Hope-Filled Boasts

I read a story recently – a story so full of hope – that each time I remember it, my smile extends deep into my soul.

A woman named Evelyn Christenson once prayed a very bold prayer: She asked the Lord to let her “teach the world to pray!” God answered Evelyn’s prayer in profound ways. She authored two best-selling books on prayer: What Happens When Women Pray and Lord Change Me. She traveled the world sharing her love for Jesus and continually leading others to fall deeper in love with Him.

In 2011, at the age of 89, as Evelyn passed from this earthly life into Glory, her family witnessed a remarkable glimpse into eternity. Evelyn glanced up towards heaven and exclaimed, “It’s beautiful! It’s beautiful! It’s beautiful! Jesus is holding my hand.”

Beautiful! Breath-taking! Hopeful! Are you smiling yet? … deep in your soul?

It’s true you know … all who call on the name of Jesus, who surrender their lives into His care, will share this same destiny. Can you imagine?

Evelyn walked hand-in-hand with Jesus, not only in her death but also in her life. It was said: “Evelyn could barely speak a sentence without the name of Jesus in it.” When I read this amazing tribute, I thought of the following scripture:

I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.

I will boast only in the Lord. Let all who are helpless take heart.

Let us tell of the Lord’s greatness. Let us exalt his name together.

(Psalm 34:1-3 NLT)

Evelyn spent her entire life boasting … not in herself and not in the number of books she’d sold. Her boasts were in Jesus alone. His praises spilled from her lips and her life in such a natural way that thousands of lives were transformed by the unconditional love of Jesus.

May we boast only in the Lord and may we walk so closely with Jesus that His love-stories easily and freely fill our thoughts and mark our conversations.