Jesus shows us how the virtues of forgiveness, acceptance, and restoration change outcomes, not only in our offender’s life but also in our hearts. - Jessica Van Roekel

SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:

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

Jesus shows us how the virtues of forgiveness, acceptance, and restoration change outcomes, not only in our offender’s life but also in our hearts. - Jessica Van Roekel
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

Exploring Real Forgiveness

God often calls us to roles that feel overwhelming or beyond our capacity. Jennifer Slattery reflects on how recognizing our flaws doesn’t disqualify us—instead, God can use our weaknesses to grow our faith and strength. By serving Him wholeheartedly, seeking Him consistently, and relying on His guidance, we can step confidently into the assignments He’s placed before us. Even when tasks seem impossible, God equips us to follow His commands and complete the work He has called us to.

Highlights


Feeling ill-equipped doesn’t mean you’re disqualified; imperfection can lead to growth when anchored in God.


Like Solomon, success in divine assignments requires a close relationship with God and attentive obedience.


Serve God with a unified heart, setting aside mixed motives and self-protection.


Seek God through prayer, Bible reading, worship, journaling, and surrender to His guidance.


Courage and strength come from trusting that God has placed you in the role and will make your efforts fruitful.

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:

Hearts Prepared for Divine Assignments
By: Jennifer Slattery

Bible Reading:
“So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel and of the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever.
“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.” - 1 Chronicles 28:8-10

Years ago, when I began to sense that God was opening doors for publication and establishing my calling, I became overwhelmingly aware of my sin, flaws, and weaknesses. I feared I wasn’t spiritually or emotionally mature enough to hold any type of platform for Him. Initially, I wanted to withdraw and choose a less visible role (also known as suppress and deny my gifting). As I prayed through this, however, the Lord helped me see that yes, I assessed my faults and potential vulnerabilities correctly, but my imperfection needn’t disqualify me. My recognition could, in fact, lead to growth and strength, so long as I remained focused on and connected to Him. 

If I wanted to live more like Jesus in this new and much more public role, I needed to consistently apply King David’s advice to his son Solomon. David, ancient Israel’s second king, knew his life neared its end and wanted to ensure his son had everything he needed to lead the nation well and complete David’s long-held dream of building the first permanent temple for God. 

This assignment must’ve felt overwhelming.   

To succeed, Solomon needed much more than building, math, leadership, and problem-solving skills. He needed to maintain a close relationship with God in which he remained alert to the Lord’s voice and set his heart on dependent obedience. 

Intersection Life & Faith:

We’ve probably all landed in situations for which we felt severely ill-equipped. Perhaps you’re parenting a rebellious and drug-addicted teenager, managing a highly toxic team, facing a diagnosis with confusing treatment options, or trying to heal from deep childhood wounds. 

When the path ahead feels steep and shrouded in fog, we can stall in fear, march ahead in human foolishness, or apply today’s passage.

Again, this reads:

“Be careful to follow all the commands of the Lord your God … 9 “... serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you … the Lord has chosen you... Be strong and do the work” (1 Chron. 28:8b-10, NIV). 

Let’s break this down. 

Be careful to follow God’s commands. This implies living with intention and predetermining to obey; however, He leads. Of course, I must know the Lord’s will, as recorded in Scripture and whispered in my heart, to remain intimately aligned with my Savior. 

Serve Him with my whole heart. Sadly, I often carry mixed motives. I want to honor Christ and to self-protect. I long to love my family well, but my pride often gets in the way. I choose contentment while simultaneously fighting against a desire for increased wealth, beauty, or better health. But with God’s help, I can worship Him with a unified heart. 

Seek God through prayer, Bible reading, worship, journaling, and inviting Him to remove any lies that distort my perspective of Him. He will be found by me. I’m comforted knowing that God never withholds love or relationship. He always makes Himself available to us. The moment I take a step toward Him, He is already moving toward me (James 4:8).

The Lord has chosen you. When my insecurities tell me someone else would perform my responsibilities better, the Spirit reminds me that God placed me in this role. He alone holds the figurative pen for my life and the power to make my efforts fruitful.

Be strong and do the work. While I want to begin each day quietly connecting with Christ, eventually I must leave my figurative prayer closet to follow however He leads.

May these steps, and your Father who preserved them in writing, increase your courage and resolve the next time you feel overwhelmed or insufficient for whatever stands before you.

Further Reading:
Colossians 3:23-24
2 Timothy 2:1-7
Hebrews 10:36-39

God often calls us to roles that feel overwhelming or beyond our capacity. Jennifer Slattery reflects on how recognizing our flaws doesn&rsquo;t disqualify us&mdash;instead, God can use our weaknesses to grow our faith and strength. By serving Him wholeheartedly, seeking Him consistently, and relying on His guidance, we can step confidently into the assignments He&rsquo;s placed before us. Even when tasks seem impossible, God equips us to follow His commands and complete the work He has called us to.
Highlights
<ul data-start="969" data-end="1491">
<li data-start="969" data-end="1081">
Feeling ill-equipped doesn&rsquo;t mean you&rsquo;re disqualified; imperfection can lead to growth when anchored in God.
</li>
<li data-start="1082" data-end="1193">
Like Solomon, success in divine assignments requires a close relationship with God and attentive obedience.
</li>
<li data-start="1194" data-end="1278">
Serve God with a unified heart, setting aside mixed motives and self-protection.
</li>
<li data-start="1279" data-end="1374">
Seek God through prayer, Bible reading, worship, journaling, and surrender to His guidance.
</li>
<li data-start="1375" data-end="1491">
Courage and strength come from trusting that God has placed you in the role and will make your efforts fruitful.
</li>
</ul>
This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. &nbsp;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 | <a href="https://trinitycredit.org/">https://trinitycredit.org</a>
TrinityCredit &ndash; 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. <a href="https://trinitycredit.org/">https://trinitycredit.org</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
Hearts Prepared for Divine Assignments By: Jennifer Slattery
Bible Reading: &ldquo;So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel and of the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever. &ldquo;And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.&rdquo; - 1 Chronicles 28:8-10
Years ago, when I began to sense that God was opening doors for publication and establishing my calling, I became overwhelmingly aware of my sin, flaws, and weaknesses. I feared I wasn&rsquo;t spiritually or emotionally mature enough to hold any type of platform for Him. Initially, I wanted to withdraw and choose a less visible role (also known as suppress and deny my gifting). As I prayed through this, however, the Lord helped me see that yes, I assessed my faults and potential vulnerabilities correctly, but my imperfection needn&rsquo;t disqualify me. My recognition could, in fact, lead to growth and strength, so long as I remained focused on and connected to Him.&nbsp;
If I wanted to live more like Jesus in this new and much more public role, I needed to consistently apply King David&rsquo;s advice to his son Solomon. David, ancient Israel&rsquo;s second king, knew his life neared its end and wanted to ensure his son had everything he needed to lead the nation well and complete David&rsquo;s long-held dream of building the first permanent temple for God.&nbsp;
This assignment must&rsquo;ve felt overwhelming.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
To succeed, Solomon needed much more than building, math, leadership, and problem-solving skills. He needed to maintain a close relationship with God in which he remained alert to the Lord&rsquo;s voice and set his heart on dependent obedience.&nbsp;
Intersection Life &amp; Faith:
We&rsquo;ve probably all landed in situations for which we felt severely ill-equipped. Perhaps you&rsquo;re parenting a rebellious and drug-addicted teenager, managing a highly toxic team, facing a diagnosis with confusing treatment options, or trying to heal from deep childhood wounds.&nbsp;
When the path ahead feels steep and shrouded in fog, we can stall in fear, march ahead in human foolishness, or apply today&rsquo;s passage.
Again, this reads:
&ldquo;Be careful to follow all the commands of the Lord your God &hellip; 9 &ldquo;... serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you &hellip; the Lord has chosen you... Be strong and do the work&rdquo; (1 Chron. 28:8b-10, NIV).&nbsp;
Let&rsquo;s break this down.&nbsp;
Be careful to follow God&rsquo;s commands. This implies living with intention and predetermining to obey; however, He leads. Of course, I must know the Lord&rsquo;s will, as recorded in Scripture and whispered in my heart, to remain intimately aligned with my Savior.&nbsp;
Serve Him with my whole heart. Sadly, I often carry mixed motives. I want to honor Christ and to self-protect. I long to love my family well, but my pride often gets in the way. I choose contentment while simultaneously fighting against a desire for increased wealth, beauty, or better health. But with God&rsquo;s help, I can worship Him with a unified heart.&nbsp;
Seek God through prayer, Bible reading, worship, journaling, and inviting Him to remove any lies that distort my perspective of Him. He will be found by me. I&rsquo;m comforted knowing that God never withholds love or relationship. He always makes Himself available to us. The moment I take a step toward Him, He is already moving toward me (James 4:8).
The Lord has chosen you. When my insecurities tell me someone else would perform my responsibilities better, the Spirit reminds me that God placed me in this role. He alone holds the figurative pen for my life and the power to make my efforts fruitful.
Be strong and do the work. While I want to begin each day quietly connecting with Christ, eventually I must leave my figurative prayer closet to follow however He leads.
May these steps, and your Father who preserved them in writing, increase your courage and resolve the next time you feel overwhelmed or insufficient for whatever stands before you.
Further Reading: Colossians 3:23-24 2 Timothy 2:1-7 Hebrews 10:36-39

Hearts Prepared for Divine Assignments

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/117f2fc4-ea3a-4bbb-9474-b40101126253/transcript

Reading the Bible can feel intimidating, especially when we try to understand it on our own. Emily Rose Massey reflects on her own journey of faith, realizing that the Holy Spirit—our Helper and Teacher—guides believers into understanding God’s Word. With the Spirit’s illumination, scripture becomes more than words on a page; it becomes life-giving truth that shapes our hearts, transforms our minds, and draws us closer to God.

Highlights


The Bible is a gift from God, meant to guide us in knowing Him and living faithfully.


Spiritual understanding comes through the Holy Spirit, not human effort alone.


The Holy Spirit brings scripture to remembrance and illuminates its meaning over time.


Consistent Bible reading allows God’s truth to take root in our hearts.


Even with distractions and intimidation, the Holy Spirit helps us comprehend God’s Word for deeper worship and life transformation.

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:

The Holy Spirit Is the Best Teacher 

By: Emily Rose Massey

Bible Reading:

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26, ESV).

In high school, I was gifted a Bible when I became a member of my new church. I was so excited to start reading it and learn more about God, but as time went on, I became more and more intimidated by its pages. Where do I begin? Do I start in Genesis and just read through it beginning to end? Do I need to spend time memorizing what I’m reading? What does this word mean?

These thoughts circled my teenage mind, and I was so hesitant to even dive in for fear that I wouldn’t understand what I was reading. It didn’t take long for schoolwork and all of the extracurricular activities I was involved in to crowd out any downtime to make space to read my Bible. Soon enough, that Bible would find a permanent home on my bookshelf, left untouched. I hate to admit it, but the intimidation and distractions would follow me all through college as well. When I was stressed out, I would glance at my neglected Bible and randomly open it and try to soak up some hope for my weary soul.

Although I heard the gospel as a teen and was a professing Christian for six years, it wasn’t until after I graduated from college that God granted me genuine repentance from my sin and rebellion and gave me the faith to fully surrender my life to Christ and trust Him completely. One Sunday, I stepped foot in a church service for the first time in a few years, and I believe I was born again that day, as the reality of offending a Holy God and my desperate need to turn to Jesus, take up my cross, and follow Him overwhelmed me for the first time in my life. After that moment, my whole world changed, and I suddenly had a deep desire to read my Bible and obey God. I look back and see the difference between my high school and college days was that I was trying to understand what I was reading without the help of the Holy Spirit. Once I became born again at the age of twenty-two, I was given the gift of the Holy Spirit- Jesus describes Him as a Comforter as well as a Helper and Teacher in John 14:

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26, ESV).

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As born-again believers, when we open the pages of scripture, we are not left on our own to understand what we are reading. We have a Helper and a great Teacher, the Holy Spirit, to guide us in our pursuit of growing in the knowledge of the Lord. He illuminates the truth to us over time and will bring what we have read to our remembrance. This is why it is so important to consistently be reading our Bibles, so that we can store what we are studying in our hearts. The Bible is a gift from God to help us in our daily lives- to be able to learn of God’s ways and learn who God truly is so that we can grow closer to Him and worship Him rightly. 

I have to admit that I sometimes still struggle with intimidation and distraction when it comes to reading my Bible, but after walking with the Lord for over fifteen years now, I know that I am not left alone on this journey. I have a Helper who guides me into all truth and supernaturally helps me understand the words I am reading- words that are spirit and life (John 6:63). He is always with me, and I can always ask Him for help. Dear Christian, let us thank the Father for the gift of the Holy Spirit. The One who convicts us of sin when we daily fall short. The One who is our ever-present help in times of need and who guides us into all truth. If you are struggling to study the Bible or are intimidated by it, He will supernaturally illuminate what you are reading and give you the ability to comprehend, not just for head knowledge, but ultimately, to help you know God more deeply so that you can worship Him more fully. Oh, what a wonderful gift from above!

Further Reading:

Romans 8:26
John 16:12-15

Reading the Bible can feel intimidating, especially when we try to understand it on our own. Emily Rose Massey reflects on her own journey of faith, realizing that the Holy Spirit&mdash;our Helper and Teacher&mdash;guides believers into understanding God&rsquo;s Word. With the Spirit&rsquo;s illumination, scripture becomes more than words on a page; it becomes life-giving truth that shapes our hearts, transforms our minds, and draws us closer to God.
Highlights
<ul data-start="855" data-end="1330">
<li data-start="855" data-end="944">
The Bible is a gift from God, meant to guide us in knowing Him and living faithfully.
</li>
<li data-start="945" data-end="1027">
Spiritual understanding comes through the Holy Spirit, not human effort alone.
</li>
<li data-start="1028" data-end="1118">
The Holy Spirit brings scripture to remembrance and illuminates its meaning over time.
</li>
<li data-start="1119" data-end="1194">
Consistent Bible reading allows God&rsquo;s truth to take root in our hearts.
</li>
<li data-start="1195" data-end="1330">
Even with distractions and intimidation, the Holy Spirit helps us comprehend God&rsquo;s Word for deeper worship and life transformation.
</li>
</ul>
This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. &nbsp;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 | <a href="https://trinitycredit.org/">https://trinitycredit.org</a>
TrinityCredit &ndash; 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. <a href="https://trinitycredit.org/">https://trinitycredit.org</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
The Holy Spirit Is the Best Teacher&nbsp;
By: Emily Rose Massey
Bible Reading:
&ldquo;But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you&rdquo; (John 14:26, ESV).
In high school, I was gifted a Bible when I became a member of my new church. I was so excited to start reading it and learn more about God, but as time went on, I became more and more intimidated by its pages. Where do I begin? Do I start in Genesis and just read through it beginning to end? Do I need to spend time memorizing what I&rsquo;m reading? What does this word mean?
These thoughts circled my teenage mind, and I was so hesitant to even dive in for fear that I wouldn&rsquo;t understand what I was reading. It didn&rsquo;t take long for schoolwork and all of the extracurricular activities I was involved in to crowd out any downtime to make space to read my Bible. Soon enough, that Bible would find a permanent home on my bookshelf, left untouched. I hate to admit it, but the intimidation and distractions would follow me all through college as well. When I was stressed out, I would glance at my neglected Bible and randomly open it and try to soak up some hope for my weary soul.
Although I heard the gospel as a teen and was a professing Christian for six years, it wasn&rsquo;t until after I graduated from college that God granted me genuine repentance from my sin and rebellion and gave me the faith to fully surrender my life to Christ and trust Him completely. One Sunday, I stepped foot in a church service for the first time in a few years, and I believe I was born again that day, as the reality of offending a Holy God and my desperate need to turn to Jesus, take up my cross, and follow Him overwhelmed me for the first time in my life. After that moment, my whole world changed, and I suddenly had a deep desire to read my Bible and obey God. I look back and see the difference between my high school and college days was that I was trying to understand what I was reading without the help of the Holy Spirit. Once I became born again at the age of twenty-two, I was given the gift of the Holy Spirit- Jesus describes Him as a Comforter as well as a Helper and Teacher in John 14:
&ldquo;But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you&rdquo; (John 14:26, ESV).
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
As born-again believers, when we open the pages of scripture, we are not left on our own to understand what we are reading. We have a Helper and a great Teacher, the Holy Spirit, to guide us in our pursuit of growing in the knowledge of the Lord. He illuminates the truth to us over time and will bring what we have read to our remembrance. This is why it is so important to consistently be reading our Bibles, so that we can store what we are studying in our hearts. The Bible is a gift from God to help us in our daily lives- to be able to learn of God&rsquo;s ways and learn who God truly is so that we can grow closer to Him and worship Him rightly.&nbsp;
I have to admit that I sometimes still struggle with intimidation and distraction when it comes to reading my Bible, but after walking with the Lord for over fifteen years now, I know that I am not left alone on this journey. I have a Helper who guides me into all truth and supernaturally helps me understand the words I am reading- words that are spirit and life (John 6:63). He is always with me, and I can always ask Him for help. Dear Christian, let us thank the Father for the gift of the Holy Spirit. The One who convicts us of sin when we daily fall short. The One who is our ever-present help in times of need and who guides us into all truth. If you are struggling to study the Bible or are intimidated by it, He will supernaturally illuminate what you are reading and give you the ability to comprehend, not just for head knowledge, but ultimately, to help you know God more deeply so that you can worship Him more fully. Oh, what a wonderful gift from above!
Further Reading:
Romans 8:26 John 16:12-15

The Holy Spirit is the Best Teacher

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/edf9b8de-e34f-4705-9e33-b40101125ea8/transcript

God calls us to step forward in faith, even when we don’t see the full path ahead. Hannah Benson reflects on Abraham’s journey, emphasizing that trusting God often requires waiting, patience, and obedience despite uncertainty. Abraham’s story illustrates that God’s promises are trustworthy, even when fulfillment seems slow or beyond human logic. By believing God’s Word and following His direction, we can experience His faithfulness and become a blessing to others.

Highlights


God calls us to act in faith, even without knowing all the answers.


Abraham’s journey teaches patience, trust, and obedience in the waiting season.


God fulfills His promises in His timing, not ours, reminding us that no word from Him returns void (Isaiah 55:11).


Taking matters into our own hands, as Abraham and Sarah did with Hagar, can complicate God’s plan.


Trusting God’s Word requires both courage to move and patience to wait.

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:

Believe the Word the Lord Has Spoken

By Hannah Benson

Bible Reading:
“Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed’” (Genesis 12:1-3 ESV).

Recently, I re-read Abraham’s story through new eyes. Isn’t it amazing how we can read the same stories in Scripture again and again, yet every time we read them, the Lord will often reveal things we’ve never realized before?

God called Abraham (then called Abram) to leave his homeland and everything he knew and was familiar with to go to a land that He would show him.

How did Abraham feel about that? Was he afraid at all? Excited? Probably both.

But regardless of how he felt, note that he stepped forward in faith even though he didn’t have all the answers.

Read that again.

If God calls us to do something, we must step forward in faith even if we don’t have all the answers. In fact, I have found that God doesn’t always give us the answers all at once.

He’ll tell us the first step we need to take.

So many of us look at the long road ahead of us and think we need all the answers before we move forward.

A friend pointed out to me recently that in Exodus 24, Moses went into the fog of the mountain. Clarity came through hearing God’s voice and not from what he could see.

I do want to include a disclaimer here. Sometimes, the Lord puts something on our hearts, but it doesn’t mean the time is now. Just because something may be a God-thing doesn’t mean it’s always God’s time for it.

But when God calls us to step forward in faith, even when we can’t see the path ahead?

Step forward.

Go for it.

Even if you aren’t sure how, take the next step.

God didn’t just call Abraham. He gave him a promise. He promised He would make him a great nation, bless him, and make his name great so that he would be a blessing (Genesis 12:1-3).

Imagine what it meant for Abraham to believe that promise.

He had to leave everything familiar behind.

He had to step forward in faith even though it was frightening.

No matter what ran through Abraham’s mind, he chose to believe the promise God spoke, not knowing how or when it would come to fruition. He probably thought he would see the promise soon.

If God were to make him a great nation, then that meant God would give him a child. At this point, Abraham was 75 years old and his wife, Sarah, was 65. Perhaps he thought God would fulfill the promise within the next couple of years. After all, that made logical sense. Already, they were advanced in years and past childbearing age.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 ESV).

In other words, God doesn’t always do what makes logical sense to us.

And that’s what happened.

The promise took time, and in that time, Abraham grew discouraged.

He asked God questions. He wondered when it would happen, if the heir to his house would be Eliezer (Genesis 15:2).

God reassured Abraham that “your very own son shall be your heir” (Genesis 15:4 ESV). The Lord made a covenant with Abraham. Covenants in those days were made when two parties sacrificed animals, and the persons making the covenant passed between the split animals (or in the case of a king and his servant, the servant would pass through by himself), symbolizing, “May I be torn apart like these animals if I don’t keep my promise.” Sounds intense, doesn’t it?

Usually, the servant would walk between the animals. But instead, God put Abraham into a deep sleep and passed through the animals Himself. In other words, He was saying that He would be the One to pay the price if the covenant was broken (Genesis 15).

Abraham didn’t always remain perfectly faithful because, like the rest of us, he’s a sinner and unable to be perfect before a holy God. And one day, God fulfilled His promise, allowing Jesus, who is fully God and fully man, to be broken in atonement for all the sins we’ve committed and the broken promises we’ve ever made.

Isn’t that such a beautiful picture?

In Genesis 16, however, Abraham and Sarah (at the time still called Abram and Sarai) took matters into their own hands. Sarah suggested to Abraham that he “go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her” (v. 2b).

Abraham listened to his wife and had a child through Hagar.

God doesn’t waste anything, and every child, no matter how they are conceived, is a gift and a blessing. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t pain and conflict as a result of our actions.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

When we wait so long for something, we often begin to lose hope and think we must take matters into our own hands.

10 years after God made the promise that he would make of Abraham a great nation, the man and his wife still didn’t have a child.

Sometimes, the Lord asks us to knock, move forward in faith, and do something (Matthew 7:7).

Other times, the Lord asks us to quiet our hearts and be still before Him (Psalm 46:10).

In Abraham and Sarah’s story, God asked them to believe (Hebrews 11:11, Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:18).

God called them to go from their country and kindred to a land that He would show them, but after that, He didn’t have specific instructions. No doubt it made them wonder if they were supposed to do something, which is why Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham as a wife. Perhaps then she could bear a child through her servant.

But that was not what God had meant.

No, Sarah herself would bear a son.

The Lord had spoken the word.

No word from the Lord will return empty. It shall accomplish that which He has purposed and shall succeed in the thing for which He sent it (Isaiah 55:11) and “For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay” (Habakkuk 2:3 ESV).

Pray with me:

Dear Father, I thank You that Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105). I confess I often doubt Your Word and want all the answers rather than trusting You to take the next step. When I am in a season of “fog” like Moses, help me to listen for Your voice. When I am in a season of “waiting” like Abraham, help me to trust Your timing over my logic. Protect me from taking matters into my own hands, and give me the grace to be still when You say “wait” and the courage to move when You say “go.” Thank you for keeping Your promises, even when I am weak. In Jesus’s Name, Amen

God calls us to step forward in faith, even when we don&rsquo;t see the full path ahead. Hannah Benson reflects on Abraham&rsquo;s journey, emphasizing that trusting God often requires waiting, patience, and obedience despite uncertainty. Abraham&rsquo;s story illustrates that God&rsquo;s promises are trustworthy, even when fulfillment seems slow or beyond human logic. By believing God&rsquo;s Word and following His direction, we can experience His faithfulness and become a blessing to others.
Highlights
<ul data-start="981" data-end="1438">
<li data-start="981" data-end="1052">
God calls us to act in faith, even without knowing all the answers.
</li>
<li data-start="1053" data-end="1136">
Abraham&rsquo;s journey teaches patience, trust, and obedience in the waiting season.
</li>
<li data-start="1137" data-end="1259">
God fulfills His promises in His timing, not ours, reminding us that no word from Him returns void (Isaiah 55:11).
</li>
<li data-start="1260" data-end="1362">
Taking matters into our own hands, as Abraham and Sarah did with Hagar, can complicate God&rsquo;s plan.
</li>
<li data-start="1363" data-end="1438">
Trusting God&rsquo;s Word requires both courage to move and patience to wait.
</li>
</ul>
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<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
Believe the Word the Lord Has Spoken
By Hannah Benson
Bible Reading: &ldquo;Now the Lord said to Abram, &lsquo;Go from your country and your kindred and your father&rsquo;s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed&rsquo;&rdquo; (Genesis 12:1-3 ESV).
Recently, I re-read Abraham&rsquo;s story through new eyes. Isn&rsquo;t it amazing how we can read the same stories in Scripture again and again, yet every time we read them, the Lord will often reveal things we&rsquo;ve never realized before?
God called Abraham (then called Abram) to leave his homeland and everything he knew and was familiar with to go to a land that He would show him.
How did Abraham feel about that? Was he afraid at all? Excited? Probably both.
But regardless of how he felt, note that he stepped forward in faith&nbsp;even though he didn&rsquo;t have all the answers.
Read that again.
If God calls us to do something, we must&nbsp;step forward in faith even if we don&rsquo;t have all the answers. In fact, I have found that God doesn&rsquo;t always give us the answers all at once.
He&rsquo;ll tell us the first step we need to take.
So many of us look at the long road ahead of us and think we need all the answers before we move forward.
A friend pointed out to me recently that in Exodus 24, Moses went into the fog of the mountain. Clarity came through hearing God&rsquo;s voice and not from what he could see.
I do want to include a disclaimer here. Sometimes, the Lord puts something on our hearts, but it doesn&rsquo;t mean the time is now. Just because something may be a God-thing doesn&rsquo;t mean it&rsquo;s always God&rsquo;s time for it.
But when God calls us to step forward in faith, even when we can&rsquo;t see the path ahead?
Step forward.
Go for it.
Even if you aren&rsquo;t sure how, take the next step.
God didn&rsquo;t just call Abraham. He gave him a promise. He promised He would make him a great nation, bless him, and make his name great so that he would be a blessing (Genesis 12:1-3).
Imagine what it meant for Abraham to believe that promise.
He had to leave everything familiar behind.
He had to step forward in faith even though it was frightening.
No matter what ran through Abraham&rsquo;s mind, he chose to believe the promise God spoke, not knowing how or when it would come to fruition. He probably thought he would see the promise soon.
If God were to make him a great nation, then that meant God would give him a child. At this point, Abraham was 75 years old and his wife, Sarah, was 65. Perhaps he thought God would fulfill the promise within the next couple of years. After all, that made logical sense. Already, they were advanced in years and past childbearing age.
&ldquo;Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen&rdquo; (Hebrews 11:1 ESV).
In other words, God doesn&rsquo;t always do what makes logical sense to us.
And that&rsquo;s what happened.
The promise took time, and in that time, Abraham grew discouraged.
He asked God questions. He wondered when it would happen, if the heir to his house would be Eliezer (Genesis 15:2).
God reassured Abraham that &ldquo;your very own son shall be your heir&rdquo; (Genesis 15:4 ESV). The Lord made a covenant with Abraham. Covenants in those days were made when two parties sacrificed animals, and the persons making the covenant passed between the split animals (or in the case of a king and his servant, the servant would pass through by himself), symbolizing, &ldquo;May I be torn apart like these animals if I don&rsquo;t keep my promise.&rdquo; Sounds intense, doesn&rsquo;t it?
Usually, the servant would walk between the animals. But instead, God put Abraham into a deep sleep and passed through the animals Himself. In other words, He was saying that He would be the One to pay the price if the covenant was broken (Genesis 15).
Abraham didn&rsquo;t always remain perfectly faithful because, like the rest of us, he&rsquo;s a sinner and unable to be perfect before a holy God. And one day, God fulfilled His promise, allowing Jesus, who is fully God and fully man, to be broken in atonement for all the sins we&rsquo;ve committed and the broken promises we&rsquo;ve ever made.
Isn&rsquo;t that such a beautiful picture?
In Genesis 16, however, Abraham and Sarah (at the time still called Abram and Sarai) took matters into their own hands. Sarah suggested to Abraham that he &ldquo;go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her&rdquo; (v. 2b).
Abraham listened to his wife and had a child through Hagar.
God doesn&rsquo;t waste anything, and every child, no matter how they are conceived, is a gift and a blessing. However, that doesn&rsquo;t mean there isn&rsquo;t pain and conflict as a result of our actions.
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
When we wait so long for something, we often begin to lose hope and think we must take matters into our own hands.
10 years after God made the promise that he would make of Abraham a great nation, the man and his wife still didn&rsquo;t have a child.
Sometimes, the Lord asks us to knock, move forward in faith, and do something (Matthew 7:7).
Other times, the Lord asks us to quiet our hearts and be still before Him (Psalm 46:10).
In Abraham and Sarah&rsquo;s story, God asked them to believe (Hebrews 11:11, Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:18).
God called them to go from their country and kindred to a land that He would show them, but after that, He didn&rsquo;t have specific instructions. No doubt it made them wonder if they were supposed to do something, which is why Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham as a wife. Perhaps then she could bear a child through her servant.
But that was not what God had meant.
No, Sarah herself would bear a son.
The Lord had spoken the word.
No word from the Lord will return empty. It shall accomplish that which He has purposed and shall succeed in the thing for which He sent it (Isaiah 55:11) and &ldquo;For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end&mdash;it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay&rdquo; (Habakkuk 2:3 ESV).
Pray with me:
Dear Father, I thank You that Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105). I confess I often doubt Your Word and want all the answers rather than trusting You to take the next step. When I am in a season of &ldquo;fog&rdquo; like Moses, help me to listen for Your voice. When I am in a season of &ldquo;waiting&rdquo; like Abraham, help me to trust Your timing over my logic. Protect me from taking matters into my own hands, and give me the grace to be still when You say &ldquo;wait&rdquo; and the courage to move when You say &ldquo;go.&rdquo; Thank you for keeping Your promises, even when I am weak. In Jesus&rsquo;s Name, Amen

Believe the Word the Lord Has Spoken

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