The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

Experiencing the hope of Easter doesn’t have to be limited to one Sunday a year. Psalm 112:4 reminds us that light breaks through darkness for those who walk with God—and that truth can shape how we begin every single day. Just as the sunrise brings warmth, clarity, and renewed energy, a Christ-centered morning can ground our hearts in peace and purpose. This devotional reframes the idea of a “sunrise service” as a daily rhythm rather than a yearly event. Even in busy, chaotic, or exhausting seasons of life, we are invited to intentionally create space for God each morning. When we choose to start our day focused on Him, we position our hearts to experience His presence, reflect His character, and carry His hope into everything we do. Highlights Easter hope isn’t seasonal—it’s available to anchor us every day Light and warmth from the sunrise reflect the spiritual renewal found in Christ Our mornings set the tone for our mindset, peace, and spiritual focus Even a few intentional minutes with God can shift the entire direction of your day Choosing God over chaos requires discipline but leads to greater stability and peace Creating structured morning rhythms can reduce stress and open space for spiritual growth Gratitude and reflection in the morning help cultivate a Christ-centered perspective Living in daily resurrection hope allows us to reflect God’s light to others This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org Full Transcript Below: How to Have a Sunrise Service Every Sunday Morning By: Peyton Garland Bible Reading:“Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.” - Psalm 112:4 (NLT) My mood is greatly impacted by the weather, much to my chagrin. In Eastern Tennessee, with the Appalachians spanning my backyard, we see bouts of heavy rain in the winter. Of course, for all our farmers, this is quite the blessing, and it certainly benefits our neighbors’ cattle. But for me, it’s just week after week of mental gloominess (and feeling stuck inside with a toddler who would nap much better if he could run and play and soak up Vitamin D). Easter arrives when the weather is often playing tug-of-war between winter and spring, unsure which will take precedence for the holiday. Thus, it’s hard to know if your Easter dress should actually be a dress, or if a pair of pants will make life much warmer and more comfortable. Regardless of Easter’s final forecast, it’s only normal for us to crave the light and warmth of the sun. Nature makes this clear: the sun not only affects the neurotransmitters that regulate our mood but also our heart rate. Light and warmth stabilize us from the inside out, and is this not the perfect physiological representation of an Easter sunrise service? It’s mankind’s eager anticipation for the first rays of light that whisper, “You’ll see a bit clearer in just a moment. Better things are coming. Hope is here.” Easter, regardless of the day’s weather report, is our blessed hope, the spiritual truth that we can celebrate year-round to keep us tethered to our faith. It’s available for all the highs and lows, all the storms, and the uncontrollable chaos that undoubtedly rears an ugly head in this fallen world. And if we are intentional, spiritually desperate enough, we can experience this sunrise service filled with hope and joy each day of our lives. I’m certainly no expert in accessing this beautiful, glorious gift each morning, especially eight months pregnant with a toddler who doesn’t sleep through the night. I often wake up starving, grumbly, and in desperate need of a chiropractor. But even when the mornings start hectic or heavy, we have a choice: We can use our desperation for God’s goodness to force five minutes of quiet for Him to settle our hearts and homes, or we can surrender to the never-ending demands of a loud, noisy world that cares little about how stable our souls are once we’ve clocked out for the day and gone home. God gives good gifts to His children, most notably salvation through His Son’s death and resurrection, but the choice to access those gifts rests with us. If we want hope, no matter how gloomy, mundane, or hard life is, we must pursue it, choose it, share it with others, and praise God that His mercies are as faithful as the morning sunrise. Intersecting Faith & Life: Consider your morning routine. Is it consistently chaos as everyone grabs a breakfast bar to go and forgets a gym bag, homework, or a shoe or two? If your days always start in a state of stress, create a schedule specifically for your morning routine. Perhaps you need to wake up thirty minutes earlier, or the kids need to pack lunches and set out clothes the night before. Sit down with your entire family to discuss ways to make the mornings smoother so everyone can begin each day with a healthier head and heart space. Carve out space so your morning has dedicated time to practice gratitude to God for a new day of mercy and grace. As a believer and as an adult in your house, it is your spiritual responsibility to set a positive, hope-filled, Christ-focused tone for the family. As Scripture says, the hope and light we long for are byproducts of godliness, of our willingness to get uncomfortable and change our schedules, and even our perceptions, so we are in a position to practice generosity, compassion, and righteousness. (Let’s be honest, when we begin our days in chaos, without the peace and hope of Christ’s resurrection, our souls aren’t positioned to practice, let alone consider, these godly principles.) Consider this as more than a mandate. Let this be an honor as you overhaul your morning routine to have an Easter sunrise service in your home, for your family, each day. Further Reading: 25 Easter Scriptures to Celebrate the Resurrection: He IS Risen! 5 Habits to Help Start Your Day with Jesus Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Suffering is one of the hardest realities of the Christian life, yet James 1:12 reveals a powerful truth: there is blessing on the other side of perseverance. Trials are not meaningless interruptions—they are often the very tools God uses to shape our faith, deepen our dependence on Him, and draw us closer to His heart. This devotional reframes suffering through a biblical lens, reminding us that while pain is real, it is never wasted. Even when life feels overwhelming or unfair, God remains sovereign and present. Instead of placing our hope in temporary outcomes, we are called to anchor ourselves in eternity—trusting that God is working through every trial for His glory and our ultimate good. Highlights Suffering is a reality for all people, including faithful believers God remains sovereign over every trial—we are never outside His awareness or plan Trials are often used to shape us into the image of Christ Perseverance in suffering leads to spiritual growth and eternal reward Faith becomes our anchor in seasons of uncertainty and pain Fixing our eyes on eternity helps us endure present hardships God walks with us through both valleys and mountaintop seasons Our suffering can equip us to comfort and support others Resources Mentioned James 1:12 John 16:33 Romans 8:18 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Biblical humility and servant leadership are beautifully displayed in Philippians 2:5-8, where Jesus models a radically different view of greatness—one rooted in love, sacrifice, and selflessness. Rather than clinging to His divine status, Jesus chose to humble Himself, taking on the role of a servant and ultimately giving His life on the cross. This passage challenges the way we view power, status, and what it truly means to love others. Through a personal story and powerful reflection, this devotional reminds us that the lowest places—often the ones we avoid—can become the greatest opportunities to demonstrate Christlike love. When we shift our mindset from self-importance to selfless service, we begin to reflect the heart of Jesus in our everyday relationships. True love isn’t about convenience—it’s about willingness to serve, even when it costs us something. Highlights Jesus redefined greatness by choosing humility and servanthood over status and power True love is often expressed through simple, lowly acts of service Pride can keep us from opportunities to love others well Humility means thinking of others more, not thinking less of ourselves Serving others becomes natural when we are motivated by genuine love Letting go of comfort and control draws us closer to God’s heart The “mindset of Christ” transforms how we approach relationships and daily interactions This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org Full Transcript Below: When Love Took the Lowest PlaceBy: Whitney Hopler Bible Reading:“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!” – Philippians 2:5-8, NIV When I was in college, I took a job at a fast food restaurant to supplement the income from my journalism internship because I wanted extra money for a trip. I quit after only 3 weeks – as soon as I earned the amount I needed for the trip – because I felt like the job was beneath me. But reflecting on it now, I can see how that humbling experience was valuable. As you can imagine, cleaning a public restroom in a fast-food restaurant was never pleasant. But years later, when God led me to clean a restroom for a family member battling cancer, I was grateful I learned that sometimes the lowest tasks are connected to the highest ways of showing love. Sometimes we think that if we have power or status, we should use it to make our lives easier. We may refuse to do lowly jobs at work or at home because we have a higher job position than others on our team, or a higher status in our family than others. But Philippians 2:5-8 shows us a picture of Jesus that turns our ideas of greatness upside down. Jesus had the highest power and status possible – he was equal with God. Yet, Jesus didn’t use that power and status for himself. Instead, he “made himself nothing.” In some translations, it says he “emptied himself.” Jesus poured out his rights and his comfort so that he could fill our greatest need. When Jesus came from heaven to earth, he went from being in a perfect environment where he had everything he could ever want to dealing with human needs in a fallen world, where he would experience the full range of suffering we go through here. Jesus made that choice because of his love for his creation – including us. Love motivated Jesus to come to earth to pay for humanity’s sins himself, so we could connect with a holy God and be saved. When Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, he was the highest person in the room, yet he chose the lowest task. Why did Jesus, the King of Kings, become a servant? It was because he saw us. Jesus saw that we were broken, lost, and separated from God by our sin. He knew that the only way to reach us was to come down to where we were. True humility involves thinking of ourselves less and thinking of others more. Serving others is something we’ll naturally want to do if we’re motivated by love. When we love people, we don’t mind doing lowly jobs to help them. Parents don’t mind changing diapers because they love their babies. Friends don’t mind driving across town late at night to help a friend in need because they love their friends. Philippians 2:5-8 starts out by saying: “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” That’s a challenge for us every single day. But the more we ask Jesus to help us focus on what matters most from his perspective, the more we can apply that wisdom to our relationships with each other. When we choose the lowest place, we end up in the highest place we can be, which is close to God’s heart. God’s core nature is love. Jesus shows us what God’s love looks like in action, and we can see from Jesus’ life on earth that God often expresses his love through humble service to others. By doing simple tasks with great love, Jesus shows us that taking the lowest place is an important way to move higher in our relationships with God. Intersecting Faith & Life: As you consider how taking the lowest place in love can help you move higher with God, reflect on these questions: When you feel above a certain task or person, what does that reveal about your heart? Jesus let go of his heavenly rights and comforts to serve us on earth. What’s one right or comfort you find difficult to let go of? How does knowing that Jesus chose the cross out of love change the way you view your own struggles? Who is one person in your life who you can relate to this week by practicing having the “mindset of Christ”? Why is love a more powerful motivator for service than just feeling a moral obligation to do what’s right? Further Reading:Matthew 20:28John 13:14-15Galatians 5:131 Peter 5:5Mark 9:35 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This devotional highlights the importance of intentional, Christ-centered community—not perfect people, but faithful ones who pursue Jesus together. Even when relationships feel messy or uncomfortable, God uses them to strengthen our faith, bring healing, and encourage us in ways we can’t experience on our own. If you’re in a season without a church community, this is an invitation to reflect, rebuild, and take one step toward the relationships God has prepared for you. Highlights Church community can be difficult to build, especially after past hurt, busy seasons, or constant life changes Genuine Christian relationships require vulnerability, trust, and letting go of self-protection Healing from church wounds is possible—and often leads to deeper, more meaningful community later You don’t need perfect people—you need people who genuinely pursue Jesus, even imperfectly Strong community isn’t found by accident; it’s built through intentional investment and consistency Even Jesus modeled the importance of close, faith-centered relationships during His ministry Community won’t replace God, but it strengthens and supports your faith in every season Identifying what’s holding you back is the first step toward building the relationships God has for you This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org Full Transcript Below: When You Don't Have a Church Community This EasterBy: Peyton Garland Bible Reading:“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT) In our first five years of marriage, my husband and I moved six times. Jobs and dreams pulled us all over the place, back and forth across the country. But while this wild newlywed season was beautiful, it left little time for us to invest in a church community. Many believers are left without a church community this Easter, whether caused by time and location constraints, old church wounds, or a tried but failed attempt to find “their” people. Relationships can be complicated, awkward, and intimidating to navigate, especially for Christian adults who are encouraged to develop vulnerability and share their faults and fears with others. Church community—the healthy kind—requires an unguarded trust in others, a release of self-preservation and appearances, but it’s in this uncomfortable place that our pride dies and our souls find the encouragement to continue in the faith when the days are dark and lonely. Granted, I understand the skepticism of opening up to others in the church, especially as someone who once had a bitter taste in her mouth for any assembly that remotely resembled the unhealthy church I grew up in. However, on the other side of my church hurt, after lots of therapy and answered prayers as my husband and I settled into a church community to raise our sons, I can say, wholeheartedly, that you need a church community. You don’t need “your” people. You need Jesus people who messily, openly, sacrificially love Him. In finding those believers—and in becoming one of them—you find a community you can lean on in all seasons, even when the spiritual high of holidays like Easter and Christmas fades. My church has a saying, “You don’t stumble upon great Christian community; you create it.” So no matter how many fair-weather churchgoers come and go in this religious Easter season, no matter your past hurt or the present inconveniences that make community easy to avoid, I challenge you to invest your heart and faith in others. Jesus’ earthly ministry was short, only three years, but even He recognized the need for godly friendships and fellowship with others, calling twelve men to quite literally travel and live with Him. If Jesus recognized the need for a Christian community, who are we to disregard His example in this resurrection season centered on life, love, and sacrifice for others? Intersecting Faith & Life: When my husband and I met, we were both Christians, but both of us had been deeply, deeply wounded by the church. Legalism kept me tethered to weekly attendance, all out of fear, but my husband’s personal hurt had driven him completely away from church. When we met, and I mandated his church attendance if he wanted to continue dating me, he admitted it was the first time he had set foot in a church in roughly five years. Today, we are life group leaders for seven young families in our church. It’s funny, and often ironic, how God not only heals us, but calls us to the places we thought we could never navigate again. God defies the impossible, even in our finite bodies, if we are willing and able to get uncomfortable and be molded for His purposes. Meanwhile, though my husband and I have come a long way in establishing a church community for ourselves and our sons, we understand how hard it is to sustain these relationships. Jesus people are still people, and their flaws and your flaws combined won’t make for perfect friendships. Church community won’t save you. It won’t even sustain you, at least not on its own. But when you dig your heels in deep and choose to love others because God dug His heels in deep to save and sustain you, despite all your wrongdoings, you find that His resurrection hope lasts far longer than the Easter season. You realize that His ability, through you, to be long-suffering towards sinners is what makes life worth living. If you aren’t part of a church community, find some quiet time to take personal stock in why. Has your life season been overwhelmingly busy? Has the church hurt you? Did you try one or two different small groups or Bible studies that simply felt impersonal or off? Recognize your why, but allow this newfound understanding to challenge you to step up, get uncomfortable, and relentlessly pursue the godly relationships God has in store for you. I promise, you won’t regret it. Further Reading: How to Get Back into ChurchRomans 12:4-5Proverbs 27:17 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Struggling with anxiety, overthinking, or “what if” spirals? This special bonus episode from Faith Over Fear explores how to find peace through Scripture when your thoughts feel overwhelming and hard to control. In this honest and deeply personal conversation, Jennifer Slattery and Carol McCracken unpack what’s really happening when anxiety takes over—and how God meets us in those moments. Through stories of health uncertainty, sleepless nights, and persistent fear, they reveal how biblical truth can interrupt anxious thought patterns and help us anchor our minds in God’s character. Rather than trying to suppress anxiety, this episode offers a better path: renewing your mind through Scripture and learning to recognize the difference between fear-driven thoughts and God’s truth. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why anxious thoughts often feel true—even when they’re not How “what if” thinking fuels anxiety and fear What it means to take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5) Why suppressing anxiety can actually make it worse How to practice a simple “truth pause” when fear rises Practical ways to retrain your mind using Scripture To find more content from Faith Over Fear: Follow on your favorite podcasting app: Spotify: Apple For more Faith-centered podcasts: Lifeaudio.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Peyton Garland highlights how culture’s attraction to Easter reflects a deeper longing for hope, renewal, and life. While seasonal symbols like flowers and celebrations point to new beginnings, they ultimately fall short without the true source—Jesus. This devotion challenges believers to live out their faith authentically year-round, not just during holidays, so others can clearly see the hope of the gospel through their lives. Highlights Faith Is Not Seasonal: Following Christ isn’t limited to holidays like Easter—it’s a daily calling. Culture Reflects a Deeper Longing: Easter traditions point to a universal desire for renewal and hope. Authenticity Matters: People can recognize genuine faith lived out in everyday life. Evangelism Is for Everyone: Sharing the gospel happens through how we live, not just what we say. Hope Has a Source: True and lasting hope is found in Christ, not in temporary cultural symbols. Intersecting Faith & Life The world is searching for something real, and Easter often amplifies that search. When believers consistently live with joy, peace, and authenticity, others notice. Instead of waiting for the “right season,” we are called to embody the hope of Christ daily—allowing our lives to reflect the truth we believe. This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org Full Transcript Below: Why It's Important to Recognize Culture's Draw to EasterBy: Peyton Garland Bible Reading: “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” - Luke 6:45 (ESV) Believers were never called to be ostriches. We don’t get to stick our heads in the sand and wash our hands of the world’s problems. It’s hard to love nonbelievers if we are never around them. It’s hard to reach a world we’ve pushed away in the name of fear or a false sense of religious superiority. We were also never called to be seasonal participants, waiting to share our faith when Easter or Christmas rolls around. Truth be told, friends, if no one knows anything of our faith outside the holiday obligations we push, what does that say of our hearts? Scripture is clear that who we are, who we choose to be, will be evident by the life we live. We can preserve our comfort, keep our favorite sins close, and play the church game all day long, but the world is desperate for hope, and in this desperation, they will see straight through you. This desperation for fulfillment is culture’s draw to Easter, even the secular aspects. The fresh flowers, baby chicks, and Easter eggs are marketable depictions of newness, life, and hope. They are images that beg people to wake up, look around, and rest in light. But without the Light of the world, holiday simplicities can’t sustain us. Easter egg dye wears off, chocolate bunnies are consumed, and life moves on. Deep down, the world knows this. It groans because of it, creating a ravenous need for authenticity. Don’t starve the world of the God who fills your soul with good things daily. You know the secret to eternal hope, to the Light that isn’t dimmed by circumstances or seasons, to the hope that makes death a gateway to eternal fresh air for our healed bones. Evangelism isn’t reserved for religious seasons or church staff. It’s not limited to international missionaries or non-profit directors. It’s a mandate, an honor, bestowed on each of us as we love people in word and deed with the Love who saved our souls. Interesting Faith & Life: My husband and I celebrated our two-year wedding anniversary on a cruise, where we were paired with another young couple for dinner each evening. A few nights in, the husband looked at us and said, “I’m assuming you’re church people, right?” He didn’t mean it disrespectfully, not in the slightest. He was genuinely curious and wanted to confirm his thoughts. My husband and I laughed and nodded our heads, knowing this was, in a simple form, a compliment to how we carried ourselves. We weren’t drilling them with theology or even trying any subtle evangelism. We were just living with the hearts God had curated in us. This isn’t to brag on us. Trust me, apart from God’s grace, the two of us are a dynamic disaster, but we live what we believe as best we can. Our personalities simply can’t handle inauthenticity; most of that comes from all the deceit both of us experienced from our unhealthy church upbringings. But by believing in God as our source of goodness, freedom, and rest, we can live life with a sense of peace and joy. And apparently, nonbelievers see it. And they sense its importance. After all, it’s created beings feeling that natural pull to their Creator, that soulful invitation from the Holy Spirit alone to come home to light and love. Prayerfully consider the life you live, in and out of Christian holidays, and take personal inventory of whether others truly believe that you live what you claim, that Christ’s resurrection has given you joy to live life filled with boldness and peace, come what may. Further Reading: 5 Thoughts on Being a Witness for Christ 2 Timothy 1:8 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Life and technology often make us feel like objects or devices rather than God’s created image-bearers. This devotional reminds us that we were made for connection, rest, worship, and creativity. By stepping away from screens and slowing down, we can rediscover our human purpose—to glorify God and enjoy His creation—living fully as His image-bearers. Highlights Created in God’s Image: We are designed for relationship, worship, and reflection—not as devices. Technology vs. Humanity: Modern dependence on electronics can distract us from God and others. The Beauty of Waiting: God’s timing is perfect; waiting cultivates richness and depth in our lives. Disconnect to Reconnect: Time offline allows us to experience God’s creation, hear His voice, and enjoy meaningful relationships. Living for Worship: Our purpose is to glorify God and delight in Him, giving Him attention that exceeds our screen time. This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org Full Transcript Below: In God’s Image By Cindi McMenamin Bible Reading: “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27). Have you noticed the trend? We often refer to ourselves—and our daily activities—in electronic terms as if we were devices. In our culture, as well as across the world, many people use Google as a verb and often feel more comfortable with their electronic devices than with one another. I can’t help but think it makes us feel more alone than ever—like objects rather than people, and digital code rather than designed creation. Think about it. How often have you been encouraged to plug into a church and to unplug from your busyness? After a conference or webinar, do you find yourself saying you need to defrag from information overload? And when you’re high on adrenaline, you might consider yourself wired; when you’re burnt out, you might say you’ve run down the battery. When you and I need to rest, we say we must recharge. And our interpersonal relationships are often mostly internet relationships. FaceTime used to mean what it sounds like, and it didn’t involve a phone, tablet, or laptop screen. Social used to mean talking or being with one another, not scrolling on a device. You and I were made in the image of God, not in the likeness of a smartphone. Our sustainer is God Almighty, not Apple, Microsoft, Google, or even Amazon! So how do we reclaim (or just remind ourselves of) our human status as God’s creation? How do we remember we were made in His image and for His glory? We can start by reassessing where our dependence lies. The next time you are drained of power and need to recharge your body (or your phone), let your device run dry and keep it off for an hour or two. If you fall behind on what happened on social media or you miss a call, someone can leave a message, like back in the days when instant communication didn’t dictate our lives. (With your phone off, or in the other room, you’ll be surprised how much more time and space there is in your day for creativity, meaningful conversations, and thoughtful execution of what you deem your top priority). God never told us in His Word to hurry up, produce more, or run down the battery. His words resonate at a different pace: “Be still and know that I am God,” (Psalm 46:10 ESV); and “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Yet our next-day or even “same-day delivery with Prime” has made us even more incapable of waiting on God who is not bound by time or delivery schedules. The words of the psalmists were not “Hurry up, God, I need an answer within the hour” but rather, “I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning” (Psalm 130:6 NIV). Good things, rich things, priceless things come to those who wait on God and His perfect timing. Intersecting Faith & Life Do you need to revisit some of the things humans, rather than devices, do so you can become a vintage believer who experiences the beauty of waiting on God? One of my favorite humanizing activities is my daily walk around a small lake near my home. I can’t help but recognize and adore God when I’m outside among the beauty of His creation—away from technology, mobile devices, and anything with a screen or signal. It is then that I can tune into His signals—a gentle breeze, the way He parts the clouds and sends the sun’s rays to shine through, the song of a bird, the rustle of leaves, and the reminder that “The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1 ESV). As you slow down and get outside and off your phone, you may rediscover the beauty of your Creator (not your Programmer) who calls you His masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10 NLT). According to the Westminster Catechism, man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. That means we were created—or dare I say wired—for worship. Being out in the beauty of His creation and worshipping Him reminds me of the Luke 19 account when Jesus triumphantly rode into Jerusalem on a young colt, and the Pharisees demanded He rebuke His followers for waving their palm branches and crying out praise to Him, their king. Jesus told the Pharisees that if the people remained silent, “the very stones would cry out.” Our Lord must be praised. And we are the ones created in His image to do it. Don’t leave your God-given calling and purpose to the rocks! Get off your device, notice God and the people all around you, and give Him, not your phone, the attention He deserves. Lord, may zeal for Your Word, not the contents of my phone, consume me. Help my worship time to exceed my screen time, so I am reminded of the One for whom I was created. Further Reading: Psalm 139 For daily perspective on Whose you are and reasons to praise, 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.

God cares for those who feel rejected or excluded. Just as God gathered the exiled Israelites and restored their homes, He sees our wounds, our loneliness, and our social struggles. Even when we feel abandoned, God works to bring us belonging, comfort, and healing. In Christ, we are adopted into His eternal family, fully accepted and loved. Highlights God Sees Our Pain: He notices every wound, rejection, and injustice we face. God Acts in His Timing: Healing, comfort, and restoration may come through people, circumstances, or His Spirit. He Restores and Rebuilds: Like the Israelites returning from Babylon, God can restore what feels lost or broken. Belonging in Christ: Through faith, we are adopted into God’s family, giving us eternal security and acceptance. Hope Amid Rejection: Even in a world of brokenness, God leads us to people and places where we can experience care, support, and community. This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org Full Transcript Below: God’s Heart for the OutcastsBy: Jennifer Slattery Bible Reading:The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the outcasts of Israel. - Psalm 147:2 I suspect most anyone who survived elementary and middle school resonate with today’s verse. We’ve probably all found ourselves on the outside of some social circle wishing for a way in. When I was in fifth grade, I somehow finagled a tentative connection with the in crowd but soon got pushed out. This was also the year my inability to care for my naturally curly hair earned me the nickname “fro” and I became the brunt of jokes made by some of my male classmates. Feeling humiliated and alone, I began spending my recesses inside. Have you been there? Such experiences prick at our needs for acceptance and belonging. This is why these types of wounds can cut so deeply. It hurts even more to fear we’ve been rejected by God Himself. This was likely how the ancient Israelites living during the Babylonian captivity felt. After centuries of rebellion, the Lord’s persistent pleas that they return to Him, His warnings finally became reality. God honored His people’s desire for autonomy, lifted His protective hand, and allowed their enemies to invade their land. Although He assured them that His love remained—unconditionally and eternally (Jer. 31:3; Isa. 43:1-4), they felt abandoned and forsaken. Rejected by the One their souls needed most and forced to live as foreigners in a pagan land. But God hadn’t forgotten them. Through it all, He remained their faithful and attentive defender and provider. He even blessed them in their new land and encouraged them to enjoy their new lives in Babylon. Then, when it came time for their prophesied year of release, He fulfilled His promise recorded in Deuteronomy 30:3-4, which reads: “Then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the Lord your God will gather you and bring you back.” During the period of Ezra and Nehemiah, He brought those who wanted to return home and enabled them to rebuild their city and restore their Temple, the center of their worship and their social life. The place in which they experienced a profound sense of belonging. Intersecting Life & Faith: While most of us will never find ourselves physically exiled, we’ve likely felt that way socially—and will again. In those instances, may we draw comfort from today’s verse and what it reveals regarding our Father’s heart. He sees every wound or injustice we suffer, and the insecurity rejection often exacerbates. But He doesn’t just “witness” our pain; He does something about it—in His perfect timing. Perhaps He’ll use an unexpected greeting card, phone call or text from a friend or family member to remind you of your inherent value, or will nudge someone in your faith community to sit with you in your sorrow so that you feel less alone. Maybe He’ll encourage you through a devotion you read online, podcast episode you listen to, a song on the radio, or a truth-packed sermon from your pastor. Or maybe He’ll make His presence tangible as He encases you in His love. Regardless of how He addresses Your heartache, you can be sure of this: He excels at bringing His outcasts into environments that feel like home. If He can move a pagan Persian ruler named Cyrus to send his Jewish subjects back to Jerusalem—with abundant provisions and enable them to repair the city’s walls, the destroyed Temple, and homes, He can alleviate your pain and bring you figuratively home as well. He restored what likely felt irreparable—because nothing is impossible for Him. More than that, in Christ, we always belong. Through faith, our Father felt pleased to adopt us as His beloved children and place us, irrevocably, in His global family, forever bound by the blood of His Son. I understand this present reality doesn’t eradicate the pain we experience when others treat us poorly. But it does assure us that we’re never truly alone, nor are we destined for isolation. We’ll spend our eternity with Him and the rest of His followers, fully and forever accepted. As we wait for that glorious existence, we can trust Him to lead us to people who’ll accepted us as we are and help us heal from the wounds we experience in our sin-ravished, broken world. Further Reading: Ephesians 1:4-5 John 15:9-16 1 Peter 2:9-10 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Explore how faith is trusting God even when we can’t see the full picture. Faith is not something we muster ourselves—it is a gift from God, cultivated through His Word and the work of the Holy Spirit. Often, God asks us to trust Him through waiting, “no” answers, and uncertainty. These seasons shape our character and deepen our reliance on Him, proving that faith is more about who we become than what we receive. Highlights Faith is a Gift: True faith comes from God, not from our own efforts (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:17). Faith Requires Trust in God’s Plan: Even when God says “no” or asks us to wait, His timing and wisdom are perfect. Faith During Waiting Produces Growth: Waiting and unanswered prayers often mature our character in ways a “yes” could not. Step-by-Step Faith: God often gives small measures of faith to steward, allowing us to take the next step even when the full path isn’t visible. Aligning Our Will with God’s Will: Faith invites God’s will to become our own, trusting His “no” can be a greater blessing than a “yes.” This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org Full Transcript Below: When Faith Means Trusting What We Can’t See By Hannah Benson Bible Reading: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1 ESV) This well-known verse comes right before what is often called the “Hall of Faith” in the Bible. In Hebrews 11, the writer recalls the faith of many people from the Old Testament, including Noah, Abraham & Sarah, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses, and the list goes on. Faith is a common theme throughout Scripture, and we know, as believers, that we are called to have faith. We are called to put our faith in Jesus Christ for salvation and for the cleansing of our sin (Romans 3:23-25, Acts 15:9). While that is the foundation of our faith, it also extends to other areas of our lives. Because Jesus knew we would be prone to worry, He told us to have faith that God will provide what we need for tomorrow (Matthew 6:25-34). We must have faith for healing (James 5:14-15) and for strength and endurance (2 Corinthians 12:9). But what exactly does it mean to have faith? God is not a genie, so it’s not as if we can somehow “procure” enough faith and make something happen. After all, like Romans 11:35 ESV says: “‘For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?’ ‘Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?’ For from him and through him and to him are all things…” And “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). In short, faith is a gift. Faith is not a feeling we can muster. Imagine if it were up to us how much faith we were given. We would become arrogant because we would start to think that if God answered our prayer the way we wanted, we were perhaps more righteous or had more faith than the other person who didn’t receive a “yes” from God. If it were up to us to have enough faith, then that would make us somehow God. And we are clearly not. Faith is a gift that comes from hearing the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). By God’s grace, the Holy Spirit is the One Who opens our eyes as we read God’s Word (John 14:26). In Mark 9:23, Jesus tells a father whose son is possessed by a demon that “all things are possible for one who believes,” to which the father replies in verse 24, “I believe; help my unbelief!” We need Jesus’s help to have faith: faith that we have been saved by the work of His blood on the cross, for His provision, and for healing. Sometimes, we need to have faith to pursue something others deem crazy. Maybe God calls us to accept a job with less pay or to move halfway across the country. Yes, we absolutely need to make wise decisions, but if God calls us to do something—no matter how crazy it sounds—do it. However, we must be in continual prayer as we discern what is truly from God, because a word from the Lord will never contradict His Word given to us in the Bible. What do we do when God doesn’t always answer our prayers the way we expect? Even the people in Scripture were forced to wait or accept a “no” from God. Abraham and Sarah waited for years to have a child. David became king years after Samuel had anointed him. Moses never got to enter the Promised Land. Paul begged God to remove the thorn from his life, but God didn’t. Instead, He said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV). Even though David prayed, wept, and fasted, his and Bathsheba’s first son died. How do we make sense of that? Sometimes, we might think that if we receive a “no” from God, then we didn’t have enough faith. But Scripture shows us that there could be lots of reasons for “no”. We aren’t God and can’t see the full picture, so maybe He’s protecting us from something. Maybe He has something better in mind. I’ve also heard it said that God is far more interested in who we are becoming than the earthly destination we are heading towards. Faith during a waiting season sometimes produces a maturity that a “Yes” never could. I would even go so far as to say what matters isn’t about getting what we want from God but about getting more of God. Nothing draws me into the presence of Jesus more like a “no” or a “wait”. What if we aren’t simply called to have faith for something but to have faith when God says “no”? To have faith that His ways are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8) and that perhaps His “no” is a blessing in disguise and the preparation for a different “yes” we can’t see yet? “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15 ESV). Note that it says “if we ask anything according to his will.” This is not about forcing our will to become God’s will. No, instead, it is an invitation for God’s will to become our own. Intersecting Faith & Life: A couple of years ago, there was something I wanted but didn’t have the faith to pray for what I thought could be the end result. Rather, God gave me faith to pray for the next step, which may or may not eventually lead to the end result. Which I did. And you know what? God opened the door for the next step. Two years later, my prayers are bolder as God has given me the faith to pray for things I never would’ve prayed for back then. Sometimes, God doesn’t give us faith for everything all at once. He gives us tiny portions of faith, but like any gift, faith is a gift that must be stewarded. After all, as Paul writes in 2 Timothy 1:14 (ESV), “By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.” That includes the faith that has been given to us. Faith might mean taking one step at a time, even when we can’t see the path ahead. Faith might mean trusting God’s “no” is sometimes greater than His “yes.” Pray with me: Dear Father God, thank You for the gift of faith. I confess that I often try to muster it up in my own strength or treat You like a genie who exists to grant my wishes. Forgive me for the times I’ve valued the “yes” more than the Giver. I thank You for the Holy Spirit, who opens my eyes to Your Word. Help me to steward the measure of faith You have given me today. When I face a "no" or a "wait," draw me closer into Your presence. Align my heart with Yours, so that Your will becomes my own. Give me the courage to take the next step You have set before me, even when I cannot see the rest of the path. I trust that Your ways are higher than mine and that You are making me into who You want me to be. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Reflect on the patience required during seasons of waiting, using the arrival of spring and the farmer’s work as a metaphor for spiritual growth. Just as seeds must be planted, watered, and tended before fruit appears, God works in our hearts even when we cannot see immediate results. Waiting is not inactivity—it is a season of preparation, trust, and faithful obedience. Highlights Patience is Active: Waiting doesn’t mean doing nothing; it involves prayer, obedience, and tending what we can. Spiritual Growth Takes Time: Just as crops need time to bloom, God often does deep root work in us before visible fruit appears. Trust God’s Timing: We cannot force growth; the “precious fruit” belongs to God. Strengthen Your Heart: Establishing your heart means building inner strength while waiting (James 5:8). Hope in Waiting: The absence of visible fruit doesn’t mean nothing is happening—God is at work behind the scenes. This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org Full Transcript Below: Before the Bloom AppearsBy Sarah Frazer Bible Reading: “See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it… You also must be patient. Establish your hearts…” - James 5:7-8 (ESV) I can’t wait for spring. In our area of the country, it doesn’t usually come until March or April. We’ve even had the occasional snow in April, but this year I’m holding out hope for warm weather to come sooner than later. If my life is filled with busyness, I might miss the coming of Spring. Many years ago, when my children were young, and life felt like an endless winter because of depression, I would not notice spring until it had already come. As I've grown older, I’ve begun to notice the quiet coming of spring, and having a garden and flowers helps remind me of it. Gardens, flowers, and even my favorite tree in the front yard do not grow overnight. Often we miss this, but what a lesson we can learn here: in order for spring to come, the soil needs to be turned, seeds need to be buried, and waiting is the theme of spring's arrival. Maybe your life feels like an endless winter, or the time before the blooms. Although life has seasons of growth, we do not need to get discouraged during times of planting and waiting. James uses this exact picture to teach us how to wait. “See how the farmer… - James 5:7 (ESV) A farmer never rushes the harvest. After tilling the soil and preparing the land, the farmer then plants his seeds. He then buries them deep in the ground. The next day, he does not go out and look for a harvest. The farmer understands the timing and knows he cannot force growth. Some things in our lives we cannot speed up. Growth, especially spiritual growth, requires waiting. It forces us to trust a process we might not understand. Circumstances in our lives are mostly out of our control. Yet God uses everything in our lives to grow us. While the farmer waits, he remains patient, awaiting the supply of rain. Waiting is not a waste. The farmer is not idle. He tends to the fields, providing water when he can, and works on his machines that will be needed to harvest. Waiting doesn’t mean inactivity. Patience is not passivity. We keep praying, obeying, and trusting. The farmer is faithful to do what he can and wait with patience, and we too can be faithful. As we do this, we lean into God and realize that the “precious fruit” belongs to God and He will make it grow! “You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” - James 5:8 (ESV) The word for “establish” means to strengthen. As we wait, we shift inward. Waiting is less about circumstances and more about the condition of the heart. Yes, as we wait, we might feel weaker, and doubts will enter our minds. Waiting tempts us to grow discouraged. Strength comes when we remember God controls the harvest. Springtime can be for us a picture of spiritual waiting. It reminds us that planting comes before the fruit. Just because nothing is visible doesn’t mean nothing is happening. Roots are the strongest part of the entire plant. God is often doing deep root work in us before our fruit is visible. Spring is for planting and tending—not harvesting. God calls us to be patient with hope in seasons when fruit has not yet appeared. The absence of fruit does not mean growth isn’t happening. Just like the farmer trusts the seasons, we can too. Before the bloom, hope is working in your life. Choose hope. Choose to believe God is working in your life even today. Intersecting Faith & Life: Where are you waiting for fruit? What feels planted but not yet blooming? How can you release the timeline, stay faithful, and trust the Lord in this season? Further Reading:Galatians 6:9Psalm 27:13-14Isaiah 40:31Hebrews 10:35-36Psalm 126:5-6 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.