In this episode of The Crosswalk Devotional, we reflect on the powerful truth that a friend loves at all times. True friendship is a gift that can uplift and sustain us through life’s challenges. We’ll explore what it means to embody unwavering love and support, drawing inspiration from scripture and personal stories. Discover practical ways to be that steadfast friend for others while also allowing yourself to receive love and encouragement from those around you.

Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! How do you demonstrate steadfast love in your friendships? Share your experiences and insights with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. What verses inspire you to be a loyal friend?

🎙 🎉 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW - YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/

In this episode of The Crosswalk Devotional, we reflect on the powerful truth that a friend loves at all times. True friendship is a gift that can uplift and sustain us through life&rsquo;s challenges. We&rsquo;ll explore what it means to embody unwavering love and support, drawing inspiration from scripture and personal stories. Discover practical ways to be that steadfast friend for others while also allowing yourself to receive love and encouragement from those around you.
Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! How do you demonstrate steadfast love in your friendships? Share your experiences and insights with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. What verses inspire you to be a loyal friend?
🎙 🎉 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW - YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/">https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/</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

A Friend Loves at All Times

Prayer is not just a ritual; it's a way of life that can deepen our relationship with Him and guide us through life's challenges. We’ll discuss practical tips for integrating prayer into our daily routines, the significance of maintaining a prayerful heart, and how to cultivate a lifestyle of continuous connection with God.

Join the Conversation:

We want to hear from you! How do you incorporate prayer into your daily life? What are your favorite prayer practices? Share your thoughts and experiences with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. Let’s uplift one another as we commit to a life of prayer!

🎙 🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW - YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER:https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/

Full Transcript Below:

Pray Without Ceasing

“Pray without Ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

“Lord, help me.” This is what I recited to myself as I waited in the lab to have my blood drawn. This was part of the doctor's orders for some health challenges that I had been dealing with since the summer. I prayed again once I got my blood drawn and went home to work.

“Lord, I can't do this without you. I'm asking for complete and total healing for my body. Help my thyroid levels to raise to appropriate levels. Let my lab work come back normal. Allow me another day to serve you. Amen.”

I went about my day, checking items off my to-do list. As I sat down to dinner, I said grace. “Lord, thank you for this food. Thank you for this day. Thank you for another productive day. Let us be grateful for your provision. Amen.”

As I laid my head down on the pillow to go to sleep. Many thoughts went through my head. “Lord, help me to calm my racing thoughts. Please help me to put away the cares of the day. Please give me the rest I need to wake up refreshed tomorrow. Thank you for another day to serve you. Amen.”

I admit I never understood what praying without ceasing meant. Because my mind often wandered toward work and other responsibilities of raising children and being a wife, in addition to serving in my local church, my mind didn't always think about praying. I often went through the day starting my day off in prayer, only to lay my head down at the end of a long day and fall fast asleep. 

Though I've matured over the years, I realized that praying without ceasing means stopping and asking the Lord for his presence in all aspects of my life. Whether it's my morning prayer time, praying for the requests of friends and family, saying grace, or asking God to give me restorative sleep to get me through the next day, it's all part of praying without ceasing. 

If we're honest, we all need help in this area. Like me, we often skate through our days without a thought about the Lord. Many of us live our lives inviting God into what we're doing. However, praying without ceasing involves asking the Lord what he wants from our days. As we pray and ask God for his guidance, presence, and provision, we may find divine interruptions throughout our day. 

For example, we may be focused on our lives, only to find a phone call from a frantic friend that makes us stop and pray for them and with them. We may deal with financial or health crises, needing God's guidance throughout the day, sometimes every hour, or even every minute. 

When we must cling to Jesus because our only hope is in him, it may find us praying like never before. We may find our thoughts drifting toward crying out to the Lord throughout the day. This gives new meaning to what it means to pray without ceasing.

Analyze your thought life. Do you find you go throughout your day, skating through each activity, giving little or no thought to the Lord? Do you often invite God into your actions rather than ask him for guidance? When we yield our lives entirely to him, we may find he has a different agenda for us than our lofty to-do list. We may find we must cross off an important task to address God's agenda for the day. 

These divine interruptions accomplish God's agenda: to glorify God and to live out our purpose and mission to serve him. When we shift our perspective from a selfish invitation into our lives to a complete yielding of our lives to the Lord, we may find our lives easier. We may not only have the time to help a needy friend but also have time to complete our to-do list in record time. 

God promises that he will be faithful in bearing them when we cast our cares on him. Even if we must put off unimportant tasks that feel important to us, we know God is in control. When we live believing that God is our story's author, we pray without ceasing and cling to the hope with him every minute of every hour. 

Father, let us be people who pray without ceasing. Let us invite you into our lives, rather than simply inviting you to care for us as we fulfill our agendas. In our efforts to make you Lord of our lives, let us not stop communicating with you throughout our days. Amen. 

Intersecting Faith and Life

How do you practice praying without ceasing?

How can you focus your mind more on God throughout the day?

Further Reading

 Matthew 7:11

Prayer is not just a ritual; it's a way of life that can deepen our relationship with Him and guide us through life's challenges. We&rsquo;ll discuss practical tips for integrating prayer into our daily routines, the significance of maintaining a prayerful heart, and how to cultivate a lifestyle of continuous connection with God.
Join the Conversation:
We want to hear from you! How do you incorporate prayer into your daily life? What are your favorite prayer practices? Share your thoughts and experiences with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. Let&rsquo;s uplift one another as we commit to a life of prayer!
🎙 🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW - YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/">https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/</a>
Full Transcript Below:
Pray Without Ceasing
&ldquo;Pray without Ceasing.&rdquo; 1 Thessalonians 5:17
&ldquo;Lord, help me.&rdquo; This is what I recited to myself as I waited in the lab to have my blood drawn. This was part of the doctor's orders for some health challenges that I had been dealing with since the summer. I prayed again once I got my blood drawn and went home to work.
&ldquo;Lord, I can't do this without you. I'm asking for complete and total healing for my body. Help my thyroid levels to raise to appropriate levels. Let my lab work come back normal. Allow me another day to serve you. Amen.&rdquo;
I went about my day, checking items off my to-do list. As I sat down to dinner, I said grace. &ldquo;Lord, thank you for this food. Thank you for this day. Thank you for another productive day. Let us be grateful for your provision. Amen.&rdquo;
As I laid my head down on the pillow to go to sleep. Many thoughts went through my head. &ldquo;Lord, help me to calm my racing thoughts. Please help me to put away the cares of the day. Please give me the rest I need to wake up refreshed tomorrow. Thank you for another day to serve you. Amen.&rdquo;
I admit I never understood what praying without ceasing meant. Because my mind often wandered toward work and other responsibilities of raising children and being a wife, in addition to serving in my local church, my mind didn't always think about praying. I often went through the day starting my day off in prayer, only to lay my head down at the end of a long day and fall fast asleep.&nbsp;
Though I've matured over the years, I realized that praying without ceasing means stopping and asking the Lord for his presence in all aspects of my life. Whether it's my morning prayer time, praying for the requests of friends and family, saying grace, or asking God to give me restorative sleep to get me through the next day, it's all part of praying without ceasing.&nbsp;
If we're honest, we all need help in this area. Like me, we often skate through our days without a thought about the Lord. Many of us live our lives inviting God into what we're doing. However, praying without ceasing involves asking the Lord what he wants from our days. As we pray and ask God for his guidance, presence, and provision, we may find divine interruptions throughout our day.&nbsp;
For example, we may be focused on our lives, only to find a phone call from a frantic friend that makes us stop and pray for them and with them. We may deal with financial or health crises, needing God's guidance throughout the day, sometimes every hour, or even every minute.&nbsp;
When we must cling to Jesus because our only hope is in him, it may find us praying like never before. We may find our thoughts drifting toward crying out to the Lord throughout the day. This gives new meaning to what it means to pray without ceasing.
Analyze your thought life. Do you find you go throughout your day, skating through each activity, giving little or no thought to the Lord? Do you often invite God into your actions rather than ask him for guidance? When we yield our lives entirely to him, we may find he has a different agenda for us than our lofty to-do list. We may find we must cross off an important task to address God's agenda for the day.&nbsp;
These divine interruptions accomplish God's agenda: to glorify God and to live out our purpose and mission to serve him. When we shift our perspective from a selfish invitation into our lives to a complete yielding of our lives to the Lord, we may find our lives easier. We may not only have the time to help a needy friend but also have time to complete our to-do list in record time.&nbsp;
God promises that he will be faithful in bearing them when we cast our cares on him. Even if we must put off unimportant tasks that feel important to us, we know God is in control. When we live believing that God is our story's author, we pray without ceasing and cling to the hope with him every minute of every hour.&nbsp;
Father, let us be people who pray without ceasing. Let us invite you into our lives, rather than simply inviting you to care for us as we fulfill our agendas. In our efforts to make you Lord of our lives, let us not stop communicating with you throughout our days. Amen.&nbsp;
Intersecting Faith and Life
How do you practice praying without ceasing?
How can you focus your mind more on God throughout the day?
Further Reading
&nbsp;Matthew 7:11

Pray Without Ceasing

In this thought-provoking episode of What Withholding Forgiveness Reveals About Our Hearts, we delve into the deeper implications of holding onto grudges and the impact it has on our spiritual and emotional well-being. We’ll explore the biblical principles of forgiveness, how our unwillingness to forgive can reveal hidden wounds, and the freedom that comes from extending grace to others. Join us as we reflect on the transformative power of forgiveness and its essential role in our relationship with God and others.

Join the Conversation:

We want to hear from you! What has your journey with forgiveness taught you about your heart? Share your insights and experiences with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. Let’s support one another in understanding and embracing the power of forgiveness!

🎙 🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW - YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER:https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/

Full Transcript Below:

What Withholding Forgiveness Reveals About Our Hearts

(813 words)

By Lynette Kittle

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy time seven times’”—Matthew 18:21-22

In watching rerun episodes of the classic hit television show “I Love Lucy,” the Church could learn a few lessons in how to forgive one another, seeing how over and over again, the characters forgive each other.

If unfamiliar with the show, the lead characters, who are also neighbors and best friends, Ricky and Lucy Ricardo and Fred and Ethel Mertz, repeatedly go through misunderstandings, quarrels, disagreements, and even knock-down, drag-out fights, exchanging hurtful words and actions, but eventually working through them, ending each show by making up and declaring their love for one another, vowing to be lifelong friends.

It’s a picture of what relationships are supposed to be, not the hurtful words and actions, but the forgiving, making up, and loving one another regardless of past hurts. 

Sadly Lacking in Forgiveness

Sadly, even Christians today are lacking in knowing how to forgive and reconcile with each other, following secular counsel more than God’s counsel concerning forgiving one another. 

Colossians 3:13 urges, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you,” 

But instead of following God’s direction and repeatedly forgiving someone, some are setting up their own rules by dropping people right and left from their lives, canceling them out, unwilling to forgive the 70 x 7 that Jesus instructs us to follow. 

But still, God is the author of forgiveness, not us. Yet, some are skipping over Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Counter to Jesus’ words, some churches are even encouraging and supporting individuals casting people aside who they deem “toxic,” rather than bringing them to redemption and reconciliation.

But what if the people who refuse to forgive others are actually more toxic than those who need to be forgiven? What if their hearts are filled with pride, setting their standard for forgiveness above God’s requirement for forgiveness?

We’re All Born Toxic

God’s way is to forgive toxic people; if it wasn’t, then He wouldn’t have given Jesus to the world as John 3:16 explains. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Since Adam’s fall in the garden, humans are born toxic, contaminated by sin. Romans 5:12 describes, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.”

It’s not until we receive God’s forgiveness through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross that we become detoxified. As Romans 5:19 explains, “For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.”

Sadly, some believers are falling terribly short these days, not understanding how unforgiveness is extremely toxic in the life of a believer, not considering that unforgiveness is sin, as well as an indicator and evidence of unbelief. 

The Forgiveness Meter

God doesn’t ever approve of our being unforgiving. It’s unacceptable because we have been forgiven by Him. By receiving His forgiveness, we surrender our right to be unforgiving towards others, and God will not ever justify us withholding forgiveness from each other.

Christians who withhold forgiveness do not understand that forgiveness is a meter of sorts, revealing how much we’ve received God’s forgiveness for ourselves. It’s very telling, exposing our heart and how little or much we’ve truly received His forgiveness.

Pride is behind unforgiveness, convincing us we have a higher standard of forgiveness than God does, rejecting His instruction to forgive, believing we know better. 

“The Sky Is the Limit” with God’s Forgiveness

With God, we’re given an unending source of forgiveness for ourselves and for each other, surrendering our right to hold an unforgiving heart towards anyone else after we receive God’s forgiveness for ourselves.

Although as humans, we may limit the times we are willing to forgive others, God does not. If we were to see a list of how many times God has already forgiven us to this point in our lives, it would be countless. Still, He continues to forgive us through the end of our lives on earth.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Have you considered how many times God forgives you in a day, a week, a year, or a lifetime? If not, ask Him to remind you of all the times He’s forgiven you and if there is anyone you need to forgive.

 

Further Reading: Is Unforgiveness Evidence of Unbelief?

https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/is-unforgiveness-evidence-of-unbelief-the-crosswalk-devotional.html 

In this thought-provoking episode of What Withholding Forgiveness Reveals About Our Hearts, we delve into the deeper implications of holding onto grudges and the impact it has on our spiritual and emotional well-being. We&rsquo;ll explore the biblical principles of forgiveness, how our unwillingness to forgive can reveal hidden wounds, and the freedom that comes from extending grace to others. Join us as we reflect on the transformative power of forgiveness and its essential role in our relationship with God and others.
Join the Conversation:
We want to hear from you! What has your journey with forgiveness taught you about your heart? Share your insights and experiences with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. Let&rsquo;s support one another in understanding and embracing the power of forgiveness!
🎙 🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW - YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/">https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/</a>
Full Transcript Below:
What Withholding Forgiveness Reveals About Our Hearts
(813 words)
By Lynette Kittle
&ldquo;Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, &lsquo;Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?&rsquo; Jesus answered, &lsquo;I tell you, not seven times, but seventy time seven times&rsquo;&rdquo;&mdash;Matthew 18:21-22
In watching rerun episodes of the classic hit television show &ldquo;I Love Lucy,&rdquo; the Church could learn a few lessons in how to forgive one another, seeing how over and over again, the characters forgive each other.
If unfamiliar with the show, the lead characters, who are also neighbors and best friends, Ricky and Lucy Ricardo and Fred and Ethel Mertz, repeatedly go through misunderstandings, quarrels, disagreements, and even knock-down, drag-out fights, exchanging hurtful words and actions, but eventually working through them, ending each show by making up and declaring their love for one another, vowing to be lifelong friends.
It&rsquo;s a picture of what relationships are supposed to be, not the hurtful words and actions, but the forgiving, making up, and loving one another regardless of past hurts.&nbsp;
Sadly Lacking in Forgiveness
Sadly, even Christians today are lacking in knowing how to forgive and reconcile with each other, following secular counsel more than God&rsquo;s counsel concerning forgiving one another.&nbsp;
Colossians 3:13 urges, &ldquo;Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you,&rdquo;&nbsp;
But instead of following God&rsquo;s direction and repeatedly forgiving someone, some are setting up their own rules by dropping people right and left from their lives, canceling them out, unwilling to forgive the 70 x 7 that Jesus instructs us to follow.&nbsp;
But still, God is the author of forgiveness, not us. Yet, some are skipping over Ephesians 4:32, &ldquo;Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.&rdquo;
Counter to Jesus&rsquo; words, some churches are even encouraging and supporting individuals casting people aside who they deem &ldquo;toxic,&rdquo; rather than bringing them to redemption and reconciliation.
But what if the people who refuse to forgive others are actually more toxic than those who need to be forgiven? What if their hearts are filled with pride, setting their standard for forgiveness above God&rsquo;s requirement for forgiveness?
We&rsquo;re All Born Toxic
God&rsquo;s way is to forgive toxic people; if it wasn&rsquo;t, then He wouldn&rsquo;t have given Jesus to the world as John 3:16 explains. &ldquo;For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.&rdquo;
Since Adam&rsquo;s fall in the garden, humans are born toxic, contaminated by sin. Romans 5:12 describes, &ldquo;Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.&rdquo;
It&rsquo;s not until we receive God&rsquo;s forgiveness through Jesus Christ&rsquo;s sacrifice on the cross that we become detoxified. As Romans 5:19 explains, &ldquo;For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.&rdquo;
Sadly, some believers are falling terribly short these days, not understanding how unforgiveness is extremely toxic in the life of a believer, not considering that unforgiveness is sin, as well as an indicator and evidence of unbelief.&nbsp;
The Forgiveness Meter
God doesn&rsquo;t ever approve of our being unforgiving. It&rsquo;s unacceptable because we have been forgiven by Him. By receiving His forgiveness, we surrender our right to be unforgiving towards others, and God will not ever justify us withholding forgiveness from each other.
Christians who withhold forgiveness do not understand that forgiveness is a meter of sorts, revealing how much we&rsquo;ve received God&rsquo;s forgiveness for ourselves. It&rsquo;s very telling, exposing our heart and how little or much we&rsquo;ve truly received His forgiveness.
Pride is behind unforgiveness, convincing us we have a higher standard of forgiveness than God does, rejecting His instruction to forgive, believing we know better.&nbsp;
&ldquo;The Sky Is the Limit&rdquo; with God&rsquo;s Forgiveness
With God, we&rsquo;re given an unending source of forgiveness for ourselves and for each other, surrendering our right to hold an unforgiving heart towards anyone else after we receive God&rsquo;s forgiveness for ourselves.
Although as humans, we may limit the times we are willing to forgive others, God does not. If we were to see a list of how many times God has already forgiven us to this point in our lives, it would be countless. Still, He continues to forgive us through the end of our lives on earth.
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life: Have you considered how many times God forgives you in a day, a week, a year, or a lifetime? If not, ask Him to remind you of all the times He&rsquo;s forgiven you and if there is anyone you need to forgive.
&nbsp;
Further Reading: Is Unforgiveness Evidence of Unbelief?
<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/is-unforgiveness-evidence-of-unbelief-the-crosswalk-devotional.html">https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/is-unforgiveness-evidence-of-unbelief-the-crosswalk-devotional.html</a>&nbsp;

What Withholding Forgiveness Reveals about Our Hearts

Many of us struggle with the desire to control our circumstances, but true peace and freedom come when we release our grip and trust in His plan. We’ll discuss practical strategies for surrendering control in our lives, the importance of faith, and how this process can lead to deeper spiritual growth.

Join the Conversation:

We want to hear from you! What areas of your life are you learning to release control over? Share your stories and insights with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. Let’s encourage one another as we embrace the freedom that comes with surrendering to God!

🎙 🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW - YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER:https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/

Full Transcript Below:

Releasing Control 

by Cindi McMenamin, Crosswalk Contributing Writer 

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” Isaiah 26:3 ESV)

It took me awhile, but I’ve finally come to the conclusion that you and I are not in control of our lives, as much as we’d like to think we are. 

I learned this lesson during 2020, after experiencing a series of losses. Thankfully, I didn’t lose anyone close to me during the pandemic. But I did lose other things that hurt deeply. I lost the opportunity to be with and hug my little nephews. I lost a speaking opportunity at a prestigious writers conference for which I had waited more than a decade to be on the faculty. And I lost the ability to visit some favorite places of mine where I felt near to God and His blessings. 

While the loss of opportunities and daily routine was difficult, why did it take a pandemic –and the fear it arouses, the mandates it included, and the restrictions put in place—to make me feel I had no control of my life and circumstances?   

What I really lost during that time was the belief that I was in control—as if I ever really was. 

We thrive today on the notion that we make our own reality. If you can dream it, you can do it. We think and therefore we are. And yet, how much peace–and how much less striving—we would experience if we daily acknowledged that there is really only One who is in control…and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Through Jesus, God’s own Son, we have the assurance that when it looks like things are out of control, when were convinced we have no control, He is still very much in control.  And all His ways are good. Through Jesus, we can experience peace, not the endless striving to control, and the resulting frustration of not being able to control. 

Intersecting Faith and Life:

Loss and frustration impacts every one of us at some time in our lives, even when we’re trusting in God. Loss happens because we’re living in a fallen world. In the midst of a relationship with God, loss threatens our happiness, it tries to kill our joy, and in some extreme cases, it makes us believe we’ll have unending heartache. 

Because you and I were created to live eternally in a sinless world, and experience life with others who will live eternally, we weren’t created with a mental and emotional capacity for loss and death. Yet because we now live in a world of sin and death, we must rely on God for an otherworldly ability to cope with loss. And that happens as we release our sense of control and acknowledge that God is in charge and He is still good, 

In the New Living Translation, Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” In other words, as you keep your heart and mind fixed on Jesus, regardless of your circumstances, regardless of your losses, you will experience what Scripture calls “perfect peace”—not momentary peace, not worldly peace, not a mystical self-confidence type of peace, but a perfect, incomprehensible, only-from-the-presence-of-God peace as you trust in Him. 

That kind of peace is not a blanket promise to all who simply believe God exists.  It’s a guarantee to those who are steadfast, unmoving in their faith in who God is, His absolute control over all things, and His ability to govern, regardless of our circumstances. 

For me, exercising that steadfast immovable faith consists of saying aloud the words “God, this did not take You by surprise. You are still in control. You are still good. And all your ways are perfect” (Psalm 18:30). 

We can rob ourselves of peace when our minds are fixed on our emotions, or the outcomes we are trying to achieve, or on all the options we must investigate. Yet fixing our eyes on Jesus, and trusting that He is still on the throne, and He is still capable of doing all things, and doing them perfectly, can keep us in a place of perfect peace. 

As I’ve trusted Him and fixed my mind on Him, I’ve seen my Heavenly Father come through in amazingly gentle and perfect ways. Only God can ease the pain of loss, and the sting of death, and make the timing of one’s passing perfect. God truly is the author of peace, not the author of panic. He’s the author of calm, not confusion, and the author of rest, not stress.

He will keep you and me in perfect peace, whose minds are steadfast, and whose trust is in Him. 

Further reading: Psalm 145.

For more on growing in your relationship with God, see Cindi’s book: The New Loneliness Devotional: 50 Days to a Closer Connection with God. 

Many of us struggle with the desire to control our circumstances, but true peace and freedom come when we release our grip and trust in His plan. We&rsquo;ll discuss practical strategies for surrendering control in our lives, the importance of faith, and how this process can lead to deeper spiritual growth.
Join the Conversation:
We want to hear from you! What areas of your life are you learning to release control over? Share your stories and insights with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. Let&rsquo;s encourage one another as we embrace the freedom that comes with surrendering to God!
🎙 🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW - YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/">https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/</a>
Full Transcript Below:
Releasing Control&nbsp;
by Cindi McMenamin, Crosswalk Contributing Writer&nbsp;
&ldquo;You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you&rdquo; Isaiah 26:3 ESV)
It took me awhile, but I&rsquo;ve finally come to the conclusion that you and I are not in control of our lives, as much as we&rsquo;d like to think we are.&nbsp;
I learned this lesson during 2020, after experiencing a series of losses. Thankfully, I didn&rsquo;t lose anyone close to me during the pandemic. But I did lose other things that hurt deeply. I lost the opportunity to be with and hug my little nephews. I lost a speaking opportunity at a prestigious writers conference for which I had waited more than a decade to be on the faculty. And I lost the ability to visit some favorite places of mine where I felt near to God and His blessings.&nbsp;
While the loss of opportunities and daily routine was difficult, why did it take a pandemic &ndash;and the fear it arouses, the mandates it included, and the restrictions put in place&mdash;to make me feel I had no control of my life and circumstances?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
What I really lost during that time was the belief that I was in control&mdash;as if I ever really was.&nbsp;
We thrive today on the notion that we make our own reality. If you can dream it, you can do it. We think and therefore we are. And yet, how much peace&ndash;and how much less striving&mdash;we would experience if we daily acknowledged that there is really only One who is in control&hellip;and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Through Jesus, God&rsquo;s own Son, we have the assurance that when it looks like things are out of control, when were convinced we have no control, He is still very much in control.&nbsp; And all His ways are good. Through Jesus, we can experience peace, not the endless striving to control, and the resulting frustration of not being able to control.&nbsp;
Intersecting Faith and Life:
Loss and frustration impacts every one of us at some time in our lives, even when we&rsquo;re trusting in God. Loss happens because we&rsquo;re living in a fallen world. In the midst of a relationship with God, loss threatens our happiness, it tries to kill our joy, and in some extreme cases, it makes us believe we&rsquo;ll have unending heartache.&nbsp;
Because you and I were created to live eternally in a sinless world, and experience life with others who will live eternally, we weren&rsquo;t created with a mental and emotional capacity for loss and death. Yet because we now live in a world of sin and death, we must rely on God for an otherworldly ability to cope with loss. And that happens as we release our sense of control and acknowledge that God is in charge and He is still good,&nbsp;
In the New Living Translation, Isaiah 26:3 says, &ldquo;You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!&rdquo; In other words, as you keep your heart and mind fixed on Jesus, regardless of your circumstances, regardless of your losses, you will experience what Scripture calls &ldquo;perfect peace&rdquo;&mdash;not momentary peace, not worldly peace, not a mystical self-confidence type of peace, but a perfect, incomprehensible, only-from-the-presence-of-God peace as you trust in Him.&nbsp;
That kind of peace is not a blanket promise to all who simply believe God exists.&nbsp; It&rsquo;s a guarantee to those who are steadfast, unmoving in their faith in who God is, His absolute control over all things, and His ability to govern, regardless of our circumstances.&nbsp;
For me, exercising that steadfast immovable faith consists of saying aloud the words &ldquo;God, this did not take You by surprise. You are still in control. You are still good. And all your ways are perfect&rdquo; (Psalm 18:30).&nbsp;
We can rob ourselves of peace when our minds are fixed on our emotions, or the outcomes we are trying to achieve, or on all the options we must investigate. Yet fixing our eyes on Jesus, and trusting that He is still on the throne, and He is still capable of doing all things, and doing them perfectly, can keep us in a place of perfect peace.&nbsp;
As I&rsquo;ve trusted Him and fixed my mind on Him, I&rsquo;ve seen my Heavenly Father come through in amazingly gentle and perfect ways. Only God can ease the pain of loss, and the sting of death, and make the timing of one&rsquo;s passing perfect. God truly is the author of peace, not the author of panic. He&rsquo;s the author of calm, not confusion, and the author of rest, not stress.
He will keep you and me in perfect peace, whose minds are steadfast, and whose trust is in Him.&nbsp;
Further reading: Psalm 145.
For more on growing in your relationship with God, see Cindi&rsquo;s book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/New-Loneliness-Devotional-Closer-Connection/dp/0736989250/ref=sr_1_1?crid=27EJ8NZ0J66T4&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.TmMnSOVvCMTwhHlx85y3XjGXf3_3YngV6Aac9qHg--TFVMEsiRoUh-yKF_uJEriQeMMUv-__NfTX3M_1pE9mp8QOcpsKAHU6OUY5NjIBLrawoQhUPivgq4V">The New Loneliness Devotional: 50 Days to a Closer Connection with God</a>.&nbsp;

A Friend Loves at All Times

The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

In 1 playlist(s)

The Crosswalk Devotional

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips