Encouragement for Today - September 11, 2025

Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

Proverbs 31 Ministries banner

Lysa TerKeurstSeptember 11, 2025

The Prayer That Changed How I Talk to God
LYSA TERKEURST

Lee en español

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8 (NIV)

I didn’t want to say it, feel it, or struggle with it. Yet I know it’s impossible to fix problems I refuse to acknowledge.

I’m not sure the Lord is really with me.

I kept having this suspicion that other Christians had a more direct line to God than I had. Things just seemed to work out for them. They kept gratitude journals and had plenty to write on those pages. When we studied the Bible together, they had incredible revelations: “These verses really spoke to my heart … The Lord just showed me something amazing … I see His hand moving.”

I wanted to quietly pack up my notes and Bible and just go home. What was I missing?

But I was too afraid to admit my uncertainty or ask questions, so I kept quiet. All the while, I couldn’t shake these nagging thoughts: If Jesus really cares about me, why does He seem to stay hidden from me? And if Jesus really wants a relationship with me, why can’t I see Him, hear Him, and get to know Him?

Then I remembered some relationship advice I’d heard: If people want to improve their connections with friends and family, they need to communicate their desires more clearly.

Maybe that’s what I needed to do with Jesus. So I wrote down three desires I had for my relationship with Jesus:

  1. I want to see You.
  2. I want to hear You.
  3. I want to know You.

I knew I wouldn’t likely physically see or hear Jesus. But my heart was crying out to see evidence of His reality in my life — to experience His presence and walk in His assurance.

Then I read Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” It’s not the perfect person who will see God. It’s the “pure in heart,” the one who really wants to pursue Him.

I added to my list, I want to follow hard after You every day so before my feet hit the floor, I say “yes” to You. And as I prayed this each day, I started looking for God with greater intentionality, living with expectation of this prayer being answered.

It’s now been over 25 years since I started praying this prayer.

And I’m different because of learning to practice the presence of Jesus and experiencing Him daily. It has been an intentional, daily pursuit. Looking for Him in unexpected places. Through the good, not-so-good, and everything in between.

Now, that doubt that once haunted me may creep back in my mind, but it doesn’t send me spiraling into panic and hopelessness. I’m not afraid doubt is a sign that my faith is weak. Instead, I see it as an invitation to keep looking for the Lord.

Dear Lord, my greatest desire is to know You more and to see You in every part of my life. Today, I say “yes” to You and declare my trust in Your plan. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

When it feels like God is distant, it can be difficult to trust Him with the things we face each day. Maybe you find yourself asking: God, where are You? Where is Your goodness in this? Friend, please know, you are not alone in these struggles. Lysa TerKeurst has been in your shoes and deeply understands. But she’s also learned this truth: We may not always know why certain things happen, but we can trust that in this very moment, God is near and He is working. If you need help believing this is true, Lysa is creating special one-night events on the Trust Again Tour this fall with worship leader Tasha Layton. Each night will be filled with powerful worship, biblical teaching, and practical takeaways to help you experience healing in your heart, mind, and soul. See if Lysa is coming to a city near you!

width

ENGAGE

Find real-life encouragement when you connect with Lysa TerKeurst here on Instagram.

FOR DEEPER STUDY

Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (NIV).

In what ways do you struggle with doubt? How could you pursue and seek Jesus on an even deeper level today? Consider writing out your own personal prayer and lifting it up each day this week.

We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.

© 2025 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org

 

Salem News Channel Today

Sponsored Links


September 26 - Phoenix, AZ
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts


November 2 - Detroit, MI
Zion Christian Church in Troy


October 6 - Los Angeles, CA
Pasadena Convention Center


November 5 - San Antonio, TX
Norris Centers – The Grand Red Oak Ballroom


October 8 - Sacramento, CA
William Jessup University


November 7 - Tampa, FL
The Palladium at St. Pete College


October 22 - Minneapolis, MN
Crowne Plaza AiRE


November 15 - San Francisco, CA
Fremont Marriott Silicon Valley


October 23 - Philadelphia, PA
Green Valley Country Club


November 16 - Denver, CO
CU South Denver - Formerly Wildlife Experience


November 2 - Chicago, IL
Chicago Westin Northwest in Itasca


November 21 - Cleveland, OH
Holiday Inn Rockside in Independence



Salem Radio Network Speakers

Larry Elder is an American lawyer, writer, and radio and television personality who calls himself the "Sage of South Central" a district of Los Angeles, Larry says his philosophy is to entertain, inform, provoke and to hopefully uplift. His calling card is "we have a country to save" and to him this means returning to the bedrock Constitutional principles of limited government and maximum personal responsibility. Elder's iconoclastic wit and intellectual agility makes him a particularly attractive voice in a nation that seems weary of traditional racial dialogue.” – Los Angeles Times.

Mike Gallagher Mike Gallagher began his broadcasting career in 1978 in Dayton, Ohio. Today, he is one of the most listened-to talk radio show hosts in America, recently having been ranked in the Talkers Magazine “Heavy Hundred” list – the 100 most important talk radio hosts in America. Prior to being launched into national syndication in 1998, Mike hosted the morning show on WABC-AM in New York City. Today, Talkers Magazine reports that his show is heard by over 3.75 million weekly listeners. Besides his radio work, Mike is seen on Fox News Channel as an on-air contributor, frequently appearing on the cable news giant.

Hugh Hewitt is one of the nation’s leading bloggers and a genuine media revolutionary. He brings that expertise, his wit and what The New Yorker magazine calls his “amiable but relentless manner” to his nationally syndicated show each day.

When Dr. Sebastian Gorka was growing up, he listened to talk radio under his pillow with a transistor radio, dreaming that one day he would be behind the microphone. Beginning New Year’s Day 2019, he got his wish. Gorka now hosts America First every weekday afternoon 3 to 6pm ET. Gorka’s unique story works well on the radio. He is national security analyst for the Fox News Channel and author of two books: "Why We Fight" and "Defeating Jihad." His latest book releasing this fall is “War For America’s Soul.” He is uniquely qualified to fight the culture war and stand up for what is great about America, his adopted home country.

Broadcasting from his home station of KRLA in Los Angeles, the Dennis Prager Show is heard across the country. Everything in life – from politics to religion to relationships – is grist for Dennis’ mill. If it’s interesting, if it affects your life, then Dennis will be talking about it – with passion, humor, insight and wisdom.

Sean Hannity is a conservative radio and television host, and one of the original primetime hosts on the Fox News Channel, where he has appeared since 1996. Sean Hannity began his radio career at a college station in California, before moving on to markets in the Southeast and New York. Today, he’s one of the most listened to on-air voices. Hannity’s radio program went into national syndication on September 10, 2001, and airs on more than 500 stations. Talkers Magazine estimates Hannity’s weekly radio audience at 13.5 million. In 1996 he was hired as one of the original hosts on Fox News Channel. As host of several popular Fox programs, Hannity has become the highest-paid news anchor on television.

Michelle Malkin is a mother, wife, blogger, conservative syndicated columnist, longtime cable TV news commentator, and best-selling author of six books. She started her newspaper journalism career at the Los Angeles Daily News in 1992, moved to the Seattle Times in 1995, and has been penning nationally syndicated newspaper columns for Creators Syndicate since 1999. She is founder of conservative Internet start-ups Hot Air and Twitchy.com. Malkin has received numerous awards for her investigative journalism, including the Council on Governmental Ethics Laws (COGEL) national award for outstanding service for the cause of governmental ethics and leadership (1998), the Reed Irvine Accuracy in Media Award for Investigative Journalism (2006), the Heritage Foundation and Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity's Breitbart Award for Excellence in Journalism (2013), the Center for Immigration Studies' Eugene Katz Award for Excellence in the Coverage of Immigration Award (2016), and the Manhattan Film Festival's Film Heals Award (2018). Married for 26 years and the mother of two teenage children, she lives with her family in Colorado. Follow her at michellemalkin.com. (Photo reprinted with kind permission from Peter Duke Photography.)

Sponsored by:

Encouragement for Today - September 11, 2025

Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

Proverbs 31 Ministries banner

Lysa TerKeurstSeptember 11, 2025

The Prayer That Changed How I Talk to God
LYSA TERKEURST

Lee en español

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8 (NIV)

I didn’t want to say it, feel it, or struggle with it. Yet I know it’s impossible to fix problems I refuse to acknowledge.

I’m not sure the Lord is really with me.

I kept having this suspicion that other Christians had a more direct line to God than I had. Things just seemed to work out for them. They kept gratitude journals and had plenty to write on those pages. When we studied the Bible together, they had incredible revelations: “These verses really spoke to my heart … The Lord just showed me something amazing … I see His hand moving.”

I wanted to quietly pack up my notes and Bible and just go home. What was I missing?

But I was too afraid to admit my uncertainty or ask questions, so I kept quiet. All the while, I couldn’t shake these nagging thoughts: If Jesus really cares about me, why does He seem to stay hidden from me? And if Jesus really wants a relationship with me, why can’t I see Him, hear Him, and get to know Him?

Then I remembered some relationship advice I’d heard: If people want to improve their connections with friends and family, they need to communicate their desires more clearly.

Maybe that’s what I needed to do with Jesus. So I wrote down three desires I had for my relationship with Jesus:

  1. I want to see You.
  2. I want to hear You.
  3. I want to know You.

I knew I wouldn’t likely physically see or hear Jesus. But my heart was crying out to see evidence of His reality in my life — to experience His presence and walk in His assurance.

Then I read Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” It’s not the perfect person who will see God. It’s the “pure in heart,” the one who really wants to pursue Him.

I added to my list, I want to follow hard after You every day so before my feet hit the floor, I say “yes” to You. And as I prayed this each day, I started looking for God with greater intentionality, living with expectation of this prayer being answered.

It’s now been over 25 years since I started praying this prayer.

And I’m different because of learning to practice the presence of Jesus and experiencing Him daily. It has been an intentional, daily pursuit. Looking for Him in unexpected places. Through the good, not-so-good, and everything in between.

Now, that doubt that once haunted me may creep back in my mind, but it doesn’t send me spiraling into panic and hopelessness. I’m not afraid doubt is a sign that my faith is weak. Instead, I see it as an invitation to keep looking for the Lord.

Dear Lord, my greatest desire is to know You more and to see You in every part of my life. Today, I say “yes” to You and declare my trust in Your plan. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

When it feels like God is distant, it can be difficult to trust Him with the things we face each day. Maybe you find yourself asking: God, where are You? Where is Your goodness in this? Friend, please know, you are not alone in these struggles. Lysa TerKeurst has been in your shoes and deeply understands. But she’s also learned this truth: We may not always know why certain things happen, but we can trust that in this very moment, God is near and He is working. If you need help believing this is true, Lysa is creating special one-night events on the Trust Again Tour this fall with worship leader Tasha Layton. Each night will be filled with powerful worship, biblical teaching, and practical takeaways to help you experience healing in your heart, mind, and soul. See if Lysa is coming to a city near you!

width

ENGAGE

Find real-life encouragement when you connect with Lysa TerKeurst here on Instagram.

FOR DEEPER STUDY

Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (NIV).

In what ways do you struggle with doubt? How could you pursue and seek Jesus on an even deeper level today? Consider writing out your own personal prayer and lifting it up each day this week.

We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.

© 2025 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org

 

Salem News Channel Today

Sponsored Links

On Air & Up Next

See the Full Program Guide