Imagine a seed. It starts out small and has the potential to grow. How does God relate our faith to a seed? To a mountain? 

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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/

Imagine a seed. It starts out small and has the potential to grow. How does God relate our faith to a seed? To a mountain? 
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

What it Means to Have Faith that Can Move Mountains

Judging others can feel instinctive—especially when we think we see someone’s motives clearly. Yet Scripture reminds us that our focus on others often reveals what’s in our own hearts. Matthew 7:3 challenges us to examine ourselves before pointing out the faults of others. This devotional explores how a critical spirit can be transformed into a heart of blessing, freeing us to walk in purity and God’s favor.

Intersecting Faith & Life

Reflect on these questions:


When do you find yourself judging or critiquing others?


How might God want you to adjust your heart and your perspective?


What would it look like to bless someone who frustrates or challenges you?


How can letting go of control over others’ actions deepen your relationship with God?

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! 

Sign Up Today!

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:

One Tip to Break a Critical Spirit
By Kelly Balarie

Bible Reading:
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" – Matthew 7:3 NIV

Who does she think she is? She is only on social media because she wants people to see her, not because she really cares about anyone or Jesus... She's really in it for herself, and she wants everyone online to know—where she's traveling, what she is doing, how she is looking.

My mind started to go down this critical thinking track again. That is—until I stopped—and then I hung my head down in shame.

The hard truth is—I have judged so many. I have sized up people's intent online. I have sized up and surmised people's wrong motives. I made judgments about people's hearts that only God can know. I have hardened my heart towards people who are even doing the will of God... by deciding they are doing it for attention, for public perception, or for their own recognition.

I hung my head down, saying, "God, what do I know?"

Only God knows.

And what I am judging is what I am walking in. Meaning, I think it is about them, but what I am seeing is actually about me. It is worth taking a second to consider.

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" (Matt. 7:3)

If I spot it, I likely got it.

When push comes to shove, or when truth comes to light—I am doing what I am judging. I am seeking attention. I sometimes do things so others can see me. I have wrong motives.

No wonder God has shut doors on me; in His grace and love, He wants me to see rightly, so I can then move powerfully with a pure heart. In His saying no, He has created a special room for me to examine my heart. I also see that as I rectify my heart, there is great hope for big, yes opportunities from God.

The truth is, other people's motives are not my issue. My motive is.

What they do is none of my business.

Now I can see that I have been wrong. Dead wrong. But now I turn back to Christ. As I repent of this critical spirit and my wrong motives, they are removed as far as the East is from the West (Ps. 103:12).

Here, I can do a new thing to defeat this critical spirit: I can bless rather than distress others...

What does this look like?

It looks like:
Noticing when I am criticizing.
Stopping that mental track.
Ditching making them my business.
Praying a blessing over them instead.

Essentially, I can stop, bless, and then progress onward. Their motives are not my business. Me, keeping a pure heart? That's the business I am to be about.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

When do you find yourself judging or critiquing people? How might God want you to adjust course? What would it look like for you to bless those who curse you? What would it look like for you to let go of things or people you cannot control?

Judging others can feel instinctive&mdash;especially when we think we see someone&rsquo;s motives clearly. Yet Scripture reminds us that our focus on others often reveals what&rsquo;s in our own hearts. Matthew 7:3 challenges us to examine ourselves before pointing out the faults of others. This devotional explores how a critical spirit can be transformed into a heart of blessing, freeing us to walk in purity and God&rsquo;s favor.
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life
Reflect on these questions:
<ul data-start="1697" data-end="1995">
<li data-start="1697" data-end="1756">
When do you find yourself judging or critiquing others?
</li>
<li data-start="1757" data-end="1826">
How might God want you to adjust your heart and your perspective?
</li>
<li data-start="1827" data-end="1905">
What would it look like to bless someone who frustrates or challenges you?
</li>
<li data-start="1906" data-end="1995">
How can letting go of control over others&rsquo; actions deepen your relationship with God?
</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>
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:
One Tip to Break a Critical Spirit By Kelly Balarie
Bible Reading: "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother&rsquo;s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" &ndash; Matthew 7:3 NIV
Who does she think she is? She is only on social media because she wants people to see her, not because she really cares about anyone or Jesus... She's really in it for herself, and she wants everyone online to know&mdash;where she's traveling, what she is doing, how she is looking.
My mind started to go down this critical thinking track again. That is&mdash;until I stopped&mdash;and then I hung my head down in shame.
The hard truth is&mdash;I have judged so many. I have sized up people's intent online. I have sized up and surmised people's wrong motives. I made judgments about people's hearts that only God can know. I have hardened my heart towards people who are even doing the will of God... by deciding they are doing it for attention, for public perception, or for their own recognition.
I hung my head down, saying, "God, what do I know?"
Only God knows.
And what I am judging is what I am walking in. Meaning, I think it is about them, but what I am seeing is actually about me. It is worth taking a second to consider.
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother&rsquo;s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" (Matt. 7:3)
If I spot it, I likely got it.
When push comes to shove, or when truth comes to light&mdash;I am doing what I am judging. I am seeking attention. I sometimes do things so others can see me. I have wrong motives.
No wonder God has shut doors on me; in His grace and love, He wants me to see rightly, so I can then move powerfully with a pure heart. In His saying no, He has created a special room for me to examine my heart. I also see that as I rectify my heart, there is great hope for big, yes opportunities from God.
The truth is, other people's motives are not my issue. My motive is.
What they do is none of my business.
Now I can see that I have been wrong. Dead wrong. But now I turn back to Christ. As I repent of this critical spirit and my wrong motives, they are removed as far as the East is from the West (Ps. 103:12).
Here, I can do a new thing to defeat this critical spirit: I can bless rather than distress others...
What does this look like?
It looks like:
<ol>
<li aria-level="1">Noticing when I am criticizing.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Stopping that mental track.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Ditching making them my business.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Praying a blessing over them instead.</li>
</ol>
Essentially, I can stop, bless, and then progress onward. Their motives are not my business. Me, keeping a pure heart? That's the business I am to be about.
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
When do you find yourself judging or critiquing people? How might God want you to adjust course? What would it look like for you to bless those who curse you? What would it look like for you to let go of things or people you cannot control?

One Tip to Break a Critical Spirit

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/91430486-2416-43a4-a006-b3e9012d9b44/transcript

Feeling trapped by life’s circumstances is a struggle many of us know all too well—whether in jobs, relationships, health, or transitions between seasons. Yet Scripture shows us that God’s boundaries are not limitations, but instruments of His perfect plan. Drawing from Psalm 16:6 and the story of Joseph in Genesis 50, this devotional reminds us that what may feel like confinement can actually be a pathway to blessing, favor, and growth.

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! 

Sign Up Today!

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:

Held Within His Boundaries
By Megan J. Conner

Bible Reading:
“The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” - Psalm 16:6 (NIV)

Do you feel confined by your circumstances? Perhaps you are stuck in a job you dislike, or you can’t wait to move out of your home, town, or region. Maybe you are longing for a change within a relationship or the transition from one season of life to another. Or perhaps you are struggling with physical limitations or health challenges. Whatever your unique circumstances may be, none of us likes to feel limited. We believe “the world is our oyster” and we should have full access to all it has to offer. However, the Bible suggests a much different narrative.

Throughout the Word, we see example after example of God’s people confined within boundaries. The Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years, then, generations later, were exiled to Babylon. David was forced into hiding to avoid the pursuit of Saul. Tamar and Leah were “trapped” in what appeared to be loveless marriages. Paul and many of the disciples were imprisoned for their faith. New Testament or Old, there have been multitudes of followers who have struggled to see how God was working for good within the boundaries He set for them.

The story of Joseph is one illustration that I have personally looked to when wrestling with my own constrictive circumstances. Joseph was the second youngest son of the patriarch Jacob. He was incredibly talented and favored by his father. During his youth, Joseph had two dreams that foretold he would be in a position of authority over his family in the future.  It appeared to be a glorious prospect. However, the reality looked nothing like he imagined.

Shortly after Joseph shared his prophetic vision, his brothers sold him into slavery. Once carried off from his home country, Joseph spent over a decade enslaved and imprisoned. He endured persecution, mistreatment, and was reduced to the humblest of circumstances. There was no escape outside of God’s timely release and restoration. I would imagine there were moments when Joseph really grappled with his undesirable confinement and questioned how God was at work in any of it.

Yet, on the other side of the story, we can see God was indeed working behind the scenes. Joseph was eventually released from prison and became a significant leader in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. His elite role positioned him to save his family from starvation during a devastating famine. Had Joseph not been forced into those unwanted circumstances, he would not have been able to rescue his family and the generational line of the Israelite people. Even further, the man Joseph became as a result of his confinement was a miracle in itself. His once haughty heart was transformed into a spirit of endless mercy and grace. When Joseph is later reconciled to his brothers, he offers compassion rather than spite.

“His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. ‘We are your slaves,’ they said. But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” - Gen. 50:18-20 (NIV).

What looked like imprisonment was actually favor and redemption. There are times when God draws boundaries around each of our lives. But the truth is, those boundaries are for our good. Even if it feels uncomfortable or frustrating, know that the Lord is ordaining your steps.  You are in His hands. There are riches and blessings in whatever season you find yourself in today. 

“The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” - Ps. 16:6 (NIV)

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Do you feel like you are stuck or confined by a specific circumstance or season of life? If so, does looking at examples from scripture help you understand how God uses seasons of perceived confinement to grant us good gifts? Why or why not? Take some time today to reflect on past moments when you felt as if your circumstances would never change, yet ultimately a transition arrived. Then consider how those periods shaped who you are today. How can you see the fingerprints of the Lord through these past experiences?

Further Reading:
Psalm 16
Genesis 39

Feeling trapped by life&rsquo;s circumstances is a struggle many of us know all too well&mdash;whether in jobs, relationships, health, or transitions between seasons. Yet Scripture shows us that God&rsquo;s boundaries are not limitations, but instruments of His perfect plan. Drawing from Psalm 16:6 and the story of Joseph in Genesis 50, this devotional reminds us that what may feel like confinement can actually be a pathway to blessing, favor, and growth.
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>
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:
Held Within His Boundaries By Megan J. Conner
Bible Reading: &ldquo;The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.&rdquo; - Psalm 16:6 (NIV)
Do you feel confined by your circumstances? Perhaps you are stuck in a job you dislike, or you can&rsquo;t wait to move out of your home, town, or region. Maybe you are longing for a change within a relationship or the transition from one season of life to another. Or perhaps you are struggling with physical limitations or health challenges. Whatever your unique circumstances may be, none of us likes to feel limited. We believe &ldquo;the world is our oyster&rdquo; and we should have full access to all it has to offer. However, the Bible suggests a much different narrative.
Throughout the Word, we see example after example of God&rsquo;s people confined within boundaries. The Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years, then, generations later, were exiled to Babylon. David was forced into hiding to avoid the pursuit of Saul. Tamar and Leah were &ldquo;trapped&rdquo; in what appeared to be loveless marriages. Paul and many of the disciples were imprisoned for their faith. New Testament or Old, there have been multitudes of followers who have struggled to see how God was working for good within the boundaries He set for them.
The story of Joseph is one illustration that I have personally looked to when wrestling with my own constrictive circumstances. Joseph was the second youngest son of the patriarch Jacob. He was incredibly talented and favored by his father. During his youth, Joseph had two dreams that foretold he would be in a position of authority over his family in the future.&nbsp; It appeared to be a glorious prospect. However, the reality looked nothing like he imagined.
Shortly after Joseph shared his prophetic vision, his brothers sold him into slavery. Once carried off from his home country, Joseph spent over a decade enslaved and imprisoned. He endured persecution, mistreatment, and was reduced to the humblest of circumstances. There was no escape outside of God&rsquo;s timely release and restoration. I would imagine there were moments when Joseph really grappled with his undesirable confinement and questioned how God was at work in any of it.
Yet, on the other side of the story, we can see God was indeed working behind the scenes. Joseph was eventually released from prison and became a significant leader in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. His elite role positioned him to save his family from starvation during a devastating famine. Had Joseph not been forced into those unwanted circumstances, he would not have been able to rescue his family and the generational line of the Israelite people. Even further, the man Joseph became as a result of his confinement was a miracle in itself. His once haughty heart was transformed into a spirit of endless mercy and grace. When Joseph is later reconciled to his brothers, he offers compassion rather than spite.
&ldquo;His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. &lsquo;We are your slaves,&rsquo; they said. But Joseph said to them, &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.&rdquo; - Gen. 50:18-20 (NIV).
What looked like imprisonment was actually favor and redemption. There are times when God draws boundaries around each of our lives. But the truth is, those boundaries are for our good. Even if it feels uncomfortable or frustrating, know that the Lord is ordaining your steps.&nbsp; You are in His hands. There are riches and blessings in whatever season you find yourself in today.&nbsp;
&ldquo;The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.&rdquo; - Ps. 16:6 (NIV)
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
Do you feel like you are stuck or confined by a specific circumstance or season of life? If so, does looking at examples from scripture help you understand how God uses seasons of perceived confinement to grant us good gifts? Why or why not? Take some time today to reflect on past moments when you felt as if your circumstances would never change, yet ultimately a transition arrived. Then consider how those periods shaped who you are today. How can you see the fingerprints of the Lord through these past experiences?
Further Reading: Psalm 16 Genesis 39

Held Within His Boundaries

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/1df58db0-8b2d-4e18-a9f7-b3e9012d9b47/transcript

Staying spiritually alert matters more than ever in a world where temptation rarely looks dangerous at first glance. This Crosswalk Devotional, Keeping Your Mind on Guard by Aaron D’Anthony Brown, centers on 1 Peter 5:8 and offers a sobering reminder that spiritual battles are often subtle, internal, and persistent. Scripture calls believers to stay clear-minded and watchful because the enemy works quietly, appealing to our weaknesses rather than announcing his presence.

Highlights


The Bible emphasizes spiritual alertness over fear-based imagery


Sin often entices quietly, masking long-term consequences


Staying in God’s Word sharpens discernment and clarity


Community helps redirect us when we drift off course


Healthy relationships influence spiritual resilience


Mindfulness and self-examination reveal hidden struggles


God’s grace meets us when we turn back in awareness and humility

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! 

Sign Up Today!

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:

Keeping Your Mind on Guard

By Aaron D’Anthony Brown

Bible Reading:
“Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, CSB)

People often imagine the Devil as a goat-like beast that strikes fear into the hearts of men. However, such renditions of Satan are the result of human creativity, how we think of him. On the contrary, Scripture doesn’t actually give us any physical description. We only know certain characteristics, such as his evil nature, pride, and deceitfulness. 

If Satan looked anything like how he is often depicted in popular literature and movies, wouldn’t people run in the opposite direction? Christian or not, that’s just plain scary. Yet, I think we can agree that the Devil is active in our world today. Very active. That means if he is to be successful, he has to be subtle. Such is the nature of sin. Sin is enticing because the consequences don’t speak as loudly as the supposed benefits.

Thus, the Devil lures us in, and we fall for the trap. Now, perhaps we blame him for things that we ourselves commit willingly, due to our own flawed nature. However, I don’t think the Devil is off somewhere chilling and relaxing. He’s acting against us as we ourselves do the same.

Therefore, as Christians, we need to remember an important lesson as we go about our lives - keeping our minds on guard.

Whether we’re in a good season of life or a difficult one, there’s always the potential of being pulled away from God. We don’t always recognize the sin in our lives, but it’s there. So, how exactly do we guard our minds against the wiles of the Devil and the tempting nature of sin?

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Here are a few steps you can take today to guard against the sin that creeps so easily into our lives.

Be in the Word.

Someone recently told me that he’s confident in his prayers because he always gets what he prays for. What I also know is this man is not reading the Bible at all. As a result, he’s left with who he imagines God to be instead of who God is. That could be true of any of us who call ourselves Christians, but don’t follow God’s tenets. How can we know what He expects of us if we don’t know Him? Moreover, how can we know how to stand against sin if we don’t first turn to God?

Yes, we can learn from the people around us, but they are sinners just like us. Their knowledge and wisdom are finite. Not God’s. And we know what is holy not because of them, but because He is holy.

Be in community.

There’s much to gain when we keep good company. Fellow believers have the ability to help us get back on track when we veer off course. They remind us of our worth to God and how to walk in wisdom. However, they can’t offer any of these gains if we don’t keep them around. That’s why the Bible encourages us to be mindful of who we keep around us. Everyone in our lives, especially those we engage with regularly, influences us. Let’s make sure they are influencing us for good, and that we, in turn, are doing the same. The better our company, the less we will fall into sin.

Be mindful.

Introspection is an underrated and underutilized practice. To identify sin, we must first recognize it. However, so many of us are constantly on the go, and we don’t take time to figure out how to improve ourselves. We don’t know when to rest, or when to invest more into a relationship, or when we have developed a bad habit. We can see it in others, but not ourselves. All because we’re not taking the time to think.

Consider journaling, sitting in silence without distractions, and even praying that God will help you become more mindful. As mentioned in the introduction, we don’t always recognize the sin in our lives, but it’s there. And when we find it, we should respond accordingly by turning to God and His saving grace.

Further Reading:

1 Peter 5:8

Ephesians 6:10-12

Genesis 1:5

2 Corinthians 11:14

Romans 12:2

Proverbs 13:20

Staying spiritually alert matters more than ever in a world where temptation rarely looks dangerous at first glance. This Crosswalk Devotional, Keeping Your Mind on Guard by Aaron D&rsquo;Anthony Brown, centers on 1 Peter 5:8 and offers a sobering reminder that spiritual battles are often subtle, internal, and persistent. Scripture calls believers to stay clear-minded and watchful because the enemy works quietly, appealing to our weaknesses rather than announcing his presence.
Highlights
<ul data-start="999" data-end="1432">
<li data-start="999" data-end="1067">
The Bible emphasizes spiritual alertness over fear-based imagery
</li>
<li data-start="1068" data-end="1129">
Sin often entices quietly, masking long-term consequences
</li>
<li data-start="1130" data-end="1188">
Staying in God&rsquo;s Word sharpens discernment and clarity
</li>
<li data-start="1189" data-end="1245">
Community helps redirect us when we drift off course
</li>
<li data-start="1246" data-end="1302">
Healthy relationships influence spiritual resilience
</li>
<li data-start="1303" data-end="1363">
Mindfulness and self-examination reveal hidden struggles
</li>
<li data-start="1364" data-end="1432">
God&rsquo;s grace meets us when we turn back in awareness and humility
</li>
</ul>
<hr>
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Full Transcript Below:
Keeping Your Mind on Guard
By Aaron D&rsquo;Anthony Brown
Bible Reading: &ldquo;Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.&rdquo; (1 Peter 5:8, CSB)
People often imagine the Devil as a goat-like beast that strikes fear into the hearts of men. However, such renditions of Satan are the result of human creativity, how we think of him. On the contrary, Scripture doesn&rsquo;t actually give us any physical description. We only know certain characteristics, such as his evil nature, pride, and deceitfulness.&nbsp;
If Satan looked anything like how he is often depicted in popular literature and movies, wouldn&rsquo;t people run in the opposite direction? Christian or not, that&rsquo;s just plain scary. Yet, I think we can agree that the Devil is active in our world today. Very active. That means if he is to be successful, he has to be subtle. Such is the nature of sin. Sin is enticing because the consequences don&rsquo;t speak as loudly as the supposed benefits.
Thus, the Devil lures us in, and we fall for the trap. Now, perhaps we blame him for things that we ourselves commit willingly, due to our own flawed nature. However, I don&rsquo;t think the Devil is off somewhere chilling and relaxing. He&rsquo;s acting against us as we ourselves do the same.
Therefore, as Christians, we need to remember an important lesson as we go about our lives - keeping our minds on guard.
Whether we&rsquo;re in a good season of life or a difficult one, there&rsquo;s always the potential of being pulled away from God. We don&rsquo;t always recognize the sin in our lives, but it&rsquo;s there. So, how exactly do we guard our minds against the wiles of the Devil and the tempting nature of sin?
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
Here are a few steps you can take today to guard against the sin that creeps so easily into our lives.
Be in the Word.
Someone recently told me that he&rsquo;s confident in his prayers because he always gets what he prays for. What I also know is this man is not reading the Bible at all. As a result, he&rsquo;s left with who he imagines God to be instead of who God is. That could be true of any of us who call ourselves Christians, but don&rsquo;t follow God&rsquo;s tenets. How can we know what He expects of us if we don&rsquo;t know Him? Moreover, how can we know how to stand against sin if we don&rsquo;t first turn to God?
Yes, we can learn from the people around us, but they are sinners just like us. Their knowledge and wisdom are finite. Not God&rsquo;s. And we know what is holy not because of them, but because He is holy.
Be in community.
There&rsquo;s much to gain when we keep good company. Fellow believers have the ability to help us get back on track when we veer off course. They remind us of our worth to God and how to walk in wisdom. However, they can&rsquo;t offer any of these gains if we don&rsquo;t keep them around. That&rsquo;s why the Bible encourages us to be mindful of who we keep around us. Everyone in our lives, especially those we engage with regularly, influences us. Let&rsquo;s make sure they are influencing us for good, and that we, in turn, are doing the same. The better our company, the less we will fall into sin.
Be mindful.
Introspection is an underrated and underutilized practice. To identify sin, we must first recognize it. However, so many of us are constantly on the go, and we don&rsquo;t take time to figure out how to improve ourselves. We don&rsquo;t know when to rest, or when to invest more into a relationship, or when we have developed a bad habit. We can see it in others, but not ourselves. All because we&rsquo;re not taking the time to think.
Consider journaling, sitting in silence without distractions, and even praying that God will help you become more mindful. As mentioned in the introduction, we don&rsquo;t always recognize the sin in our lives, but it&rsquo;s there. And when we find it, we should respond accordingly by turning to God and His saving grace.
Further Reading:
1 Peter 5:8
Ephesians 6:10-12
Genesis 1:5
2 Corinthians 11:14
Romans 12:2
Proverbs 13:20

Keeping Your Mind on Guard

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