The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

Is there a bible verse that keeps coming to mind? Are you unable to get it out of your head? Maybe God is putting it there for good reason. Pray and ask Him what He wants you to know. Here are 3 ways to know when God is talking to you. 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: 3 Ways to Recognize When God is Talking to You By Kelly Balarie “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” – Psalm 19:1 NIV I walked with a friend. Struggling with a sickness that was incredibly hard, I sought just the right words to encourage her.  No words would suffice. What do you say when there is nothing to say? I’ve learned, listening is always more powerful than speaking when one is going through the wringer of life.  So, I asked her questions and then let her speak. I actively repeated what she spoke to let her know that I was hearing her heart. Eventually, the moment of awkward silence arrived where I had nothing left to ask. I needed to say something. God, help me?!! I looked towards my feet, pondering what to say. A leaf caught my attention. Amazingly, it was shaped like a heart.  I knew God wanted me to share His love for her. He gave me an answer to my inner unsaid pleading for just the right words!! “God loves you so much.” I told her.  A well-spoken word at just the right moment has the ability to break through to a person’s heart like nothing else. God reminded me of His heart for my friend through nature. This is one of the many ways that God speaks to us.  Scripture says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” – Psalm 19:1 NIV How else does God speak? The second way that God speaks is through the Word of God. To store His Words in our heart is to hear them sound in our mind when the going gets tough.  When my kids act up, sometimes I feel afraid. When fear comes at me a mile a minute because I have stored God’s Word in my mind, I often hear a bible verse pop in my head. His Word kills my fear. The third way God speaks to us is through people. Have you ever experienced a repeat situation time and time again? Maybe it feels like people are always telling you the same thing. Once, I had a women’s minister at a church tell me that I was intense. Again, a friend, I prayed with told me I also was intense. I started to feel a little upset about that. People don’t want to be around intense people. However, the more I considered their words, the more I realized that Jesus was intense too.  God was communicating to me, through people’s words that what people noted about me, was something He loved and created. How might God be trying to reach you? Intersecting Faith & Life: Is there a bible verse that keeps coming to mind? Are you unable to get it out of your head? Maybe God is putting it there for good reason. Pray and ask Him what He wants you to know. Do you keep running into a similar situation with people? What might God be trying to say to you through this? Do you ever sit and look at God’s creation? What can you surmise about God’s character and nature based on how He has created the world?  Kelly uplifts believers with boosts of faith; find encouragement by getting Kelly’s blog posts by email. Kelly, creator of the “Hear God’s Voice” podcast, is also a blogger, national speaker, and author of Take Every Thought Captive, Rest Now, Battle Ready, and Fear Fighting. Kelly, a real cheerleader of faith, loves seeing the power of prayer in live action. She loves seeing the look on people’s faces when they realize –God is faithful! Kelly’s work has been featured on The Today Show, CBN’s 700 Club, Relevant and Today’s Christian Woman.  Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

God’s plans are already being carried out through our lives. As you are presently in this tough season of life, lean on God. Find support in Him and trust Him with your life. The plans He has for you will prevail and they will be glorious. 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 Can I Take Comfort in God’s Plans for My Life? By Vivian Bricker  “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” – Jeremiah 29:11 Due to living in a fallen world, we are always coming across problems. Problems with work, our relationships, and our health can leave us feeling worn out. It never feels as though we can get a break. Instead of being relieved once one problem is resolved, a hundred new problems replace it. Whenever we are feeling like this, we need to turn to the Lord and know that He has a beautiful plan for our lives.  There have been many times in my life where I don't feel like there is a purpose to the pain I am experiencing—there is only suffering. We are often taught that pain makes us stronger, when sometimes it can actually make us weaker. Every pain, every tear, and every heartache does not lead us to something greater. Instead, it can lead us to meet the end of the road.  Plans we previously had for our lives seem to be non-existent and we don't even know how we are going to make it to the end of the month. When these issues arise, we can find lasting hope and purpose in God. He has great plans for our life. Through the pain, we can see His will more clearly and we take joy in knowing that our suffering is never forgotten by Him.  Recently, I had an issue in my life that God worked through. I thought I was going to have to make a major life change; however, God kept me where I was. He placed me on level ground and told me I was right where He wanted me to be. From that day, I felt the assurance of the Lord. His plans for me would never be sabotaged by anything or anyone, including myself or this season of suffering.  His goodness and his love will ensure all of the plans He has for our lives will be accomplished. Some of them might not be completed in the ways we once thought; however, we can trust in His plans. We might be lacking direction or guidance, but God never does. He will direct and guide each of our steps.  In Jeremiah 29:11, the Lord tells us He already knows the plans He has for us and that these plans will prosper us. They will not harm us in any way. Rather, these plans will give us hope and a future. Whenever we are unsure about the future, we need to rely on God’s plans for our lives.  Your present season of suffering will not endure forever because the Lord has beautiful plans for your future. This future will not harm you nor will it cause you problems. It will only give you hope and surround you with the Lord’s goodness. Choose to live out this truth today by walking confidently in Jesus’ promise.  The plans God has for our lives is far greater than anything we could ever imagine. If you are presently going through a season of suffering, rest in the truth that you will be brought out into a season of joy. Similar to how the physical seasons change, this season of life will change too. The suffering and pain you are experiencing now will not endure forever.  Intersecting Faith & Life: This season might last for a while, but you can continue to trust God. No matter what season of life we find ourselves in, we can know with confidence that God is working all things out for our good (Romans 8:28). It is not a pleasant season right now; however, God’s plans for your life are still being fulfilled. There is nothing we can do to mess up God’s plans for our lives nor is there any season of life that can separate us from His plans.  God’s plans are already being carried out through our lives. As you are presently in this tough season of life, lean on God. Find support in Him and trust Him with your life. The plans He has for you will prevail and they will be glorious. “Dear Jesus, I am going through a tough season right now. There only seems to be suffering at every corner. Please Lord, help me to have hope for the plans You have for my life. Bring my heart and mind to meditate on Your plans for my life rather than the tragedies I am currently going through. I know nothing can usurp Your plans for my life. I praise You, Amen.” During this present season of suffering, what has the Lord been teaching you?  God has many plans for your life. Does this bring you a sense of comfort? Why or why not?  How does knowing that God has plans for your life change your outlook during this present season of life?  Further Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Psalm 119:76 Romans 8:26-28 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Do you ever panic when circumstances look bleak, thinking that maybe God has forgotten you? Perhaps it’s an unexpected bill you have to pay or a deadline that takes you by surprise. Maybe it’s just something you’ve been praying for and you feel overlooked.  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: When You Feel Forgotten   By Cindi McMenamin, Crosswalk Contributing Writer  “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14 (NIV) Do you ever panic when circumstances look bleak, thinking that maybe God has forgotten you? Perhaps it’s an unexpected bill you have to pay or a deadline that takes you by surprise. Maybe it’s just something you’ve been praying for and you feel overlooked.  There are times I’ve started to feel forgotten. But looking back now, those are the times I’ve forgotten the God of Wonders and how He fights for those He loves.   I was reading in Exodus of God’s deliverance of His people from Egypt. As the Israelites were backed up against the Red Sea with Pharaoh's army hotly pursuing them, it didn’t look good. God's people were afraid of annihilation by the Egyptians. Moses' instructions to them were simple: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:13-14).   God then told Moses to raise his staff and divide the waters of the Red Sea so His people could cross through the middle of it. He also told Moses that the Egyptians would pursue them right through the middle of the sea, but God would "gain glory" through it. Moses didn't know exactly what that meant. He only knew that God expected him to take the next step, and trust Him in the face of threatening circumstances.  All night, the Israelites walked through the parted sea while God, as a pillar of fire, went between them and the pursuing Egyptians, keeping the Israelites a safe distance away, yet still lighting the path before them. Then, when all of the Israelites made it safely to the other side, God sent the Egyptians into confusion and covered them with the giant walls of water, drowning every last one of them.  The Israelites witnessed the spectacular hand of God delivering them from their enemies! Yet only three days later they came to a spring in the desert and grumbled against Moses (and God) because the water was bitter and they had nothing to drink. How quickly they had forgotten the God who rescued them. Couldn't the God who separated the waters also sweeten them? In spite of the Israelites’ grumbling, God sweetened the water for them to drink, and then He brought them to Elim – where Exodus 15:27 says “there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.” God gave them a Palm Springs luxury resort! Right there in the desert! Intersecting Faith and Life:  How quickly you and I can forget God's amazing works too. How quickly we start to grumble, forgetting He is the God who always comes through.   God has told us in his Word He will never leave us, nor will He ever forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). And in Isaiah 49:15, God said “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you” (ESV).  There is only one thing we are told that God ever forgets—and that is our sin. (Psalm 103:12 tells us “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us” (NIV). God doesn’t forget us, only our sin when we’ve confessed it to Him and accepted His forgiveness of it once and for all.  When you start to feel forgotten, remember that there is nothing that God forgets but your sin. And that means even when you’re messing up, He hasn’t forgotten or rejected you, He’s still working on what will bring you closer to His heart and back to where you need to be with Him.  Lord, help me to remember today that You are with me, You are for me, and You have a reason for why I’m here. I will trust that You have not forgotten me, and that You are the God who always comes through. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.    Further Reading: Isaiah 49:15-16 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What wrong beliefs, assumptions or lies may be under your response? How might it benefit you to keep no record of wrongs?  Perhaps, take a moment to pray that God would show you His heart for that person when the going gets tough. 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: “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”  – Proverbs 19:11 ESV I knew the person was baiting me into an argument. How was I supposed to stay calm, cool, and collected when they were attacking me like a bull in an arena?  “You need help!” “You have problems.” “Everyone is upset at you!” Ahh!! With statements like these flying in my face, how could I not defend myself? How could I not get riled up? Arrows were flying a mile a minute. I didn’t know what to think or what to do in the midst of this verbal onslaught. I remained cool under pressure for a time, thinking of the various times that Jesus was attacked, yet said nothing…until the point that my mouth unloaded. I told the person everything they did wrong. So much for grace! Despite every impulse of the Holy Spirit within me, telling me to hold my own, I, too, reacted in anger, rather than responding in love. The second the words were out of my mouth; I knew I’d come to regret them. And I did. Later, I rehashed every word spoken.  Proverbs 19:11 says, “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”   How do we actually see this verse through when in the moment all we see is red? It’s not easy. But, I am rediscovering that one (almost) never fail way – is to take your time. Wisdom is not rushed. It is never pressured. It always patient and thoughtful. For me, this looks like not being baited by attacking words. While they may be coming at me like arrows in the night, I can respond by saying, “Thank you for sharing. I’d really like to take some time to process what you have to say. Can we come back together when we are both calm? Let me take two hours to think about this.”  During that time, I can pray, read God’s Word, and think through what was brought up. I can consider how Jesus acted. I can understand where their condemnation may be coming from. I can position my heart to be humble and kind.  Have you ever noticed how wise people are slow to speak? Wisdom doesn’t rush to conclusions and reactions.  We never have to be pressured to respond. Love sets boundaries so it remains love (and doesn’t end up turning into wrath). Intersecting Faith & Life: What triggers you to react rashly? How might Jesus call you to respond differently? What wrong beliefs, assumptions or lies may be under your response? How might it benefit you to keep no record of wrongs?  Perhaps, take a moment to pray that God would show you His heart for that person when the going gets tough. Kelly uplifts believers with boosts of faith; find encouragement by getting Kelly’s blog posts by email. Kelly, creator of the “Hear God’s Voice” podcast, is also a blogger, national speaker, and author of Take Every Thought Captive, Rest Now, Battle Ready, and Fear Fighting. Kelly, a real cheerleader of faith, loves seeing the power of prayer in live action. She loves seeing the look on people’s faces when they realize –God is faithful! Kelly’s work has been featured on The Today Show, CBN’s 700 Club, Relevant and Today’s Christian Woman.  Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The grace He extends to us will endure throughout all time and this is shown to us in how Gentiles are now part of the family of God. At one point only Israel was the family of God; however through Jesus’ grace all people can join the family of God.  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: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9 From the moment we come to know Jesus, we are blessed. We are blessed because we now know the Savior of our souls, our Redeemer, and our greatest Friend. Although we are now just coming to know Him, He has loved us since before the beginning of time. When we were actively living in sin, He loved us (Romans 5:8). The love of Jesus is what enables us to live graceful lives.  While we ourselves might be lacking in extending grace in our lives, we know we never have to worry about this with the Lord. He is always extending grace to us in His actions. Even though we do not deserve His love and grace, Jesus still chooses to do this. Love is at the Lord’s core and there is nothing we can do to change this (Romans 8:37-39). From a biblical sense, grace is undeserved favor or unmerited favor. We did nothing to warrant Jesus’ love or favor. Rather, He simply chose to love us and He continues to do so every day. The grace He extends to us will endure throughout all time and this is shown to us in how Gentiles are now part of the family of God. At one point only Israel was the family of God; however through Jesus’ grace all people can join the family of God.  This is all because of God’s grace and His love. With this knowledge, we can live graceful lives. Rather than being fearful, doubtful, or even prideful, we can live lives of grace and love. God has given us grace, which is something we don't deserve. By all practical means, God could have eradicated the human race thousands of years ago because of our sin, but He didn't. Instead, He has chosen to give us chance after chance to come to Him.  The love of God is abounding and this is why He has not destroyed us. God’s love is what leads Him to give us grace because it is not by anything that we did. We cannot earn God’s grace just as we cannot earn our own salvation. If one was to say we could earn God’s grace, it would be implying that we somehow could win God’s favor and this is not true. We already have God’s favor because of who He is, not because of anything we have done or haven't done.  This is in line with our Bible passage of the day. The Apostle Paul tells us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Similar to as I was saying before, grace and salvation were given to us by God. It is by God’s grace that we have been saved and this is through faith. As soon as we place faith in Jesus and accept Him as our Savior, we are given salvation.  Grace overpowers our life and salvation becomes our new reality. As Paul goes on to tell us, this grace and salvation is not from ourselves. Rather, it is the gift of God. God’s grace and salvation are both gifts. We do not earn these things by our works in order that no one can boast. If God chose people based on their work, then it would give individuals a chance to boast about “how they earned salvation” or “earned God’s favor.” Neither of these things are biblical. Instead, they are rooted in pride. Salvation is a free gift given to us by the Lord Himself. We did not work towards this gift nor did we earn it. In the same way, grace was extended to us by Jesus out of His great love. When we look at these truths, we know we can step out into the day with a grateful heart. We have been given a graceful life and this is all because of the Lord.  May we all praise Him today and go to Him in prayer.  “Dear Jesus, I praise You for blessing me with a graceful life. Through Your love and grace, I have received salvation. None of this is due to my own work or efforts. Instead, it is done completely by You. Thank You, Lord, for Your wonderful gift of salvation and Your grace. Amen.” Intersecting Faith & Life: Are you currently living a graceful life? If not, how can you change this?  We cannot warrant God’s favor. Have you tried to do this in the past? If you have, how can you give up this practice?  Salvation is given freely by grace through faith. Have you accepted Jesus’ free gift of salvation yet? If not, do you think you might want to accept Him as your Savior today?  Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Listen as we embark on a journey of spiritual intimacy and discovery, leaning into God's whisper with expectant hearts, and embracing His direction and peace in every aspect of our lives. 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 is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” - Psalm 46:1 (ESV) There is a moment in the classic book The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis when two of the characters are faced with devastating circumstances. Lewis describes it by saying, “I hope no one who read this book has been quite as miserable as Susan and Lucy were that night; but if you have been - if you’ve been up all night and cried till you have no more tears left in you - you will know that there comes in the end a sort of quietness. You feel as if nothing was ever going to happen again.” When I read those words, I wept because I, too, had been like those characters. I’d suffered through nights of such intense sorrow that I’ve felt my heart would melt and my tears would drown me. In many cases, my tears ended up soaking my pillow to the point where I’d have to turn it over.  Whether you are a Christian or not, we’ve all experienced some type of suffering. If you and I would sit down together, across the table maybe, with cups of tea or coffee, we would share about the suffering each of us have faced. Our presence together provides a sense of shared grief that helps us.  Psalm 46 is a powerful psalm that speaks about suffering. What I love about this psalm is the answer to our suffering is God’s presence. The very first verse talks about God being near. It says that in all of our troubles, God is a “very present help.” (ESV) The word present means both time and space.  God, who lives outside of time, entered into it in the beginning of Genesis. “In the beginning, God…” Our mighty, awesome, transcendent God entered into time for us. That word present also means space. God is also physically, spiritually, and emotionally close to us. He is near us physically! The Bible references God being near to us several times. (Psalm 145:18, Psalm 34:18, Philippians 4:5-7, James 4:8) When we find ourselves suffering, we want God to come in and fix it. I know I’ve prayed for diseases to be cured, grief to be comforted, and miracles to take place in the hearts of the people I love. God sometimes answers yes, but sometimes God has a different plan than my plan. The hard truth is this: life is filled with suffering. Instead of focusing on how God doesn’t answer our prayers or how life doesn’t turn out the way we had planned, God invites us to a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him. God draws closer to us in our suffering. He sits with us in our grief and sorrow.  Depression has been my companion for almost fifteen years. In this suffering, I have found a deeper intimacy with God than ever before. God has not answered my prayer to be free from sorrow and depression. Instead, He has given me something that is so much better: His presence. In Psalm 46:7 we read, “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” (EVS)  My suffering has revealed the true character of God, and it has become the thing that brings me the most joy in my life. In this verse, the psalmist says that God is a “Lord of Hosts.” This means He is in charge of angel armies. This God, who is all-powerful, is “with us.” According to this verse. He is close. God is also described to be the “God of Jacob.” This is a personal God who knows all about us. This God, who is deeply personal, is “our fortress.”  In this verse we see a personal God who is all-powerful. A powerful God who is incredibly personal. In God’s presence we find out who He really is. Over the years of suffering I’ve seen that we have a God who is both good and all sovereign. When suffering threatens our faith, causes us to doubt, may we run back to God and His presence. It is there we find truths to comfort out hearts.  If you find yourself with sorrow and suffering too hard to bear, run to God. He is a present, safe, and powerful God who is ready to comfort you. Find Him in the pages of the Bible.  Intersecting Faith & Life: When suffering threatens your faith in God, how does knowing God’s presence is always with you comfort your heart?  Further Reading: Philippians 4:5-7 Psalm 139:7-10 Isaiah 55:6 Psalm 145:18 Psalm 34:18 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

God is love against love. The devil has no standing intersecting faith in life. Are we loving? Do we believe the best about others? Or do we assume the worst? 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.

Listen as we embark on a journey of spiritual intimacy and discovery, leaning into God's whisper with expectant hearts, and embracing His direction and peace in every aspect of our lives. 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.

It challenges us to examine our hearts and minds, striving to align our attitudes with the example set by Jesus Christ—a model of humility, love, and obedience that continues to inspire and empower believers worldwide. 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.

Honor the wisdom, grace, and spiritual richness that accompany the journey of growing old in Christ, and discover the joy of embracing each moment as a cherished gift from our Heavenly Father. 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.