Jesus is full of surprises. Hear which ones are Pastor Randy Spacht and Zack Killey's favorites by listening to this exclusive preview of the Salty Saints podcast. 



Continue Listening to Salty Saints: 

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3QscDmo

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3CGHGFs

LifeAudio: https://bit.ly/3IJtK1j

Jesus is full of surprises. Hear which ones are Pastor Randy Spacht and Zack Killey's favorites by listening to this exclusive preview of the Salty Saints podcast. 
 
Continue Listening to Salty Saints: 
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3QscDmo
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3CGHGFs
LifeAudio: https://bit.ly/3IJtK1j

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

Jesus Was Full of Surprises. Here Are Our Favorites. From: Salty Saints

It’s easy to take everyday blessings for granted until they’re suddenly gone. Our health, family, homes, abilities, relationships, and simple comforts can become so familiar that we stop noticing them. But seasons of loss or difficulty can remind us just how much we have and challenge us to live with greater gratitude for God’s goodness.

Zechariah’s story in Luke 1 offers a powerful reminder about doubt, prayer, and learning to recognize God’s blessings. After years of waiting for a child, Zechariah struggled to believe God’s promise when the answer finally came, and his temporary silence gave him time to reflect. We don’t have to wait for something to be taken away before we appreciate it. By focusing on God’s generosity and choosing gratitude each day, we can become more aware of His blessings and trust His power and promises even when we don’t understand how He will work.

Highlights:
Why we often recognize the value of everyday blessings only after losing them
What Zechariah’s story teaches us about doubt and trusting God’s promises
Learning to appreciate health, family, relationships, and daily provisions
Why gratitude can change our perspective during difficult circumstances
How to recognize areas where doubt may be keeping you from trusting God
Practical questions for identifying blessings you may be taking for granted
Encouragement to praise God and give thanks for His goodness today

Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to The Good Word, LifeAudio’s free weekly newsletter.

Sign up at LifeAudio.com/thegoodword

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!

Full Transcript Below:

What Are You Taking for Granted?

By: Whitney Hopler

Bible Reading:
“Zechariah asked the angel, ‘How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.’ The angel said to him, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.’” – Luke 1:18-20, NIV

I lost my voice for about one week after a severe cold. It was awkward and humbling having to communicate only through writing during that time. I had to type in chat during online meetings when everyone else was talking, and they had to wait for me since typing is much slower than talking. I had to write notes to family members and hold them up, or try to gesture or pantomime what I wanted to say. The experience taught me not to take my voice for granted. It’s amazing how quickly we realize the value of something only after it’s suddenly taken away. We go through life using our senses, our health, and our daily comforts without a second thought, assuming they will always be there.

A similar thing happened to a priest named Zechariah in the Bible. He and his wife, Elizabeth, had prayed for a child for many years, but still didn’t have one by the time they grew old – much too old to have any children naturally. One day, however, the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah with incredible news: God had heard his prayers, and Elizabeth would give birth to a son. Instead of celebrating God’s goodness and thanking God, though, Zechariah doubted the wonderful message God had sent him. Zechariah asked Gabriel: “How can I be sure of this?” Because of his unbelief, God gave Zechariah a sign. He took away Zechariah’s ability to speak, so Zechariah would have to be silent until the baby was born.

Imagine the sudden shock Zechariah must have felt. For nine long months, he couldn’t speak to his wife or friends. He couldn’t lead worship or share his thoughts. He had to use writing tablets and hand gestures just to communicate daily needs. Zechariah had taken his ability to speak for granted. More importantly, he had taken God’s ultimate power for granted. Zechariah’s forced silence gave him the time and motivation he needed to reflect, listen, and learn to appreciate God’s blessings.

We can all sometimes act like Zechariah. God is constantly pouring blessings into our lives, but too often we focus on what we don’t have or doubt God’s goodness when we’re dealing with difficult circumstances. We may take our health, our families, our homes, our food, and even the breath in our lungs completely for granted. It usually takes a season when we’re missing something – like an illness, a financial problem, or a broken relationship – to wake us up and make us see how blessed we are because of God’s great love for us.

Fortunately, Zechariah’s story doesn’t end in silence. When the baby was finally born, Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote: “His name is John.” Then, Luke 1:64 records that: “Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.” Zechariah immediately praised God as soon as he got his voice back. He had learned not to take his voice for granted.

God doesn’t want us to wait until we lose our blessings to start appreciating them. He wants us to live with gratitude right now. All we have to do to stop taking our blessings for granted is to stay focused on our generous God from day to day, and expect the best from God because he loves us!

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As you consider why it’s important to appreciate your blessings rather than taking them for granted, reflect on these questions:
When God answers your prayers, do you thank God right away, or do you find yourself questioning how God’s answers will really happen? 
What’s one everyday blessing you currently enjoy that you rarely stop to thank God for? How can you give thanks to God today for that? 
Looking back at your past, what is something you only truly appreciated after it was temporarily taken away? 
In what areas of your life are you letting doubt prevent you from trusting God’s power and promises?

Further Reading:

Psalm 103:2

1 Thessalonians 5:18

James 1:17

Ephesians 5:20

Colossians 3:17

It&rsquo;s easy to take everyday blessings for granted until they&rsquo;re suddenly gone. Our health, family, homes, abilities, relationships, and simple comforts can become so familiar that we stop noticing them. But seasons of loss or difficulty can remind us just how much we have and challenge us to live with greater gratitude for God&rsquo;s goodness.
Zechariah&rsquo;s story in Luke 1 offers a powerful reminder about doubt, prayer, and learning to recognize God&rsquo;s blessings. After years of waiting for a child, Zechariah struggled to believe God&rsquo;s promise when the answer finally came, and his temporary silence gave him time to reflect. We don&rsquo;t have to wait for something to be taken away before we appreciate it. By focusing on God&rsquo;s generosity and choosing gratitude each day, we can become more aware of His blessings and trust His power and promises even when we don&rsquo;t understand how He will work.
Highlights:
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>Why we often recognize the value of everyday blessings only after losing them</li>
<li>What Zechariah&rsquo;s story teaches us about doubt and trusting God&rsquo;s promises</li>
<li>Learning to appreciate health, family, relationships, and daily provisions</li>
<li>Why gratitude can change our perspective during difficult circumstances</li>
<li>How to recognize areas where doubt may be keeping you from trusting God</li>
<li>Practical questions for identifying blessings you may be taking for granted</li>
<li>Encouragement to praise God and give thanks for His goodness today</li>
</ul>
Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to <a href="https://newsletters.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword">The Good Word,</a> LifeAudio&rsquo;s free weekly newsletter.
Sign up at <a href="https://newsletters.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword">LifeAudio.com/thegoodword</a>
Do you want to listen ad-free?
When you join&nbsp;Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors&mdash;resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts!&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/subscribe/?utm_source=subscribe_page&amp;utm_medium=YDBV&amp;utm_campaign=YDBV_PLUS">Sign Up Today!</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
What Are You Taking for Granted?
By: Whitney Hopler
Bible Reading: &ldquo;Zechariah asked the angel, &lsquo;How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.&rsquo; The angel said to him, &lsquo;I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.&rsquo;&rdquo; &ndash; Luke 1:18-20, NIV
I lost my voice for about one week after a severe cold. It was awkward and humbling having to communicate only through writing during that time. I had to type in chat during online meetings when everyone else was talking, and they had to wait for me since typing is much slower than talking. I had to write notes to family members and hold them up, or try to gesture or pantomime what I wanted to say. The experience taught me not to take my voice for granted. It&rsquo;s amazing how quickly we realize the value of something only after it&rsquo;s suddenly taken away. We go through life using our senses, our health, and our daily comforts without a second thought, assuming they will always be there.
A similar thing happened to a priest named Zechariah in the Bible. He and his wife, Elizabeth, had prayed for a child for many years, but still didn&rsquo;t have one by the time they grew old &ndash; much too old to have any children naturally. One day, however, the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah with incredible news: God had heard his prayers, and Elizabeth would give birth to a son. Instead of celebrating<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/gods-goodness-and-love-will-follow-you-the-crosswalk-devotional.html"> God&rsquo;s goodness</a> and thanking God, though, Zechariah doubted the wonderful message God had sent him. Zechariah asked Gabriel: &ldquo;How can I be sure of this?&rdquo; Because of his unbelief, God gave Zechariah a sign. He took away Zechariah&rsquo;s ability to speak, so Zechariah would have to be silent until the baby was born.
Imagine the sudden shock Zechariah must have felt. For nine long months, he couldn&rsquo;t speak to his wife or friends. He couldn&rsquo;t lead worship or share his thoughts. He had to use writing tablets and hand gestures just to communicate daily needs. Zechariah had taken his ability to speak for granted. More importantly, he had taken God&rsquo;s ultimate power for granted. Zechariah&rsquo;s forced silence gave him the time and motivation he needed to reflect, listen, and learn to appreciate God&rsquo;s blessings.
We can all sometimes act like Zechariah. God is constantly pouring blessings into our lives, but too often we focus on what we don&rsquo;t have or doubt God&rsquo;s goodness when we&rsquo;re dealing with difficult circumstances. We may take our health, our families, our homes, our food, and even the breath in our lungs completely for granted. It usually takes a season when we&rsquo;re missing something &ndash; like an illness, a financial problem, or a broken relationship &ndash; to wake us up and make us see how blessed we are because of God&rsquo;s great love for us.
Fortunately, Zechariah&rsquo;s story doesn&rsquo;t end in silence. When the baby was finally born, Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote: &ldquo;His name is John.&rdquo; Then, Luke 1:64 records that: &ldquo;Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.&rdquo; Zechariah immediately<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/let-praise-raise-your-perspective-the-crosswalk-devotional.html"> praised God</a> as soon as he got his voice back. He had learned not to take his voice for granted.
God doesn&rsquo;t want us to wait until we lose our blessings to start appreciating them. He wants us to live with gratitude right now. All we have to do to stop taking our blessings for granted is to stay focused on our generous God from day to day, and <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/expect-the-best-from-god-the-crosswalk-devotional.html">expect the best from God</a> because he loves us!
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
As you consider why it&rsquo;s important to appreciate your blessings rather than taking them for granted, reflect on these questions:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">When God answers your prayers, do you thank God right away, or do you find yourself questioning how God&rsquo;s answers will really happen?&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">What&rsquo;s one everyday blessing you currently enjoy that you rarely stop to thank God for? How can you give thanks to God today for that?&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Looking back at your past, what is something you only truly appreciated after it was temporarily taken away?&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">In what areas of your life are you letting doubt prevent you from trusting God&rsquo;s power and promises?</li>
</ul>
Further Reading:
Psalm 103:2
1 Thessalonians 5:18
James 1:17
Ephesians 5:20
Colossians 3:17

What Are You Taking for Granted?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/2ac47bdb-6777-46fa-a09d-b4bf01388de8/transcript

Aging can bring mixed emotions, especially for parents watching their bodies change while their children grow into adulthood. The world often treats getting older as something to fight against, but Scripture offers a different perspective. Growing older can bring wisdom, deeper faith, greater compassion, and a renewed appreciation for the life God has given us.

For parents entering their senior years, aging can become an opportunity to embrace a new season rather than mourn the one that has passed. Years of parenting, relationships, hardships, and answered prayers can produce a wisdom that younger generations need. As physical strength changes, our dependence on God can grow stronger, shifting our focus from temporary circumstances toward His eternal promises. There is also freedom to slow down, enjoy new adventures, invest in family, and discover simple joys that may have been difficult to make room for in earlier seasons.

Highlights:
Why parents can view aging as a gift rather than something to fear or avoid
How growing older can deepen wisdom, compassion, patience, and grace
Why aging can strengthen our trust in God’s eternal promises
Learning to focus less on temporary circumstances and more on lasting hope
How parents can embrace greater freedom, relaxation, hobbies, and new adventures
Finding joy in relationships with adult children, grandchildren, and loved ones
How faith can provide strength and renewal even as our physical bodies grow weaker

Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to The Good Word, LifeAudio’s free weekly newsletter.

Sign up at LifeAudio.com/thegoodword

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!

Full Transcript Below:

3 Good Reasons for Parents to Embrace Aging

By: Lia Girard

Bible Reading:
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." - 2 Corinthians 4:16

We're all living in a world that wants us to believe it’s easy to find the next magic pill, new exercise, or diet strategy that will keep us eternally young—even in our old age. Yet we all know: this earthly life will end. None of us escapes this necessary passage, at whatever age God decides we're ready to stand in his presence. 

The longer I live… and the more sweet opportunities I’m given to be present with younger people managing life challenges… the more I understand that getting old is a crown of glory (see Proverbs 16:31). We don't all get to arrive in our senior years. As we near them, we may be feeling the pain of letting go of our own parents. It brings us face to face with the finality of this side of heaven. 

I've learned, though, while growing out my silver hair, wearing my glasses regularly, and giving up running for yoga, that life fosters compassion as your body weakens. If you're lucky enough to age into your 70s, 80s, 90s, and beyond, you will undoubtedly be required to practice a lot of grace. With yourself, your spouse, your parents, and your similarly-aged friends. 

A long life affords many blessings: raising children, buying homes, building or rebuilding marriages, watching adult children grow, hosting weddings, and so much more. But it also leaves your heart, soul, body, and mind a bit depleted of energy. The good news is that as you move up in years, you naturally overflow with experience. The kind of compassionate know-how that you simply didn't have when you were a teenager. Or when you were a new parent. Or when you were a new empty-nester. 

When you start seeing that more of your life involves medical visits than vacations, some may feel that aging is something to avoid at all costs. But I believe it is an earned reward, rich in the kind of contentment that deeply satisfies. Here are just three reasons for parents to embrace growing old:
 You’ve gained an abundance of wisdom. 

Watching yourself age, even as you try to live a healthy, active life, requires you to relax your expectations. It softens your countenance and fills you with empathy, while creating a wellspring of wisdom. And the things you now know—like how to budget, pay bills, plan events, renovate homes, soothe fussy babies, chaperone trips, and on and on—are gifts to those who need you to show them that it can be done. Of course, I'm not suggesting you force your wisdom on anyone, but it's a good feeling to know that your guidance is based on evidence and carries value.
 Your trust in God's eternal promises grows stronger than your anxiety about temporary circumstances.

The older you get, the more fortunate you are to have been given time to shift your focus to an everlasting hope that will never fade. And maybe this is because you’ve seen so many things end, break, leave, let go, and die. As you age, you realize that the external strength and beauty of your youth are not what carry you through the deepest struggles. 

If you're a parent who's given the bonus of aging, there's hardly anything that compares to the privilege of loving your adult children as they advance in years as well. When you've lived long enough to see that people not only survive circumstances but thrive, you tend to worry less. No surficial issue becomes a be-all, end-all. 

Over time, the simple, quiet joys of life and love are what sustain you. Being rich in love and patience becomes more important than climbing the ladder, amazing outfits, or expensive vacations. What matters when you realize you're simply not as strong as you used to be ... is believing wholeheartedly that God is always strong enough to carry you through.
 You have more time and space for relaxation, joy, and new adventures.

Parenting has many seasons, all of which involve remaining utterly in love with your children. If you're lucky enough to grow old enough that love can expand across grandchildren and great-grandchildren, too. However, in the senior years, you realize they have lives of their own now. And you, or you and your spouse, have more open space to explore amusements, interests, or places you may have only dreamed of when your house was filled with people, pets, and responsibilities in far-busier, younger decades.

Hold on to the truth that although outwardly you may be “wasting away,” as our scripture says, your spirit is being renewed. So, go for those long walks. Ride your bike slowly. Take your kids out to dinner. Find weekend getaways. Or just enjoy a peaceful hobby that brings you joy. You’ve lived long enough to slow down… and let your faith be your strength.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As you consider the joys and challenges of aging, why not:
Find a new hobby that delights your soul
Pick a place you’ve always wanted to see and go there with your spouse or best friend
Choose several scripture verses that bring you peace and hope, and write them down somewhere you can see them regularly

Further Reading:
Psalm 91:16

Psalm 90:12

Psalm 92:12-14

Aging can bring mixed emotions, especially for parents watching their bodies change while their children grow into adulthood. The world often treats getting older as something to fight against, but Scripture offers a different perspective. Growing older can bring wisdom, deeper faith, greater compassion, and a renewed appreciation for the life God has given us.
For parents entering their senior years, aging can become an opportunity to embrace a new season rather than mourn the one that has passed. Years of parenting, relationships, hardships, and answered prayers can produce a wisdom that younger generations need. As physical strength changes, our dependence on God can grow stronger, shifting our focus from temporary circumstances toward His eternal promises. There is also freedom to slow down, enjoy new adventures, invest in family, and discover simple joys that may have been difficult to make room for in earlier seasons.
Highlights:
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>Why parents can view aging as a gift rather than something to fear or avoid</li>
<li>How growing older can deepen wisdom, compassion, patience, and grace</li>
<li>Why aging can strengthen our trust in God&rsquo;s eternal promises</li>
<li>Learning to focus less on temporary circumstances and more on lasting hope</li>
<li>How parents can embrace greater freedom, relaxation, hobbies, and new adventures</li>
<li>Finding joy in relationships with adult children, grandchildren, and loved ones</li>
<li>How faith can provide strength and renewal even as our physical bodies grow weaker</li>
</ul>
Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to <a href="https://newsletters.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword">The Good Word,</a> LifeAudio&rsquo;s free weekly newsletter.
Sign up at <a href="https://newsletters.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword">LifeAudio.com/thegoodword</a>
Do you want to listen ad-free?
When you join&nbsp;Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors&mdash;resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts!&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/subscribe/?utm_source=subscribe_page&amp;utm_medium=YDBV&amp;utm_campaign=YDBV_PLUS">Sign Up Today!</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
3 Good Reasons for Parents to Embrace Aging
By: Lia Girard
Bible Reading: "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." - 2 Corinthians 4:16
We're all living in a world that wants us to believe it&rsquo;s easy to find the next magic pill, new exercise, or diet strategy that will keep us eternally young&mdash;even in our old age. Yet we all know: this earthly life will end. None of us escapes this necessary passage, at whatever age God decides we're ready to stand in his presence.&nbsp;
The longer I live&hellip; and the more sweet opportunities I&rsquo;m given to be present with younger people managing life challenges&hellip; the more I understand that getting old is a crown of glory (see Proverbs 16:31). We don't all get to arrive in our senior years. As we near them, we may be feeling the pain of letting go of our own parents. It brings us face to face with the finality of this side of heaven.&nbsp;
I've learned, though, while growing out my silver hair, wearing my glasses regularly, and giving up running for yoga, that life fosters compassion as your body weakens. If you're lucky enough to age into your 70s, 80s, 90s, and beyond, you will undoubtedly be required to practice a lot of grace. With yourself, your spouse, your parents, and your similarly-aged friends.&nbsp;
A long life affords many blessings: raising children, buying homes, building or rebuilding marriages, watching adult children grow, hosting weddings, and so much more. But it also leaves your heart, soul, body, and mind a bit depleted of energy. The good news is that as you move up in years, you naturally overflow with experience. The kind of compassionate know-how that you simply didn't have when you were a teenager. Or when you were a new parent. Or when you were a new empty-nester.&nbsp;
When you start seeing that more of your life involves medical visits than vacations, some may feel that aging is something to avoid at all costs. But I believe it is an earned reward, rich in the kind of contentment that deeply satisfies. Here are just three reasons for parents to embrace growing old:
<ol>
<li> You&rsquo;ve gained an abundance of wisdom.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
Watching yourself age, even as you try to live a healthy, active life, requires you to relax your expectations. It softens your countenance and fills you with empathy, while creating a wellspring of wisdom. And the things you now know&mdash;like how to budget, pay bills, plan events, renovate homes, soothe fussy babies, chaperone trips, and on and on&mdash;are gifts to those who need you to show them that it can be done. Of course, I'm not suggesting you force your wisdom on anyone, but it's a good feeling to know that your guidance is based on evidence and carries value.
<ol>
<li> Your trust in God's eternal promises grows stronger than your anxiety about temporary circumstances.</li>
</ol>
The older you get, the more fortunate you are to have been given time to shift your focus to an everlasting hope that will never fade. And maybe this is because you&rsquo;ve seen so many things end, break, leave, let go, and die. As you age, you realize that the external strength and beauty of your youth are not what carry you through the deepest struggles.&nbsp;
If you're a parent who's given the bonus of aging, there's hardly anything that compares to the privilege of loving your adult children as they advance in years as well. When you've lived long enough to see that people not only survive circumstances but thrive, you tend to worry less. No surficial issue becomes a be-all, end-all.&nbsp;
Over time, the simple, quiet joys of life and love are what sustain you. Being rich in love and patience becomes more important than climbing the ladder, amazing outfits, or expensive vacations. What matters when you realize you're simply not as strong as you used to be ... is believing wholeheartedly that God is always strong enough to carry you through.
<ol>
<li> You have more time and space for relaxation, joy, and new adventures.</li>
</ol>
Parenting has many seasons, all of which involve remaining utterly in love with your children. If you're lucky enough to grow old enough that love can expand across grandchildren and great-grandchildren, too. However, in the senior years, you realize they have lives of their own now. And you, or you and your spouse, have more open space to explore amusements, interests, or places you may have only dreamed of when your house was filled with people, pets, and responsibilities in far-busier, younger decades.
Hold on to the truth that although outwardly you may be &ldquo;wasting away,&rdquo; as our scripture says, your spirit is being renewed. So, go for those long walks. Ride your bike slowly. Take your kids out to dinner. Find weekend getaways. Or just enjoy a peaceful hobby that brings you joy. You&rsquo;ve lived long enough to slow down&hellip; and let your faith be your strength.
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
As you consider the joys and challenges of aging, why not:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Find a new hobby that delights your soul</li>
<li aria-level="1">Pick a place you&rsquo;ve always wanted to see and go there with your spouse or best friend</li>
<li aria-level="1">Choose several scripture verses that bring you peace and hope, and write them down somewhere you can see them regularly</li>
</ul>
Further Reading: Psalm 91:16
Psalm 90:12
Psalm 92:12-14

3 Good Reasons Parents Should Embrace Aging

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/5412e509-32ee-4072-a229-b4bf01388aa0/transcript

Uncertainty about the future, unanswered prayers, and dreams that haven’t taken shape yet can leave you wondering whether your ordinary, everyday faithfulness really matters. Scripture reminds us that God may be preparing us for something we cannot yet see.

Noah spent years building the ark before a single drop of rain fell. In the same way, God often calls us to prepare, obey, and remain faithful without showing us the full picture. The small things we do each day—our work, responsibilities, relationships, and acts of obedience—can be part of a much larger purpose. We may want the big answer or the completed dream, but God is often strengthening our character and our faith through the seemingly mundane tasks right in front of us.

Highlights:
What Isaiah 54:2 teaches us about preparing for what God may be doing
Why obedience sometimes requires faith before we understand the outcome
Lessons from Noah’s years of faithful, unseen preparation
How God uses ordinary and seemingly small tasks to prepare us for greater responsibility
Why we should focus on faithfulness today instead of needing to know what comes next
How seasons of waiting can strengthen our character, trust, and obedience
Remembering that what seems insignificant to us may have a much greater purpose in God’s plan

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Full Transcript Below:

Strengthening Your Stakes: Preparing for What Only God Can See

By Hannah Benson

Bible Reading:
“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes” (Isaiah 54:2 ESV).

God often does things we don’t expect.

As I read Isaiah 54 the other day, God showed me that He will often tell us to prepare for things He’s bringing us. In this passage, He tells a barren woman to expand her tent and strengthen her stakes for a family she doesn't even have yet. Our job isn’t to know the why but to prepare in obedience even when we don’t know what we are getting ready for. All we can do is walk in obedience even when we don’t know where the obedience will lead.

It reminds me of the parable Jesus told of the 10 virgins in Matthew 25. When they went to meet the bridegroom, only 5 of the virgins took extra flasks of oil with them before they departed. The other 5 foolishly didn’t. They didn’t prepare.

Or in Genesis 6, when God commands Noah to build an ark. Do you think Noah might’ve thought it a bit strange, the command to build an ark when there wasn’t rain anywhere in sight? Not to mention the earth had never flooded before. Undoubtedly, the idea would’ve been a foreign concept to him.

But Noah chose to trust God, and it was counted to him as righteousness (Hebrews 11:7).

I’m in a season right now where I don’t know where I’ll be in the next year, the next few months, or even next week. All I can see is what God has placed in front of me right now.

Think about it.

Noah didn’t build the ark in a day. It took decades of waking up, grabbing a hammer, and building one plank at a time. He didn’t see a drop of rain for years. He just saw the single wooden plank in front of him each day. He had to wait years for God’s promise and prophecy to be fulfilled. Perhaps Noah began to wonder if it would really happen or if he’d heard wrong.

When we think about Noah, we often envision the completed ark. But what we don’t see are the 50-75 years of backbreaking labor, years of faithfulness before the first drop of rain ever fell. He had to be faithful in the daily, ordinary tasks of building the ark before he ever fully understood the why of the assignment.

We are called to be faithful in the little things (Luke 16:10).

Think about it.

Noah spent more time building that ark, without seeing any results, than some of us have even been alive. Certainly more time than we’ve probably ever spent on a project.

Do you think Noah knew the full weight of the task he’d been asked to undertake?

Yet if he hadn’t trusted God’s word spoken to him, none of us would be here.

God used Noah’s faithfulness to save the world. If he hadn’t built the ark, his family would’ve drowned. If his family had drowned, the earth would have been wiped out, which means none of us would be here today.

Wow.

That’s pretty weighty to think about. 

In Luke 12:48, Jesus tells us that to whom much is given, much will be required.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

While we might not be asked to build an ark that will preserve the population from dying out, we are asked in Matthew 28:19 (ESV) to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” teaching them to observe all that Jesus has commanded us.

Even if we are not called to save people physically, we are called to point them to the One Who can save them spiritually.

We often find we want the “much” more than we desire the “little.” We want the completed project, the fulfilled dream, the clear future, but God tests our hearts in the “little.” He looks at how we handle what He has already given us. We are called to be faithful in the small tasks we may consider “mundane” (answering an email, studying, folding laundry).

Think about it.

Remember God says that to whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48).

Perhaps God keeps us in seasons of quiet, daily preparation because if He gave us the big platforms or massive answers to prayer before our character was tested in the small things, the weight of the responsibility would crush us. And how important those “small” things are even if we don’t realize it!

We may find it hard to believe when we’re folding another load of laundry or washing dishes, but remember Noah probably couldn’t fully imagine the importance of each part as he built the ark, one piece of wood, one layer of pitch and tar at a time.

Pray with me: Dear Father, thank You that Your plans are better than anything I could imagine. Forgive me for the times I lose sight of that. Help me to remember Noah’s decades of unseen faithfulness, and give me the strength to fulfill every task, no matter how mundane it may seem, with a heart of worship. Teach me to obey Your voice even when I don’t understand the why behind the assignment. I trust that You are preparing me for whatever You have next. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Uncertainty about the future, unanswered prayers, and dreams that haven&rsquo;t taken shape yet can leave you wondering whether your ordinary, everyday faithfulness really matters. Scripture reminds us that God may be preparing us for something we cannot yet see.
Noah spent years building the ark before a single drop of rain fell. In the same way, God often calls us to prepare, obey, and remain faithful without showing us the full picture. The small things we do each day&mdash;our work, responsibilities, relationships, and acts of obedience&mdash;can be part of a much larger purpose. We may want the big answer or the completed dream, but God is often strengthening our character and our faith through the seemingly mundane tasks right in front of us.
Highlights:
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>What Isaiah 54:2 teaches us about preparing for what God may be doing</li>
<li>Why obedience sometimes requires faith before we understand the outcome</li>
<li>Lessons from Noah&rsquo;s years of faithful, unseen preparation</li>
<li>How God uses ordinary and seemingly small tasks to prepare us for greater responsibility</li>
<li>Why we should focus on faithfulness today instead of needing to know what comes next</li>
<li>How seasons of waiting can strengthen our character, trust, and obedience</li>
<li>Remembering that what seems insignificant to us may have a much greater purpose in God&rsquo;s plan</li>
</ul>
Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to <a href="https://newsletters.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword">The Good Word,</a> LifeAudio&rsquo;s free weekly newsletter.
Sign up at <a href="https://newsletters.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword">LifeAudio.com/thegoodword</a>
Do you want to listen ad-free?
When you join&nbsp;Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors&mdash;resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts!&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/subscribe/?utm_source=subscribe_page&amp;utm_medium=YDBV&amp;utm_campaign=YDBV_PLUS">Sign Up Today!</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
Strengthening Your Stakes: Preparing for What Only God Can See
By Hannah Benson
Bible Reading: &ldquo;Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes&rdquo; (Isaiah 54:2 ESV).
God often does things we don&rsquo;t expect.
As I read Isaiah 54 the other day, God showed me that He will often tell us to prepare for things He&rsquo;s bringing us. In this passage, He tells a barren woman to expand her tent and strengthen her stakes for a family she doesn't even have yet. Our job isn&rsquo;t to know the why but to prepare in obedience even when we don&rsquo;t know what we are getting ready for. All we can do is walk in obedience even when we don&rsquo;t know where the obedience will lead.
It reminds me of the parable Jesus told of the 10 virgins in Matthew 25. When they went to meet the bridegroom, only 5 of the virgins took extra flasks of oil with them before they departed. The other 5 foolishly didn&rsquo;t. They didn&rsquo;t prepare.
Or in Genesis 6, when God commands Noah to build an ark. Do you think Noah might&rsquo;ve thought it a bit strange, the command to build an ark when there wasn&rsquo;t rain anywhere in sight? Not to mention the earth had never flooded before. Undoubtedly, the idea would&rsquo;ve been a foreign concept to him.
But Noah chose to trust God, and it was counted to him as righteousness (Hebrews 11:7).
I&rsquo;m in a season right now where I don&rsquo;t know where I&rsquo;ll be in the next year, the next few months, or even next week. All I can see is what God has placed in front of me right now.
Think about it.
Noah didn&rsquo;t build the ark in a day. It took decades of waking up, grabbing a hammer, and building&nbsp;one plank at a time.&nbsp;He didn&rsquo;t see a drop of rain for years. He just saw the single wooden plank in front of him each day. He had to wait years for God&rsquo;s promise and prophecy to be fulfilled. Perhaps Noah began to wonder if it would really happen or if he&rsquo;d heard wrong.
When we think about Noah, we often envision the completed ark. But what we don&rsquo;t see are the 50-75 years of backbreaking labor, years of faithfulness before the first drop of rain ever fell. He had to be faithful in the daily, ordinary tasks of building the ark before he ever fully understood the&nbsp;why&nbsp;of the assignment.
We are called to be faithful in the little things (Luke 16:10).
Think about it.
Noah spent more time building that ark, without seeing any results, than some of us have even been alive. Certainly more time than we&rsquo;ve probably ever spent on a project.
Do you think Noah knew the full weight of the task he&rsquo;d been asked to undertake?
Yet if he hadn&rsquo;t trusted God&rsquo;s word spoken to him, none of us would be here.
God used Noah&rsquo;s faithfulness to save the world. If he hadn&rsquo;t built the ark, his family would&rsquo;ve drowned. If his family had drowned, the earth would have been wiped out, which means none of us would be here today.
Wow.
That&rsquo;s pretty weighty to think about.&nbsp;
In Luke 12:48, Jesus tells us that to whom much is given, much will be required.
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
While we might not be asked to build an ark that will preserve the population from dying out, we are asked in Matthew 28:19 (ESV) to &ldquo;Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,&rdquo; teaching them to observe all that Jesus has commanded us.
Even if we are not called to save people physically, we are called to point them to the One Who can save them spiritually.
We often find we want the &ldquo;much&rdquo; more than we desire the &ldquo;little.&rdquo; We want the completed project, the fulfilled dream, the clear future, but God tests our hearts in the &ldquo;little.&rdquo; He looks at how we handle what He has already given us. We are called to be faithful in the small tasks we may consider &ldquo;mundane&rdquo; (answering an email, studying, folding laundry).
Think about it.
Remember God says that to whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48).
Perhaps God keeps us in seasons of quiet, daily preparation because if He gave us the big platforms or massive answers to prayer before our character was tested in the small things, the weight of the responsibility would crush us. And how important those &ldquo;small&rdquo; things are even if we don&rsquo;t realize it!
We may find it hard to believe when we&rsquo;re folding another load of laundry or washing dishes, but remember Noah probably couldn&rsquo;t fully imagine the importance of each part as he built the ark, one piece of wood, one layer of pitch and tar at a time.
Pray with me: Dear Father, thank You that Your plans are better than anything I could imagine. Forgive me for the times I lose sight of that. Help me to remember Noah&rsquo;s decades of unseen faithfulness, and give me the strength to fulfill every task, no matter how mundane it may seem, with a heart of worship. Teach me to obey Your voice even when I don&rsquo;t understand the why behind the assignment. I trust that You are preparing me for whatever You have next. In Jesus&rsquo; Name, Amen.

Strengthening Your Stakes: Preparing for What Only God Can See

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Jesus Was Full of Surprises. Here Are Our Favorites. From: Salty Saints

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