Today, we bring honor to God by living like Jesus, which also means finding ways to serve. Not just those close to us, but also those in need. Though our culture leans toward commercialism over faith, as believers we should do our part to remember the reason for the season. Now, let’s dive into some specific ways we can showcase cheerful servitude this Christmas. - Aaron D'Anthony Brown

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Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/
Your Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/

Today, we bring honor to God by living like Jesus, which also means finding ways to serve. Not just those close to us, but also those in need. Though our culture leans toward commercialism over faith, as believers we should do our part to remember the reason for the season. Now, let’s dive into some specific ways we can showcase cheerful servitude this Christmas. - Aaron D'Anthony Brown
SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts: Your Daily Prayer: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/">https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/</a> Your Daily Bible Verse: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/">https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/</a>

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.

Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:

☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It)
☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment
☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life
☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life
☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church
☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer
☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation
☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year

If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.
Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:
☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It) ☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment ☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life ☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life ☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church ☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer ☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation ☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year
If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/">https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.</a>

7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life.

The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

The Crosswalk Devotional

5 Ways to Love Like Christ at Christmas

Psalm 78:2 reminds believers of the importance of remembering and recounting God’s faithfulness through every generation. In this devotional, Jennifer Slattery explores how seasons of chaos, uncertainty, fear, and hardship can tempt Christians to lose sight of God’s power, provision, and promises. When life feels overwhelming, believers often try to regain control on their own, yet Scripture continually points back to the faithfulness of God as the true foundation for peace and stability.

This devotional highlights how the Israelites repeatedly witnessed God’s miraculous provision and deliverance, yet often forgot His faithfulness when new challenges arose. Through intentional reflection and remembrance, Christians can strengthen their faith, overcome fear, and build deeper trust in God’s character. Remembering God’s past faithfulness becomes a powerful way to steady the heart, encourage future generations, and remain anchored in hope during uncertain times.

Highlights
Remembering God’s faithfulness strengthens faith during difficult seasons.
Fear and anxiety often grow when believers forget God’s past provision.
Scripture repeatedly calls God’s people to reflect on His works and promises.
The Israelites struggled because they continually forgot God’s deliverance.
God remains faithful even when His people are fearful or weak in faith.
Reflecting on God’s past provision helps believers trust Him in present trials.
Intentional remembrance builds peace, hope, and spiritual endurance.

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When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! 

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Full Transcript Below:

How Remembering God’s Faithfulness Rebuilds Your Faith
By: Jennifer Slattery

Bible Reading:
I will open my mouth with a parable;
I will utter hidden things, things from of old. —Psalm 78:2

Lately, life has felt heavy and chaotic, hasn’t it? Sometimes it feels like everything is spinning backward, upside down, and inside out, and frankly, there’s not much I can do about it. I can’t fix our economy or prevent the next recession. I can’t undo the division and polarization plaguing our nation. I can’t solve my loved one’s problems or prevent their pain. And when everything hits simultaneously, or my hardship continues for any length of time, I temporarily lose sight of the power, promises, and love of Christ. 

Such forgetfulness is dangerous in times of crisis, because it tempts me to rely on myself and seek control. But I’ve created enough messes to know the foolishness of any so-called solutions not provided by Christ. 

Thankfully, He never leaves me to navigate life’s challenges alone. I watched Him resurrect my marriage when it seemed dead. He’s provided for us in miraculous ways and guided us through confusion and uncertainty. My life has become a living testimony of His grace. A grace that, when remembered and reflected upon, deepens my faith, strengthens my obedience, and purifies my love for the One who never leaves my side.

I see this strategic interaction all throughout Scripture. We humans excel at falling into messes; the Lord excels at pulling us out and setting us on a new, brighter, freer path. This is the message Asaph, the prophet and royal musician who penned Psalm 78, conveyed. He wanted the Israelites to consider God’s faithfulness to His often faithless and rebellious people. He asked them to listen, and then to repeat the lessons he taught, as a way to encourage their souls, yes. But also to build faith into the next generation. To help insulate them from falling into the same self-defeating traps as the older generation (vs 6-8). 

Scripture records some of the most shocking examples in Exodus, a historical narrative recounting the people’s liberation from slavery and oppression and journey to the Promised Land. They should’ve completed this 200 to 400-mile trek within ten days, a few weeks max. But when it came time to enter their new, God-given land, they refused, out of fear. 

This, after having witnessed the Lord’s miraculous intervention numerous times. Consider how their story began—an entire population, held captive, powerless, for centuries. They had no recourse, no voice, and likely assumed things would never get better. How could they, a weak and beaten-down people group, possibly break free from the most powerful ruler in the ancient world at that time?

That’s also why God’s rescue would’ve made such an impact. He infused hope into a seemingly hopeless situation, proving His power over the most oppressive and established systems and history’s most vicious tyrants. But then, soon after their liberation, they found themselves trapped again, this time with a large body of water on one side and a skilled, armed, and trained military advancing on the other. 

Understandably, the people panicked. They deemed their circumstances hopeless. But again, God came through, parted the water so they could pass across on dry ground, then swept their cruel abusers into the sea. 

Again and again, God’s people found themselves in dire situations. And again and again, God came through, proving His love. Demonstrating His attentive care. 

In each instance, He presented them with an opportunity to deepen their faith, build greater trust in their Maker, and establish a more secure connection with Him. 

Sadly, they never seemed to accept His beautiful invitation—because they refused to learn from their past. Instead, they remained reactive, fearful, anxious, and in repeated chaos with themselves, one another, and their Lord. 

Asaph challenged the later generations to consider their ancestors’ self-defeating patterns so that they could learn to live differently, with more faith and less fear. And he did so by highlighting God’s faithfulness, often displayed when His people behaved most faithlessly. 

Intersecting Life & Faith:

Each day, God offers us the same lesson. He invites us to engage in intentional reflection, where we periodically pause to recall evidence of His love and examples of His care. This remembering strengthens our faith and our attachment to our Savior. As we consistently draw closer to Him, listen for His life parables, and fortify our souls with truth, He steadies us. He enables us to stand firm, immovable, regardless of how shaky the ground beneath us feels. 

How might intentionally remembering God’s power, promises, presence, and provision increase your faith and peace and decrease your anxiety for whatever difficulties you might face? Perhaps journal on one instance each day. In a year’s time, you’ll have 365 accounts of His faithful care for you and those you love. 

Further Reading:
Joshua 4:6-7
Psalm 105:1-5
Psalm 145:4-7

Psalm 78:2 reminds believers of the importance of remembering and recounting God&rsquo;s faithfulness through every generation. In this devotional, Jennifer Slattery explores how seasons of chaos, uncertainty, fear, and hardship can tempt Christians to lose sight of God&rsquo;s power, provision, and promises. When life feels overwhelming, believers often try to regain control on their own, yet Scripture continually points back to the faithfulness of God as the true foundation for peace and stability.
This devotional highlights how the Israelites repeatedly witnessed God&rsquo;s miraculous provision and deliverance, yet often forgot His faithfulness when new challenges arose. Through intentional reflection and remembrance, Christians can strengthen their faith, overcome fear, and build deeper trust in God&rsquo;s character. Remembering God&rsquo;s past faithfulness becomes a powerful way to steady the heart, encourage future generations, and remain anchored in hope during uncertain times.
Highlights
<ul data-start="1003" data-end="1538">
<li data-section-id="7xfefl" data-start="1003" data-end="1079">Remembering God&rsquo;s faithfulness strengthens faith during difficult seasons.</li>
<li data-section-id="7uzc6d" data-start="1080" data-end="1153">Fear and anxiety often grow when believers forget God&rsquo;s past provision.</li>
<li data-section-id="858ar2" data-start="1154" data-end="1233">Scripture repeatedly calls God&rsquo;s people to reflect on His works and promises.</li>
<li data-section-id="1jud51q" data-start="1234" data-end="1311">The Israelites struggled because they continually forgot God&rsquo;s deliverance.</li>
<li data-section-id="1n0uqkc" data-start="1312" data-end="1385">God remains faithful even when His people are fearful or weak in faith.</li>
<li data-section-id="ofitsz" data-start="1386" data-end="1467">Reflecting on God&rsquo;s past provision helps believers trust Him in present trials.</li>
<li data-section-id="1mzqvli" data-start="1468" data-end="1538">Intentional remembrance builds peace, hope, and spiritual endurance.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/subscribe/?utm_source=subscribe_page&amp;utm_medium=YDBV&amp;utm_campaign=YDBV_PLUS">Sign Up Today!</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
How Remembering God&rsquo;s Faithfulness Rebuilds Your Faith By: Jennifer Slattery
Bible Reading: I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old. &mdash;Psalm 78:2
Lately, life has felt heavy and chaotic, hasn&rsquo;t it? Sometimes it feels like everything is spinning backward, upside down, and inside out, and frankly, there&rsquo;s not much I can do about it. I can&rsquo;t fix our economy or prevent the next recession. I can&rsquo;t undo the division and polarization plaguing our nation. I can&rsquo;t solve my loved one&rsquo;s problems or prevent their pain. And when everything hits simultaneously, or my hardship continues for any length of time, I temporarily lose sight of the power, promises, and love of Christ.&nbsp;
Such forgetfulness is dangerous in times of crisis, because it tempts me to rely on myself and seek control. But I&rsquo;ve created enough messes to know the foolishness of any so-called solutions not provided by Christ.&nbsp;
Thankfully, He never leaves me to navigate life&rsquo;s challenges alone. I watched Him resurrect my marriage when it seemed dead. He&rsquo;s provided for us in miraculous ways and guided us through confusion and uncertainty. My life has become a living testimony of His grace. A grace that, when remembered and reflected upon, deepens my faith, strengthens my obedience, and purifies my love for the One who never leaves my side.
I see this strategic interaction all throughout Scripture. We humans excel at falling into messes; the Lord excels at pulling us out and setting us on a new, brighter, freer path. This is the message Asaph, the prophet and royal musician who penned Psalm 78, conveyed. He wanted the Israelites to consider God&rsquo;s faithfulness to His often faithless and rebellious people. He asked them to listen, and then to repeat the lessons he taught, as a way to encourage their souls, yes. But also to build faith into the next generation. To help insulate them from falling into the same self-defeating traps as the older generation (vs 6-8).&nbsp;
Scripture records some of the most shocking examples in Exodus, a historical narrative recounting the people&rsquo;s liberation from slavery and oppression and journey to the Promised Land. They should&rsquo;ve completed this 200 to 400-mile trek within ten days, a few weeks max. But when it came time to enter their new, God-given land, they refused, out of fear.&nbsp;
This, after having witnessed the Lord&rsquo;s miraculous intervention numerous times. Consider how their story began&mdash;an entire population, held captive, powerless, for centuries. They had no recourse, no voice, and likely assumed things would never get better. How could they, a weak and beaten-down people group, possibly break free from the most powerful ruler in the ancient world at that time?
That&rsquo;s also why God&rsquo;s rescue would&rsquo;ve made such an impact. He infused hope into a seemingly hopeless situation, proving His power over the most oppressive and established systems and history&rsquo;s most vicious tyrants. But then, soon after their liberation, they found themselves trapped again, this time with a large body of water on one side and a skilled, armed, and trained military advancing on the other.&nbsp;
Understandably, the people panicked. They deemed their circumstances hopeless. But again, God came through, parted the water so they could pass across on dry ground, then swept their cruel abusers into the sea.&nbsp;
Again and again, God&rsquo;s people found themselves in dire situations. And again and again, God came through, proving His love. Demonstrating His attentive care.&nbsp;
In each instance, He presented them with an opportunity to deepen their faith, build greater trust in their Maker, and establish a more secure connection with Him.&nbsp;
Sadly, they never seemed to accept His beautiful invitation&mdash;because they refused to learn from their past. Instead, they remained reactive, fearful, anxious, and in repeated chaos with themselves, one another, and their Lord.&nbsp;
Asaph challenged the later generations to consider their ancestors&rsquo; self-defeating patterns so that they could learn to live differently, with more faith and less fear. And he did so by highlighting God&rsquo;s faithfulness, often displayed when His people behaved most faithlessly.&nbsp;
Intersecting Life &amp; Faith:
Each day, God offers us the same lesson. He invites us to engage in intentional reflection, where we periodically pause to recall evidence of His love and examples of His care. This remembering strengthens our faith and our attachment to our Savior. As we consistently draw closer to Him, listen for His life parables, and fortify our souls with truth, He steadies us. He enables us to stand firm, immovable, regardless of how shaky the ground beneath us feels.&nbsp;
How might intentionally remembering God&rsquo;s power, promises, presence, and provision increase your faith and peace and decrease your anxiety for whatever difficulties you might face? Perhaps journal on one instance each day. In a year&rsquo;s time, you&rsquo;ll have 365 accounts of His faithful care for you and those you love.&nbsp;
Further Reading: Joshua 4:6-7 Psalm 105:1-5 Psalm 145:4-7

How Remembering God’s Faithfulness Rebuilds Your Faith

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/93f9e764-7399-4627-8a81-b4520146ec06/transcript

1 Timothy 6:6-8 reminds believers that true fulfillment is not found in possessions, status, or comparison, but in godliness with contentment. In this devotional, Emily Rose Massey explores how social media comparison can quietly stir envy, dissatisfaction, and restlessness in the heart. Constant exposure to curated lifestyles and picture-perfect moments can tempt Christians to believe they are lacking something God has withheld from them.

This devotional encourages believers to guard their hearts against comparison and refocus their attention on Christ rather than worldly standards. Scripture reminds Christians that God faithfully provides what they truly need, and lasting peace comes from trusting His provision and sovereignty. Through gratitude, repentance, and renewing the mind with God’s Word, believers can experience the joy and freedom of godly contentment instead of chasing temporary fulfillment through comparison and materialism.

Highlights
Godliness with contentment brings lasting spiritual gain.
Social media comparison can fuel envy, jealousy, and dissatisfaction.
Comparison often reveals deeper struggles with trust and gratitude.
True fulfillment is found in Christ, not worldly success or appearances.
God faithfully provides what His children truly need.
Renewing the mind with Scripture helps guard the heart from discontentment.
Gratitude and faith lead to greater peace, joy, and contentment.

Do you want to listen ad-free?

When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! 

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Full Transcript Below:

The Great Gain of Godly Contentment

By: Emily Rose Massey

Bible Reading:

“Now godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content” (1 Timothy 6:6-8, ESV). 

Has interaction on social media ever created a heaviness in your heart, perhaps leading you to compare yourself to others? In my life, I seem to get this cloud that forms over me when I scroll certain social media influencers' profiles. You know, the ones from somewhere in the Midwest with a thriving business, beautiful children, Magnolia-inspired farmhouse decor covering the pristine photos of their adorable home...and the lighting! Perfect lighting in these pictures… every single one of them! Absolutely stunning natural light in these posts! And I want to imitate it, but not because I am inspired, but because, quite frankly, I am jealous of these strangers on the internet! The cloud that looms over my head is this heaviness that I need to make my life look like this. I start to think I need what they have, and a feeling of "not enough" starts to creep up in my heart. 

Recently, the Lord has been showing me through this restlessness how discontented I have become through social media, and that is something I am working through with the Holy Spirit on how I can guard my heart from these types of entanglements that bring distraction and discontentment. My eyes have drifted upon lesser things, and it has affected my heart in a great way. Comparison that leads to envy and jealousy has been a trap of the enemy since creation. The motive behind Adam and Eve’s disobedience was comparison, which led to covetousness, which led to pride, which led to selfishness, which led to ungratefulness for what God had already provided (all rooted in fear).

Are you in fear? Then you are not in faith, believing God at His Word and fully trusting Him that He has given you exactly what you need. Anything that is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23). When we compare ourselves with another, we are saying we would do a better job planning out our lives than our Creator, the sovereign Most High, acting like Satan who fell and caused Adam and Eve to fall. Whoa, that is a dangerous place to be!

When we are wrestling with these heart issues and sin, we often need a perspective shift, and this won’t come from social media, but the Word of God is what will bring clarity when our minds and hearts become clouded with worldliness that causes us to become jealous of others. 

The Apostle Paul reminds his spiritual son Timothy in his first letter to him to keep his mind on eternal and spiritual matters:

“Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content” (1 Timothy 6:6-8, ESV).

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Our Heavenly Father ensures that birds are fed, surely, He will take care of us! If we have food and clothing, we truly don’t need anything else; All else is comfort and gifts from our Father. Any material blessing beyond food and clothing that the Lord graces us with should cause us to worship and rejoice in thankfulness for His rich mercy and love towards us as His children. 

We are all guilty of comparing our lives to someone else’s at some point and allowing it to spark jealousy. Where have your eyes wandered that may be creating jealousy? The only way out is to repent and renew your mind with the Word of God. Instead of fixating on others’ lives, we must keep our eyes on Jesus and His Word. If you cling to Him and abide in Him, you will remain full of His love, joy, and peace- the only things that will bring true fulfillment and contentment. You won’t want anything other than what He has given you; His perfect, eternal promises and tender, Fatherly care for you will be more than enough. Let’s lift our gaze and thank Him for what He has already so richly provided for us in Christ Jesus. 

Further Reading:

Philippians 4:11-13

Matthew 6:25-34

1 Timothy 6:6-8 reminds believers that true fulfillment is not found in possessions, status, or comparison, but in godliness with contentment. In this devotional, Emily Rose Massey explores how social media comparison can quietly stir envy, dissatisfaction, and restlessness in the heart. Constant exposure to curated lifestyles and picture-perfect moments can tempt Christians to believe they are lacking something God has withheld from them.
This devotional encourages believers to guard their hearts against comparison and refocus their attention on Christ rather than worldly standards. Scripture reminds Christians that God faithfully provides what they truly need, and lasting peace comes from trusting His provision and sovereignty. Through gratitude, repentance, and renewing the mind with God&rsquo;s Word, believers can experience the joy and freedom of godly contentment instead of chasing temporary fulfillment through comparison and materialism.
Highlights
<ul data-start="983" data-end="1460">
<li data-section-id="1y31g94" data-start="983" data-end="1042">Godliness with contentment brings lasting spiritual gain.</li>
<li data-section-id="1v9errl" data-start="1043" data-end="1114">Social media comparison can fuel envy, jealousy, and dissatisfaction.</li>
<li data-section-id="1whg7b2" data-start="1115" data-end="1184">Comparison often reveals deeper struggles with trust and gratitude.</li>
<li data-section-id="htae6r" data-start="1185" data-end="1259">True fulfillment is found in Christ, not worldly success or appearances.</li>
<li data-section-id="9n5u9h" data-start="1260" data-end="1315">God faithfully provides what His children truly need.</li>
<li data-section-id="1euiimq" data-start="1316" data-end="1393">Renewing the mind with Scripture helps guard the heart from discontentment.</li>
<li data-section-id="1743z9p" data-start="1394" data-end="1460">Gratitude and faith lead to greater peace, joy, and contentment.</li>
</ul>
Do you want to listen ad-free?
When you join&nbsp;Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors&mdash;resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts!&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/subscribe/?utm_source=subscribe_page&amp;utm_medium=YDBV&amp;utm_campaign=YDBV_PLUS">Sign Up Today!</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
The Great Gain of Godly Contentment
By: Emily Rose Massey
Bible Reading:
&ldquo;Now godliness with&nbsp;contentment is great gain. &nbsp;For we brought nothing into&nbsp;this&nbsp;world,&nbsp;and it is certain we can carry nothing out.&nbsp;And having food and clothing, with these we shall be&nbsp;content&rdquo; (1 Timothy 6:6-8, ESV).&nbsp;
Has interaction on social media ever created a heaviness in your heart, perhaps leading you to compare yourself to others? In my life, I seem to get this cloud that forms over me when I scroll certain social media influencers' profiles. You know, the ones from somewhere in the Midwest with a thriving business, beautiful children, Magnolia-inspired farmhouse decor covering the pristine photos of their adorable home...and the lighting! Perfect lighting in these pictures&hellip; every single one of them! Absolutely stunning natural light in these posts! And I want to imitate it, but not because I am inspired, but because, quite frankly, I am jealous of these strangers on the internet! The cloud that looms over my head is this heaviness that I need to make my life look like this. I start to think I need what they have, and a feeling of "not enough" starts to creep up in my heart. Recently, the Lord has been showing me through this restlessness how discontented I have become through social media, and that is something I am working through with the Holy Spirit on how I can guard my heart from these types of entanglements that bring distraction and discontentment. My eyes have drifted upon lesser things, and it has affected my heart in a great way. Comparison that leads to envy and jealousy has been a trap of the enemy since creation. The motive behind Adam and Eve&rsquo;s disobedience was comparison, which led to covetousness, which led to pride, which led to selfishness, which led to ungratefulness for what God had already provided (all rooted in fear).
Are you in fear? Then you are not in faith, believing God at His Word and fully trusting Him that He has given you exactly what you need. Anything that is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23). When we compare ourselves with another, we are saying we would do a better job planning out our lives than our Creator, the sovereign Most High, acting like Satan who fell and caused Adam and Eve to fall. Whoa, that is a dangerous place to be!
When we are wrestling with these heart issues and sin, we often need a perspective shift, and this won&rsquo;t come from social media, but the Word of God is what will bring clarity when our minds and hearts become clouded with worldliness that causes us to become jealous of others.&nbsp;
The Apostle Paul reminds his spiritual son Timothy in his first letter to him to keep his mind on eternal and spiritual matters:
&ldquo;Now godliness with&nbsp;contentment is great gain.&nbsp;For we brought nothing into&nbsp;this&nbsp;world,&nbsp;and it is certain we can carry nothing out.&nbsp;And having food and clothing, with these we shall be&nbsp;content&rdquo; (1 Timothy 6:6-8, ESV).
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
Our Heavenly Father ensures that birds are fed, surely, He will take care of us! If we have food and clothing, we truly don&rsquo;t need anything else; All else is comfort and gifts from our Father. Any material blessing beyond food and clothing that the Lord graces us with should cause us to worship and rejoice in thankfulness for His rich mercy and love towards us as His children.&nbsp;
We are all guilty of comparing our lives to someone else&rsquo;s at some point and allowing it to spark jealousy. Where have your eyes wandered that may be creating jealousy? The only way out is to repent and renew your mind with the Word of God. Instead of fixating on others&rsquo; lives, we must keep our eyes on Jesus and His Word. If you cling to Him and abide in Him, you will remain full of His love, joy, and peace- the only things that will bring true fulfillment and contentment. You won&rsquo;t want anything other than what He has given you; His perfect, eternal promises and tender, Fatherly care for you will be more than enough. Let&rsquo;s lift our gaze and thank Him for what He has already so richly provided for us in Christ Jesus.&nbsp;
Further Reading:
Philippians 4:11-13
Matthew 6:25-34

The Great Gain of Godly Contentment

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/b7668689-93a5-427c-836b-b4520143bdb7/transcript

Romans 7:18-19 highlights the inner struggle every believer faces between sinful desires and the desire to honor God. In this devotional, Aaron D’Anthony Brown challenges Christians to honestly evaluate whether they may be sabotaging their own spiritual growth, relationships, or progress in life. Rather than always blaming circumstances or other people, believers are encouraged to practice self-awareness, humility, and accountability as they confront patterns of unhealthy thinking and behavior.

This devotional reminds readers that spiritual maturity begins with honest reflection and repentance. The Apostle Paul openly acknowledged his battle with sin, showing believers the importance of recognizing personal weaknesses instead of excusing them. Through humility, accountability, and dependence on God, Christians can stop getting in their own way and begin pursuing the righteous life God calls them to live.

Highlights
Romans 7 reveals the ongoing battle between flesh and spirit.
Self-awareness is the first step toward personal and spiritual growth.
Pride can prevent believers from recognizing harmful behaviors.
Accountability helps sharpen and strengthen Christian character.
Excusing sinful habits leads to self-sabotage and spiritual stagnation.
Humility allows believers to receive correction and grow in wisdom.
God calls Christians to actively confront and reject sinful patterns.

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When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! 

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Full Transcript Below:

Are You Getting in Your Own Way?

By Aaron D’Anthony Brown

Bible Reading:
“For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do.” (Romans 7:18-19, CSB)

There’s a certain question we should ask ourselves every now and again: Am I getting in my own way?

When we don’t get the outcomes we want in life, blaming our circumstances and other people comes naturally enough. What doesn’t happen as frequently as it should is looking at the man in the mirror.

Recently, I remember talking to a fellow young man about our desire for marriage. Well, we went out to lunch with women from our church. Something we both wanted. For one reason or another, this getting-to-know-you experience led him to talk about an extremely embarrassing incident. Now, who in their right mind would share that on a first date?

Or take, for instance, a buddy of mine who is encountering deep financial strain. The more anyone tries to encourage him, the more he pushes back with a 'woe-is-me' attitude. He seems to want more negativity to fuel what he already exhibits.

These guys are not alone. I’ve battled with my own negative thinking and dwelling. Perhaps you, too, are sabotaging your own success. So, ask yourself, “Am I getting in my own way?”

Intersecting Faith & Life:

After you ask yourself this important question, the answer should be yes. If not, the following steps are especially for you.

Build self-awareness.

The reason Paul was able to write those particular verses in Romans is that he developed some measure of self-awareness. He may not have completely understood why he behaved the way he did, aside from citing his sinful nature, but he understood something was wrong and wrote about it. He acknowledged the problem, and acknowledgment is the first step to finding a solution.

If you want to build self-awareness in your own life, spend some time pausing and reflecting. Yes, this does mean sitting with your thoughts and not your phone. Question yourself about why you do certain things and not others. The better you know yourself, the more you’ll be able to identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Develop humility. 

Humility is underrated and uncommon. So many of us think we have it, yet fail to recognize just how prideful we are. A good way to measure this virtue is to observe how you handle people who disagree with you. Not just the non-believers, but those people you perceive as less (or more) Christian than you. Have they ever proven you wrong about something? When did that last happen? Is it good that you haven’t been wrong since?

Have people around you to call you out.

Having agreement is nice, but if iron is to sharpen iron, then disagreement is essential. Encouraging one another is nice, but we can do so at the expense of others. Instead of seeking to appease those around us, let’s hold each other accountable and do our best to help others reflect Christ.

If you know you’re a sinner, act like it.

Some of us will openly call ourselves sinners in the abstract on any given Sunday, but on other days of the week, we justify our sinful behavior. People know that they practice poor communication, but don’t change it. Overeat but don’t change it. Say that they’re lazy, but don’t change it.

Does God take sin seriously? If you say yes, don’t say, "He made you that way." Recognize that He hates sin, and try your best to hate it as well. Hate the self-sabotage and do something righteous instead. 

Further Reading (and Listening):

“Wanna Be Happy?” by Kirk Franklin

Galatians 5:17

James 1:14-15

Matthew 26:41

Romans 7:18-19 highlights the inner struggle every believer faces between sinful desires and the desire to honor God. In this devotional, Aaron D&rsquo;Anthony Brown challenges Christians to honestly evaluate whether they may be sabotaging their own spiritual growth, relationships, or progress in life. Rather than always blaming circumstances or other people, believers are encouraged to practice self-awareness, humility, and accountability as they confront patterns of unhealthy thinking and behavior.
This devotional reminds readers that spiritual maturity begins with honest reflection and repentance. The Apostle Paul openly acknowledged his battle with sin, showing believers the importance of recognizing personal weaknesses instead of excusing them. Through humility, accountability, and dependence on God, Christians can stop getting in their own way and begin pursuing the righteous life God calls them to live.
Highlights
<ul data-start="948" data-end="1433">
<li data-section-id="sk5zh" data-start="948" data-end="1011">Romans 7 reveals the ongoing battle between flesh and spirit.</li>
<li data-section-id="7qyz7" data-start="1012" data-end="1084">Self-awareness is the first step toward personal and spiritual growth.</li>
<li data-section-id="w2gviy" data-start="1085" data-end="1150">Pride can prevent believers from recognizing harmful behaviors.</li>
<li data-section-id="16yiul5" data-start="1151" data-end="1217">Accountability helps sharpen and strengthen Christian character.</li>
<li data-section-id="1jhfaa1" data-start="1218" data-end="1291">Excusing sinful habits leads to self-sabotage and spiritual stagnation.</li>
<li data-section-id="zt3qf8" data-start="1292" data-end="1361">Humility allows believers to receive correction and grow in wisdom.</li>
<li data-section-id="1odxzf0" data-start="1362" data-end="1433">God calls Christians to actively confront and reject sinful patterns.</li>
</ul>
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Full Transcript Below:
Are You Getting in Your Own Way?
By Aaron D&rsquo;Anthony Brown Bible Reading: &ldquo;For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do.&rdquo; (Romans 7:18-19, CSB)
There&rsquo;s a certain question we should ask ourselves every now and again: Am I getting in my own way?
When we don&rsquo;t get the outcomes we want in life, blaming our circumstances and other people comes naturally enough. What doesn&rsquo;t happen as frequently as it should is looking at the man in the mirror.
Recently, I remember talking to a fellow young man about our desire for marriage. Well, we went out to lunch with women from our church. Something we both wanted. For one reason or another, this getting-to-know-you experience led him to talk about an extremely embarrassing incident. Now, who in their right mind would share that on a first date?
Or take, for instance, a buddy of mine who is encountering deep financial strain. The more anyone tries to encourage him, the more he pushes back with a 'woe-is-me' attitude. He seems to want more negativity to fuel what he already exhibits.
These guys are not alone. I&rsquo;ve battled with my own negative thinking and dwelling. Perhaps you, too, are sabotaging your own success. So, ask yourself, &ldquo;Am I getting in my own way?&rdquo;
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
After you ask yourself this important question, the answer should be yes. If not, the following steps are especially for you.
Build self-awareness.
The reason Paul was able to write those particular verses in Romans is that he developed some measure of self-awareness. He may not have completely understood why he behaved the way he did, aside from citing his sinful nature, but he understood something was wrong and wrote about it. He acknowledged the problem, and acknowledgment is the first step to finding a solution.
If you want to build self-awareness in your own life, spend some time pausing and reflecting. Yes, this does mean sitting with your thoughts and not your phone. Question yourself about why you do certain things and not others. The better you know yourself, the more you&rsquo;ll be able to identify your strengths and weaknesses.
Develop humility.&nbsp;
Humility is underrated and uncommon. So many of us think we have it, yet fail to recognize just how prideful we are. A good way to measure this virtue is to observe how you handle people who disagree with you. Not just the non-believers, but those people you perceive as less (or more) Christian than you. Have they ever proven you wrong about something? When did that last happen? Is it good that you haven&rsquo;t been wrong since?
Have people around you to call you out.
Having agreement is nice, but if iron is to sharpen iron, then disagreement is essential. Encouraging one another is nice, but we can do so at the expense of others. Instead of seeking to appease those around us, let&rsquo;s hold each other accountable and do our best to help others reflect Christ.
If you know you&rsquo;re a sinner, act like it.
Some of us will openly call ourselves sinners in the abstract on any given Sunday, but on other days of the week, we justify our sinful behavior. People know that they practice poor communication, but don&rsquo;t change it. Overeat but don&rsquo;t change it. Say that they&rsquo;re lazy, but don&rsquo;t change it.
Does God take sin seriously? If you say yes, don&rsquo;t say, "He made you that way." Recognize that He hates sin, and try your best to hate it as well. Hate the self-sabotage and do something righteous instead.&nbsp;
Further Reading (and Listening):
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci-0k9GojM4&amp;pp=ygUca2lyayBmcmFua2xpbiB3YW5uYSBiZSBoYXBweQ%3D%3D">&ldquo;Wanna Be Happy?&rdquo;</a> by Kirk Franklin
Galatians 5:17
James 1:14-15
Matthew 26:41

Are You Getting in Your Own Way?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/942eb70b-8cff-4055-8b16-b4520137947b/transcript

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