The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

In this episode of The Crosswalk Devotional, we focus on the comforting promise of "He Will Give You Rest." In a fast-paced world filled with constant demands and pressures, finding true rest can seem impossible. We’ll explore what biblical rest means and how God invites us to find peace and rejuvenation in Him. Through personal testimonies and scriptural wisdom, we’ll highlight the importance of surrendering our burdens and embracing God’s presence as a source of refreshment. Together, we’ll discuss practical steps to incorporate rest into our lives, fostering a deeper relationship with God and rejuvenating our spirits. Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! How do you find rest in your busy life? Share your thoughts and practices with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. What biblical truths have helped you experience God’s rest during stressful times? 🎙 🎉 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.

In this episode of The Crosswalk Devotional, we examine the quiet yet powerful impact of subtle sin on our spiritual lives. Often, it's the small compromises we make that can lead us away from God's intended path. We’ll discuss how these hidden struggles can drain our strength and disrupt our relationship with Him. By sharing personal stories and biblical wisdom, we’ll highlight the importance of self-reflection and vigilance in our faith. Together, we’ll explore practical ways to recognize and confront these subtle temptations, helping us to regain our spiritual momentum. Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! Have you faced subtle sins that have impacted your journey? Share your insights with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. What steps have you taken to strengthen your faith in the face of distractions? 🎙 🎉 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.

In this episode of The Crosswalk Devotional, we address the vital topic of "How to Endure the Worst of Trials." Life is filled with challenges that test our faith and resilience, and it's during these tough times that we often seek God's strength the most. We’ll explore practical strategies for enduring hardships, drawing from biblical examples and personal testimonies of perseverance. Together, we’ll discuss the power of prayer, community support, and the importance of maintaining hope when faced with adversity. By focusing on God’s promises, we can find courage and encouragement to navigate even the darkest valleys. Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! How have you endured your toughest trials? Share your insights and stories with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. What lessons have you learned that could inspire others facing their own challenges? 🎙 🎉 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.

In this episode of The Crosswalk Devotional, we explore the thought-provoking question, "Do You Anticipate Heaven?" As believers, the promise of eternal life is a cornerstone of our faith, yet many of us struggle to truly grasp its significance in our daily lives. We’ll discuss the biblical foundations of heaven, the hope it brings, and how anticipating our eternal home can transform our earthly experiences. Through personal stories and scriptural insights, we’ll highlight the importance of living with an eternal perspective and cultivating a longing for the place God has prepared for us. Together, we’ll discover practical ways to deepen our anticipation for heaven and share that hope with others. Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! How does the promise of heaven influence your daily life? Share your thoughts and experiences with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. What practices help you keep your focus on the eternal amidst life’s challenges? 🎙 🎉 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.

In this episode of The Crosswalk Devotional, we discuss "Overcoming the Monday Morning Blues." Many of us struggle with a sense of dread as the weekend comes to an end and the workweek begins. We’ll delve into the root causes of these feelings and explore practical strategies for finding joy and purpose at the start of each week. By sharing personal experiences and biblical wisdom, we’ll highlight the importance of setting intentions, embracing gratitude, and seeking God’s guidance in our daily tasks. Together, we’ll discover how to transform Monday mornings into opportunities for renewal and growth. Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! How do you combat the Monday morning blues in your life? Share your tips and experiences with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. What practices have helped you find motivation and joy as you begin your week? 🎙 🎉 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.

In this episode of The Crosswalk Devotional, we tackle the challenging topic of "When God Doesn't Answer Prayers As We Expected." Many of us have faced moments when our heartfelt prayers seem to go unanswered or take unexpected turns. We’ll explore the reasons behind these divine delays and the lessons they can teach us about trust and perseverance. Through personal stories and biblical insights, we’ll discuss how these experiences can deepen our faith and reshape our understanding of God’s timing. Together, we’ll uncover practical strategies for finding peace and hope in the waiting, reminding ourselves that God’s plans are often far greater than our own. Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! Have you navigated times when God’s answers didn’t align with your expectations? Share your insights with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. How have these experiences transformed your prayer life and your relationship 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.

In this episode of The Crosswalk Devotional, it's easy to lose sight of God's active presence in our lives. We’ll reflect on the ways God orchestrates events, answers prayers, and performs miracles—often in ways we least expect. Through personal testimonies and scriptural examples, we'll encourage you to remain hopeful and attentive to the signs of His handiwork, even amid trials. Together, we’ll explore how faith can help us recognize and celebrate God’s movements in our everyday lives, reminding us that He is always at work behind the scenes. Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! Have you experienced moments where you witnessed God's work in your life? Share your stories with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. How has your faith helped you see His presence during challenging times? 🎙 🎉 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.

In this episode of The Crosswalk Devotional, we examine the quiet yet powerful impact of subtle sin on our spiritual lives. Often, it's the small compromises we make that can lead us away from God's intended path. We’ll discuss how these hidden struggles can drain our strength and disrupt our relationship with Him. By sharing personal stories and biblical wisdom, we’ll highlight the importance of self-reflection and vigilance in our faith. Together, we’ll explore practical ways to recognize and confront these subtle temptations, helping us to regain our spiritual momentum. Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! Have you faced subtle sins that have impacted your journey? Share your insights with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. What steps have you taken to strengthen your faith in the face of distractions? 🎙 🎉 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW - YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/ Full Transcript Below: Subtle Sin Steals Our Strength and Sets us Back By Keri Eichberger Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12:1)  There’s a bible verse I keep getting tripped up on. Though, I’ve continued to feel flames of encouragement when I read a certain portion of these well-known words in Hebrews Chapter 12. It’s the ones about running the race marked out for us with perseverance. It seems many like to isolate that snippet, which is really a section of a longer scripture. And I’ve at times wondered why that is. I love this part of the verse for the desire it stirs up in me to embrace perseverance. But when I look to the preceding words to clue in on how we might tap into such resilience, it puzzles me. Because it talks about sin. Saying we should throw it off and that it hinders us.  Well, what does sin really have to do with perseverance? I’d definitely like to know if it’s what sets us back and squashes our ability to persevere. Because I’ve felt the weighing and wearing down of the world lately, and I sure need perseverance to keep moving on the road God has marked out for me.  Do you need swells of strength and stamina to plow through too? Sure you do. Life wears us all down sometimes. I opened my bible, sat, and stared at the entirety of the verse yesterday. Specifically the words “sin” and “easily entangles.” And simultaneously considering the words that followed about running with perseverance, I pictured myself on a road getting tangled and tripped up. Acknowledging there would have to be something specific in my path in order to hold me back or down. I was seeing this verse telling me that sin does that. The NLT version says “let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.” The bible is clearly saying sin sets us back. Which means if we can rid ourselves of sin, we might experience an opposite effect, a releasing of resistance allowing us to move forward. With more strength.  We know that sin separates us from God. And that God is our strength. Therefore, because he is our source of strength, the more we stay in sin, the more we’re separated from our ability to persevere. And as I kept leaning in, I began to wonder if that had anything to do with my weariness. I want to persevere, and have been praying for this reinforcement. But am I being held back because of my own sin? I never thought of myself as a blatant sinner, but I also think this is the way the enemy is sneaky with us. Because actually, we are all guilty—myself included. But it’s the subtle sins woven through our everydays that we easily become blind to.  I kept digging deeper into what God wanted to reveal. I wanted to expose every sin Satan was trying to hide from me, to throw off every hindrance, and run my race. So I did a quick search on biblical sin. And there it was. There they were. Many of my struggles staring me square in the face. Pride, comparison, and greed name a few that convicted my heart. Just as ugly and guilty as the seemingly worst of them. Little weights and trip ups holding me down and setting me back. What subtle sins can you confess that might be causing weight and weariness in the marathon of your life? Consider the not so obvious. Comparison that strives to the point of crash and burnout. Envy that constantly covets what others have. Greed that hungers for more and knocks you down with discontentment. Pride that drives you harder to be the best and slaves you to success and people-pleasing. Or anger, laziness, lack of forgiveness. You name it, every subtle sin weighs us down and steals our strength. It became clear. All sin drives us away from God and away from his strength that allows us to sail more smoothly through. This verse tells us that. And it tells us to get rid of it. Then what I also saw was the relevance of the very beginning of the verse, reading, “since we are surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses.” This intro tells me God’s people are part of his perseverance plan. His plan to expose our sin, and eradicate it. We all have sin, but we can’t receive the benefits of its removal if it stays. If we don’t identify it, confess it to God and others, and release it in repentance and strides to step away from it.  Intersecting Faith and Life: For the sake of the perseverance we all long for, let’s reflect on the subtle sins surrounding our lives. I want to encourage us both today to investigate and identify all our tendencies toward the sins tripping us up, and to ask God to help us run from them. Because when we do, we will find our way closer to the Lord. We will find increased strength. And we will find perseverance to keep running along the purpose-filled path he has planned just for us.         Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this episode of The Crosswalk Devotional, we celebrate the invaluable gift of friendship and the profound impact it has on our spiritual journey. Friends are not only companions but also sources of encouragement, accountability, and joy. We’ll discuss the biblical foundations of friendship, exploring how God intended for us to support one another through life’s challenges. Through heartfelt stories and scripture, we’ll highlight the qualities of true friendship and how cultivating these relationships can enrich our lives and strengthen our faith. Join the Conversation: We’d love to hear from you! What role do friends play in your faith journey? Share your stories and appreciation for your friends with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. How have your friendships impacted your relationship with God? 🎙 🎉 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW - YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/ Full Transcript Below: In Praise of Friends By Aaron D’Anthony Brown“One with many friends may be harmed, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24, CSB) The Making of a Friend There’s nothing quite like the feeling of reconciliation, especially when that reconciliation involves two friends. There’s a certain euphoria that happens when misunderstandings get resolved, and you’re suddenly on the same page again. These moments bring us closer. Not only that, but they put life into perspective. The friend that we thought meant something means so much more. And that prior conflict so much less. There’s no sure way to find a friend, even in church or through tireless prayers and countless attempts. Yet, even without a precise formula, we know a friend when we find one. We know that friends are made through hard times and tough conversations. We know that they are present when we need them the most and even when we don’t need them at all. Not every time, but definitely when it counts. These great people enrich our lives in more ways than one. We ought to thank God for the opportunity to receive them. Moreover, if Scripture is any indication, we ought to show them praise for being who they are. Intersecting Faith & Life: If we reflect long enough, why we ought to appreciate our friends is clear, but what’s not always so obvious is how we can show them our appreciation. Here are some practical ways you can shower your friends with praise today: One important thing to do is spend time together. When life gets busy, sometimes relationships unintentionally fall by the wayside. Texts we once exchanged with friends become less frequent. As do our phone calls. When there’s less communication, chances are, you’re not hanging out as much. This doesn’t mean the relationship is over, and you’re no longer friends, but there’s value in continuing to invest in one another, no matter the stage of life. Why? Quality time is a sign of gratitude, importance, and a way of serving others. Friends benefit from receiving that the same as we do. Today, give your friend a call and spend five minutes, or longer, talking on the phone. If you’re feeling really ambitious, bust out the planner and find a day to get together. Go for a walk in the park, dine in at a restaurant, or just schedule a visit. Another way to show praise is to tell your friend what he or she means to you. For some, actions are more than enough to say I see you, and I love you. For others, words of affirmation go a long way. They like to hear about your love, not just see it. If you want to tell someone what they mean to you, consider calling them up to tell them over the phone or in person. If you have a creative bone in you, you could write something out in a letter or song.  Don’t forget to also thank God for your friends. He blesses us with these relationships, comforts us when we’re in need of them, and guides us when we want to restore them. Whether you have one, two, or more, in a culture where everyone foolishly calls everyone friend, it is a blessing from on high to just have one. Pray for your friends too. They do so much for us. Advice, encouragement, accountability, keeping us company, the list goes on and on. We should thank God for them, but we should also pray that He would bless them. We can give them good gifts, but what God can give them is so much better. Pray for them and their families, their health, their goals, and even their friends. Do right by them. Or, in other words, be for them what they have been for us. Just as we hope that our friends will keep us on the straight and narrow, we ought to do the same for them. Doing so ensures that we will have a relationship that stands the test of every trial and even time itself.  Further Reading (and Listening): Proverbs 17:17 1 Corinthians 15:33 Proverbs 13:20 Proverbs 27:6 Psalm 27:17 “Friends” by Marvin Winans & The Perfected Praise Choir Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this episode of The Crosswalk Devotional, we explore the beautiful and transformative journey of pursuing God's presence in our daily lives. Our relationship with God is not just about rituals or routines; it’s about cultivating a deep, personal connection with Him. We’ll discuss the significance of seeking His presence through prayer, worship, and reflection, and how these practices can enrich our spiritual walk. Through inspiring stories and biblical examples, we’ll discover the joy and peace that comes from being fully present with God, and how His presence can guide us through life’s ups and downs. Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! How do you pursue God’s presence in your life? Share your experiences and insights with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. What moments have you felt closest to God, and how has that impacted your faith journey? 🎙 🎉 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW - YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/ Full Transcript Below: 12 Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” 14 The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.  Exodus 33:12-15 While at an event intended to encourage and inspire women in ministry, I sensed God asking me to step down from mine. This was both difficult and welcomed. I grieved as I reflected upon all the ways the Lord had grown the organization from four local speakers to a team of 30 with global impact. But I knew it was time to walk away. I’d been rushing from one event and project to the next for so long, I’d lost my joy and my vision.  Worse, obligation had clouded God’s voice. I needed space to simply rest in Him, and so I relinquished my position and my team to someone else and spent the next year rediscovering the beauty and goodness of God.    While the Lord never asked Moses, the man called to lead His newly freed people, to abdicate his role, today’s passage indicates he would’ve done so without hesitation. If you’re familiar with Scripture, you might remember the circumstances surrounding his and God’s conversation. Shortly prior, God summoned Moses to Mt. Sinaia to give him and the ancient Hebrews instructions regarding how to love Him and one another well. Moses remained on the mountain for forty days and forty nights. In his absence, the people regressed to their old ways, talked Moses’s brother into making them a calf idol, and worshiped it in shamefully sinful ways.  God was not pleased! He told Moses that He would do everything He’d said. He would bring the Israelites to the agriculturally rich land He’d long  promised them and their forefathers, and He would drive out all of its occupants. Only, He would do this through an angel. He Himself wouldn’t accompany them. In other words, Moses could receive all of the blessings—achievement, respect, and prestige—without God.  Moses determined such success came at too high a cost. He prioritized God’s presence above everything else, and was willing to relinquish all else to retain it. I used to think this was because he recognized he couldn’t complete his assignment without the Lord. But remember, God had already assured him of the outcome. It seems, then, that Moses valued his relationship with the Lord more than anything God could or would do for him or through him.  Moses had experienced the truth later recorded in Psalm 16:11, which reads, “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (NIV, emphasis mine).  Intersecting Life and Faith Many, if not most of us, recognize our desperate need for God. We’ve experienced the sweetness of praising Him in a sanctuary filled with His Spirit and His people. We know the peace of privately, silently, kneeling before Him. We’ve benefited from His supernatural strength replacing our weakness, and we’ve relished the comfort of His tender embrace.  Those are moments we wish would never end, while we’re in them. But then, we get busy and distracted by our calendars and agendas. And suddenly, we forget. At least, I do. I lose sight of how beautiful life is, when lived in close connection with my Savior, until my soul becomes depleted. Then, I remember how much I not only need Him, but crave Him. Thankfully, He remains with us, even when we forget Him, gently, but steadily, drawing us back.  But I’d rather turn to Him before I land in that spiritual desert. One of the best ways to avoid that harsh and discouraging space is to make spiritual disciplines, like prayer and Bible reading, a habit. The more they become a regular part of our lives, the more Jesus becomes a consistent part of our lives as well.  Further Reading: John 15:1-11 Luke 10:38-42 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.