Fearless with Cissie Graham Lynch

Last time on Fearless I finally got to share with you the news of my upcoming book, Stand Steady. Today we’re going to dive into much of the heart behind why I wrote the book, answering the question: “What kind of woman will you choose to be?”
And really, that question comes down to choices. We make over 35,000 choices every day. Most of those choices don’t matter all that much, but some of those choices are slowly defining who we will become in the years ahead. And if we simply choose to sit on the sidelines, the world will gladly make choices for us. Even though women have more opportunities and freedoms now than ever before, over 40% of us still struggle with anxiety. That’s not freedom, that’s bondage. And it’s a direct result of our lack of decision-making. 
Because ultimately, we do have to make a choice. Will we choose Jesus or will we choose the world? Will we choose our families or will we choose ourselves? Will we choose to compromise or will we choose to stand steady? In this episode I’ll share some examples from the lives of women I wrote about in Stand Steady—some women who chose Jesus, and some women who chose the world. Every one of us is stepping onto a battlefield each day, whether we know it or not. And the choices we make (or don’t make) on that battlefield will determine the person we become. So, who will you choose to be today, and every day after? 
Preorder Stand Steady here: https://bookstore.billygraham.org/stand-steady.html?pk_vid=67ef3ffeb412b961178673680342e652.

Welcome back to a brand new season of Fearless! I usually take a break from the podcast over the summer, but this summer especially looked very different for our family in many ways. It was a quieter season, a season we didn’t really plan for, as my mom battled some health issues and our family stayed put in Boone. But sometimes even those seasons we don’t plan for can end up being exactly what God uses to slow us down and show us what really matters. That was this summer for me. 
Going into the fall though, I wanted to take today’s new episode of Fearless to tell you all about my book coming out this October, Stand Steady: A Fearless Faith in a Compromising Culture. For a number of reasons, I never planned on writing a book—in fact, a lot of my friends and family didn’t even know I wrote Stand Steady until just a few weeks ago. But I couldn’t seem to shake this question: What kind of woman will you choose to be? It’s one that I first asked during a church service, and it became the heart of everything I wrote about in Stand Steady. 
Because following Jesus will always cost us something. Standing steady in our faith requires preparation, and we can’t always wait until the storm hits to prepare. So, who will you choose to be when the world shifts, when the culture compromises, when following Jesus becomes uncomfortable? Those are the questions I’m asking today and all throughout this new season of Fearless. Will you stand steady? That’s my prayer for you, and it’s my prayer for myself as we head into this new season and all God has for us. 
Preorder Stand Steady here: https://bookstore.billygraham.org/stand-steady.html?pk_vid=67ef3ffeb412b961178673680342e652.

A few weeks ago I had the honor of speaking at Rededicate 250 in Washington, D.C. it was a national call to prayer on the National Mall as our country approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding. And though the event reiterated our deep need for God as a nation, what I left Washington asking myself was this: How do we rededicate not just our country, but our homes, our marriages, our children, our own hearts? Because while, yes, we’re living in a time of deep political division and cultural upheaval, true revival doesn’t start in the halls of government—it begins in our own homes. Renewal starts with us. 

In addition to the remarks I gave at Rededicate, I also share my dad, Franklin Graham’s message. During his time on stage, my dad called our nation to repentance and back to true dependence on God, the principles we were founded on 250 years ago. As we approach this milestone anniversary for our country, let’s once again examine our own role in building a nation rooted in the message of the Gospel. What would it look like for me—what would it look like for you—to truly rededicate ourselves and our families to the Lord? Our answer to that question has the power to change the course of our country, and our world.

This week’s episode of Fearless is a little different. I had my childhood friend and now Samaritan’s Purse colleague, Gracie O’Loughlin, join me to share her powerful testimony of Jesus redeeming first her life, and then using her to bring Christ to family members far from Him. Gracie was one of the popular girls in our small town high school, and I remember looking up to her, but never fully knowing her story. Well, today you’ll get a front-row seat to that story—one where Gracie went from trying everything the world’s way after her parents’ divorce, to a young woman sold-out for the Lord and determined to lead those closest to her towards the One who saved her life. 

Together Gracie and I talk about why our families can sometimes feel like the most difficult mission field, how to set aside our own comfort to preach the Gospel with directness, and why we believe it’s never too late for someone’s life to be drastically changed by a God who specializes in bringing the lost home (don’t miss when Gracie talks about her 98 year-old grandmother accepting Christ!). 

Time is running out to share the greatest news we’ll ever hear. As Gracie says, sometimes we can’t simply bank on our faith “rubbing off” on our families and friends through the way we live our lives—we’re called to preach the Gospel, no matter the personal cost. 

My Hope America: Billy Graham’s TV Special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFxjZeNEcfQ.

Recently I got to take a last-minute trip to Lima, Peru for one of my dad’s crusades—something that, as a mom of three, I don’t always get the chance to do as much as I used to. While we were there I sat down with pastor and longtime family friend, Skip Heitzig. Skip is no stranger to Fearless, but today’s episode felt different. 

During this candid—and honestly, pretty unplanned—conversation, Skip and I hit on everything from his friendship with my dad and the many adventures in ministry they’ve been on together to the signs of health we should all be looking for in a church home. Skip also shared why he offers a Gospel invitation every time he preaches, and encouraged pastors and all ministry leaders to preach the Word, not some trendy, watered-down version of the Gospel. 

Wherever you’re at today, this is a conversation I pray will strengthen you, convict you if needed, and challenge you during these uncertain times. God is moving in so many ways right now, and, like Skip’s life is a testament to, God is able to do so much more than we could ever imagine when we’re willing to follow where He leads.