture, God’s people can expect to be tormented by the same alarms as everyone else. Though the disciples had Jesus continually with them, they seemed constantly afraid—of storms, of crowds, of poverty, of armies, of loss of status, of the loss of their leader.

Worry is a particularly virulent form of fear. Someone said that worry is a trickle of fear that meanders through the mind until it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts drain.

Do I ever worry? Of course I do; I’ve raised four children to adulthood, and I’ve faced serious illness. That qualifies me as an expert on the subject. But for me, worry is a small town I pass through, not a place to hang my hat. It’s a momentary phase, not a lifestyle. For many people, worry has become so ingrained in their personalities that, once the old worries are gone, they search for new ones.

That’s why fear and worry are sins—they doubt God’s promises, question His power, disregard His presence, and divert our hearts from His praise. John Wesley said, “I would no more worry than I would curse or swear.” How, then, do we lock up the criminals of fear and worry? With three God–given weapons of our own:

God has given us weapons to overcome fear and worry.

Step One: Pray About Your Problems

First, let your fears drive you to the Lord in prayer. The “Six Words of Wisdom for Worriers” are—Worry about nothing—pray about everything! The Living Bible translates Philippians 4:6–7 this way: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank Him for His answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.”

Elisha Hoffman met a woman in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, whose depression seemed beyond cure. She poured out her pent–up sorrows, crying, “What shall I do? Oh, what shall I do?” Hoffman told her to take her sorrows to Jesus. “You must tell Jesus,” he said.

I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

Prayer is our primary method for telling Jesus about our worries and, in the process, of recognizing the presence of God. We draw near to Him in prayer, and in His presence is peace. Admittedly, this may take some time. It often takes a season of abiding before the Lord before our hearts break through into the fullness of His peace.

Jesus prayed three times about His burden in Gethsemane. Paul asked three times for relief from his thorn in the flesh. Elijah prayed seven times for rain to fall on Carmel (Matthew 26:44; 2 Corinthians 12:8; 1 Kings 18:43).

Fear is a spiritual yardstick, and we grow stronger as we learn to cast our cares on Him in prayer.

Sometimes peace comes instantly; other times, it comes slowly but surely as we linger before God’s throne. In either case, our fear level is a sort of referendum on the closeness of our friendship with God. It’s a spiritual yardstick, and we grow stronger as we learn to cast our cares on Him in prayer.

Step Two: Pour Over God’s Promises

Having given our fears to God in prayer, we must pour over the Scriptures, searching out specific promises for our needs. Copy them down, memorize them, and meditate on them when rising in the morning, going to bed at night, and working throughout the day. Here are some verses that have helped me:

Psalm 27:1: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

Psalm 118:6: “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

Proverbs 29:25: “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.”

Psalm 37:8: “Do not fret—it only causes harm.”

Isaiah 41:10: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Those verses are the best fear insurance you can find. Clip them out and place them in locations where you’re prone to anxiety attacks. Hide them in your heart, and let the Word of God fortify your spirit.

Step Three: Persevere With Passion and Peace

Then, trust Him.

The author of Hebrews wrote to those facing persecution in the first century. In chapter 12, we find that since believers in earlier generations trusted God with their difficulties, we too should “run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (verses 1–2 NIV). Perseverance means we aren’t going to be terrorized by worry and fear. We’re going to trust God, fix our eyes on Christ, and keep going.

Missionary E. Stanley Jones learned this in India. He arrived on the mission field with a great passion for ministry but battling crippling anxiety that led to periodic physical collapses. Diagnosing himself, Jones admitted to “brain fatigue, nervous exhaustion, and depression.” In this state, Jones traveled to the city of Lucknow for a series of meetings. There, one night while praying, he felt the Lord speaking to him. Though not audible, the Lord’s voice seemed to say:

Perseverance means we aren’t going to be terrorized by worry and fear.

Are you yourself ready for this work to which I have called you?

“No, Lord, I am done for,” Jones replied. “I have reached the end of my resources.”

If you will turn that over to Me and not worry about it, I will take care of it.

“Lord,” Jones said, “I close the bargain right here.”

Just then, a great peace pervaded his whole being. “I knew it was done! Life—Abundant Life—had taken possession of me. I was so lifted up that I scarcely touched the road as I quietly walked home that night. I went through the days, working far into the night, and came down to bedtime wondering why in the world I should ever go to bed at all, for there was not the slightest trace of tiredness of any kind. I seemed possessed by life and peace and rest—by Christ Himself.”

For the rest of his life, Jones never forgot what the Lord had whispered in his ear: If you will turn that over to me and not worry about it, I’ll take care of it.

Are the cruel criminals of fear and worry stalking you? Let your fears drive you to prayer, claim God’s promises, and persevere by fixing your eyes on Jesus. If you’ll turn your burden over to Him and not worry about it, He’ll take care of you. The Lord Jesus Himself said: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

This article was adapted from Dr. David Jeremiah’s book Slaying the Giants in Your Life.

Corrie ten Boom used to recite a little couplet: “Worry is an old man with bended head, carrying a load of feathers which he thinks are lead.” She understood that anxiety is foolish because it concerns that which isn’t. It lives in an imaginary future. It deals in speculation and possibility. As long as we dwell on the worst–case scenario, we guarantee our own misery because an extensive catalog of calamity is always within reach of the imagination.

Worry weighs us down with its burdens. But what does lightheartedness look like?

In Matthew 6:28–30, Jesus says:

So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Have you ever walked through a beautiful garden in the springtime? It’s difficult to be weighed down by the cares of the world when you’re surrounded by the majesty of God’s creation. Solomon was a glorious king, Jesus tells us, with the wealth of several kingdoms at his disposal. But all his riches paled in comparison to the simplest lily in the field.

And how many office hours have those lilies put in? How many dues have they paid? Have you ever seen a lily suffering through an anxiety attack? They don’t second guess their purpose or put off their tasks. They simply sway in the breeze, reaching heavenward toward the source of their water and sunshine and sustenance. They do what they were designed to do, and what they were designed to do is to glorify God. May you and I glorify God with the same simplicity.

More importantly, may we understand that God values us so much more than a lily. The lily is merely something He created for our pleasure because we’re the ones who bear His image. If He cares for each petal or stem that blooms and fades within a season, how much more does He care for you and me? How much does He take to heart the things that cause us anxiety?

He took the answer to that question and displayed it on a cross two thousand years ago. He would never suffer and die for the same children He planned to neglect.

18 Verses for Finding Peace

And God reminds us of this truth throughout Scripture. When the enemies of worry and anxiety attack, we can hold fast to these promises and encouragements from God’s Word (and many more!) to win the battle:

Deuteronomy 33:25
As your days, so shall your strength be.

Psalm 43:5
Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God: for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.

Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

Matthew 6:30
Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Philippians 4:6–7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 5:7
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Psalm 50:15
Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.

Proverbs 3:5–6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Matthew 11:28–30
Come to Me, all you 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 in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Proverbs 12:25
Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.

Psalm 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Romans 8:31–32
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Romans 8:38–39
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Psalm 56:3–4
Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?

In case of emergency—break glass. No doubt you’ve seen signs bearing these words. Painted bright red, they stand out from their surroundings to grab our attention, offering a lifeline when disaster strikes. Whether it’s a means of turning off the gas line or accessing an AED or activating an alarm, emergency signs point us to a vital source of protection.

When life feels normal, we tend to ignore these indicators. It’s not until the hallway fills with smoke that we stop what we’re doing and examine what’s on the other side of the glass. For that reason, these markers are clearly labeled and easily used.

Did you know the Bible contains similar markers? They’re not painted fire–engine red, but they are dotted throughout every hallway of Scripture. Instead of emergency, these signs are labeled remember. As in, remember what the Lord has done. When activated, they have the power to extinguish the destructive flames of discouragement.

When we focus on the fire—the obstacles we are facing—we lose perspective of the One who is mighty to save (Isaiah 63:1). Instead of calling on the Lord, we summon our own strength … and quickly lose heart. We forget that “the Lord will hear when I call to Him” and that He “preserves the faithful” (Psalm 4:1; 31:23). We fight the raging fire with a garden hose instead of calling the fire department.

Remembering God’s faithfulness breaks the glass, pulls the lever, and floods our hearts with life–saving hope.

After leading the children of Israel through the desert for forty years, Moses reached the end of his journey on the plains of Moab by the Jordan River. The young generation was ready to press forward, but Moses, his earthly life ebbing, paused to give them his last words—a series of sermons we call Deuteronomy. Although the Promised Land lay before them, Moses knew his people’s trials were not over.

There were giants in the land—literal giants descended from Anak and figurative giants in the form of doubts, fears, and discouragement (Numbers 13:25–33).

Moses urged them to remember God’s outstanding goodness across the years. He wanted them to carry the memories of God’s grace with them as they pressed forward to new heights.

• “Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen…. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren” (Deuteronomy 4:9).
• “And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand” (Deuteronomy 5:15).
• “You shall remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh” (Deuteronomy 7:18).
• “And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way” (Deuteronomy 8:2).
• “Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations” (Deuteronomy 32:7).

Do you remember a time when something happened that made you exclaim: “Praise the Lord!” or, “Thank You, Jesus!”? You and I have some glorious memories, recollections of moments when the right thing happened at the right time, that cause us to instantly recognize the hand of God.

It’s therapeutic to replay these times of blessings in our mind. Imagine how often the Israelites relived the plagues of Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, or the water gushing from the rock. These were outstanding moments—standout performances of God’s grace.

Whether wandering in the wilderness of discouragement or poised on the plains of Moab for a new adventure, we need to train ourselves to remember past blessings and acknowledge God’s goodness in earlier days, like Samuel who built the Ebenezer monument, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us” (1 Samuel 7:12). Without flashbacks of God’s faithfulness, there’s no outlook for our future. When we recognize how God has been our help in ages past, we’ll remember He’s our hope for years to come. Let me suggest four ways of doing this.

Acknowledge God’s Outstanding Answers to Prayer

Begin by acknowledging the prayers God has answered throughout your life and thank Him for what He’s already done. More than a hundred years ago, a man in Shanghai named Ding Li–Mei was Secretary of the Student Volunteer Movement in China. During his student years, his prayer list contained 105 names, but after some years in ministry his list included 2,347 people.

Mr. Ding faithfully prayed for each one daily, keeping his prayer book within reach when he was traveling by rickshaw or train, when in his room, or even while on the platform getting ready to speak. He wouldn’t go to sleep until the last name was presented before the Throne of Grace.

“I do not know all the benefits which others may have received through these prayers,” he testified. “I cannot refrain from enumerating … blessings which I myself have experienced in the practice of this habit: 1) I am so much with the Lord that He seems my closest Friend. 2) My spiritual life is refreshed like the sprouting grain with rain…. When I talk about the Gospel in private or in public I have an unshakable confidence that the hand of the Lord is supporting me.”¹

Now, don’t feel guilty if you don’t have 2,347 names on your prayer list. Mr. Ding’s story is unique. But may I suggest that over the years, as we pray faithfully for others and for our own needs, we’ll accumulate a long list of answers to prayer that will fuel our spiritual lives and leave behind a testimony of God’s outstanding goodness?

Acknowledge God’s Outstanding Moments of Provision

We must also acknowledge God’s outstanding moments of provision. Henry Blackaby, the author of Experiencing God, never tired of telling how God had met the needs of a church he once pastored in Saskatchewan, Canada. The congregation needed a larger building, but the building fund had less than $750. Blackaby told his people to trust God, and he quoted from Hebrews 11, the faith chapter of the Bible. The people went to work, and slowly the structure went up. Near the end of the process, they were short by $60,000. A foundation in Texas promised them some money, but the transfer of the funds was delayed. Blackaby was puzzled. Why was God allowing a delay when the need was so urgent, their prayers so intense, and their faith so determined?

Shortly thereafter, there was a strange drop in Canada’s currency exchange rate with the United States, and it happened on the day the Texas foundation wired the money. A few hours later the Canadian exchange rate rose again, but because of the timing, the church ended up with $60,000 it would not have received otherwise. “We came to know [God] in a new way through that experience,” said Blackaby, who added, “God is far more interested in your having an experience with Him than He is interested in getting a job done.”

Our entire life is filled with endless needs, which the Lord delights in filling for us. Let’s acknowledge those moments of provision and praise God for His goodness and mercy that follows us all the days of our lives.

Acknowledge God’s Outstanding Turns of Providence

And don’t forget to acknowledge His outstanding turns of providence. We don’t use the word providence as much as former generations, but when you read the writings of America’s Founding Fathers, it seems that every other word is providence. George Washington wrote about the events of the Revolutionary War, “The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations.”²

What is providence? It’s simply God’s hidden oversight of all the circumstances of life from the unfolding of the history of the world to the unfolding of your day today. When we love God and live according to His purposes—He goes before us, causing things to work out for our benefit. Think back and praise God for the standout performance of His providence and blessing in your life.

Acknowledge God’s Outstanding Lineup of People

We should also acknowledge the outstanding lineup of people God has brought into our lives—our loved ones, heroes, and mentors. The Benham Brothers—David and Jason—recently wrote about a time when they were students. They were invited to the home of David Drye of Concord, North Carolina, a businessman who employed hundreds of people, operated a Christian school, and had his own television show. He asked the boys to speak to his company and school and to be guests on his program. Arriving at his home late at night, they were amazed at the size of his house. That evening they fell asleep in oversized beds only to be awakened at 4:30 a.m. by someone yelling down the hall. “Dude! What’s that?” they said to each other. The brothers crept out of the bedroom and looked down the long hallway. There was light under the door of Mr. Drye’s office, and they realized he wasn’t yelling. He was praying!

“We grew up in a family that believed in prayer and put that belief into practice,” they wrote, “but this was a whole new level—never before had we seen such emphatic prayer.” That memory left an indelible impression on the brothers and, under Mr. Drye’s mentorship, even changed the direction of their lives.³

The people who have most influenced us didn’t show up in our lives by accident. They were placed there by God as part of the array of standout performances that leave us amazed at His grace and goodness. How important to look back and thank our God from whom all blessings flow!

There are giants in our midst, and discouragement is one of them. We must look past our obstacles, lift our gaze to the “God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation” (2 Corinthians 1:3), and recollect His faithfulness.

Can you recall a standout performance of God that left an indelible impression on your life? I certainly can. His people, His providence, His provisions, and His answers to prayer have left indelible impressions on my life. We all have such memories, and they should challenge us to stand up and stand out in the outstanding work of His glorious Kingdom.

Sources:

¹Ding Li–Mei, “The Prayer–Life of Chinese Christians,” The Missionary Review of the World, 41, No. 1 (1918), 97–100.