The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

Many of us struggle with the desire to control our circumstances, but true peace and freedom come when we release our grip and trust in His plan. We’ll discuss practical strategies for surrendering control in our lives, the importance of faith, and how this process can lead to deeper spiritual growth. Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! What areas of your life are you learning to release control over? Share your stories and insights with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. Let’s encourage one another as we embrace the freedom that comes with surrendering to God! 🎙 🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW - YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/ Full Transcript Below: Releasing Control  by Cindi McMenamin, Crosswalk Contributing Writer  “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” Isaiah 26:3 ESV) It took me awhile, but I’ve finally come to the conclusion that you and I are not in control of our lives, as much as we’d like to think we are.  I learned this lesson during 2020, after experiencing a series of losses. Thankfully, I didn’t lose anyone close to me during the pandemic. But I did lose other things that hurt deeply. I lost the opportunity to be with and hug my little nephews. I lost a speaking opportunity at a prestigious writers conference for which I had waited more than a decade to be on the faculty. And I lost the ability to visit some favorite places of mine where I felt near to God and His blessings.  While the loss of opportunities and daily routine was difficult, why did it take a pandemic –and the fear it arouses, the mandates it included, and the restrictions put in place—to make me feel I had no control of my life and circumstances?    What I really lost during that time was the belief that I was in control—as if I ever really was.  We thrive today on the notion that we make our own reality. If you can dream it, you can do it. We think and therefore we are. And yet, how much peace–and how much less striving—we would experience if we daily acknowledged that there is really only One who is in control…and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Through Jesus, God’s own Son, we have the assurance that when it looks like things are out of control, when were convinced we have no control, He is still very much in control.  And all His ways are good. Through Jesus, we can experience peace, not the endless striving to control, and the resulting frustration of not being able to control.  Intersecting Faith and Life: Loss and frustration impacts every one of us at some time in our lives, even when we’re trusting in God. Loss happens because we’re living in a fallen world. In the midst of a relationship with God, loss threatens our happiness, it tries to kill our joy, and in some extreme cases, it makes us believe we’ll have unending heartache.  Because you and I were created to live eternally in a sinless world, and experience life with others who will live eternally, we weren’t created with a mental and emotional capacity for loss and death. Yet because we now live in a world of sin and death, we must rely on God for an otherworldly ability to cope with loss. And that happens as we release our sense of control and acknowledge that God is in charge and He is still good,  In the New Living Translation, Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” In other words, as you keep your heart and mind fixed on Jesus, regardless of your circumstances, regardless of your losses, you will experience what Scripture calls “perfect peace”—not momentary peace, not worldly peace, not a mystical self-confidence type of peace, but a perfect, incomprehensible, only-from-the-presence-of-God peace as you trust in Him.  That kind of peace is not a blanket promise to all who simply believe God exists.  It’s a guarantee to those who are steadfast, unmoving in their faith in who God is, His absolute control over all things, and His ability to govern, regardless of our circumstances.  For me, exercising that steadfast immovable faith consists of saying aloud the words “God, this did not take You by surprise. You are still in control. You are still good. And all your ways are perfect” (Psalm 18:30).  We can rob ourselves of peace when our minds are fixed on our emotions, or the outcomes we are trying to achieve, or on all the options we must investigate. Yet fixing our eyes on Jesus, and trusting that He is still on the throne, and He is still capable of doing all things, and doing them perfectly, can keep us in a place of perfect peace.  As I’ve trusted Him and fixed my mind on Him, I’ve seen my Heavenly Father come through in amazingly gentle and perfect ways. Only God can ease the pain of loss, and the sting of death, and make the timing of one’s passing perfect. God truly is the author of peace, not the author of panic. He’s the author of calm, not confusion, and the author of rest, not stress. He will keep you and me in perfect peace, whose minds are steadfast, and whose trust is in Him.  Further reading: Psalm 145. For more on growing in your relationship with God, see Cindi’s book: The New Loneliness Devotional: 50 Days to a Closer Connection with God.  Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We invite you to embark on a spiritual decluttering journey. Just as we tidy up our homes in the spring, it’s time to refresh our hearts and minds. We’ll discuss practical steps to let go of emotional baggage, nurture our spiritual health, and invite new growth into our lives. Discover how spiritual renewal can lead to a deeper connection with God and a more vibrant life. Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! What areas of your life are you seeking to refresh this season? Share your spring cleaning tips and insights with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. Let’s support one another in creating space for spiritual growth and renewal! 🎙 🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW - YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/ Full Transcript Below: Spring Clean Your Soul By: Whitney Hopler  “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:31-32, NIV On a sunny spring day, a beam of sunlight shone into the front hallway of my home, revealing lots of dirt I hadn’t realized was there. Yuck! I thought. It had been easy to ignore my dirty home when I didn’t see what was really there. But now, I took a fresh look around and noticed other parts of my home that needed attention, such as my cluttered living room. Soon after that, I started spring cleaning, but I felt bored while I cleaned – so I let my thoughts wander. It wasn’t long before I found myself ruminating on a situation that made me angry. A family member had mistreated me, and I replayed her behavior over in my mind with bitterness. Then it hit me that I needed to clean more than just my home. I needed to spring clean my soul, as well. Letting anger and bitterness remain in my soul was even more dangerous than allowing dirt and clutter to stay in my home. So, I set my floor mop aside and said a prayer, forgiving my family member and asking the Holy Spirit to renew me.  When we clean our physical spaces, how often do we consider the state of our spiritual spaces? Cleaning our souls is even more important than cleaning our homes, because doing so affects not only our own well-being, but also our relationships with God and others. Ephesians 4:31-32 urges us to get rid of all the dirty attitudes that are lurking in our minds and instead make healthy choices like being kind to each other and pursuing and practicing forgiveness. These verses are a vital call to action. Just as we need to clean our homes to be healthy physically, we need to clean our souls to be healthy spiritually.  Think about it: a dirty, cluttered home can make us feel stressed and uncomfortable. But an unclean soul creates a much deeper level of stress for us. Bitterness can lead to isolation and loneliness. Uncontrolled anger can destroy families and friendships. Slander can ruin reputations and break relationships. Malice can prevent us from embracing and spreading God’s love. When we allow negative emotions to stay stuck in our souls rather than dealing with them and then clearing them out, that blocks our spiritual growth. Just as physical clutter can prevent us from finding what we need, spiritual clutter interferes with our connection to God. That makes it hard to notice God’s presence with us, which blocks us from experiencing peace and joy.  So, how can you start spring cleaning your soul? First, you need to acknowledge the clutter. Take an honest inventory of your inner life. Are there areas where bitterness lingers in your mind? Do you struggle with anger or resentment? Have you spread gossip or slander?  Next, bring these issues to God in prayer. Confess your struggles and ask for God’s help to clear out unhealthy attitudes and actions from your life. God is the ultimate cleanser, capable of washing away the stains of sin and healing you from pain. Ask God’s Holy Spirit to reveal the root causes of the dirt and clutter in your soul, and to heal you.  Then, make a conscious decision to let go of all the unhealthy stuff that has accumulated in your soul. Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to do whatever you need to do to clean your soul: forgiving people who have hurt you, releasing your anger, choosing to speak kindly instead of gossiping or slandering, and choosing love over malice. Pray for help to grow in holiness, relying on the Holy Spirit to help you develop the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These qualities are like air fresheners for your soul, bringing a refreshing fragrance of God’s presence into your life.  Cleaning your soul is not a one-time event in the spring; it’s an ongoing process for every season. Just as you need to regularly clean your home, you also need to regularly examine your heart and mind, allowing God to cleanse you from sin and bring revival and renewal into your life. As you do, you’ll enjoy the freedom that comes from living without unnecessary stress! Intersecting Faith and Life As you consider how you can clean your soul, reflect on these questions:  What areas of your inner life need the most attention this spring? Are there any specific relationships where you need to practice more kindness or forgiveness? What does it mean to you that Christ forgave you, and how does that motivate you to forgive others? What practical steps can you take to replace negative emotions with the fruits of the Spirit? Further Reading  Psalm 51:10 Proverbs 4:23 1 John 1:9 Matthew 6:14-15 Colossians 3:13 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and growth. We’ll explore what it means to embrace our true identities in Christ and the steps we can take to cultivate a life that reflects our best selves. From overcoming self-doubt to setting intentional goals, this conversation will empower you to pursue a fulfilling and purpose-driven life. Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! What steps are you taking to become your best self? Share your insights, experiences, and favorite resources with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. Let’s motivate one another as we strive for personal growth and deeper connections with God! 🎙 🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW - YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We explore the profound power of prayer and worship in our spiritual journeys. Just as the psalmists called out in their times of need, we are invited to bring our deepest cries and praises to God. We’ll delve into the biblical foundations of crying out to God, how it fosters intimacy in our relationship with Him, and the transformative impact it can have on our lives. Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! How do you express your heart to God in prayer? What verses or experiences inspire you to cry out in worship? Share your thoughts and stories with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. Let’s encourage each other as we deepen our connection with God through heartfelt prayer! 🎙 🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW - YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/ Full Transcript Below: Cry Out to God “I lift my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2 “Your job has been cut due to budget cuts.” This is what an e-mail said to me a week before Christmas. As a writer, writing jobs are hard to come by. We often get article contracts, but they are frequently not consistent income. We must scour the Internet for other opportunities to make sure we get the opportunities we need. A writer usually scrapes by in terms of income. Yet, this is the calling God has placed on my life.  Because of skyrocketing costs and an unstable economy, this was a mountain of a problem. It was one thing to have my job cut, but quite another to find another writing opportunity. Because writing opportunities are so few, it is difficult for many writers to get jobs within their field. I knew this would be difficult for me to recover. Although the income was not much, it was substantial enough to help pay for some monthly bills. I worried about the problem. I searched the Internet for additional writing jobs and asked friends to be on the lookout for opportunities.  When nothing happened, I finally bowed my head. “Lord, I need your help. I can't do this without you. Please help me find a new job to cover my missing income. God, you have been so good with our provision. I pray you will again provide in miraculous ways. Amen.” Instead of running to God first, I took matters into my own hands. I thought I could fix the problem by merely using my tools and resources. However, God wants me to run to him. Even if I could fix the issue alone, God wants me to express my emotions. Even though the job required writing many articles throughout the month, it was income I could count on. Without it, I wasn't sure I'd be able to pay our mortgage.  When we have problems that look like mountains in our lives, it's easy for us to take matters into our own hands. We may try to resolve the issue independently, talking to friends, utilizing tools and resources, and doing anything without going to God. But sometimes, the best thing we can do is cry out to God. In the above verse, the psalmist understands having problems that look like mountains. But he cries out to God because he knows his help can only come from him. God is in the business of working miracles in our lives. Even when we don't feel him working, he's still working on our behalf. God will never let us down. He's fully present with us. When we have problems that look like mountains in our lives, we can lift our eyes to the one who created the mountains in the first place. There is no situation in our lives that God can't resolve. Even in the most challenging situations where we feel a positive result is impossible, God can turn any situation around. He can soften hearts, open doors no one can shut, and change people's lives. Even when we are tempted to take matters into our own hands and resolve problems ourselves, God wants us to come to him.  Because he created the heavens and the earth, he already knows our issues before we even experience them. In our pain, we can cry out to God, who is faithful in hearing our prayers and working on our behalf. But we must cry out to him. God does not force himself in places where he is not wanted. Our cries are a sign to him that he is welcome to work in our lives. When you are in trouble, where do you lift your eyes? Do you take matters into your own hands and try to resolve the problem yourself? Do you cry out to God, the creator of the heavens and the earth? Yield your life fully to him. Let him work on your behalf. You may be surprised to see the miraculous and wonderous works he does on your behalf.  Father, let us constantly cry out to you in our distress. Let us lift our eyes to you when we have problems that look like mountains. Remember that as you created the heavens and the earth, you also made us. You can handle our issues and are faithful in resolving them in your time. Amen.  Intersecting Faith and Life In what ways have you failed to cry out to God in your distress?  What is one thing you can do today to turn your heart entirely to him? Further Reading Romans 8:28 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In times of struggle and adversity, it's essential to remember that we are not alone. We’ll explore how God stands with us in our battles, providing strength, courage, and protection as we navigate life’s challenges. Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! How have you experienced God fighting for you in difficult times? Share your stories and insights with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. What verses encourage you to trust in God’s power during struggles? Let’s come together to support one another in faith! 🎙 ⚔️ SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW - YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Just as nature awakens with joy in the spring, our hearts are called to express gratitude and praise through song. We’ll discuss the biblical significance of singing in worship and how music can transform our spiritual lives and strengthen our connection to God. Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! What songs or hymns resonate with your heart in this season? Share your favorites and insights with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. How does music enhance your worship experience? Let’s uplift one another as we embrace this joyful season of singing! 🎙 🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW - YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We tackle the sensitive and important topic of "Is It Unchristian to Struggle with Depression?" Mental health struggles can often feel isolating, especially within faith communities. We’ll explore the biblical perspective on mental health, addressing the misconception that struggling with depression reflects a lack of faith, and how God meets us in our pain. Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! Have you ever felt conflicted about your mental health struggles in your faith journey? Share your stories and insights with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. How can we better support one another in our mental health journeys? Let’s create a safe space for discussion and encouragement! 🎙 💬 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW - YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Understanding our unique gifts is essential for fulfilling God’s purpose in our lives and contributing to the body of Christ. We’ll discuss how to identify, cultivate, and use our spiritual gifts to serve others and glorify God. Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! What spiritual gifts have you discovered in your life? Share your experiences and insights with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. How do you use your gifts to make a difference in your community? Let’s encourage one another as we journey together in faith! 🎙 🌟 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW - YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Life can often feel unstable and uncertain, much like walking on shifting ground. We’ll discuss the significance of building our lives on the solid foundation of faith in Christ, exploring how to recognize and navigate the unstable areas of our lives with God’s guidance. Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! Have you ever felt like you were walking on shifting sands? Share your stories and insights with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. What practices help you find stability in your faith? Let’s support one another as we seek to stand firm on the foundation of God’s truth! 🎙 ⛰️ SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW - YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Our hearts are the wellspring of our thoughts, words, and actions, and what fills our hearts will ultimately shape our lives. We’ll explore the importance of cultivating a heart aligned with God’s love and truth, and how this overflow can impact those around us. Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! What do you find fills your heart the most? Share your insights and experiences with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. How do you ensure your heart overflows with love and gratitude? Let’s encourage one another to nurture our hearts in faith! 🎙 ❤️ SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW - YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.