One of God’s richest blessings in my life has been that of a godly heritage. How I praise Him for parents who read, studied, loved, and lived by His Word, and taught me by their example to do the same.
When I was a girl growing up, Mother led us in family devotions every day. She read the Bible, prayed and that was that. When Daddy was home he led in family devotions. But when he read the Bible he would stop and make a comment, ask a question and lead us in discussion. So, my mother taught me by her example to love reading my Bible every day, and my daddy taught me by his example to think about what I was reading. A little over 10 years ago when my mother went to heaven, my daddy started asking me to read him the Bible. At first it was very intimidating. And then it became such a joy. Because he was hard of hearing, there were times I would sit in front of Daddy knee to knee, and he would ask me to give him a full 60-minute message. He never took his eyes off my face. Once in a while he would interrupt me, ask a question or we would discuss what I was saying. But he loved to hear God’s Word.
Two weeks to the day before Daddy moved to Heaven it was my privilege to be a keynote speaker at Moody Founder’s Week in Chicago, IL. With the exception of the reserved first row, Torrey Grey Auditorium was packed. Facing significant changes at the Institute, the audience listened with rapt attention as I challenged them to pray as Daniel did.
As he got weaker we went from 60 minutes to five or ten minutes. But the pattern was always the same—whoever was in the house was called to gather around him whether he was at the kitchen table, or sitting in his study chair, or more recently when he was in his bedroom. But before I read a passage of Scripture, I would explain why I had chosen it. Then I would read the passage to him. I would always end by telling Daddy I loved him.
My efforts to get the National Day of Prayer into our nation’s Capitol Rotunda last year fell one vote short. As I listened to the incredible speeches given by POTUS, Sen. Mitch McConnell, and Rep. Paul Ryan glorifying God, exalting Jesus and presenting the Gospel as my father lay in honor in the same place I had been denied, I couldn’t help but wonder if I had simply been one year too early. Praying 2 Chronicles 7:14.
At Daddy’s funeral service, with twenty-five hundred people in front of me, and millions more watching the live broadcasts, for the last time I led in “family devotions.” The passage of Scripture that I chose was 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. The reason is this: I believe from Heaven’s perspective that my father’s death was as significant as his life. I know that February 21, 2018 was the date God had preordained to take my father home. Why? What was significant about that day? When I did a web search, I discovered that February 21, 2018 was the day when the Scripture reading for Jews focused on the death of Moses. Moses was the great liberator. He brought millions of people out of bondage to slavery, got them to the edge of the Promised Land, then God took him to Heaven. At that point God brought Joshua to lead them into the Promised Land—to take them home.
The day following our motorcade that escorted Daddy from the mountains to Charlotte, I requested an interview with WRAL-TV, our local NBC affiliate. My purpose was to use the news broadcast to thank as many people in North Carolina as I could for their outpouring of love and condolences. Their tears, signs, and words comforted us all. Click here to watch this interview.
Like Moses, my father also was a great liberator. He brought millions of people out of bondage to sin, and he has gotten us to the edge of the Promised Land—Heaven. Then God called him Home. Could it be that God is now going to bring Joshua to lead us into the Promised Land? To lead us to Heaven? To take us Home? And do you know what the New Testament name is for Joshua? It’s Jesus!
I believe my father’s death may be a shot across the bow from Heaven. Is God saying wake up church? Wake up world? Wake up Anne? Jesus is coming! Jesus said in Matthew 24:14 when the gospel is preached to the whole world—as it was during my father’s funeral service, as it is through churches, missionaries, ministries—then the end will come.
The morning after Daddy was interred, my brother Franklin sent me this picture of Mother’s tombstone alongside Daddy’s. Hers is inscribed with the old Chinese character for “righteousness” which is the picture of a lamb over me. Daddy’s stone is inscribed with a cross. Together they present the Gospel because the Lamb over me on the Cross makes me right with God.
First Thessalonians, Chapter 4 beginning with verse 13 says this: I will write it out for you the way my mother taught me by putting my name in, to make it personal. Then I’ll write it out the way my daddy taught me, with a few comments. I do not want you to be ignorant, Anne, concerning those who have fallen asleep. “Fallen asleep” is just the biblical term for when God’s children die. It’s when you close your eyes to this life, and you open them to the face of Jesus. It’s when your faith becomes sight. So… I don’t want you to be ignorant, Anne, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if you believe that Jesus died and rose again, and I do! I believe Jesus has risen from the dead! He’s alive! If you believe, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord. This is God’s Word. It’s not fantasy. It’s not a wish. It’s not a hope-so. This we say to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself—Joshua, Yeshua, Jesus—will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. That’s my daddy. That’s my mother. That’s my husband. Then you and I who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
And this is the comfort. There is hope for tomorrow. This life is not all there is. The best is yet to come. So on the day of my father’s funeral service, I chose to make a pledge that in view of the soon appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in front of all those watching and listening, I will preach the Word. I will do the work of an evangelist—I will share the Gospel. I will run my race and live my life, so that five minutes before I see Jesus I have no regrets—I will live my life to exalt and glorify the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I challenge you to make the same choice until the whole world hears and Jesus returns!*
For His glory,
*Adapted from the message Anne gave at her father’s funeral service — March 2, 2018
I. FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
What are the secrets to a life of impact? Daniel achieved greatness in the eyes of his contemporaries, in the eyes of history, and most importantly, in the eyes of God. His faith did not waver as he faced his critics, as he served new kings in power, or even as he confronted hungry lions. How can we achieve that kind of faith today? Twenty intentional, key choices made all the difference. Daniel’s choices can be ours, such as
• The choice to listen
• The choice to forgive
• The choice to pray
Cultivate a strong, vibrant faith when you learn to implement The Daniel Key into your everyday life.
With a foreword written by my father, this revised edition of Heaven: My Father’s House, has reflections from his charming mountain home in Western North Carolina. Join me as I take us through the apostle John’s thrilling glimpse of our Heavenly Home, as he recorded it in Revelation 21. The truth in this book has helped take away the sting of death, the fear of the grave, and has filled me with hope for the future. I pray it will do the same for you.
We are excited to offer a multitude of free Bible studies that can be used for either individual or group study.
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Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives and answered the question His disciples asked, What will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age? He gave them signs to look for, but then indicated that when He does return He would come like a thief in the night, catching many people by surprise.
I don’t really like surprises. I remember years ago, in the third year of teaching my weekly Bible class, when I looked out at the sea of upturned faces I caught sight of my parents sitting in the middle of the class! They had come at the urging of friends to surprise me. While it was a fun moment for everyone else, it was not enjoyable for me! I felt caught off guard. While God helped me recover my composure, it was a very unsettling experience.
Surprises. Things that happen suddenly. Unexpectedly. With no time for last minute preparation. While I don’t like them, God has operated according to this pattern many times. And He has put us on notice that He will do so again at the end of the age. The question I continue to ask myself is, Am I ready for His surprises? Are you?
The worst surprise I’ve ever received was when I found my husband unresponsive in our pool. Nothing will ever compare to the horrific shock of realizing my life’s companion of 49 years was gone. The comfort God gave me then and now is that, as unexpected as the end was for us both, Danny was ready.
Are you ready for your life’s end because you know with certainty you have received eternal life through faith in Jesus?1 Because you trust Him.
Are you ready for sudden disaster, death, or disease because you are confident that whatever comes, God will never leave you nor forsake you?2 Because you trust Him.
Are you ready to hear the trumpet sound, and the loud voice of the Archangel calling you to rise and meet Jesus in the air?3 Because you trust Him.
Until the moment you see Jesus face to face, are you ready for those divine appointments when, without any preliminary notice, your teenager or co-worker or neighbor asks you how they can have peace in their hearts? Purpose in their lives? Are you ready at a moment’s notice to just give them Jesus? Because you long for others to trust Him, too.
There are many signs that are pointing to the final hour of human history. I, for one, don’t want to be caught off guard. 2018 is a year in which I want to do everything humanly possible to be ready for the surprises that await at the end of the age.
But it’s also possible that you and I could be in our own final hour and not even know it. Life can end abruptly without preliminary notice. Are you ready? Is there a person you need to forgive? An apology you need to make? A letter you need to write? A phone call you need to make? Whatever it is, do it now. I want to live life so that whenever or however it ends, I have no regrets.
By all indications, 2018 will be a trying time. A testing time. But it will also be a trusting time. Get ready….
For the glory of His Name…
1John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:6-8; John 5:24; 1 Corinthians 15:55-57
2 Hebrews 13:5; Psalm 23:4; Isaiah 43:1-7
3 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
In the midst of global, national, political, social, racial, and even personal turmoil, you and I need to be anchored by faith in God’s Word. As the door closes on human history as we know it, we need to be confident that God has everything under control and is working to bring His plan to completion. While believers may increasingly be a marginalized minority, we know we are not alone, because Jesus promised that He would be with us to the end of the age.
Be encouraged as Anne challenges us to immerse ourselves in God’s Word, refocus our faith, and refresh our spirits in this final hour.
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Thousands of people gathered at the base of Grandfather Mountain in Linville, NC for the 93rd annual Singing on the Mountain. For many it was a life-saving experience. When I challenged them to make sure Heaven was their home because they placed their faith in Jesus, dozens stood—elderly, children, men and women. To God be the glory!
As you look back on your life, are there some choices you have made that stand out? Choices that helped to shape your education, your career, your lifestyle, your family, your faith, your character? What have been the consequences of those choices?
Every day we make multiple choices from the time we choose to get out of bed in the morning, to the time we choose to go back to bed in the evening. Some choices are practical, some are emotional, some are social. But the ones that make all the difference in our lives are the moral and spiritual choices. These choices, in a very real way, determine our character and our success as human beings.
A delegation representing The National Day of Prayer in India, with expected attendance of 200,000, came personally to invite me to speak. I have accepted the invitation issued by a government official in Telangana State with great expectancy of God’s blessing.
Choices are like a spiritual, moral workout. In a physical workout, to strengthen my upper body, I do a series of repetitions on stiff rubber bands. If I pull the band once or twice, I could say it doesn’t make any difference, so why go to the trouble? Because just one or two pulls actually doesn’t make any difference. But if I pull on them again and again, in a series of repetitions, day after day, they effectively begin to build muscle mass. The difference can actually become visible as I grow stronger.
Like pulling on those bands, choices are effective when made again and again, day after day. The repetition of right choices builds our character and strengthens our faith. The repetition of wrong choices can weaken and destroy us. Increasingly, others will be able to see the difference the choices are making.
My father taught me that when the White House calls, I am to answer. So when I received a call asking me to come to a Faith Leaders Briefing in the West Wing, I dropped everything and went. On a very stormy summer day, I found myself seated at a large conference table with other Christian leaders. We listened to presentations, facilitated by Pastor Paula White, that gave insight regarding the President’s agenda. I came away renewed in my commitment to pray for the President. Every day.
While most of us have made some wrong choices, or at the very least, some questionable choices, Daniel was a man who made right choices again and again. Many of us grew up knowing Daniel as the courageous man whose steadfast belief in the one true God got him thrown into a lions’ den—and also saved him from those hungry lions. But Daniel’s miraculous adventure in the lions’ den was just one brief episode in a life that stretched for decades, and changed history. From heaven’s perspective, there is surely no greater prophet in the Old Testament than Daniel.
As you may be aware, Daniel was taken into captivity with the nation of Judah when he was just a teenager. He lived the rest of his life as a slave in Babylon. As such, Daniel wasn’t free to make many choices. But the choice he could and did make at a very early age was to place his faith in God, and then live it out. Day by day. Choice by choice. The end result was a man whose character and faith were so strong that he stands out as a colossal giant in history.
What a privilege it was for me to remind the 7000 attendees at the Association of American Christian Counselors, who were gathered at the mammoth Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN, that the Holy Spirit is the counselor’s Counselor!
After writing The Daniel Prayer, I have reflected on the choices not only that Daniel made, but that I have made. At this stage in life, I can look back over the years and see some choices that stand out—some good, some bad. Some right. Some wrong. The impact on my life of choices I’ve made is striking in that at the time, many of them didn’t seem to be that strategic or life-defining. But they were.
What fun to help introduce Daniel to my daughter Morrow’s summer Bible study! It was held in the same room where we taped the first session of The Daniel Prayer video Bible study curriculum.
Without doubt, the most important choice I have made was to place my faith in Jesus as my Savior and Lord as a young girl. That choice was followed by others, such as the choice to read my Bible daily. But the next choice that stands out is the one I made as a teenager, which was the choice to live out my faith through surrendered service to my Lord. And that choice was followed by a third choice to embrace the magnificent obsession of knowing God as Abraham did—as a Friend, then pursue Him in a lifelong journey of faith, one step—or choice—at a time. Those three choices, more than any others, have set the direction of my life. They were the primary determining factor for thousands of choices that have followed.
This Christmas, would you give the King a gift for His birthday that I know He wants? Give Him your “chooser.” Reflect on your life’s choices. Regardless of whether you have made good ones or bad ones, right ones or wrong ones, from this day forward choose to surrender and live your life for Him. Choice after choice after choice after choice…until you are strong in faith and character. Until others can see the difference your choices are making. Until others can see Jesus in you!
For His glory,
Message adapted from Anne’s new gift book, The Daniel Key. Releases March 2018
Meeting Place for PrayerAnne has created a page on her website where she will post some of her own prayers, and provide space for you to post your prayers also. Her purpose is to encourage you and herself to remain faithful, focused, and fired-up in prayer during these dangerous, dark, and divided days. Then remain attentive to what God may say in reply. Click here to visit.
The purpose of this webpage is to give you resources to help keep you focused on hope, as you embrace Hope for yourself. Then turn around. Give Hope to someone else. Give them Jesus! Click here to visit.
Watch Anne LIVE at The Cove
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Stephen Hawking, an English theoretical physicist and renowned atheist, has stated it’s time for the human race to look for another place to live. He claims that overpopulation, disease and climate change will make Earth uninhabitable within the next 100 years.
While there is no doubt that planet Earth and those who inhabit it are in a destructive spiral, the wonderful good news is that there is another place being prepared for the human race. And it’s not the planet Mars, as Dr. Hawking suggests. It’s the place Jesus called My Father’s House — Heaven.1 It’s a place where there will be no overpopulation because it’s large enough to house every person who has ever lived, even though by choice not everyone will be there.2 There will be no disease or death or pain or crying or mourning or suffering of any kind.3 As for climate change, our Father’s House will be located in a new heaven and a new earth where the climate will be perfectly controlled.4
I’ve been thinking of Heaven more and more. In the last four months I have delivered the key message at two funerals and attended two others. Since my husband moved to our Father’s House almost two years ago, funerals are harder and more personal than they were before. But the way I have been able to get through these heart-rending moments with joy has been to keep my focus on what lies ahead. Truly, the best is yet to come.
In the Old Testament, when one of God’s people died, it is stated that he was “gathered to his people.”5 When a child of God dies, not only will we see Jesus, but we will be surrounded by our loved ones who have gone before. I have a welcoming committee already gathering that includes a baby boy, my husband, his brothers and his parents, my mother and my grandparents, and an endless list of friends.
Perhaps the best news of all is that you don’t need a multi-million dollar ticket or a rocket ship or a space station in order to secure a place in our Father’s House. It has already been secured for you by God’s Son. All you need to do is to place your total trust in Him. It’s that simple. It’s that easy. It’s that humbling. You can do nothing to deserve it or to earn it. It costs you nothing because it cost Him everything. Our Father’s House has been fully paid for—it’s the rightful inheritance of anyone who is born again into God’s family.6
So please! Make sure you have put your trust in Jesus, then look ahead with confident joy! One day, you’re going Home!
For the glory of His Name…
1 John 14:2-3
2 John 14:2; Revelation 21:15-16
3 Revelation 21:4
4 Revelation 21:1, 5; 22:1-2
5 Genesis 25:8; 35:29; 49:29, 33; etc.
6 Revelation 21:7; John 3:3
I recently attended the Celebration of Life for Charles George, husband of my executive assistant, Helen. They had been married for 66 years when after a brief illness he moved to our Father’s House on May 11th. For those of us who loved this dear, encouraging man, it’s difficult to imagine life without him. Our comfort is that Jesus said His followers would not see death (John 8:51). In other words, Charles’ death did not interrupt his eternal life.
So Helen and I are comforted as we think of all that Charles and my husband, Danny, are enjoying! In my revised edition of Heaven: My Father’s House, and with reflections from my own father’s charming mountain home in Western North Carolina, I take us through the apostle John’s thrilling glimpse of our Heavenly Home as he recorded it in Revelation 21. I pray that this book will help to take away the sting of death, the fear of the grave, and fill you instead with hope for the future.
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It’s becoming more and more obvious that our nation desperately needs prayer. As the Chairperson for the National Day of Prayer Task Force, it was my privilege to record a video inviting people all over the nation to gather together on May 4th to intercede for America. You can view the video that was taped in my office by clicking here.
Throughout history, God has honored the prevailing prayers of His people. One example comes from the first century BC when the unmistakable sound of the shofar could be heard coming from the wall surrounding Jerusalem, echoing across the sun-scorched valley. The blowing of the trumpet heralded great public distress and was used to summon the people. A severe drought was threatening the very existence of Jerusalem. And so the city elders had called for the people to gather outside the city walls. Then they sent for Honi, an old man known for his devout faith.
After he was summoned, the elders instructed Honi, “Pray that rain may fall.” Honi prayed but nothing happened. So he drew a circle around himself in the dust of the ground and prayed again, “O Lord of the world, Your children have turned their faces to me … I swear by Your great name that I will not stir from here until You have pity on Your children.”
At the request of Katie Couric, Yahoo! Global News Anchor, I watched the Presidential Inauguration at a local television recording station, so that I would be available immediately following for an interview with her. But instead of going on immediately, I sat in a chair in front of the television camera for close to two hours waiting to go on. When I did, Katie was friendly and generous as she gave me a fifteen minute segment. Click here to watch.
The rain began to fall, one large drop at a time. But Honi protested, “Not for such rain have I prayed, but for rain that will fill the cisterns, pits, and caverns.” In answer to his prayer, the heavens opened and the waters descended in a violent gully washer that threatened to flood the city. So once again Honi pleaded, “Not for such rain have I prayed, but for rain of goodwill, blessing and graciousness.” It is said, and recorded by the Jewish historian, Josephus, that in response to Honi’s third prayer, a long, soaking rain began to fall that ended the three-year drought. Honi had prevailed in prayer.1
During the Convergence Prophecy Conference in San Diego, January 28th, I was honored to be included on a Q & A panel at Maranatha Calvary Chapel. The pastor and my dear friend, Ray Bentley, facilitated the lively discussion that concluded with all of us agreeing the signs are converging dramatically, indicating the return of Jesus is very near. (left to right: Ray Bentley, me, Tom Doyle, Robert Mawire, Bill Koenig)
The story of Honi has made me wonder…how many answers to prayer have I missed because I didn’t push through until I prevailed in prayer? I’m almost afraid to reflect too deeply. But I don’t want to make the same mistake when it comes to interceding for America. I believe this is a time for God’s people to pray. And if ever there was a time to keep praying until we prevail in prayer, it’s now. The national chaos and confusion, anger and accusations, discord and division, fear and frustration, wounds and worry seem to be increasing rather than diminishing following the Presidential Inauguration. Could it be the turmoil and unrest are evidence of a national spiritual drought? Has God indeed backed away, withholding His blessing from America in response to our official and legal demand that He get out of our institutions, government, schools, marketplace, organizations, and businesses? If that is so, then the solution is not political or financial or educational or denominational or organizational. The solution is prayer. Not mechanical prayer. Not lofty, pious prayer. Not shallow or superficial prayer. Not just any prayer, but heartfelt, soul-searching, humble and repentant prayer that is rooted in God’s Word so that Heaven is moved and our nation is changed.
The video taping of The Daniel Prayer Bible Study Curriculum was an intense marathon. Instead of being stressful, the excellent professional team that recorded it turned the entire experience into a rich blessing. (left to right: TJ Rathbun, Mark Weising, Michael Seaton, Jon Cairns)
God has promised in His Word, When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain (no blessing), or command locusts to devour the land (environmental disasters) or send a plague among my people (lack of personal, political, relational, social, racial, or financial good health), if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:13-14. Clearly, the key to healing our nation is directly related to you and me, as God’s people, prayerfully, humbly, forsaking our sin as we seek God’s face…His blessing on America.
Would you join me in driving the stake of your faith down deep into God’s Word? Make sure you meet the conditions attached to the promises; then let’s pray together, and keep on praying, until we prevail in prayer.
For His glory,
1 Adapted from The Daniel Prayer, Anne Graham Lotz, Zondervan Publishing, Grand Rapids, MI, 2016, p.170
In this six-session video Bible study, Anne looks at the life of Daniel and unpacks the prayer he prayed in Daniel 9. Unlike the everyday now-I-lay-me-down-to-sleep kind of prayer, this is a prayer birthed under pressure. A prayer that changes hearts and nations—even in our world today. A prayer that works. Learn how to pray as Daniel did.
The greatest gift you can give a child is to introduce him or her to Jesus. Join Anne and her daughter, Rachel-Ruth Wright, Bible teacher and mother of three, as you learn how to be intentional about passing the baton of truth to the next generation. This seminar presents Biblical teaching that challenges parents and grandparents alike.
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