The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

Ask God to open your eyes to the opportunities to serve and to give you the strength and wisdom to act on them. Pray earnestly for more laborers – including yourself – to be sent into God’s harvest. Your work will be worth it! SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/Your Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/ Full Transcript Below: Consumption or Contribution? By: Whitney Hopler “Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’” – Matthew 9:37-38, ESV  In our materialistic world, we are constantly bombarded with opportunities for consumption. It’s easy to spend our valuable time on activities that bring us temporary entertainment but little lasting value – from scrolling on social media and binge-watching TV shows to shopping or eating too much. While moments of rest and recreation are important, we must guard against allowing these activities to dominate our lives and distract us from our higher calling.  Jesus’ words in Matthew 9:37-38 remind us of the vast opportunities for meaningful work in God’s kingdom. The harvest is plentiful. There are countless ways we can make a positive difference in our communities, churches, and beyond. Yet, the laborers are few. Many people are caught up in consumption, missing the chance to contribute to God’s work.  Just as farmers work diligently to gather their crops during harvest season before the cold sets in, we too must diligently make good use of the opportunities God places before us to reap a spiritual harvest. We have a limited window of time to plant seeds of faith, hope, and love that can help people grow spiritually. God calls us to be laborers in his harvest. This means prioritizing the work God has prepared for us over excessive consumption. When we focus on contributing rather than consuming, we fulfill God’s purposes for our lives. We become instruments of God’s love, shining God’s light into the darkness of a world in need.  Consider how you spend your valuable time. Are you investing it in ways that contribute to God’s kingdom, or are you caught up in consumption? Are you using your God-given talents, or neglecting them? Seek God’s guidance to discern how he wants you to use your time – and what opportunities there are to use the distinctive talents God has given you. You may serve in your church, start a volunteer project in your community, mentor someone, or simply be present and available to those around you. Every small act of service contributes to the larger harvest. The harvest season is a time of hard work but also of great rewards and joy. As a laborer in God’s harvest, you are called to gather people into God’s kingdom and to help others grow in their faith. You can do so by sharing the Gospel and living a loving life that shows people the reality of God’s love in action. This work will not only fulfill you, but also will bring joy to your heart and to God’s heart.  Imagine a field ripe for harvest but left unattended because the laborers were distracted by lesser things. The crops would wither and spoil. It would be a tragic situation of valuable opportunities lost. Likewise, when if you allow yourself to be consumed by trivial pursuits, you miss the chance to make a lasting impact for God’s kingdom. Our world is in desperate need of hope, compassion, and truth. You can help people find those treasures when you choose to contribute rather than consume.  Remember that the call to be a laborer is not a burden but a privilege. God has uniquely equipped you with gifts and talents to make a difference. When you choose contribution over consumption, you step into a life of purpose and fulfillment. You become part of something much larger than yourself – God’s great plan of redemption and restoration.  As you see fields being harvested, let it be a visual reminder of the spiritual harvest around you. Ask God to open your eyes to the opportunities to serve and to give you the strength and wisdom to act on them. Pray earnestly for more laborers – including yourself – to be sent into God’s harvest. Your work will be worth it! Intersecting Faith and Life As you consider how much the world needs what you can contribute as one of God’s laborers, reflect on these questions:  How much time do you spend on entertainment and consumption each day compared to contributing to God’s kingdom? What specific talents and gifts has God given you that you can use to serve others? In what areas of your life do you feel God calling you to be a laborer in his harvest? How can you create a balanced schedule that allows for rest and recreation while also prioritizing meaningful contribution? What steps can you take today to shift from a mindset of consumption to one of contribution?  Further Reading Ephesians 2:10 Colossians 3:23-24 Galatians 6:9 1 Peter 4:10 Romans 12:11 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

When we live through the word of God, the way he intended us to live, for him.. through him. That is when we experience true joy, and can use that joy to spread the word to the world. SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/Your Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Are you taking time to listen well to others before responding? How can you respond more like Jesus? Are you quick to listen to the Holy Spirit or do you jump to respond in your flesh? Pray and ask God to help you live this out. SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/Your Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/ Full Transcript Below: Who Are You Listening To?Written By: Emma Danzey James 1:19 says, “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” Listening has never come naturally to me. I have grown tremendously in this skill and calling as a believer over the past couple of years especially. You can truly only build deeper friendships and invest in the next generation if you listen to them. When I was a young girl in school we would always take the dreaded end of the school year tests. I never thrived at reading comprehension since I was a slower reader and dealt with the insecurity with that. I also never performed well at the listening portion. Basically the fact that I am a professional Christian writer is only an act of God today. He can take the unlikely and use them for His glory alone. When the teacher would read the portions for us to listen and answer questions to afterwards, I would overthink, zone out and wonder what was the most important thing that I should have heard. I was so overly concerned with performing well that I missed the big picture and got hyper focused on often the wrong details. In life, we can easily do this in our walk with God. There are so many voices trying to speak into our lives and gain our attention that if we are not careful, we can turn our focus towards the wrong things and miss the voice of the Lord. Today as we break down James 1:19, may we remember that there are many opinions and thoughts in this world, but only one voice of God.  “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this” James begins this verse with an endearing message to his fellow believers. He calls them (and us today) brothers and sisters. His approach to the hard topic is kindness and humble care. He continues with the importance to take note of this. James wants his readers to know that what he is saying is important, so listen up! “Everyone should be quick to listen,” Everyone means all of us. James teaches us that by the power of the Holy Spirit within us, we should be quick to listen. I normally do not hear the adjective quick with listen. I feel like listening would pair more naturally with a word like patience, stop what you are doing and listen, or slow down and listen. Quick to listen reminds us that in a moment’s notice when we want to provide a knee-jerk response, we need to quickly listen. We need to be fast at doing what is unnatural to us in order to live by the Spirit and not our flesh.  The Holy Spirit empowers us to do this and we need to pray to Him in moments when we need to hear what others are truly saying and also in times when God is speaking to us. We do not need to wait, but we need to have open ears and a fast response to hear our Lord just like a soldier would quickly listen to the instructions from His commanding general. Do we take the voice of the Spirit this seriously? We need to be on our guard and ready to hear Him, especially when we are trying to actively listen to others who need to hear the gospel. “Slow to speak and slow to become angry.” Where do we tend to go when we are not quick to listen? We speak too soon and often become angry. If we do not take the time to truly listen to others, we can be overly concerned with a response and an argument versus truly shepherding and caring for the other person’s heart. We see Jesus model this so many times with the Pharisees and religious leaders on this earth. He was quick to listen to them, even though often they were testing Him and questioning His authority.  He did speak back to them and respond, but He was always strategic and allowed them to question Him first. Then, sometimes he did become angry, however He was slow to anger. Jesus exhibited humility, kindness, compassion, and confidence in His Father’s will and kingdom. We too can live this out in being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Intersecting Faith and Life: Are you taking time to listen well to others before responding? How can you respond more like Jesus? Are you quick to listen to the Holy Spirit or do you jump to respond in your flesh? Pray and ask God to help you live this out. Further Reading: Proverbs 18:13 Matthew 26:41 Galatians 5:17 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

You may or may not go to church looking for God's presence. You may or may not feel like you need God to reveal God's self to you in some way, but God’s presence, and God’s power define the church. The church, amid all its flaws and humanness, is like a big neon sign from the God saying, “If you want to find me, you can find me here.” Even today, the church is the house of the Lord. SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/Your Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/ Full Transcript Below: Longing for the Church “My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.” Psalm 84:2 When you were young, did you ever find yourself giddy with excitement when going somewhere? Maybe it was a theme park, maybe it was grandma’s house, maybe it was a long trip, but internally you were fueled with joy and excitement. Like a kid before Christmas, you couldn’t fall asleep - and if you did, you dreamt of what you would do when you got there.  Have you ever had that experience on your way to church? Every block you pass on your way makes your heart leap into your throat; you are filled with excitement. I am willing to be not many of us have had that experience. But this is exactly what Psalm 84 calls us to.           Psalm 84 centers around a pilgrimage to the Temple. For the psalmist, there was no greater thing than approaching the house of the Lord. The joy that is felt is not because the temple was beautifully adorned. The psalmist has a divine longing to be in the temple because the temple was the dwelling place of God - and to be in the temple I was to be in God's presence. What is more, to be in God's presence was to experience the wonder of God's divine activity.  Do we have a similar understanding when we step through the front doors of our local churches today? Or do we view the church only in human terms, as a place to sing religious songs, to hear scripture read, to touch base with faithful friends? If we view the church only through the lens of what we do, we might fail to recognize what God does in our midst. Because the church is the place where we gather to meet the God who created, redeemed, and sustains us. And God is present in the church. In many ways, contemporary society has lost an understanding of sacred space. Life with God has become so individualized, that we tend to downplay the importance of the church      as a place of God. A common quip is 'I don't need to go to the church, I can worship God as much on the golf course as anywhere.' And that's true, but do you? Yes, God is everywhere, even the psalmists understood that, but scripture always holds that there is something special about God’s house. Psalm 84 begins 'How lovely is your dwelling place, O God;' how perfect, how wonderful, how magnificent is the place where God sets God's glory. See, for the psalmist, if God's presence was in the temple in some magnificent,   unique, yet indescribable way – then there was no other place that he would rather be.  We come to church to be in God's presence and to open ourselves to divine activity. Because God is not just some passive observer. God never naps in church. God is always moving, always active. Whatever the denomination, whether you meet in a building with a spire or in someone’s home, whether the church is liturgical, charismatic, this is the nature of the church that we are invited to enjoy. Intersecting faith and life Psalm 84 declares that the Lord bestows favor and honor and does not withhold good things. Are you needing good things in your life, a good resolution, a good report, a healing? Are you needing a reinvigoration of life, or a sense of protection from whatever you may be going through?  It may sound odd, and it may sound countercultural, but have you tried going to church? After all, what is the church, if it is not the place where we gather to meet God's loving and grace-filled presence, and to receive good things from God’s hand.  Of course, understanding God's presence and activity doesn't mean that things will turn around in a moment. Psalm 84 isn't a poem of prosperity declaring that God will make you healthy, wealthy, and glad all your days. No, life with God is a journey. The psalmist says “Blessed are the ones whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.”  The ones who receive God's activity are those who long to move closer to God, even when the path is ruff and the hill is steep, and even in those times that you think that the journey isn't worth it. We are called to keep reaching out to God. Because rough times never discount God's presence or activity. And through the church, God always invites us to God’s self. You may or may not go to church looking for God's presence. You may or may not feel like you need God to reveal God's self to you in some way, but God’s presence, and God’s power define the church. The church, amid all its flaws and humanness, is like a big neon sign from the God saying, “If you want to find me, you can find me here.” Even today, the church is the house of the Lord. For Further Reading: Psalm 84 What is the church? On biblestudytools.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We can overcome the world and its struggles because Jesus already has. Rather than trying to take matters into our own hands, we need to trust in Him, allow Him to direct our steps, and apply His teachings into our lives. Whenever we feel without hope in our trouble or distress, we need to remember that the Lord has overcome the world and we can take heart in this promise.  SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/Your Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/ Full Transcript Below: Jesus Has Overcome the World By Vivian Bricker “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).  If there is one thing I’m familiar with, it’s trouble. Growing up, I often found myself in the vice principal’s office for a myriad of reasons. Due to having a speech impediment when I was younger, I would often say things incorrectly, which would then be taken the wrong way. I was also notorious for coming up with different names for teachers and people at the school because I was never good with names. For example, instead of remembering Mr. Smith, Mr. Jones, or Mr. Hanks, I would make up a name for them, based on what they looked like, such as “turtle man,” “Mr. Giraffe,” and “the alien.” As one could imagine, the vice principal didn’t enjoy being called an alien. In addition to being sent to the vice principal’s office for mispronouncing words and referring to teachers by different names, I often had a hard time calming down if someone said something about my family. There was one specific girl who always tried to get me upset by saying something mean about my mom or my sister. One day, this girl made a very derogatory remark about my mother, to which I called her a few bad words that I had heard from my father. Yet again, this landed me in the vice principal’s office.  “Vivian, you’re a good student. Why are you always in my office?” This is what I was asked each time I was in the vice principal’s office. I explained the situation to him and while he understood why I was upset, he told me it was never right to say bad words or to call people mean names. He validated my feelings that what she did was wrong and he would talk to her about it, but that it didn’t make it right for me to be mean back. Rather than following after anger, he cautioned me to follow after peace.  I’m not sure if he knew how much his words affected me at 9-years-old, but it did change many of my future actions. When this girl would be mean to me, I would tell her that she was just mean. I didn’t go any further than that and I did my best to try to apply what the vice principal had told me. This girl was still mean to me, but I no longer fed into her cruelty. I chose to strive for peace. Intersecting Faith & Life: The Lord tells us, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Jesus tells us here that we will have trouble in this world, but we can take heart because He has overcome the world. Through the Lord, we can have peace. While we cannot fully obtain peace on our own, we can obtain peace through Jesus.  Troubles will abound in our life, but we can trust in the Lord. He has already overcome the world, therefore, there is nothing for us to fear. We might cause trouble or we might be the victim of trouble, but we can take heart because of the Lord. Due to living in a fallen world, sin is ever present and we will face many difficult times. We will hurt others and they will hurt us.  None of us want to hurt others, yet it is part of living in a sinful world. With this knowledge, we need to allow it to lead us to follow Jesus and strive for peace with all people. We can overcome the world and its struggles because Jesus already has. Rather than trying to take matters into our own hands, we need to trust in Him, allow Him to direct our steps, and apply His teachings into our lives. Whenever we feel without hope in our trouble or distress, we need to remember that the Lord has overcome the world and we can take heart in this promise.  Challenge Questions: What does taking heart look like in your life? Are there any troubles you are facing today? How can you bring them to Jesus today? When life feels overwhelming, remember that Jesus has overcome the world. How can you praise Him for this today? “Dear Jesus, You have overcome the world! I praise You and I thank You. Please help me to remember this when trouble is at my door. I have often caused trouble for others and others have caused trouble for me. Help me to follow after Your example and to strive after peace. In Your Name, I pray, Amen.” Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

When Joshua finally led the Israelites into the Promised Land, it was because of God’s powerful presence along the way. The new work you’re starting can also be successful when you trust God while you work. As you step out in faith, be encouraged that God is with you and will never leave nor forsake you. God’s presence is your strength, his promises are your hope, and his faithfulness is your assurance.  SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/Your Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/ Full Transcript Below: God Goes with You By: Whitney Hopler, Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer  “Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, ‘Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.’” – Deuteronomy 31:7-8, NIV  September is a month of new beginnings. As summer fades into fall, many of us are considering taking on new projects and responsibilities at work, church, or community organizations. These transitions can bring a mix of excitement and apprehension, as we think about the important work God is leading us to start doing.  In Deuteronomy 31:7-8, an older leader – Moses – addresses a younger leader – Joshua – in front of all Israel. Joshua is about to take on the monumental task of leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. Moses encourages Joshua that God goes with him as he sets out to do what God is leading him to do.  Just as Joshua faced the challenging task of leading a nation into uncharted territory, you too might be stepping into something new and unknown right now. Whether you’re starting a new job or new project at work, beginning a new volunteer role, or moving forward with another kind of new opportunity, uncertainty about the future can be stressful. However, the Bible’s assurance that God goes before you can bring you the encouragement you need. God is not only aware of your future, but he is actively involved in orchestrating every detail of it. God’s presence is not limited by time or space. God is already in your tomorrow, preparing the way and setting the stage for your success. By the time you get there, God will still be there, and God will be with you every step of the way as you do your new work. When you remember that God goes before you and with you, it relieves your stress and gives you courage. Your journey may have unexpected twists and turns, but none of them catch God by surprise. God has already mapped out your path and equipped you with everything you need to navigate it well.  Moses’ encouragement to Joshua to “be strong and courageous” is a powerful reminder that your strength and courage come from your trust in God. You don’t need to worry about having what you need yourself. All you have to do is simply trust God. If you just trust God, you can be both strong and courageous. Joshua was stepping into Moses’ important yet challenging role, leading people to a vital destination while enduring complaints and rebellion. The task ahead was formidable. But Moses reminded Joshua that his confidence should be in the fact that God was going with them.  In your own life, you may face situations that seem beyond your capability. You might feel inadequate, unprepared, or afraid of failure. Yet, it’s precisely in those moments that God calls you to trust him more deeply. Your strength comes from recognizing that God is with you, empowering you to fulfill good purposes. Since God is with you, you can do whatever God is leading you to do – even if you feel afraid. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision to move forward in faith despite fear, trusting that God will provide what you need every step of the way.  As you step out in faith, remember that you are part of a larger story. The new beginnings you face are part of God’s larger plan for your life. Your journey may include some challenges, but God’s faithfulness ensures that God’s purposes for you will prevail. God is with you with every step you take – guiding, protecting, and providing for you.  When Joshua finally led the Israelites into the Promised Land, it was because of God’s powerful presence along the way. The new work you’re starting can also be successful when you trust God while you work. As you step out in faith, be encouraged that God is with you and will never leave nor forsake you. God’s presence is your strength, his promises are your hope, and his faithfulness is your assurance.  Intersecting Faith and Life As you consider how God goes with you as you step out in faith to do what God is leading you to do, reflect on these questions:  What new beginnings are you facing right now? How can you remind yourself daily that God goes before you in your new journey? In what areas of your life do you need to trust God more deeply for courage and strength?  Further Reading  Joshua 1:9 Isaiah 41:10 Matthew 28:20 Psalm 32:8 Proverbs 3:5-6 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The purpose of fostering a Christ-like community is to share the same love God has shown us. He called us to spread the Gospel and the only effective way to do that is through community. What we must remember is that our time on this Earth is limited and so many of us don’t realize just how limited.  SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/Your Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/ Full Transcript Below: How to Foster Christian Community By Aaron D’Anthony Brown“And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25, CSB) How We Neglect Community A lot of us have thoughts on community. What it is, what it is not, but most of us don’t know how to create community. Not exactly. We do know how to start or at least keep a few relationships. Namely our friends, close relatives. Yet, hardly ever do we venture out from within those oh-so-comfortable bubbles. Perhaps, that is why our country is more divided than during the Civil War. Perhaps that is why loneliness, especially for men, is at an all-time high. The church isn’t exactly the same as the culture, not yet, but we certainly do imitate society. And on the subject of sticking to our comfort zones, being afraid to meet new people, and avoiding those who don’t think like us, we fall right in line with the nonbelievers around us. Thus, we diminish our ability to foster community. If we are to live up to Jesus’ example, then we must recognize that creating communities happens when we make relationships with people, those with similar values like our friends, those we are familiar with like family, but also those with much less common interests. Community as Jesus created was not just the people who thought exactly as He did. Jesus knew those who loved Him, but also those were rejected by society, even the people living deep in sin. Now, to be clear, Jesus was not friends with everyone. He was clear about what was sinful and what was virtuous, and Scripture admonishes us not to be unequally yoked (2 Corinthians 6:14). What we ought to take away then was that Jesus created community with those who were not opposed to community with Him. To be in community is to be in relationship with others. Relationships that may be deep or simplistic, but they are all intentional. As Christians we have a tendency to get excited when talking about community in the abstract, but when the opportunity comes to talk to strangers, estranged family members, people with different beliefs than us, suddenly the idea of community becomes much more difficult. However, difficulty is no excuse for inaction.  Just as Jesus’ disciples learned how to interact with one another and carry on Jesus’ means of fostering community, we must do the same. Only after recognizing the ways in which we neglect community, we can then start finding ways to create it. Intersecting Faith & Life: If you genuinely want to foster community, but have not developed the skills needed to do so, then here are several practical steps you and I can take today to move in that direction. Start With Genuine Interest Many people spend more time talking about themselves as opposed to listening to another because of where their interest lies, in themselves. We can counteract this and form community by being curious about other people. Genuinely curious. Authenticity gives people a positive behavior to emulate and makes them feel more comfortable being around you. Asking Questions After curiosity comes questions, questions that help us get to know one another better. We don’t need to understand other people completely, but we should want to understand them enough. Enough to honor them and honor God, enough to make them feel like a part of the Body of Christ. Be sure to ask more than one question too. Listen to the information they provide and follow up based on the response. Listen to Understand Who can relate to the experience of sharing something personal only to be cut off by the very person who asked you the initial question? Some people listen to respond and not to understand. If we are genuinely curious about people, then we want to get to know them better. We already know our thoughts and values, but we don’t know the other person in the same detail. Look for Interaction Aside from asking questions and listening, you should aim to do stuff with people that offers other forms of engagement. Attend a social event where you will get a chance to interact with someone you know. Party games are another great way to get to know people with low stakes. Ask someone out for coffee or a walk or lunch, again, with the goal of community. Making People Feel Seen The purpose of fostering a Christ-like community is to share the same love God has shown us. He called us to spread the Gospel and the only effective way to do that is through community. What we must remember is that our time on this Earth is limited and so many of us don’t realize just how limited. Jesus described life as a “mist” (James 4:14). Redeeming the time we have well means loving God wholeheartedly. We can’t do that if we neglect community. Further Reading: Proverbs 27:17 Matthew 28:18-20 1 John 4:19 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Take a moment to analyze your life. Are there any areas you realize are out of control? Are there areas that you indulge in that have become idols in your life? It is easy to have these idols creep into our lives. With God, we always hope to push those idols aside and allow ourselves not to be mastered by anything.  SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/Your Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/ Full Transcript Below: “Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” 1 Corinthians 10:23 NIV As a writer, I need specific technology and equipment, including my computer. One ordinary day, I was writing several article assignments, and suddenly, the computer screen went blank. Curiously clicking keys and starting and restarting the computer, I found it would only start up to shut down and restart repeatedly. The screen went blank at that moment, and I froze in fear. I had many thoughts: what if I couldn't get my files off my computer? What if I've lost everything? What if I can't get my laptop to work? I started feeling fearful, but that fear began to overtake me. Racing thoughts and overthinking situations sometimes get the best of me.  I talked it over with my husband, and he tried to reassure me that everything would be OK. He took the computer to the store, hoping to restore the files off my laptop. I had an extraordinary amount of peace. I had peace because even though I felt fear over what I had lost, I didn't want the fear to overtake me.  This feeling of peace was not usual for me. As someone who struggles with anxiety, I had every reason to be fearful. I was in the middle of a project when the computer screen went black. I wondered if my computer had backed up all my files. Without it, I would have lost two years' worth of articles, book proposals, and other important documents that I could never recover.  I prepared myself for the worst, thinking I had lost them all. But the computer store was able to get the computer started again, and when I checked my computer, all the files were there! I was so grateful. But I was still surprised at my unexplainable feeling of peace.  In this life, we will always encounter fear. Anxiety and fear are a natural part of life. But it's our reaction to it is what God honors. Even when I feel anxious, I don’t have to give in to that fear. I can do what I can to face my fears and experience life despite my fears.   When I run to God rather than run to my fear, God is glorified. In the above verse, we must understand that we have freedom in this life. We can do what we want because of Jesus’ death on the cross. However, we don't want anything to overtake us in life so much that we cannot worship God. Anything that takes over our thoughts, feelings, and actions more than it should become an idol in our lives.  This verse refers to gluttony and sexual immorality. We don't want to indulge in any sinful behavior that may overtake us in the end. For example, we can certainly eat and enjoy our food. In the same way, within the proper context, sex is made to be enjoyed. However, when it is distorted, with practices such as pornography, lust, or other behaviors, or if we find ourselves lusting over dessert, our flesh has taken over. We don't have God in the proper place.  When God is worshipped above all else, food and sex become behaviors that we can enjoy but don't overtake us. In this life, we hope that we cannot be mastered by anything. We can choose to do whatever we please. But when those things overtake our lives, they must be put in the proper perspective.  Take a moment to analyze your life. Are there any areas you realize are out of control? Are there areas that you indulge in that have become idols in your life? It is easy to have these idols creep into our lives. With God, we always hope to push those idols aside and allow ourselves not to be mastered by anything.  Father, help us not let simple behaviors overtake our thoughts, behaviors, or actions. Please help us know that you are to be first in every area of our lives. We always hope that even if everything seems out of control, you are a God who can heal and deliver us from sinful behaviors. Amen. Intersecting Faith and Life Do you struggle with fear? What steps can you take to trust God? What can you do to rid yourself of idols in your life? Further reading 2 Timothy 1:7 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Next time you wonder how a good God could allow such sorrowful moments and seasons, will you consider the beautiful blessings they also hold? Notice how those divine presents make you feel in the midst of the treacherous-at-times storms? If you look for him, look for them, you will find his continual blessings. Radiant touches of joy, heart swelling doses of love, generous infusions of peace, and invaluable portions of purpose. SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/Your Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/ Full Transcript Below: The Blessed Life With Jesus By Keri Eichberger Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. (Psalm 84:5) Have you ever heard someone say, “I don’t know how they do it,” when referring to someone who doesn’t seem to place their faith in Jesus through difficult times, while they’re going through their own strenuous struggle? I have. And I’ve said it. Recently in fact. On multiple occasions.  I 100% don’t think I could have survived the rough patches of my life without the Lord to lean on. Like last month, staring out the window as the paramedic lifted my dad on a stretcher into an ambulance while my family was on vacation. The site left me paralyzed with vicious waves of knock-your-breath-out fear. Weakened by the moment, I collapsed in the chair in our rental house, and all I felt I had was the Lord's name to call on, to beg for peace, mercy, and a miracle. I’m pretty sure I would’ve stopped breathing without his almighty calming hand to hold. And then there were the many days that followed – the unknowns, ups and downs, sleepless nights of worry and what ifs after Dad’s sudden stroke – that then slowly became sprinkled with blessings as I began to sturdy my gaze on the Lord. Without Jesus, the chaos of my heart, head, and surroundings would’ve missed the strength supplied through those around me, along with the peaceful reminders that my cares were being cared for. And regardless of me. Blessings. I would’ve missed so many blessings without the rock solid foundation of our good God. The Bible says, “Blessed are those whose strength is in you.” Blessed. Yes, I’m learning more and more what it means to have a blessed life. I’m learning it doesn’t necessarily mean we will live in a state of constant comfort, contentment, and happiness. Because I’m learning and understanding that quite the opposite is actually true. That this world is really hard, and it hurts. The more and more we live it, in fact. Also true, and I’ve seen this time and again, that the compounding weights we weather have the capability to crush most people unless they have eyes that see Jesus. An awareness of blessings born with, and beaming through, the burdens, tragedies, and traumas. Reflect with me for a minute. Consider some hard things you have endured or are enduring right now. Can you tie any blessings at all to those difficulties? Maybe an unpleasant, unexpected detour opened a door to a bit of goodness that would otherwise never have been. Possibly a relationship was formed or strengthened through the trial? Perhaps stronger bonds of intimacy were created with the Lord as you clung closer to him? Or you offered or received acts of service that blessed someone or gave you the sweet gift of purpose? These blessings are truly the greatest gifts. They are gifts that the world could never dare to give. This is the blessed life with Jesus. When visiting the hospital recently over my dad’s five week stay, when trying to encourage him with the good shining through his hard season, I shared how I’ve grown closer to the Lord through this difficult storm. Which is priceless. And I’ll soon let him know, now that he’s just returned home, how I’ve grown in a closer relationship and connection to my mom too. Yet another precious and priceless gift from God. Yes, God warned us of the trouble and trials to be in our time on earth, but he most certainly promised the good here, too. Aww, thank you, Lord.  Intersecting Faith and Life: Next time you wonder how a good God could allow such sorrowful moments and seasons, will you consider the beautiful blessings they also hold? Notice how those divine presents make you feel in the midst of the treacherous-at-times storms? If you look for him, look for them, you will find his continual blessings. Radiant touches of joy, heart swelling doses of love, generous infusions of peace, and invaluable portions of purpose. God’s never failing faithfulness and always available abundance. The blessed life. Which only comes from a life lived close with him. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The Lord sees everything we do! As believers, we don’t live for today; we have an eternal hope. For those of us alive in Christ, our eternal rewards are far greater than anything we can experience on this earth.   SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/Your Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/ Full Transcript Below: Finding Comfort in an Uncertain World By: Laura Bailey “Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.” Ephesians 6: 6 NIV Political tension has been high in the last few years, but recent events seem to indicate that people across parties are experiencing uncertainty and doubt in governing authorities. While it may be the first time we have experienced political unrest in our lifetime, the Bible is replete with examples of wicked leadership, divisiveness, and abuse of earthly authority.  Not one to overly concern myself with the happenings in our national capital in the past, recently, I  found myself gripped with fear and anxiety over the direction of leadership. When my heart begins to race, and I feel tempted to naw at my fingernails or grab the box of cookies, I’ve turned to the Scriptures for comfort. Specifically, I’ve meditated on Ephesians 6: 5-9 and the words of Paul on how we should submit to earthy authority. While this section of text speaks specifically to enslaved people, there is much we can apply to our lives today. Paul is telling enslaved people and servants the importance of obedience to the ones who are in charge of them: their masters. Paul shares three ways to obey: with respect and fear, sincerity of heart, and as if they were submitting to Jesus Christ. Paul is not advocating slavery or justifying the actions of those who enslave others, as  Paul often speaks against slavery and works to free those in bondage. Remember, Paul was held in chains and jailed numerous times, encouraging us, no matter the circumstance, to live for the glory of God. Paul never let his circumstances, the countless times he was beaten, unjustly accused, or imprisoned, dampen his enthusiasm for Christ and sharing God’s love.  Other texts often use the term “slave” or bondservant to describe one’s relationship with Christ. A bondservant always served with a heart’s desire to bring glory to God—not just when people were looking, not when it was advantageous for them, but when no one was around—because they knew they ultimately served the Lord. And the Lord sees everything we do! As believers, we don’t live for today; we have an eternal hope. For those of us alive in Christ, our eternal rewards are far greater than anything we can experience on this earth.    As we think about this today, those in positions of authority need to take extra care and think of how they treat those they lead. Leadership shouldn’t be taken lightly, and it’s crucial that if we find ourselves in a position of authority, we continue to ask the Lord to create a clean heart,  making our motives pure and our desires aligned with His will.  While on earth, we make distinctions between social classes, job titles, and economic backgrounds, God makes no distinction; we are all equal in the eyes of the Lord. God is the ultimate righteous judge and requires that we live a life worthy of the gospel in whatever our authority position (or lack thereof). Abuse of authority is not to be tolerated. Instead, this relationship ( like a husband-wife) should be marked by a mutual desire to honor the Lord.  I’ll be honest: this section can be hard to digest. They are, as I like to say, “ preach easy, live hard” kinds of messages. But, the key takeaway in these verses is that when we have the proper perspective, we understand that everything we do, the reason we were created, is to bring glory and honor to God. It is clinging to eternal hope in Christ that we can obey and submit to the earthly authority that the Lord places in our lives because we know that it is not human masters we serve but the Lord.  Intersecting Faith and Life: As we embark on the upcoming political season, let me encourage you to find a healthy balance of media consumption. While it is important to understand current events and how they will affect our lives, remember who has the ultimate authority over your life. Be sure to start each day in Scripture and prayer. Pray for those in authority; pray that the Lord will guide their decisions.  For Further Reading: Romans 13:1-6 As a Christian, How Involved Should I Be in Politics? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.