Bölümler
-
What’s worth more than silver or gold?
In this insightful devotional, Whitney Hopler explores the eternal value of a good name. Drawing on Proverbs 22:1 and examples from America’s founding fathers and mothers, she reminds us that a life of integrity is a legacy far more valuable than wealth.📌 What You’ll Learn (Key Takeaways):
Why your reputation—your “good name”—matters more than riches
How living with integrity reflects God’s character to the world
The peaceful confidence that comes from an honorable life
Why legacy built on character outlasts any financial gain
💬 Join the Conversation:
How do you define a good name? Who in your life inspires you to live with integrity? Share your thoughts with @LifeaudioNetwork and tag #LegacyOfIntegrity to encourage others walking the same path.🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer
🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews
Full Transcript Below:
A Good Name Is Important
By Whitney Hopler
“A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” – Proverbs 22:1, NIV
I enjoy reading biographies of the people who helped start the United States – the so-called “founding fathers” and “founding mothers” of my country. One characteristic that connects them is how much they valued their good names over money. Back then, the United States wasn’t rich. The financial situation was unstable, and the people who worked hard to start this nation did so not for silver or gold, but because they believed they were serving an honorable cause. In all parts of their lives, many of the founders did their best to live with integrity. Their personal honor was very important to them. They cared more about being known for living honorable lives than about accumulating wealth.
We live in a fallen, broken world that constantly tells us money is the key to our fulfillment. But Proverbs 22:1 tells us that a good name is more desirable than great riches. It also tells us that to be esteemed – to be highly respected – is better than silver or gold.
What exactly is a “good name”? It’s not just the name your parents gave you. It’s your reputation and your character. Your good name is the positive way people see you and remember you, if you live an honorable life.
Why is a good name so important? It reflects God’s character. God is holy, and he wants us as his children to live holy lives. When we do so, we reflect God’s character to the world and draw people to him. A good name also opens doors, because it builds trust. People are more likely to be friends with you and to do business with you if they know you’re a person who lives with integrity. Living with a good name helps you live with peace, as well. You don’t have to worry about your past catching up to you or your secrets being exposed. There’s a peaceful confidence that comes from knowing you’ve done your best to live honorably with God and other people.
Valuing your good name will help you leave an important and valuable legacy behind. Wealth can disappear quickly. Any kind of crisis can hit you with big bills you didn’t expect and wipe out your savings. If you have any financial investments, market crashes can drain your wealth. There are all sorts of ways you can lose money. But if you’ve built a good name for yourself because you’ve lived an honorable life, your legacy can inspire people for many generations to come. Just like the founding fathers and mothers whose character and contributions inspire me, your own good name can be a powerful legacy of faith in action to people in the future.
You don’t need to be perfect to build a good name. We all make mistakes. But if you do your best day by day to seek God’s will for your decisions and follow through on those decisions with integrity, you’ll develop a good reputation – with God, and with the people who know you. It won’t be easy. Sometimes, you’ll have to make sacrifices in order to do what’s right. But the reward of enjoying a good name is far more valuable than any amount of silver or gold. It’s a treasure that truly lasts.
So, focus on living an honorable life that shows people some of the holiness of the God you serve. Let your reputation direct people’s attention to God’s goodness in your life!
Intersecting Faith and Life
As you consider how important it is to live an honorable life, reflect on these questions:
What does “a good name” mean to you personally? How would you describe someone who has a good name? When was a time when someone’s good reputation influenced your decision to trust them or work with them? Have you ever witnessed someone sacrifice their integrity for money or personal gain? What happened as a result? What are some ways you can work on building or maintaining a good name in your daily life? How does knowing that “a good name is more desirable than great riches” change your perspective on wealth and success?Further Reading
Ecclesiastes 7:1
Proverbs 10:9
Proverbs 22:4
1 Peter 2:12
Psalm 15:1-2
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
-
Feeling overlooked or pushed aside?
Keri Eichberger shares a powerful reminder that being passed over by people doesn’t mean you’re passed over by God. Drawing from the story of Mordecai and insights from Kelly Minter, this devotional reveals how God’s perfect plan uses even the painful, unseen moments in our lives for His ultimate glory.📌 What You’ll Learn (Key Takeaways):
Why feeling overlooked isn’t God’s final word on your story
How God’s timing and plan work behind the scenes—even when we don’t see it
The powerful example of Mordecai waiting for his moment of honor
How God redeems our pain for His greater glory
💬 Join the Conversation:
Have you ever felt pushed aside, only to see God’s plan unfold later? What helped you trust His timing? Tag @LifeaudioNetwork with #GodsGreaterGlory and share your story of hope and patience.🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer
🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews
Full Transcript Below:
Pushed Aside for God’s Greater Glory
By Keri Eichberger
For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:36)
I dealt with a disappointment alongside one of my teenage kids last night. It wasn’t the first time we’d mulled over a similar circumstance. And to be honest, I don’t even need to mention which kid and what the exact situation was. Because on most days, at least one of the few is confessing a struggle with feeling overlooked by a coach, teacher, fellow student, or even a good friend. And as you may very well know, it can be painful to walk through such insecure moments with a child or someone you love. We want so much for them to be seen for the genuine potential that we see. Bottom line, we hurt deeply when our people hurt. And what makes it hit even harder is that we also know exactly how it feels to feel slighted. How much it hurts when we appear to be underappreciated and pushed aside.
You know this exact feeling don’t you? You’ve walked beside someone who has endured this rough road, and you yourself have had many first hand accounts of the sting of rejection too. Maybe there’s a situation in your midst at this very moment that seems unfair and you’re not quite receiving the treatment and attention you believe your intentions and efforts deserve. I’m there. As I navigate my own sense of questioning why something I’ve poured into has been pushed aside, while others’ seeming parrelled efforts are paying off.
It wasn’t until this morning that conversation opened about the disappointment with said child. Allowing time for the ache of the wound to subside. But when the confession of exclusion finally surfaced this morning, I was ready to offer consoling words of apology for the letdown that must have been. And once I’d offered space for my comforts to sink in, I knew truth needed to be spoken to truly redeem some damage done. A truth I was not so coincidentally studying that prior morning about God’s authority and good plan for the overlooked moments of our lives. A truth we all need to hold on to.
While listening to a video teaching by bible teacher Kelly Minter, she stated, “Don’t mistake being passed over by a person for being passed over by God.” Kelly was working through the book of Esther and recounting the story of Mordecai being honored for saving the King’s life. But here’s the thing, Mordecai had actually saved the King’s life two years prior, without so much as a hint to his rescuer that entire duration. Can you imagine saving the literal life of a prominent person and no one noticing. I don’t know about you, but saving someone’s life doesn’t even compare to the things I’ve felt overlooked for. But eventually, after two years of probably thinking he’d take his deed to the grave—the King was divinely informed. And then celebrated and honored Mordecai in such an extravagant way that made the whole Kingdom aware. You see, what may have seemed pushed aside and passed over, was never actually passed over by God. He just had a bigger and better plan. The truth we need to take with us is this: God has ultimate authority always, and he is always interested in a redemption story that gives him the greatest glory.
Intersecting Faith and Life:
God’s goal of glory tells me that when you, I, or someone we love feels slighted and overlooked—when maybe it doesn’t even seem fair or deserved—there is purpose in each pain point in the process. Yes, in each less-than-ideal instance in our lives, God could have allowed a different scenario that may have been more pleasing to us in the moment. But the way whatever happened has happened, is part of a perfect plan for the best outcome. For his good and more favorable outcome.
For God’s good reason, he has allowed things to go down just as they have. And I hope we can be encouraged today that this is actually a good thing. He sees what we don’t. He sees the radical redemption in the works. He sees his glory that has already come and his glory that he is orchestrating that will continue to come. And the way he is writing the beginning and middle of each and every one of our stories is preparing the greatest ending for his greatest glory.
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
-
Eksik bölüm mü var?
-
Ever wonder what true faith really looks like?
Kyle Norman explores how faith isn’t just something we hold—it’s something we do. Meeting the risen Jesus transforms lives radically, like it did for Saul, Ananias, and Peter. Through their stories, we see Jesus calling each of us to a new way of living marked by grace, change, and bold love.📌 What You’ll Learn (Key Takeaways):
Why faith is an active, life-changing relationship, not just a belief
How encounters with Jesus transform attitudes, actions, and purpose
The stories of Saul, Ananias, and Peter as examples of radical change
How Jesus meets us where we are—no one is beyond His grace
💬 Join the Conversation:
Where has Jesus transformed your life? What change is He calling you to now? Tag @LifeaudioNetwork with #ChangedByJesus and share your story or favorite Scripture about transformation.🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer
🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews
Full Transcript Below:
When Jesus changes lives.
Written and read by Kyle Norman
“Immediately Saul began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.” (Acts 9:20)
We often use the language of “having faith”, but that makes it seem like faith is a possession we hold. Or maybe faith is a tool that we keep in our spiritual utility belts, only to be used when we need to solve some spiritual problem. But faith, biblically, is a verb – it is an action, a way of life. This is why the followers of Jesus were initially called “Followers of The Way.” Meeting the risen Jesus naturally changes us. Jesus changes our habits, our behaviors, our attitudes, the very way in which we live.
Here’s the thing, scripture continually tells the same story. When people meet the risen Jesus, people meet a Lord who changes their life. There are many examples of this. Take Saul for example. Acts 9 begins by stating that Saul was breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples (Acts 9:1). But if you jump just 20 verses later, we hear that he is in the synagogues proclaiming that Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah. That’s quite the change isn’t it! Those two bookend verses highlight that something big must have happened to change this man so dramatically. Of course, there was. Saul had an encounter with the risen Jesus.
The same thing happens to Ananias. As Saul is praying and fasting on Strait Street, trying to make sense of his experience on the road to Damascus, the Lord appears to Ananias. Jesus calls him to go to Saul and pray for him. But Ananias initially expresses some hesitation. He’s heard of Saul, he knows his reputation, he responds to the Lord, questioning if this is really the person he was to go see. But Jesus calls Ananias to step out in bold faith, and to witness and pray for someone he never thought he would.
And then of course there is Peter. Who can forget Peter, lovable, somewhat dim-witted Peter? Not only does Peter deny knowing Jesus, not once, but three times, he does this immediately after he tells Jesus I will never do that! And not only does he deny his Lord, but he also curses himself while doing so. And yet when he meets the risen Lord, affirming his love for him, Peter is called to a new life of ministry and leadership.
All these people have their lives changed because they meet the risen Jesus. Jesus calls them to embrace a different way of life. Saul to accepting the risen Jesus, preaching what he once denied. Ananias, to reach out to someone he never thought he would, and Peter to become the head of this rag-tag movement called “Followers of The Way”. In each person, in ways unique to what Jesus wanted to do in them and through them, Jesus works a transformation.
So, if Jesus changed the lives of all these people, don’t you think that he might come to us and change our lives to?
Intersecting Faith and Life
Isn’t it great that nobody ever works theirs way out of the graceful acceptance of Jesus? There is no one who is deemed unworthy, there is no one for whom Jesus will not come and meet in his grace. At times, it may be tempting to think that Jesus doesn’t want to work in us or through us. We may even fear that a sin, or some insufficiency in our life, may cause Jesus to refuse us.
But, let’s be honest, if Jesus would refuse anyone, wouldn’t he refuse the person breathing murderous threats against his followers? Or if not Saul, surely it would be Peter, right? If there is anyone who would have done something to remove themselves from the blessings of Jesus, it’s that the one who denied him so boldly.
If Jesus does not reject Saul, or Peter, or any of the disciples who turned their backs and ran away, why would Jesus ever refuse us?
Where do you think that Jesus wants to work a change in your life? What might Jesus want to address? Like Saul, is there an action that Jesus might want you to move away from? is there a new direction that Jesus wants you to pursue. Or, like Ananias, is there a person that Jesus wants you to embrace? Or maybe you feel more like Peter. If so, is there a sin that Jesus wants to cover in his love?
Meeting the risen Jesus means meeting the one who transforms our lives. In every case, in every case, Jesus comes and calls us to embrace new life. But we must embrace the voice of Jesus. We must be open to Him and follow Him. So how might you accept the change that Jesus wants to make in you? True, it might involve a process, an about face, and maybe a time of prayer and wrestling, but on the other end of Christ’s work, is a life lived in the grace, forgiveness, and power of the Living God.
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
-
Cindi McMenamin reminds us that Jesus invites the weary and burdened to come to Him—and find rest. With wisdom from Matthew 11:28-30, she reveals how God’s “burden” isn’t about endless tasks but a call to love Him passionately, freeing us from anxiety and exhaustion.
📌 What You’ll Learn (Key Takeaways):
Why Jesus offers a yoke that is easy and a burden that is light
How loving God is the greatest “task” and the source of true rest
The difference between God’s invitation and the heavy burdens we place on ourselves
How to replace stress and striving with peace through faith and grace
💬 Join the Conversation:
When have you felt weighed down by life’s demands? How do you find rest in God’s love? Tag @LifeaudioNetwork with #BurdenIsLight and share your story or a favorite Scripture that helped you find peace amid the chaos.🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer
🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews
Full Transcript Below:
When There’s Too Much to Do
By Cindi McMenamin, Crosswalk Contributing Writer
“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
Are you feeling today that there is just too much to do?
I remember a time in my life when I felt like I was drowning under the pressures of my job, in addition to being a pastor’s wife, mother, director of women’s ministries, friend, sister, and daughter. There was so much to do to keep up with family relationships, to keep up the house, to keep up with my job, and to keep up in my walk with God. I literally felt I was drowning in obligations, and continually coming up short.
Today I know that when I begin to feel like that, I’ve taken on more than I was intended to bear. And certainly more than God wants me to bear.
In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus told His people to come to Him and find rest because they were carrying burdens too heavy to bear. They were frustrated and failing under the religious system of their day that put heavy burdens on them to live perfectly and obey every letter of the law. Jesus offered them His burden instead—a burden He said was light. What is the burden He offered them and the one God places on us today? What is the one thing He requires of us more than anything else?
One man asked Jesus that same question. And Jesus’ response was: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37).
Matthew 11:28-30 in The Message reads like this:
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Intersecting Faith and Life
God’s greatest requirement of us is not to do things for Him. It is to love Him. And not to just love Him, but to love Him passionately, desperately, above any other person or thing.
God’s “burden” on us is not a heavy one. In fact, it isn’t a burden at all. It’s a privilege to love the God who sent His Son to die for us. The heavy burdens are the ones we place on ourselves:
Trying to work out everyone else’s problems when God simply calls us to pray for others and do what we can, and leave the rest to Him. Working harder for the church, thinking we must earn His love and grace, when He has already saved us by our faith and His grace (Ephesians 2:8-9) Seeking to make amends for our past when God has told us He has removed our sins from us as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12)When I consider loving Him as my highest obligation and my heaviest burden, it makes all the other things I think I have to do pale in comparison. My to-do list, my project at work, my financial situation—none of those things is as important as loving my God. And therefore, I truly can take His yoke upon me and find rest. There is anxiety and stress in striving to carry my own burdens. There is peace and rest in simply loving Him.
O Lord, for all the times we start to feel weary and weighted down, help us to remember Your invitation to come to You, lay our burdens at Your feet, and find true rest.
Further Reading: Mark 12:28-34
For more on growing closer to the God of rest, see my book, The New Loneliness Devotional: 50 Days to a Closer Connection with God.
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
-
Keri Eichberger invites us to pause and fix our eyes on the steadfast truths of God—even when all we see is cloudiness ahead. Drawing from Psalm 23:6, she reminds us that God’s goodness and love follow us through every shadowed step, offering a future filled with hope beyond what we can imagine.
📌 What You’ll Learn (Key Takeaways):
How to respond when life feels uncertain and the path ahead is unclear
Why focusing on God’s unfailing goodness helps clear the fog of doubt
What it means to “set up camp” on God’s promises amid restrictions and unknowns
The assurance of God’s presence and blessings no matter how dim the view ahead
💬 Join the Conversation:
Have you ever faced a season where your future felt clouded or confusing? How did you hold onto God’s promises? Tag @LifeaudioNetwork with #PathAheadIsCloudy and share a verse or story that helped you trust God’s goodness through uncertain time.🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer
🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews
Full Transcript Below:
When The Path Ahead is Cloudy
By Keri Eichberger
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23:6)
The other morning I woke with more fog in front of me than usual. I sat in my recliner, peered out the window, and stared at the heavy layer of low clouds blocking every speck of sunshine. Shielding my view of what lay in the distance. And that was exactly the sense that had been settling in my mind and heart. An obstruction of what might be happening beyond my present moments and current focus—a strange swelling sensation of cloudiness within. I couldn’t quite see what God was doing and where he might be leading me. The path ahead seemed cloudier than ever and left me with a sense of shadowed entrapment. And I couldn’t put my finger on why. All I knew is that it felt extremely uncomfortable. And I longed for God's clear vision and sight of a paved path to hope and joy.
I shared my confusion with my husband and suggested to him that maybe I was feeling this way because my current circumstances were so limiting, causing my future to feel more uncertain than ever. Thus, I couldn’t even guess what tomorrow would look like, much less what next week, a few months ahead, or the year’s end might bring.
Do your current surroundings look a little foggy? Is your view ahead clouded with restrictions. limitations. or tons of unknowns? You might not necessarily feel super confined in your present moments, but even if you do have freedom to plot out the points toward your next desired destination, no one really knows what’s next. All we can truly be sure of is what we see right now. That, and the steadfast truths of God.
And this is precisely where I knew I needed to set up camp. Not staring at the thick layer of clouds dimming my uncertain circumstances. But at the truths of God. God’s unfailing, redeeming goodness. And it’s in that laser focus—eyes locked in on him—that we begin to see again. Staring at his perfect love, we start to see the light, gain clearer vision, and see beyond the present. And not the perfect worldly future we may have prior dreamt up—but a bright future nonetheless. Because here is what we can be sure of for our future. With the good Lord as our hearts’ and minds’ delight and desire, our future will be full of goodness.
Intersecting Faith and Life:
When we choose to follow Jesus, and when we fix our eyes on him, we know our Lord will show up with so much goodness and boundless blessings. We know our good God will redeem all things that are hard and hurting right now. Because the Bible promises… his goodness and love will follow us all the days of our life, and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
-
In this challenging devotional, we’re invited to look beyond the familiar, graceful images of the cross and confront its raw, uncomfortable reality. Drawing from Hebrews 12:1-2, the author reveals how Jesus endured the shame, mockery, and cruelty of the cross — not as a symbol of beauty, but as a testament to His love and faithfulness. This is faith in its most extreme, honest form.
📌 What You’ll Learn (Key Takeaways):
Why the cross was the ugliest form of execution — and why Jesus chose it
How enduring shame and derision reveals Jesus as the pioneer and perfecter of our faith
Why the cross challenges us to embrace discomfort in our faith journey
How Jesus meets us in our shame and brokenness, not just in our victories
💬 Join the Conversation:
How has confronting the difficult truths of the cross impacted your faith? What does “enduring the cross” mean in your life today? Tag @LifeaudioNetwork with #UglinessOfTheCross and share your thoughts or a favorite hymn that helps you meditate on this truth.🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer
🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews
Full Transcript Below:
The ugliness of the Cross.
“Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)
How many crosses do you own? Where are they, and in what style? Writing and recording this today, I can see several crosses around me. There is the gold cross I wear on my finger and the silver one around my neck; I also have a wonderfully hand-crafted cross of nails hanging on my wall. These crosses are all artistic, and beautiful.
Such majestic representations of the cross pair well with the regal language we use to describe the cross. We may speak about the victory we receive, or how the cross testifies to salvation, love, and forgiveness. We might sing about the Old Rugged Cross, and how we will cherish it deeply. A favorite hymn of my church growing up was described the cross as erected on “some green hill far away outside the city wall”; It all seems quite regal, quaint, and nostalgic, doesn’t it?
Don’t get me wrong, there is truth in all of this. The cross is a moment of victory and truly love and forgiveness comes our way because of the Cross. But there is a deeper truth that we always must remember: The cross of Jesus was ugly.
Jesus did not die upon some majestic religious symbol. In the ancient world, the cross was a tool of execution, reserved for those deemed unworthy of any respect or dignity. In fact, written in Roman law was the decree than no Roman citizen could be killed on the cross. The cross was reserved for the worst of the worst, declaring them less than nothing. The reason why Jesus died on the “green hill far away outside the city wall” wasn’t because this was a place of scenic beauty; no, it was a place wherein the crucified could be mocked. It was the place of the skull, signifying how cut off the crucified was from all life, love, and provision.
When Jesus hung upon the cross, those standing by Jesus didn’t muse about the love of God, they mocked him. They derided him. They insulted him. “You who could save others, save yourself!” they jeer. “Come down from the cross, if you can,” they cry. And that grand sign above Jesus “This is the King of the Jews” was not written as some statement of faith. This was Pilate declaring defeat over any would be Israelite King.
No. Jesus didn’t take on that which was beautiful or majestic, as if it was something easy and dignified. He endured the cross, taking on its shame. On the cross, Jesus took upon himself, everything that makes us squirm, everything that makes us recoil, everything that makes us uncomfortable.
But it was this that testifies to who Jesus is.
Intersecting Faith and Life
Jesus shows his true nature, he reveals the fullness of himself as the Messiah, the Savior, the Lord of all, not because he escapes the cross, nor transforms it to some easy symbol. No, He proves who he is, and the salvation he brings, by hanging there, and by taking upon himself not an easy or beautiful cross, but one of derision, mockery, and shame. Jesus scorns all that the cross represents; he shows that he is the pioneer and perfector of our faith precisely because he endures the cross, because he takes it on and does not forsake it.
The cross, therefore, is the symbol of faith precisely because it is ugly, because it is extreme, because it is a symbol of shame, abandonment, and derision. The cross is the symbol of faith, it represents everything that is not beautiful, or majestic, or surrounded by pleasantry and Ease. It is a symbol of faith because it is into that place that Jesus entered.
So, today, as you think about the cross, dare to take a moment and be uncomfortable. Dare be affected. Dare to recognize the very scorn and derision that Jesus felt as he hung dying on the cross for you. And allow that fact to teach you that Jesus doesn’t wait for you to feel comfortable and victorious. Jesus doesn’t stand on the sidelines of life trying to avoid the mess. He comes to you in the very place where you might feel the harshest derision, the deepest guilt, and the worst shame. The ugliness of the cross means that Jesus embraces you in all the places where you feel ugly.
So, look to Jesus. Embrace the cross and uncover how the love of Jesus meets us. Amen.
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
-
In this comforting and deeply personal devotional, Alexis A. Goring draws inspiration from a NOOMA teaching by Rob Bell to remind us that even when we feel forgotten or afraid, God is holding us close. Using Psalm 34:18 and a father’s love as the backdrop, she paints a powerful picture of how God shelters us—even when the thunder is loud and the way home feels far.
📌 What You’ll Learn (Key Takeaways):
Why your brokenness is not a barrier, but a bridge to God’s heart
How Scripture shows God’s nearness in life’s hardest moments
A moving analogy of God’s love through the eyes of a father carrying his son through a storm
The reassurance that you’re not just seen by God—you’re held
💬 Join the Conversation:
Have you ever sensed God holding you through a storm? What reminders help you trust Him as your guide? Tag @LifeaudioNetwork with #HeldByGod and share your story—or a worship song that brought you peace.🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer
🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews
Full Transcript Below:
When God Holds You Close
By: Alexis A. Goring
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”—Psalm 34:18 (NIV)
Have you ever felt like you were going through hard times alone? Do you ever feel like God is far away and doesn’t care about what you’re facing? Did you ever think that God abandoned you, leaving you to face the storms of life by yourself without adequate shelter and proper care?
If so, then this devotional inspired by a teaching by Rob Bell, is for you. Bell, an American author, once shared a real-life story illustration for NOOMA Small Group Bible Study titled, “Rain”. The story features a father holding his young son close to shelter him as they walk through a violent rainstorm in the woods.
Bell sets the scene: He was with his family as they were spending time in a cabin in the woods on the edge of a remote lake that was deep in the middle of nowhere. One morning, he and his son Trace set out to take a walk around the lake at a point of the day where there were clear blue skies, sunshine and birds chirping. At the time, Trace was a little over one year old and he seemed happy and content. Bell was carrying his son in one of those hiking backpacks strapped to Bell’s back.
They set out through the woods to walk around the lake. As they reached the other side of the lake, they were the farthest possible point from the cabin. As they rounded the bend to head back to the cabin, Bell looked up and noticed clouds. Then, it started to rain. At first, only a few drops of rain fell. But soon after, the raindrops grew big and began to fall fast, leading to a downpour. Bell said it was the kind of rain that soaks you to the core, plasters your hair against your head and drenches your clothing.
At first, Trace was okay but as the downpour increased and it started thundering, Trace became more agitated. Soon, he went from whimpering to shrieking as the trees and leaves are no longer provided adequate shelter. The trees started to shake. Trace began to scream loudly with terror in his voice.
Bell then shares what Scripture says about our cries. God says that He listens to us when we cry out to Him. He never ignores the cries of people who feel afflicted. God even says that when you cry, He’s close to the brokenhearted. He’s close to those who cry out. He listens. God never ignores our cries.
Bell continues teaching saying, “There is this false, twisted idea out there among religious people that somehow, you’ve got have it all together to have a relationship with God. Like somehow, God’s only looking for people who have no problems and have it all nailed down and can put on the happy face all the time. Yet, the Scriptures speak directly against this kind of thinking. Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden.” The essence of salvation is crying out to God and admitting, “I don’t have it all together.” Bell makes it clear that a key part of our Christian faith walk is about asking God to fix things and step in and rescue us. God invites us to let Him into our problems and trust Him to take care of it.
Finally, Bell challenges his students to think about the storm from Trace’s perspective. He said, “For Trace, the storm is his reality. He sees nothing else! The lightning and the thunder and the trees swaying and the raindrops and the water just dripping off him, it’s all he knows. He sees no reality beyond the storm. What Trace doesn’t realize is that as his dad, I would do anything to get him home.”
Bell goes on to say that when the storm grew more intense, he took his son out of his backpack carrier and wrapped his arms around Trace, pulling him close to his chest and holding him close for the last mile of their walk through the storm. The entire time, Bell whispered into his son’s ear, “I love you, buddy. We’re going to make it. Dad knows the way home. We’re going to make it. I love you, buddy.”
As I listened to this part of Bell’s story, I thought of how our Heavenly Father (God) responds to us much like Bell responded to his son in that situation. God wants us to know that no matter how fierce the storm we’re in, He is with us. The more scared we are, the closer He is to us. God loves us with all His Heart so He holds us close to His Heart and gently reminds us that He will lead us home to safety. The important part to remember is that we’re not just safe when we reach our destination; we are safe in the storm because God is with us through it all.
As Bell wraps up his lesson point, he moves the timeline forward and asks his students to imagine if years later, his son is in therapy and this repressed memory of “the walk” resurfaces. Trace goes to his dad and asks, “Why did you let me go through that for? I thought you loved me. How could you expose me to that storm? Why didn’t you protect me?” Bell said he would feel crushed by this and explain to his son that the walk was one of the most intimate memories of his life with him. It was an experience that he wouldn’t trade for anything.
Bell closes his teaching by reminding us that if we’re bitter or angry because of some things we’ve been through, some storms in our life that we were traumatized by, and we’re wondering that if God really loved us and is there for us then why did He let us go through that, we should know that God held us close through those tough times and assured us gently that He will help us arrive home.
May we be encouraged by the fact that God holds us close to His Heart during times of trouble. May we remember that the scarier the storm, the closer God holds us. He loves us and He will help us arrive home safely because He knows the way. God is our Trusted Guide through this life. We can trust Him with all our heart.
In closing, I’d like for you to listen to and be encouraged by these four songs that support my message and Bell’s story today:
Song of Reflection #1: “Promises” (feat. Joe L Barnes & Naomi Raine) by Maverick City | TRIBL. Listen to it here:https://youtu.be/q5m09rqOoxE?si=_jJx1oG-GjgCmo7h
Song of Reflection #2: “Sometimes He Calms the Storm” by Scott Krippayne. Listen to it here: https://youtu.be/xf-LYslTJWI?si=jyyPkcg7Qw5kjxve
Song of Reflection #3: “My Help” by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Listen to it here: https://youtu.be/DWydssGbUBc?si=XHZVNqoR5NeuOMyD
Song of Reflection #4: “Hold Me Still” by ForeverJones. Listen to it here:
https://youtu.be/atoc53QO7w4?si=4t9_JqZkLZydEUIM
Intersecting Faith and Life: How does it feel to know that you have a Trusted Guide (God) who loves you and will help you survive the storms of life?
Further Reading:
Isaiah 41:10
Psalm 46:1
Psalm 9:9
Psalm 121
Philippians 4:6-7
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
-
When the world feels broken and your soul is weary, how do you hold on to hope? In this moving devotional, Vivian Bricker reflects on the promise of Revelation 21:5 and shares how slowing down in the midst of personal illness opened her eyes to God’s presence—and His promise to renew all things. With raw honesty and eternal perspective, she offers encouragement for anyone walking through hard seasons.
📌 What You’ll Learn (Key Takeaways):
Why noticing God’s beauty in creation can shift your outlook
How suffering reminds us that this world is not our forever home
The biblical promise of complete restoration in the New Heaven and New Earth
An invitation to trust God in the waiting, knowing He’s making all things new
💬 Join the Conversation:
Where have you seen glimpses of God’s renewal in your life lately? What gives you hope when life feels heavy? Tag @LifeaudioNetwork with #AllThingsNewDevotional and share a moment that reminded you of God’s faithfulness.🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer
🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews
Full Transcript Below:
God Is Making All Things New
By Vivian Bricker
“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true’” (Revelation 21:5).
Whenever we spend time outdoors, we are reminded of God’s beauty. This is why I enjoy spending time outdoors. The beautiful blue sky, the shining sun, and the singing birds help me to remember that there is still hope in the world. Since my days are often spent in doctor's offices and clinics, it is a nice break to step outside and enjoy God’s craftsmanship.
However, if we do not pay careful attention to this beauty, we will miss it. I have noticed many times in my life that I have had a habit of rushing and missing out on these beautiful things. Rather than slowing down and fully absorbing the sky or the clouds, I'm just rushing from one place to the next. Ever since I was diagnosed with an autoimmune illness, I have slowed down and started to take note of these parts of God’s creation.
One of my symptoms during a flare-up is extreme lethargy. I cannot move as fast as I would like, so I must take it slowly. This has been a blessing in disguise because it helps me notice all the little things in life: the blooming of the flowers, a few storm clouds in the distance, or the happy face of a stranger as they pass by.
If we slow down enough, we will be able to notice all of these things. However, you don’t have to undergo a traumatic diagnosis to start appreciating all of the things God has placed in the world. Taking time to notice these things will help us have a healthier outlook on life. Even when things are not going upward, God is still good, and He is still in control.
On the other hand, sometimes we can notice all of the bad things in life. It doesn’t take much to notice this, such as seeing our loved ones in pain, being diagnosed with an incurable illness, struggling with mental health issues, or witnessing the death of someone we love. There is hate, bullying, and mass killings going on every day. When we look at these things, we see the world has come a long way from the way God created it.
God created the world perfect, but sin changed everything (Genesis 3:1-24). Illness, sickness, evil, and death sprang into being. This is why terrible things happen in the world. It is not because of God, but rather, it is because of sin in the world. The world has fallen, and it is filled with all of us who are fallen sinners. We get hurt by others, and we hurt others too.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
In the future, God will make all things new. The Bible tells us, “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true’” (Revelation 21:5). This is a wonderful promise given to us by God. The fallen world we are living in will be destroyed and created new.
The evil and pain we see today won’t continue for all eternity. There will come a day when light finally reigns. No longer will we see anyone get sick or die. Instead, we will be living with the Lord in perfect harmony. He has blessed us by dying for us, and for all those who place faith in Him, we will be able to see the beautiful creation that is to come.
Therefore, as you slow down and notice these things, trust in God. He is there through the good and the bad. We can appreciate the good while also being aware of sin in the world. Both the good and the bad can help us be encouraged and yearn for better days. One day, all things will be made new, and we will live in the New Heaven and New Earth with God.
We can all lift our heavy hearts in praise for this truth. Regardless of what you are facing today, things will get better. Maybe they won’t get better today, but they will be healed and restored at the end of all things. Lean into the Lord, cultivate your relationship with Him, and focus on Him above anything else.
Have you taken time to slow down and look at the beauty of the Lord around you? In the same way, have you noticed the sin that is so prevalent in the world? How can you appreciate the good while also acknowledging the bad things in the world? How does it feel to know God is going to make all things new?
Further Reading:
Isaiah 65:17-19 2 Peter 3:1-13 Revelation 21:1-27Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
-
Where do you go looking for joy? In this heartfelt devotional, Whitney Hopler shares a personal story of travel disappointment that led to a powerful revelation: true joy isn’t found in plans or places—it’s found in God’s presence. Based on Psalm 16:11, this episode dives into how joy differs from happiness and why the world can never offer the kind of lasting joy our souls crave.
💡 Key Takeaways:
Happiness fades. Joy is rooted in relationship, not circumstance.
Psalm 16:11 reveals three truths: God guides your path, His presence fills you with joy, and His pleasures last forever.
When everything else disappoints, God remains the source of deep, soul-anchoring joy.
Join The Conversation:
What’s one place you’ve looked for joy that didn’t deliver? How might your week change if you prioritized simply being in God’s presence? Share your reflections and tag @LifeaudioNetwork with #FindingJoy🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer
🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews
Full Transcript Below:
Where to Find Joy
By: Whitney Hopler
“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.” – Psalm 16:11, NIV
I love to travel, and it’s a blessing whenever I have an opportunity to take a new trip. But I’ll always remember the time when I discovered that I couldn’t count on finding joy from a trip. I’d planned lots of fun activities for my family in Amsterdam that didn’t work out. For many months, I’d imagined us enjoying those activities together, only to have some of them fall through. We couldn’t even enjoy the activity we had looked forward to the most – riding bikes together along Amsterdam’s famous canals – because we hadn’t made advance reservations for bikes and they were all rented out from nearby bike shops. On top of that, my phone was stolen on a busy tram. I was so upset that I left my family in our rented townhouse and wandered the streets by myself to cry and pray. As I poured out my disappointment to God, I sensed God leading me to sit down on a bench and just focus on his presence with me. It only took a short time of paying attention to God’s presence to start feeling better. Soon, my sadness evaporated and an incredible amount of joy washed over me. It was just being in God’s presence – not anything else – that brought me the joy I was searching for.
Everyone I know wants to enjoy their lives. But some haven’t found joy yet, because they’re looking for it in the wrong places, like I did when I thought I could find joy by planning a dream vacation. We can chase after achievements, relationships, vacations, and more while hoping that they’ll finally give us the joy we long for. They might make us happy temporarily. But after those happy feelings fade, we’re back to chasing something else.
That’s because happiness and joy are not the same. Happiness happens when our circumstances are good. Joy, however, comes from a deeper source than temporarily good circumstances. Joy is a gift that comes from being connected to God. It’s a deep sense of gladness that comes from knowing God loves us completely and unconditionally. We can experience joy in any kind of circumstances, no matter what.
Psalm 16:11 describes where to find joy. It starts by reminding us that God shows us the path we should walk. Even when we feel uncertain, God promises to lead us on a path that’s full of life – not just existence, but real life, where we live to the fullest. Then it points out that God will fill us with joy in his presence. God himself is the source of our joy! When we draw near to God by communicating with him in prayer and meditation, God meets us with his joy. That joy is strong enough for us to experience in any situation. Finally, Psalm 16:11 says that God gives us “eternal pleasures at your right hand.” The joy God gives us lasts for eternity! It never runs out. We can enjoy pleasures from God forever, because they’re the pleasures of being loved by our eternally loving God.
Looking for joy in this fallen world is bound to disappoint us. But searching for joy in God’s presence will reliably lead us to experiencing it. God gives us real joy, which is something that the world can’t offer and can’t take away. Even in suffering, we can rejoice, because God’s presence is with us in all circumstances. So, we don’t need to worry when we don’t find joy in other places. We can always find joy when we look for it in God’s presence!
Intersecting Faith and Life
As you consider where to find joy, reflect on these questions:
When have you recently felt happy in good circumstances, but lost that happiness when your circumstances changed? Where do you sometimes find yourself looking for joy, instead of through your relationship with God? How can you spend more time in God’s presence this week? What does it mean to you that God promises “eternal pleasures” at his right hand?Further Reading
Nehemiah 8:10
John 15:11
Romans 15:13
Philippians 4:4
Isaiah 61:10
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
-
When everything feels like it’s falling apart, where do you turn? In this powerful devotional, Cindi McMenamin encourages us to place our hope not in answers or outcomes—but in the God who holds all things together. With Scripture, personal insight, and a look at sobering mental health trends, she makes a compelling case for anchoring our hearts in the “God of hope” (Romans 15:13).
📌 What You’ll Learn (Key Takeaways):
Why hope is as essential to the human soul as food and water
The difference between hoping for answers and hoping in God
How Romans 15:13 offers a framework for emotional and spiritual resilience
A call to deepen trust in the One who sustains you, even in the unknown
💬 Join the Conversation:
Where have you found hope lately? What Scripture has helped you stay grounded in tough times? Tag @LifeaudioNetwork with #SourceOfOurHope and share a verse or story to encourage others.🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer
🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews
Full Transcript Below:
The Source of Our Hope
By Cindi McMenamin, Crosswalk Contributing Writer
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 NASB)
When life seems to fall apart, we can begin to wonder why we’re here and if there truly is Someone controlling the grand scheme of things. Where is God? we might wonder. And can He really hold this together?
Research says humans cannot live without food, water, and shelter. It usually takes 40 days or less without any of those elements for the body to die. But scientists and medical experts have now concluded there is one thing humans cannot live without for an even shorter amount of time and that is hope. Without hope, the spirit gives up far earlier.
We need hope—for the future, for a sense of purpose, for the assurance that there is a divine design to life and things really do happen for a reason in the grander scheme of things. We need hope that help will arrive soon for whatever is ailing us.
I’ve heard many believers say they hope that when they get to heaven that God will reveal to them why a loss or difficulty occurred. That sounds like hope in one day gaining answers to the questions we have, or hope in the assurance that there was a reason for our suffering. Yet what you and I really need is hope in the One who holds all things together, including us.
Romans 15:13 tells us He is “the God of hope.” And Colossians 1:17 tells us, “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
Intersecting Faith and Life
Because you and I know God in a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, we should be the most hopeful people on the planet. And yet studies show that anxiety, depression, and a sense of despondency is at an increasingly high rate today—even among believers. According to Barna Research Group, the top two things U.S. adults are looking for spiritually are inner peace and hope, and that statistic is among believers, as well as unbelievers. (https://www.barna.com/research/year-in-review-2023/)
That tells me there’s a disconnect between believing in God and knowing Him and His character and realizing He is the God of all hope.
Scripture defines faith, in Hebrews 11:1 as “the assurance of things hoped for; the conviction of things not seen” (NASB1995). If faith is believing what we hope for exists, then clearly having faith in the One who can do all things should make a tangible difference in our lives and our anxiety levels. It should give us hope.
The opposite of hope is doubt, pessimism, or despair. That last condition is one of the leading reasons behind suicide, which is now one of the leading causes of death in the U.S., represented by one death every 11 minutes. (The number of people who think about or attempt suicide is even higher.) In 2021, an estimated 12.3 million American adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.5 million planned a suicide attempt, and 1.7 million attempted suicide. And this statistic is no longer represented primarily by seniors and veterans. In 2021, suicide was among the top nine leading causes of death for people ages 10-64, and it was the second leading cause of death for children ages 10-14 and adults ages 20-34! (https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/index.html)
Shouldn’t knowing the God who is in control of all things give us the hope and peace we need to survive this world, or at least one more day? Not unless we really trust this God we claim to know. When we truly get to know Him, through His Word, we can trust Him and realize our suffering is for a reason—it is shaping us into the likeness of Jesus.
Don’t give up, my friend. The God of hope, whom Scripture says does not disappoint, can “fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of His Holy Spirit.” And the God of hope holds all things together—including you.
Further Reading: Romans 5:1-5
For more on growing closer to the God of hope, see my books: The New Loneliness: Nurturing Meaningful Connections When You Feel Isolated, and The New Loneliness Devotional: 50 Days to a Closer Connection with God.
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
-
In this heartfelt devotional, Lynette Kittle reflects on the power and purpose of honoring fathers—and how doing so honors God. Through Scripture and personal stories, she reminds us that God designed fatherhood as a reflection of His own love and authority. Even when our relationships with earthly fathers are difficult or broken, God invites us to healing, respect, and honor in ways that please Him.
📌 What You’ll Learn (Key Takeaways):
Why honoring your father isn’t just a cultural suggestion—it’s a command with a promise
How honoring your father connects directly to your relationship with God
What Scripture says about the cost of dishonor and the reward of respect
Encouragement for those who have experienced father wounds and need healing
💬 Join the Conversation:
What’s one way you’ve been able to honor your father—either in presence or in memory? Share your thoughts and tag @LifeaudioNetwork with #HonorYourFather as we reflect together on the importance of fatherhood and faith.🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer
🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews
Full Transcript Below:
How Honoring Fathers Honors God
By Lynette Kittle
“Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth”--Ephesians 6:2-3
Every few years or so, my birthday falls on Father’s Day, which is especially meaningful to me because it’s a reminder of my being born on my Father’s birthday.
As a child growing up, I loved sharing my birthdays with him. Memories include my Dad and me splurging at Dairy Queen on our birthdays, being able to pick out whatever ice cream treats our hearts desired, whereas we usually just bought a chocolate covered ice cream cone.
As an adult, often living miles apart, we spent fewer birthdays together, but even so, my Dad would send a special birthday card just from him, writing once again like he did every year, how I was the best birthday gift he ever received.
Having a loving relationship with my Dad taught me how to have a loving relationship with God as my Father.
Honoring Fathers Is Not to Be Taken Lightly
Sadly, countless individuals in the world don’t grow up having a loving father, but instead experience very different relationships with their earthly fathers, hindering many from receiving and having a loving relationship with God their Father.
It’s heartbreaking to hear and understandable why some believe it’s okay to kick fathers to the curbside, seeing them as unnecessary and of no importance in their lives. Yet, in honoring fathers, we honor God by honoring His word.
Scripture doesn’t brush over or take dishonoring fathers lightly. Rather, it comes with a heavy cost, as Proverbs 30:11-13 explains. “There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers; those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth; those whose eyes are ever so haughty, whose glances are so disdainful; the eye that mocks a father, that scorns an aged mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures.”
Honoring Fathers Reveres God
Fatherhood has definitely taken a hit over the years, with many individuals seeing men’s position and place in the family, and our culture, as non-essential.
Unfortunately, social media has created platforms where it is way too easy for individuals to say and write whatever they wish about their fathers, and men overall to the world, disrespecting and dishonoring being taken to new levels.
But even though some men may fail as fathers, God doesn’t support disrespecting them because it is dishonoring to Him. As Proverbs 20:20 warns, “If someone curses their father or mother, their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.”
The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:7 reminds us that man is the glory of God, and that even how we treat men old enough to be our fathers matters to God, as noted in 1 Timothy 5:1.“Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers.”
Likewise, as Leviticus 19:32 reminds us, “Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.”
Honoring Fathers Honors God
Although society may say it’s okay to dishonor fathers, God’s word does not, and He is still saying, “Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old”—Proverbs 23.22
God created the family structure, setting fathers in a place of honor, calling us to honor Him by honoring them. “Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!” (Hebrews 12:9)
Intersecting Faith & Life: If you’re finding it difficult to honor your father, or any father, because of your own experiences with your earthly father, ask your Heavenly Father to heal your heart from the wounds and hurt you may be carrying around in life. Ask Him to show you how to honor fathers in a way that pleases Him.
Further Reading: Why It Is So Important to Honor our Parents?
https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/ibelieve-truth-a-devotional-for-women/why-is-it-so-important-to-honor-our-parents.html
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
-
Where do you find your worth? In today’s devotional, Vivian Bricker shares her personal story of searching for identity in sports, achievement, and relationships—only to discover that true, unshakable worth can only be found in the love of Christ. Rooted in 1 John 4:16, this episode reminds us that God is love, and He alone defines our value. If you’ve ever struggled with self-worth, this is your invitation to rest in the One whose love never fails.
📌 What You’ll Learn (Key Takeaways):
Why earthly accomplishments will never satisfy our need for true worth
How understanding God's love transforms how we see ourselves
The difference between conditional love and the unchanging love of Jesus
How to recognize signs of God’s love in your everyday life
💬 Join the Conversation:
What’s one way God has shown His love for you this week? Share your thoughts and tag @LifeaudioNetwork with #WorthInChrist — your story might be just what someone else needs to hear today.🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer
🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews
Full Transcript Below:
Finding Your Worth in God’s Love
By Vivian Bricker
“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them” (1 John 4:16).
I didn’t come to know Jesus until I was eighteen years old. Prior to this time, I knew of Jesus, but I didn’t actually know Him. He was an abstract idea that didn’t make much sense to me. While my mom would talk about Jesus, I never really understood what she said about Him. In other words, I didn’t understand that He is God or that we can receive salvation through believing in Him.
Therefore, I spent the first seventeen years of my life not knowing about Jesus, the Father, or the Holy Spirit. As one could imagine, this negatively impacted my life in many ways. I wonder sometimes what my life would have looked like if I had known Jesus earlier in life. Maybe I would not have tried to find my worth in the things of this world.
As a kid and a teen, I found much of my identity in sports and music. When I was a kid, I prided myself in being a soccer player and gymnast. Since this worth was found in things I could do, I knew I could lose my worth. If I wasn’t good at these sports anymore, I would lose my worth—and this used to keep me up at night. I feared that if I wasn’t the “best,” all of my teammates wouldn’t like me anymore and that they would stop being my friends.
Now that I know Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I no longer find my worth in other things. Instead, I find my worth in Him. Since my worth is in Him, my worth doesn’t change or waver. It is firm and steadfast in the Lord. Anyone who is still living in a state of finding their worth in other things needs to turn back to the Lord.
Your worth is only found in Him. Trying to find your worth in other things will leave you feeling drained and empty. Similar to how I found my worth in certain sports, maybe you found your worth in being a good student or a good artist. Rather than setting your worth in things that can change, find your worth in Jesus.
Understanding His love helped me understand my worth in Jesus. Without knowing about His love, I would never have known He desired a personal relationship with me. If we are struggling with our worth, we need to turn to Jesus’ love. His love will help us understand our worth and value in His eyes.
Unlike human beings, Jesus’ love for us is not based on outside factors. Instead, it is solely based on Him. The love Jesus has for us is not based on what we do or what we don’t do. It is only based on His sure, steadfast, and perfect love. This is the type of love we can depend on and find comfort in.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
The Apostle John tells us, “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them” (1 John 4:16). When John wrote this truth, he wrote it to us. It wasn’t only for the Christian readers who were alive after the death and resurrection of the Lord. Through John’s words, we can rely on God’s love because He is entirely trustworthy, and His love never changes.
The focus of this passage is found when John says, “God is love.” As believers, we need to take this to heart. God is the exact being of love. Without God, there would not be any love. He is the Author of love, and He is also the Author of our lives. Therefore, as believers, we need to find comfort in His love and find our worth in Him. Take hold of the love He has for you; in doing so, you will also take hold of your worth in Him.
Have you ever tried to find your worth in anything besides God in the past? What did this look like? What might change in your life if you accepted God’s love for you? Would it help you accept your worth in Him? Challenge yourself to think of three things that show God’s love for you this past week. What are these three things?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
-
In a world that often feels unjust, how do we keep trusting a God who promises to be both just and loving? In today’s devotional, we turn to Psalm 17—David’s heartfelt prayer in the face of betrayal and injustice—and uncover a blueprint for trusting God even when life feels unfair. Whether you're facing false accusations, broken promises, or just the weight of injustice around you, this episode offers hope and healing in the hands of a just God.
📌 What You’ll Learn (Key Takeaways):
Why going to God in prayer is our first—not last—response to injustice
How to pray boldly when you’ve been wronged, just like David did
The power of declaring God’s character when everything feels out of control
Why ultimate justice belongs to God—and why that’s a relief
💬 Join the Conversation:
How has God shown you His justice in a difficult season? What does it look like to rest in His timing? Share your story and tag @LifeaudioNetwork with #TrustingGodInInjustice to encourage someone else walking through a hard season.🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer
🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews
Full Transcript Below:
Trusting God When We Face Injustice
By Sarah Frazer
Bible Reading:
“Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!” Psalm 17:1 (ESV)
Devotional
The world is filled with injustice. Just turn on the news or scroll through social media. It doesn’t take long to see all of the problems everyone faces. Everyone is going through something. Most of it is unfair.
Even as Christians, we are not immune to times when people have acted unfairly towards us. In fact, the Bible says in the New Testament we should sometimes expect to be treated unfairly because we believe in Jesus as Savior. How do we trust God, who we believe is all-powerful, when we face injustice?
I believe Psalm 17 helps teach us how to trust God when we have been hurt by others. David is the author of Psalm 17 and this chapter is described as a prayer of David. A brief look at David’s life paints a very clear picture of injustice.
David was told he would be king by God, anointed by the prophet Samual, and for a time loved by King Saul. Over the course of the first part of David’s life, Saul changed his view of David. Saul began slandering, pursuing, and attacking David. In all of this, David had every reason to doubt God’s hand in his life.
Yet in Psalm 17 we read a prayer from a man who obviously still trusted God. In this psalm we can see clearly that prayer is the key. David doesn’t go to his friends, or the people in charge, or even an army. David was wronged, but he goes directly to God. Not only does David cry out to God, he calls on God to act.
How many of us hesitate to call out to God? Maybe we struggle to believe that God is all-powerful. If God was all-powerful, couldn’t he have stopped the injustice? Or if he allowed it, doesn’t he have the power to make it right? Maybe it is because we believe that God doesn’t care. Do you believe that the reason God hasn’t stepped in to make your situation fairis because maybe God doesn’t love you? We might be guilty of believing both things about God, but not David.
David’s prayer cuts right to the chase. David says in verse 2, “Let my vindication come from Your presence; Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright.” (NKJV) He is saying:“God, I know you care about me and you know what they did was wrong, so do something!”
David recognized that vengeance would not come from himself, but God would make things right! God would avenge the wrongs. Only God has the power to do so and David truly believed God loved him.
David also tells God that he hasn’t done anything wrong. I think we are quick to just pray for forgiveness and we forget we are innocent in some situations. Being treated unjustly means that a wrong was done to us, without it being our fault. It is not prideful to tell God, “I didn’t do anything wrong!” God knows, of course, but reminding ourselves and saying it aloud to God helps to keep our hearts pure. To be able to pray this David must have examined his heart, and after doing so, he declared his innocence.
The rest of the psalm is focused on David declaring who God is and what God will do and has done. This is so important when we pray! It is easy to tell God, “This is what is wrong.” We also like to tell God how we think He should punish the wicked people. But David doesn’t focus on this. Instead, David declares to God, “You will hear me, you will save, you will keep me safe from my enemies.” These are things that reflect God’s character but also His actions.
Focusing our prayers on God’s character and His past and future actions helps us have peace in the present moment. David tells God to punish those who have acted wickedly against him, but then David settles in his heart that eventually everything will be made right. The last verse says, “As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.” (Psalm 17:15 NKJV)
Many scholars believe that David is talking about when he dies, everything will be made right. Others think he is talking about simply going to sleep at night and waking up knowing God would take care of things. Both can be true.
When we pass from this life to the next, God will make all things right. All evil will be punished and God will be the judge. Although it is hard and we want to judge or take matters into our own hands, we can trust God. Ultimately we can rest in the fact that God loves us and He will will punish the.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
David says in Psalm 17:6-7, “I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech. Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You.” Pray to God today, telling Him of your innocence and how you have been wronged. Call upon God to act and then rest, knowing He will execute perfect justice.
Further Reading:
Deuteronomy 32:4
Isaiah 30:18
Romans 12:19
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
-
We’re all familiar with wanting more—but what if peace came not from getting what we want, but learning to be content with what we have? In this episode, we unpack Philippians 4:11–13 to discover what Paul meant when he said he had “learned the secret of being content.” Whether you’re in a season of plenty or in a season of want, this conversation points you toward the kind of soul-deep contentment that only Christ can provide.
📌 What You’ll Learn (Key Takeaways):
Why contentment is not the same as giving up on your desires
How Paul found peace in both abundance and need
Three practical steps to cultivate contentment: Remember the season, Practice gratitude, and Trust God
Why Jesus—not circumstances—is the real source of lasting satisfaction
💬 Join the Conversation:
Where do you find contentment? How has Christ helped you through a season of want or abundance? Share your thoughts using #InSearchOfContentment and tag us at @LifeaudioNetwork.🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer
🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews
Full Transcript Below:
In Search of Contentment
By Aaron D’Anthony Brown
I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11-13, CSB)If there’s one undeniable truth about the human condition, that truth would be that each of us always wants something. That something could be major or insignificant, like a new book, some fresh clothes, a relationship, more money, or a better job. There’s no way to produce an exhaustive list because of our unique desires, but also because our hearts never stop longing for more. We want as children, and we want as adults.
All of this wanting is normal, but normal isn’t always moral or productive. In this case, normal means not being very content in life. Chances are, this describes you or many of the people that you know.
However, this need not always be true. How do we become more content, and what exactly is it? Based on the aforementioned passage from Paul, contentment denotes a mindset of peace that is not contingent upon circumstances. Paul learned how to find peace when having much and with having a little. Based on this testimony, we can tell that to be content does not mean that you don’t want anything at all. Rather, contentment is finding peace with what you have. That can be true of us even while still desiring something else, something more.
Paul also reveals to us the source of his contentment. Certainly, he has worked to attain his mindset, but the basis for this change is his belief that Christ will strengthen him. Contentment is possible because of Christ. Not because of himself or his possessions. That is something we need to recall today.
So often, we find ourselves wanting, but how often do we find ourselves content? If that’s where you want to be, know that, as Paul’s words reveal, we, too, can be strengthened by Christ in this way. We can find peace wherever and with whatever we have in life.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Regarding contentment, we know that we can be like Paul, but what practical steps can we take? Here are three:
Remember the Season
Remember the abundance when you have a little, and remember the little when you have abundance. When you do, you can manage your perspective. Naturally, we all go through various seasons of life. Don’t expect your money to always be the same, nor the condition of your relationships. We gain, we lose, sometimes we try again. Change in life is inevitable. Sometimes those changes are not good, or at least, not what we wanted. When that happens, remember it’s just a season.
Practice Gratitude
You might consider yourself a grateful person, but chances are you can be an even more grateful person. Take some time to consider what you take for granted in life. Maybe you’re grateful to be married, or dating, or have a home or family. However, do you take time to thank God for running water, clean air, shoes to wear, owning a phone, or your ability to use the bathroom? The more reasons we find to be thankful, the fewer reasons we have to be discontent.
Trust God
Trusting God is easier said than done, but nonetheless possible. Paul grew in his faith and learned to believe that whatever ordeal he faced, he could overcome it when Christ strengthened him. That’s the kind of relationship we ourselves can find with Christ. Whether we have a lot or a little, Jesus knows our hearts. He knows what we need, and He’ll provide. If we turn to Him, He can help us overcome anything. More importantly, even if the situation doesn’t change at all, or when we want, Christ can strengthen us to be content.
As humans we are always wanting, but despite our ongoing desires, we can also always be content. With a shift in perspective, we can make Jesus the end result of our search for contentment.
Further Reading (and Listening):
Hebrews 13:5 Matthew 6:33 2 Corinthians 12:10 “All I Need” by Forrest Frank & Hulvey “Standing In The Need” by The New Life Community ChoirDiscover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
-
Grief can feel like being trapped in a dark cave—isolated, disoriented, and overwhelmed. But just as Jesus called Lazarus out of his tomb, He calls you to step out of your own cave of sorrow and into the light of hope. This episode explores how Jesus understands your pain, walks with you through it, and gently leads you toward healing and new life.
📌 What You’ll Learn (Key Takeaways):
Why grief can feel like being swallowed by darkness and isolation
How Jesus compassionately meets us in our pain without dismissing it
The powerful story of Lazarus and what it teaches about hope after loss
Why stepping forward in healing often requires help and patience
Practical ways to begin moving out of grief and into life again
💬 Join the Conversation:
Have you experienced grief that felt like a cave you couldn’t escape? How has Jesus helped you take steps toward healing? Share your story with #ComeOutOfYourCave and tag @LifeaudioNetwork.🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer
🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews
Full Transcript Below:
Come Out of Your Cave
By: Whitney Hopler
“Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.” – John 11:38, NIV
Inside a cave at Mammoth Cave National Park, a park ranger warned our tour group that we would become disoriented when she turned off her flashlight. Then, when we said we were ready, she turned it off and complete darkness descended on us. It was disorienting! The darkness inside the cave was so strong that we couldn’t see anything else. Even our own hands in front of our faces seemed like they weren’t really there, because we didn’t have any light to see them. Darkness seemed like it was swallowing us, until the ranger turned her flashlight back on, and we all breathed sighs of relief.
Grief is like a cave. In this fallen world, we all lose someone or something important to us – through death, the end of a relationship, a job loss, a dream that doesn’t come true, or another kind of painful loss. Grieving can make us feel like we’re trapped in darkness. We may feel like there’s no way out of our caves, because it seems like hope has been buried with what we lost. But Jesus, the Light of the World, never wants us to stay in darkness. Jesus understands our pain, but he also offers us the help we need to move forward from it.
If you’re grieving, Jesus calls you to come out of your spiritual cave, just as he raised his friend Lazarus to come out of a physical cave into a new life of hope.
In John chapter 11, Jesus arrives at Lazarus’ tomb. The people around him are crying. Even Jesus is crying. Jesus understands the pain of loss, and he doesn’t dismiss your grief. But Jesus also doesn’t leave you there. As Jesus is moved with deep compassion, he calls for the stone to be removed from the cave's entrance. Then Jesus calls Lazarus out of the tomb and back to life!
This wonderful story shows that Jesus meets you in your grief, but he doesn’t want you to remain stuck in it. Jesus cries along with you, but he also speaks life into your darkness. If grief is leading you to withdraw from living your life fully, to close yourself off from other people, or to lose hope for the future, you need to come out of your cave. Jesus stands outside your cave, calling you forward.
Jesus isn’t asking you to ignore your pain and pretend that everything is fine in your life. But he is asking you to trust that God still has more for you beyond your suffering. Jesus calls Lazarus to step out of the tomb, but notice that Lazarus doesn’t walk out fully restored on his own. He’s still wrapped in grave clothes that he needs help taking off. Sometimes, even after you step forward, you need help removing something that binds you, like sadness or anxiety that clings to you. When you feel stuck in your grief, you can turn to Jesus for the help you need to heal. Jesus will help you remove your grave clothes, so you won’t be bound by grief any longer.
So, if you’re grieving, you can rest assured that Jesus understands. Jesus cares about you and is moved by your pain, just as he was at Lazarus’ tomb. But Jesus also has the power to help you walk out of darkness and into the light of hope. He calls you to step forward and to trust him. Jesus is patient, and he stands outside your cave, waiting for you to take steps toward him. One of those steps can be simply saying a prayer, asking Jesus to help you heal. Then Jesus will lead you to take other steps in your healing journey, such as talking to a friend or counselor about your grief and opening your heart to hope again. Jesus won’t rush your healing, but he does call you forward. Will you trust Jesus to roll away the stone from your cave? Will you come out and start walking out of the darkness of despair and into the light of hope? Jesus is waiting to help you.
Intersecting Faith and Life
As you consider how to find hope when you’re grieving, reflect on these questions:
In what ways does grief feel like a cave in your life? How does knowing that Jesus cried with grief at Lazarus’s tomb bring you comfort? What are some “stones” – some heavy burdens – that might be keeping you stuck in grief? How can you give your burdens to Jesus and trust him to help you move forward in hope? What is one step you can take today to come out of your cave and embrace life again?Further Reading
Psalm 34:18
Isaiah 41:10
Matthew 11:28
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Revelation 21:4
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
-
Have you ever felt like one of those stubborn sheep—stuck, confused, and not quite sure which way to go? You’re not alone. In this episode, we’re diving into the comfort and power of Psalm 23 and what it truly means that Jesus is our Good Shepherd. Even when we resist or wander, His love pursues us, protects us, and reminds us: in Him, we lack nothing.
📌 What You’ll Learn (Key Takeaways):
Why Scripture often compares us to sheep—and what that reveals about our nature
How Jesus leads, protects, and provides as our Good Shepherd
What Psalm 23 teaches us about God’s presence in both peace and hardship
How to release control and rest in the safety of God’s guidance
Why we can confidently say we lack nothing when we belong to Christ
💬 Join the Conversation:
Can you relate to feeling like a wandering sheep? How has Jesus shown up as your Shepherd in difficult moments? Share your thoughts using #GoodShepherdGrace and tag @LifeaudioNetwork.🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer
🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews
Full Transcript Below:
Jesus Is Our Good Shepherd
By Vivian Bricker
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing” (Psalm 23:1).
I went on a mission internship during college for my Intercultural Studies minor, and while I was there, I learned much about the culture, people, and beliefs of the country I was now calling my temporary home. However, one thing that stuck out to me the most in the United Kingdom was the sheep. Anywhere we would go, there would be sheep. Beside the highway, at parks, and randomly roaming along the hills, I would spot sheep—and they were not very smart.
One of the couples from the church I was staying with took me to Dartmoor Park, where sheep were everywhere. After hiking for a few hours and learning about Dartmoor, I was fascinated with the entire area. It was beautiful, so green, and so calming. That was until it was time to go. When we were driving out of the park, a few sheep blocked the exit.
After blowing the horn a few times and motioning for the sheep to move, we were met with a “baa.” After a few more minutes of this, with the car horn alternating with “baa” from the sheep, I started thinking to myself, “How can they be so dumb? Why don’t they just move?” We could have run the sheep over, but they were stubborn and were not moving anywhere soon.
Whenever I reflect on this story, I think about how many times God refers to us as sheep (Psalm 95:7, 100:3). Are we really as bad as the sheep I saw in England? The answer is yes. We are stubborn and don’t want to change our ways, even if that means we might get run over. However, God doesn’t leave us in our stubbornness, unrepentance, and rebellion.
Instead, He picks us up, stands beside us, and meets us where we are. He won’t allow the car to come run us over. He is our Good Shepherd and will protect us from all harm. If a human shepherd cares so much about their sheep, how much more will Jesus care about us? His love is unconditional and never-changing, which means He will always be there for us, keep us strong, and keep us safe.
At times, we may feel that we are far from His protection and goodness, but He is always with us. Even when we feel alone, He is right beside us. Despite our stubborn and unwilling hearts, Jesus still loves us. This love is so great that He left Heaven to be born into the world, live a sinless life, and die for the world's sins (John 3:16-17). We never need to doubt Jesus’ love for us or His protection, goodness, or kindness.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Psalm 23 is the classical psalm that highlights Jesus as our Good Shepherd. Psalm 23:1 says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” While this psalm contains many other important teachings, we are focusing on how Jesus is our Shepherd, and this truth means we lack nothing. Having Jesus as our Shepherd means we have the greatest protection from our Savior and Lord.
Similar to how a shepherd fights back against wolves and other creatures to protect his sheep, Jesus will protect us from evil. Maybe this won’t be physical wolves or other predators, but He will protect us from every evil attack (2 Timothy 4:18). We can trust in the Lord and find solace in His goodness. Times can feel difficult right now, but Jesus is still in control and will forever be the true King.
All our anxiety, worry, and trouble must be given to Him. We lack nothing because we belong to Jesus. Whatever is bringing our hearts trouble today, we can give it all to Jesus, who will uphold us. Even when we feel we lack something physical or spiritual, we need to remember that in Christ, we lack nothing. He has blessed us with everything we need.
Do you currently relate to sheep? Have you been stubborn or unwilling to listen to God? The Lord is our Good Shepherd. How did this help you see the world in a different light? Because of Jesus, we lack nothing. What does this mean to you?
Further Reading:
Proverbs 3:5-6 Isaiah 41:10 Colossians 2:10Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
-
When the morning darkness weighs heavy and your soul feels distant from joy, Psalm 42 offers a sacred strategy: remember. In this episode, we dive into what it means to stir up your soul with truth when your heart feels downcast. From spiritual amnesia to determined hope, you'll discover how recalling God's past faithfulness can ignite light in your present darkness—and anchor you in unshakeable peace.
What You’ll Learn (Key Takeaways):
Why spiritual discouragement often greets us in the morning—and how to face it
How to follow the psalmist’s example of confronting feelings with truth
The power of remembering God's past faithfulness in dark moments
Practical ways to stir your soul toward praise and hope
Why praising God in advance shifts your mindset and renews your strength
💬 Join the Conversation:
Do you ever wake up feeling spiritually heavy or stuck in darkness? How do you remind yourself of God’s truth in those moments? Share your strategies using #StirUpYourSoul and tag @LifeaudioNetwork.🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer
🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews
Full Transcript Below:
Stir Up Your Soul
By Megan J. Conner
Each morning, I stumble out of bed in total darkness. I am an early riser so most mornings I am up well before sunrise. This routine is not a natural tendency, rather, it is a proactive choice to rouse my soul out of darkness and into the light. Even when I fall asleep the night before with peaceful assurance and confidence of faith, somehow, my heart greets the new day with apprehension and even dread. It’s almost as if the natural darkness shrouds my spirit and snuffs out my ability to recall the light.
Why is that? Why is darkness so much easier to accept than the promise of light? Why are our minds and hearts so easily consumed by negative projections of bleakness rather than a fixation on optimistic anticipation? When we read through today’s scripture in Psalm 42, we can see this is not a new experience for believers.
“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?”
Here, the author is clearly dealing with spiritual angst and questions why there is such a disconnect between the mind and the heart. Why must they be at conflict with one another? He knows the truth of God’s goodness, but his heart struggles to follow suit. Though at war with one another, the psalmist doesn’t crumble in defeat. He does not allow his feelings to dictate truth. Instead, he boldly places his confidence in what is unseen rather than what is seen.
“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God,” (Ps. 42:5, NIV).
Perhaps you find yourself greeting the day with this same apprehension. How can you press through the fog of angst and beckon your soul to look beyond the darkness? You make a choice - an intentional, determined choice to believe the truth over your emotions and circumstances. Like the psalmist, we can force ourselves to remember that which night has caused us to forget.
“These things I remember,
as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
a multitude keeping festival.” v. 4 (ESV)Though his soul is weary and downcast at this specific moment, the author recalls seasons when God’s nearness and goodness were evident and joy came easily. He also reminds himself of the Lord’s presence and work.
“My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.” v. 6 (ESV)With each recollection, the battle for peace, assurance, and hope is won.
“Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
If you find yourself greeting today in darkness, join me as we declare what we know to be true rather than what we see before us. Before we know it, that first glimmer of sunrise will break through the darkness. We will see light. We will feel light. Then, we will take that first deep breath and our souls will soar.
We will yet praise Him!
This is the day the Lord has made.
We WILL rejoice and be glad in it
(Ps. 118:24)
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Do you greet the day with joy or apprehension? Are there times when you feel as if you are surrounded by darkness and cannot see the light? If so, are you able to identify why your soul is downcast? Perhaps there are hurts or hardships that are weighing you down with doubt or confusion.
Like the psalmist in our passage today, look back through your life and recall moments where you clearly saw God’s goodness and provision at work. Write down each one in a journal or in your notes on your phone. Then, find a few key scriptures that remind you of God’s truths and promises to combat the doubts, fears, or worries you are facing. The Bible says:
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart,” (Heb. 4:12, NIV).
The truth of God’s Word, and the evidence of His work in your life are the keys to peace and freedom from the lies of darkness. Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12). Intentionally choose to step into His light today. Choose to praise Him.
Further Reading:
Ps. 42
John 8:12
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
-
Stillness can feel counterintuitive in a world that glorifies hustle, urgency, and doing more. But in this episode, we explore what it really means to be still before God—and why it’s not about inactivity but about intentional trust. When the world shakes, when life feels loud, Psalm 46:10 invites us to pause and remember who's really in control. Learn how stillness can become your superpower in chaos.
📌 What You’ll Learn (Key Takeaways):
Why “being still” isn’t passive but a powerful act of trust
What Psalm 46 reveals about God’s strength and presence
The difference between helping and trying to fix everything
Practical ways to create moments of stillness in daily life
How knowing God more deeply makes it easier to rest in Him
💬 Join the Conversation:
What does being still before God look like in your life right now? How have you seen Him show up in the quiet moments? Share your thoughts using #StillBeforeGod and tag @LifeaudioNetwork.🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer
🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews
Full Transcript Below:
The Importance of “Being Still” Before God
By Sarah Frazer
Bible Reading:
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10 (NKJV)
Devotional
Be still! Stop moving! The wiggling toddler had a hard time keeping her body from sliding out of the pew into the floor. The pastor’s voice echoed from the pulpit, but it was hard to concentrate because of the ball of energy next to me. Five kids and several years later, I think back on those times when I had my children in church before they could sit still.
It took time, patience, consistency, and maybe a few hundred packs of fruit snacks, but eventually they learned to be still in church. Now, I look down the pew and see all of my sweet children all but grown, sitting quietly, a few even taking notes.
In front of me is a mom of a toddler and as she whispers into his ear and offers a sucker and some coloring pages, I’m reminded that being still is hard for a toddler. But then, it is hard for us as adults to sometimes be still as well.
In Psalm 46 we read some startling and unnerving circumstances surrounding the author. Phrases like “waters roar…mountains shake…nations rage…” certainly relate to the times we are in today. I don’t know about you, but when things are chaotic, I don’t want to just stand there - I want to do something.
Every time my children would fight, I would jump in to intervene. If I saw a need at church, I was the first to put my name on the list to help. If someone was in a crisis, I would lay awake trying to think of ways to serve them.
Psalm 46 reminds me that it isn’t my job to fix everything, but also, it is important that I don’t forget who is ultimately in charge. There are times we should step in and help, or rush to fix a crisis. God has called us to be the “hands and feet” of Jesus, love one another, and bear each other’s burdens.
Being still before God is more than just not acting, it is recognizing and resting in who God is. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know…” Knowing is remembering and learning. What do you know about God? What do you remember God doing in the past? In the first part of the psalm we see the author remembering and calling out truth about God. God is our refuge, strength, and help. God has never stopped being on the throne, even if our world feels out of control and unsettling.
Practically speaking, what does this look like to “be still” before God? I think it means we spend time in prayer and reading His Word. Learning and studying about God helps us to know and trust Him. The more we know about God the easier it is to trust Him. The more we pray and read God’s Word the more our hearts learn how to be still before God.
The psalmist has one phrase in this chapter that highlights a beautiful truth about God. He repeats this phrase, so we know it is a key to the theme of the chapter. The phrase is found in verse seven and verse ten. “The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah”
The last word, “Selah” means to pause and reflect, again a reminder that this verse is so important! How is the author of Psalm 46 able to “be still” before God? He recognizes that God is both personal and powerful.
Look at the words in Psalm 46:7 and 10. God is described as a “Lord of Hosts” and “the God of Jacob.” The first description of God reveals a powerful God who is able to control and dispatch an army of angels. The second is a personal God of a man who really lived - Jacob!
God is both a refuge and He is with us. The first action shows God’s strength while the other a declaration of God’s intimacy with us. As we ponder how God is in control and very personal at the same time our hearts can know true rest.
As we meditate on God’s word in both prayer and reading His word, we will find so much comfort and peace. This is how we rest our hearts and minds on God. This is the importance of being still before God. When we stop striving, working, and worrying, we are able to have peace. We can go to bed* knowing God has the ultimately power to keep us safe and He deeply loves and cares for us.
*(I was wondering if we could link to my podcast here: sarahefrazer.com/podcast)
Intersecting Faith & Life:
What keeps you awake at night? What do you have that lays heavy on your heart? How can you go to God in prayer and read His word in order to have peace today
Further Reading:
Psalm 46
Romans 8
Hebrews 12:1-2
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
-
Ever miss something right in front of you—like your keys… or God's hand at work? In today’s devotional, Whitney Hopler challenges us to slow down, tune in, and truly notice the presence of God in our daily lives. Whether it’s a squirrel in the woods or a verse that lands differently, God is constantly speaking—we just need to pay attention. If you’re feeling spiritually distracted or disconnected, this is your reminder to re-engage your senses and your soul.
📌 What You’ll Learn (Key Takeaways):
Why spiritual awareness takes more than just physical sight or sound
How daily distractions might be blocking your view of God's work
Simple habits to help you notice God’s presence (hello, “wonder walks”!)
The importance of being fully present in a fast-paced world
Practical steps to tune into the wonder God is already showing you
💬 Join the Conversation:
Can you remember a time when God was at work in your life and you didn’t realize it until later? What helped you finally see it? What is something simple you saw or heard today that reminded you of God’s presence? Share with us @LifeaudioNetwork🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer
🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews
Full Transcript Below:
Are You Paying Attention?
By: Whitney Hopler
“Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear?...” – Mark 8:18, NIV
In Mammoth Cave National Park, I was looking forward to seeing some wildlife. So, while hiking with a park ranger and a group, I stayed alert to what was happening in the woods around me. After about an hour on the trail, I finally noticed an animal nearby: a squirrel. It was the same type of squirrel I often saw in my own backyard at home. When a squirrel appeared in my backyard, I usually barely noticed it. But when I spotted that squirrel in the park, I was thrilled! Reflecting on my wildlife encounter, I wondered why I’d been so excited by something so familiar to me. It was simply that I had decided to pay close attention to what I was experiencing.
Have you ever looked at something and still missed it? Maybe you walked into a room to pick up your keys and couldn’t find them, even though they were right in front of you in a pile of stuff on a table. Or maybe someone was talking to you, but your mind was somewhere else. So, you heard them, but you weren’t really listening and couldn’t repeat what they told you.
In Mark 8:18, Jesus asks his disciples: “Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear?” Jesus wasn’t just talking about physical sight and sound; he was talking about spiritual awareness. The disciples had just witnessed Jesus perform miracles, such as feeding thousands of people with just a few fish and loaves of bread. Yet still, they were missing something important that Jesus was trying to teach them. They were watching, but not seeing. They were hearing, but not understanding.
We can be like that too.
We live in a world that’s full of glimpses of God’s wonderful work around us. God shows us evidence of his wonder every day, through answered prayers, acts of kindness that show his love in action, nature that reflects his creativity, and much more. But how often do we rush through the day without noticing? If we rush from one task to another without really paying attention, we can miss out on God’s wonder, even though it’s all around us.
Just as Jesus points out in Mark 8:18, we have eyes that are meant for seeing and ears that are meant for hearing. We can only do so well when we’re paying attention. That involves being fully present. When we’re paying full attention, we start to notice all sorts of wonder we could otherwise overlook, such as a child’s laughter, a moving piece of music, or a Bible verse that suddenly speaks directly to our situation.
Jesus wants you to discover and fully enjoy the wonder he is constantly bringing into your life. Here are some practical ways you can pay better attention and not miss out on what God is doing:
Start your day with silent prayer. Before checking your phone or jumping into your to-do list, sit quietly for a few minutes and communicate with God. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see and hear him clearly throughout your day. Take “wonder walks.” Go outside without any devices, and take a walk where you intentionally search for something around you that inspires you with awe. If you’re really paying attention, you’re sure to find something that shows you God’s wonder. Take wonder breaks during each day to ask God to show you something new. This simple question helps keep your heart and mind open. Pursue lifelong learning as much as you can. As you learn something new, reflect on what it teaches you about God’s love and wisdom.Our world is full of wonder waiting to be discovered. You won’t miss it if you see with fresh eyes and listen with careful attention.
So, right now, are you paying attention?
Intersecting Faith and Life
As you consider how important it is to pay attention to the wonder of God’s work in your life, reflect on these questions:
Can you remember a time when God was at work in your life and you didn’t realize it until later? What helped you finally see it? What are some distractions that often keep you from noticing God’s presence? How can you practice being more present in your daily routine? What is something simple you saw or heard today that reminded you of God’s presence? How can you create space in your day to listen more closely to what God might be saying?Further Reading
Matthew 13:16
Proverbs 20:12
Romans 1:20
Psalm 65:8
Psalm 46:10
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
-
In a world that idolizes youth, success, and status, this episode reminds us that God sees far beyond appearances—He looks at the heart. Whether you're feeling overlooked due to age, forgotten in your circumstances, or unseen in your efforts, take comfort in this truth: God values what the world often ignores. Discover how to align your view of others—and yourself—with God’s heart-first perspective.
What You’ll Learn (Key Takeaways):
Why age, appearance, and accomplishments don’t influence God’s love
Biblical examples of how God used people powerfully at every stage of life
What Scripture says about favoritism and how to avoid it
How to cultivate a heart that God sees as fully committed to Him
The freedom that comes from living for God’s approval, not the world’s applause
💬 Join the Conversation:
Have you ever felt defined by your appearance, age, or status? How has God reminded you that He sees your heart? Share your experience using #HeartOverHype and tag @LifeaudioNetwork.🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer
🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews
Full Transcript Below:
It’s A Heart Matter
By Lynette Kittle
“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart”--1 Samuel 16:7
Sometimes we might believe God’s love is like worldly love, where He loves the young and strong more than the older and weaker. But God doesn’t love like the world loves, or love us more in the prime of life, than when we advance in age.
He doesn’t practice ageism, but loves us as we grow, and even seems to celebrate and enjoy us as we age, like Proverbs 16:31 describes, “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.”
As well, Proverbs 20:29, explains how, “The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.”
Unlike some in society discard individuals as they age, God promises in Isaiah 64:4, “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”
In looking at individuals in the Bible, we see it is true, as God moved miraculously through those well past their 30s,40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, and even older, men and women like Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Zechariah and Elizabeth, Simeon, and Anna to name a few.
God Looks Deeper
Just as age doesn’t determine God’s love for us, neither do our accomplishments, status in life, weight, height, or ethnicity.
He doesn’t look at individuals like the masses do, favoring those who excel in sports, entertainment, music, beauty, intellect, fitness, and more, or looking down on those who seemingly have nothing to offer, but rather, God looks past our accomplishments and public accolades, or lack of them, and our family history, to see our hearts.
Luke writes in Acts 10:34-35 “Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.’”
Likewise, the Apostle Paul explains in Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Again, in Romans 10:12, Paul says, “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him.”
God Isn’t Partial
Scripture makes it clear that God doesn’t favor young over old, nor does He show partiality to the rich and famous over the homeless person on the side of the road, because God looks at each person’s heart.
Unlike humans, Romans 2:11 clearly spells it out, “For God does not show favoritism.”
He isn’t tempted, like we are, to give in to favoritism. “To show partiality is not good— yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread” (Proverbs 28:21).
James 2:9 takes it even further, letting us know it’s not okay to practice. “But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.”
God Looks At Our Hearts
God, too, isn’t just casually checking heart conditions; He searches, as 2 Chronicles 16:9 explains, “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.”
He looks at our hearts, because that’s what matters to Him most. When Jesus was asked what is the greatest of the commandments, “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’” (Matthew 22:37).
When we do, He assures us in Psalm 91:14, “’Because he loves me,’ says the Lord ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name.’”
Intersecting Faith & Life: How do you look at people? Do you outwardly, considering their ages, accomplishments, and family history, or do you look deeper at their hearts? If you struggle with seeing others from a worldly viewpoint, ask God to help you look at them the way He does.
Further Reading: “10 Sins that Clutter the Heart and How to Remove Them”
https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/10-sins-that-clutter-the-heart-and-how-to-remove-them.html
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
- Daha fazla göster
