Following in the Footsteps of Billy Graham

I woke up this morning to the news that Billy Graham passed away.

For some reason, I haven’t been able to get it off of my mind ever since.

No, I’ve never met him.

No, I’ve never really followed him or studied him.

And, yet, I can feel the loss.

It’s almost embarrassing to admit this. I know I must sound like an overly emotional person to feel pain from losing someone I don’t even know.

And, yet, I can feel the loss.

Why is this I wonder? Billy Graham was an AMAZING man of God. He represents what most Christians strive for. From what I know of him, he led the ultimate Christian life. He led many people to Christ. He devoted his life to helping others find a new life through Christ and all which that entails.

I think the reason why I feel his loss is because he represents who I strive to be.

 

Billy Graham was so full of spiritual knowledge. In fact, he was even the spiritual advisor for our American Presidents. No wonder so many people looked up to him!

So, how did he live such a spiritual life?

The following is excerpted from “Peace with God” by Billy Graham, published in 1953, revised and expanded in 1984.

For one to grow properly certain rules must be observed for good spiritual health.

1. Read your Bible daily. Do not be content to skim through a chapter merely to satisfy your conscience. Hide the Word of God in your heart. It comforts, guides, corrects, encourages – all we need is there.
2. Learn the secret of prayer. Prayer is communicating. Every prayer that you pray will be answered. Sometimes that answer may be “Yes” and sometimes “No,” and sometimes it is “Wait,” but nevertheless it will be answered.
3. Rely constantly on the Holy Spirit. We know that the Holy Spirit prays for us (Romans 8), and what a comfort that should be to the weakest of us. Stand aside and let Him take over all the choices and decisions of your life.
4. Attend church regularly. The visible church is Christ’s organization upon earth. Christians need one another, we need to gather together to worship God and nothing can take the place of church attendance.
5. Be a witnessing Christian. We witness in two ways: by life and by word – and the two, where possible, should go hand in hand.
6. Let love be the ruling principle of your life. Jesus said to those who followed Him, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). The greatest demonstration of the fact that we are Christians is that we love one another.
7. Be an obedient Christian. Let Christ have first place in all the choices of your life.
8. Learn how to meet temptation. Temptation is not sin. It is yielding that is sin. Let Christ through the Holy Spirit do the fighting for you.
9. Be a wholesome Christian. Our lives and appearance should commend the Gospel and make it attractive to others.
10. Live above your circumstances. Don’t let your circumstances get you down. Learn to live graciously within them, realizing the Lord Himself is with you.

In my daily life, I try to be Christ-like but never quite to the magnitude this man did. He is inspiring! I feel God can look at his life and say, “well done!”

I find myself asking,

Out of the 10 guidelines Billy Graham listed, which are the most difficult for you to carry out? Which ones do you feel you achieve well?

I know I personally can put a few on each of those lists.

I think number 7 is the most difficult for me. I feel being an obedient Christian and letting God be the number one deciding factor when I’m making decisions is definitely an area in which I can improve on!

I’m going to make it a personal mission to follow these guidelines and see what impact it can make in my life. I’m going to follow his footsteps and live a life worthy of God saying, “well done, Lacy!”

With Aloha,

Lacy

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