Anne Graham Lotz: Preparing to Meet Jesus

Are you ready to meet Jesus? In this heartfelt interview, Anne Graham Lotz (daughter of Billy Graham) and her daughter, Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright, share insights from their devotional book, Preparing to Meet Jesus: A 21-Day Challenge to Move from Salvation to Transformation.

Discover why they believe Jesus’ return is imminent, what it means to truly be part of God’s family, and how to live in daily readiness for the Bridegroom’s coming. Through biblical parallels—like Abraham finding a bride for Isaac (Genesis 24), the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1–13), and the hope of eternal life—you’ll be encouraged to examine your walk with Christ and embrace the joy of preparation.

What You’ll Learn in This Interview:

• Why Anne and Rachel-Ruth believe Jesus’ return could happen at any moment

• How to know if you are truly in God’s family and ready for eternity

• Lessons from the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25)

• Why the rapture and Christ’s return leave no time to “get ready later”

• How to cultivate a daily love relationship with Jesus

• The joy of living expectantly for the Bridegroom

Scriptures Referenced:

• Genesis 24 (Abraham sending his servant for Isaac’s bride)

• Matthew 25:1–13 (the parable of the ten virgins)

• 1 Corinthians 3:15 (saved “as through fire”)

This message is both a challenge and an encouragement: don’t procrastinate your faith. Live with expectancy, joy, and readiness to meet Jesus face-to-face.

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#AnneGrahamLotz #RachelRuthLotzWright #PreparingToMeetJesus #EndTimes #BibleProphecy #BrideOfChrist #JesusIsComing

Host:
Jesus is coming back soon—are you ready to meet Him? That’s the subject of a brand-new devotional book by Anne Graham Lotz and her daughter, Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright, the daughter and granddaughter of the late evangelist Billy Graham. The book is titled Preparing to Meet Jesus: A 21-Day Challenge to Move from Salvation to Transformation.

Ladies, welcome to The Prayer Link. It’s an honor to have you both here.

You believe Jesus’ return is imminent—that it could happen at any moment. Why?

Anne Graham Lotz:
I’m convinced of that based on the signs He gave us. He told us what to look for, and some of the signs we’re seeing in our world today have never taken place in previous generations. Jesus said when all those signs take place within one generation, that would be the last. I believe I’m living in that last generation.

But let me also say this: He’s coming for us whether it’s at His return or at our death. Because of my age—and after going through breast cancer—you never know when you might step into eternity. Rachel-Ruth even had two back-to-back heart attacks that almost took her life. She probably should have died had God not intervened. We never would have expected that at her age.

So, the important thing is that sometimes when you step into eternity, it can be sudden. There’s no time to get ready. When Jesus comes back, there will be no time to prepare—you must already be ready. And I want to be ready, not because I have to, but because I want to.

So you live your life with expectancy and joy, longing to see His face. I just want to make sure I see the smile on His face when He sees mine.

Host:
Amen, amen! Thank God you’re both on the mend, doing much better, and we continue to pray for complete healing.

Rachel-Ruth, in your book you ask one of the most important questions a believer can ask: Am I prepared to see my Savior face-to-face? How do we really know if we’re ready?

Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright:
The most important thing—actually the very first day of this 21-day challenge—is knowing if you’re in the family of God or not.

It’s the sweetest parallel. Abraham sent his servant to find a bride for Isaac—just like God the Father sends the Holy Spirit to find a bride for His Son, Jesus. When Abraham sent his servant, he didn’t say, “Make sure she’s beautiful, or that she can cook or play sports.” His only requirement was, “Make sure she’s in my family. Don’t go to the Canaanites.”

It’s the same with Jesus. When He comes back, He will take as His bride those who are in His family. To be in His family, we must give our hearts to Jesus, place our faith in Him, trust that He died on the cross to take away our sins, ask Him to come live inside of us and forgive us—and He gives us eternal life.

That’s the most important thing: make sure you’re in the family, make sure you’ve asked Jesus to live inside of you. After that, it’s your daily walk with the Lord. The book helps us look at areas we can improve on the inside.

One of my favorite love stories in the Bible is Rebecca meeting Isaac. She sees him for the first time, and it’s all love. That’s the same for us when we see Jesus.

Host:
At the start of the book, you talk about brides wondering, Will my husband find me beautiful and pleasing? How can we know Jesus will find us pleasing when we see Him face-to-face?

Anne Graham Lotz:
The sweetest thing Rachel brought out was that Rebecca was beloved. It wasn’t just an arranged marriage. Isaac loved her.

Our Heavenly Bridegroom loves us. Because I love Jesus, I want to be pleasing to Him. That’s what the book unpacks—our character, our servant spirit, humility, kindness, thoughtfulness. Each chapter focuses on one characteristic, ends with an application, and includes a prayer I wrote from my heart.

We all will stand before Him—either as Savior or Judge. We need to be ready. Jesus told us about the ten virgins—five wise, five foolish (Matthew 25:1–13). The wise were ready, with lamps full of oil. The foolish were not, and they missed the bridegroom.

Host:
How do we avoid being like the five virgins who missed it?

Anne Graham Lotz:
All ten expected the bridegroom to come, but five had no oil. I believe the oil represents the Holy Spirit. They were religious, but they’d never been born again.

In my ministry, I’ve seen hundreds—maybe thousands—of people in churches who were never truly born again. They can quote the Bible, pray, even serve, but they’ve never humbled themselves, confessed their sin, repented, received Jesus as Savior, and chosen to follow Him.

When the bridegroom came, the door was shut. They were shut out of the wedding feast.

Host:
Rachel-Ruth, the Bible says no one knows the day or hour of Jesus’ return, but He tells us to watch and pray. What can we do to be ready?

Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright:
Make sure you have that relationship with Him. Then live in a daily love relationship. It shouldn’t be a drudgery to read your Bible or pray—it’s a joy because you love Him.

Just two days ago I was in tears, confessing something to the Lord. I wanted to be right with Him, because I love Him. He is so loving, so kind, so faithful—how could you not want to live for Him?

It’s thrilling to prepare for His coming. My daughter just got married. All the preparations weren’t drudgery—they were exciting because it was her wedding day. That’s what the coming of Jesus is for us—it’s the Bridegroom coming for His bride. None of us will be perfect, but I want as few regrets as possible when that moment comes.

Host:
Final thoughts. What would you say to procrastinators who think, “I’ll follow Jesus later—I’ve got time”?

Anne Graham Lotz:
You may have regrets. When He comes—whether at death or His return—time stops. You’ll enter eternity with the life you lived.

Some will “squeak in” to heaven, as the Bible says, “as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:15), with nothing to show for their lives. But I want an abundant entrance. I want crowns to lay at His feet. I want to be dressed in a glorious wedding garment made up of righteous acts.

So don’t put it off. Plus, you miss the joy of preparation. Living for yourself is a small life. Living for the Lord, expecting to see Him, focused on Him—that’s exciting and joyful.

Host:
I can’t think of a more important topic for right now. Ladies, thank you so much for writing this book.

Once again, the book is Preparing to Meet Jesus: A 21-Day Challenge to Move from Salvation to Transformation. It’s available wherever books are sold. God bless you both, and thank you.