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

Drawing from Asaph’s transparent confession in Psalm 73:2-3, this reflection explores how unresolved hurt and constant focus on injustice can slowly lead us toward disillusionment. Like Asaph, many believers struggle when they see harmful people thriving while their own wounds deepen. Yet the turning point in the psalm comes when Asaph intentionally enters God’s sanctuary and regains an eternal perspective. In God’s presence, he remembers that earthly success is temporary, but God’s love, justice, and guidance are eternal.

This devotional encourages Christians to stop carrying pain alone and instead seek refuge in the Lord. God does not dismiss our hurt or ignore injustice. He sees every wound, strengthens weary hearts, and offers healing to those who draw near to Him. Even when circumstances remain difficult, His presence steadies us and renews our faith.

Highlights
Psalm 73 honestly addresses discouragement over injustice and evil.
Comparing our suffering to others’ success can lead to bitterness and despair.
Rumination and isolation often pull us further away from God’s peace.
Asaph found clarity only after intentionally entering God’s presence.
God offers refuge, healing, and perspective in seasons of pain.
Justice may seem delayed, but God remains faithful and sovereign.
Drawing near to God strengthens faith and quiets fear.

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:

When We Feel Discouraged by the Evil in Our World
By: Jennifer Slattery

Bible Reading:
But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. - Psalm 73:2-3 (NIV)

Some time ago, I met with a sweet woman trying to heal from some deep emotional wounds. Because of past harm, she struggled to trust others and feel safe in relationships. Relatively new in her faith and transformation journey, she was just beginning to make sense of her emotions and inner world. As her understanding grew, so did her anger. This multiplied when she learned the person who’d most harmed her had slandered her to others, causing some to misjudge her and others to withdraw completely. She felt like she would never break free from her pain and bitterness. Worse, her offender didn’t seem to suffer any consequences for her actions. The person actually seemed to be thriving. 

Have you been there? Watching someone else treat others with ruthless cruelty, and not only get away with it, but benefit from your pain and the wreckage they caused? 

We can all probably think of situations in which injustice left us deeply wounded, wondering why God allowed us to experience such pain. We’ve also probably watched others seem to get away with horrendous behavior, while our suffering only increases. 

This was precisely how Asaph, the royal musician who penned Psalm 73, felt. We don’t know when he wrote this passage. But if this is the same Asaph who served during the time of King David, he may have been watching the betrayal David experienced at the hands of his son. Or perhaps the wickedness he refers to hits closer to home. His words might also stem from a more existential reflection on considering the world at large. 

At times, it does seem like the wealthy, powerful, and unscrupulous thrive, with little worries or pain, while we fall into one crisis after another. And in those seasons when someone else’s success seems to mock our pain, it’s easy to question the heart, promises, and plans of God. Unfortunately, if we cease tending to our souls, our sorrow can turn to disillusionment and eventually bitterness. 

Our inner angst can turn us from, rather than to, the One who knows us fully, loves us deeply, and is always working on our behalf. 

When we sense ourselves tiptoeing toward disillusionment and despair, we can follow Asaph’s example, as revealed in verses 16-17. Initially, he attempted to make sense of his circumstances on his own (v. 16). This only increased his inner angst. But then, in the next verse, we read:

“… till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny” (NIV). 

He intentionally turned to God. I don’t know how far he needed to travel to reach the Temple. But this required effort and determination. It also meant setting aside whatever other tasks he wanted to complete that day. 

When we’re hurting, frightened, or struggling with doubt, it’s easy to get stuck in our heads as we rehearse all the evils we’ve experienced or seen. The more we ruminate on what feels hard and uncertain, the more powerless and discouraged, and potentially, even abandoned, we feel. And our mind rarely remains focused on the inciting incident. Often, one negative thought leads to another, then another, until we’re overwhelmed. 

And like I said earlier, unmitigated introspection can pull us further from God, which only increases our fear or despair. 

But the converse occurs, as well. When we turn to God, seek His presence, and authentically engage with Him, He meets us in the intensity of our emotions and speaks clarity to our confusion, truth to our doubts, and surrounds us with His love. 

Did you catch how the Lord did this for Asaph? In God’s sanctuary, the place in which His presence dwelt, He gained faith-building understanding. Yes, the wicked seemed to thrive without any concerns or consequences. But justice would come, and Asaph would experience God’s goodness. 

Notice how he ended his poetic prayer. In verses 23-26, we read: 

Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.

And then, in verse 28: 

But as for me, it is good to be near God.

I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;

Intersecting Life & Faith:

I don’t know what you’re going through currently, what feels heavy and unfair and unjust. But I do know God sees you, loves you, and is for you. He won’t abandon you in your pain, nor will He allow the wicked to thrive forever. He brings justice, healing, hope, and refuge. 

If you’re feeling disillusioned by someone else’s sinful behavior, bring your emotions, unfiltered, to God and trust Him to meet and to heal you there. To shield and uphold you in His love. 

Before you sign off, if this episode hit a tender place in your soul and you’re struggling to make sense of some relational patterns that are leading to more anxiety than joy, visit the Faith Over Fear podcast to listen to my conversation with Jennifer Renee Watson on the threads of people pleasing and how to gain the confidence to tend to your soul—when others try to beat you down. That episode is titled "When People Take Advantage of Your Kindness: Biblical Help for People Pleasing."

Further Reading:

Psalm 37:1-7

Romans 12:19

Psalm 94:1-3

Drawing from Asaph&rsquo;s transparent confession in Psalm 73:2-3, this reflection explores how unresolved hurt and constant focus on injustice can slowly lead us toward disillusionment. Like Asaph, many believers struggle when they see harmful people thriving while their own wounds deepen. Yet the turning point in the psalm comes when Asaph intentionally enters God&rsquo;s sanctuary and regains an eternal perspective. In God&rsquo;s presence, he remembers that earthly success is temporary, but God&rsquo;s love, justice, and guidance are eternal.
This devotional encourages Christians to stop carrying pain alone and instead seek refuge in the Lord. God does not dismiss our hurt or ignore injustice. He sees every wound, strengthens weary hearts, and offers healing to those who draw near to Him. Even when circumstances remain difficult, His presence steadies us and renews our faith.
Highlights
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>Psalm 73 honestly addresses discouragement over injustice and evil.</li>
<li>Comparing our suffering to others&rsquo; success can lead to bitterness and despair.</li>
<li>Rumination and isolation often pull us further away from God&rsquo;s peace.</li>
<li>Asaph found clarity only after intentionally entering God&rsquo;s presence.</li>
<li>God offers refuge, healing, and perspective in seasons of pain.</li>
<li>Justice may seem delayed, but God remains faithful and sovereign.</li>
<li>Drawing near to God strengthens faith and quiets fear.</li>
</ul>
Do you want to listen ad-free?
When you join&nbsp;Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors&mdash;resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts!&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/subscribe/?utm_source=subscribe_page&amp;utm_medium=YDBV&amp;utm_campaign=YDBV_PLUS">Sign Up Today!</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
When We Feel Discouraged by the Evil in Our World By: Jennifer Slattery
Bible Reading: But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied&nbsp;the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. - Psalm 73:2-3 (NIV)
Some time ago, I met with a sweet woman trying to heal from some deep emotional wounds. Because of past harm, she struggled to trust others and feel safe in relationships. Relatively new in her faith and transformation journey, she was just beginning to make sense of her emotions and inner world. As her understanding grew, so did her anger. This multiplied when she learned the person who&rsquo;d most harmed her had slandered her to others, causing some to misjudge her and others to withdraw completely. She felt like she would never break free from her pain and bitterness. Worse, her offender didn&rsquo;t seem to suffer any consequences for her actions. The person actually seemed to be thriving.&nbsp;
Have you been there? Watching someone else treat others with ruthless cruelty, and not only get away with it, but benefit from your pain and the wreckage they caused?&nbsp;
We can all probably think of situations in which injustice left us deeply wounded, wondering why God allowed us to experience such pain. We&rsquo;ve also probably watched others seem to get away with horrendous behavior, while our suffering only increases.&nbsp;
This was precisely how Asaph, the royal musician who penned Psalm 73, felt. We don&rsquo;t know when he wrote this passage. But if this is the same Asaph who served during the time of King David, he may have been watching the betrayal David experienced at the hands of his son. Or perhaps the wickedness he refers to hits closer to home. His words might also stem from a more existential reflection on considering the world at large.&nbsp;
At times, it does seem like the wealthy, powerful, and unscrupulous thrive, with little worries or pain, while we fall into one crisis after another. And in those seasons when someone else&rsquo;s success seems to mock our pain, it&rsquo;s easy to question the heart, promises, and plans of God. Unfortunately, if we cease tending to our souls, our sorrow can turn to disillusionment and eventually bitterness.&nbsp;
Our inner angst can turn us from, rather than to, the One who knows us fully, loves us deeply, and is always working on our behalf.&nbsp;
When we sense ourselves tiptoeing toward disillusionment and despair, we can follow Asaph&rsquo;s example, as revealed in verses 16-17. Initially, he attempted to make sense of his circumstances on his own (v. 16). This only increased his inner angst. But then, in the next verse, we read:
&ldquo;&hellip; till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny&rdquo; (NIV).&nbsp;
He intentionally turned to God. I don&rsquo;t know how far he needed to travel to reach the Temple. But this required effort and determination. It also meant setting aside whatever other tasks he wanted to complete that day.&nbsp;
When we&rsquo;re hurting, frightened, or struggling with doubt, it&rsquo;s easy to get stuck in our heads as we rehearse all the evils we&rsquo;ve experienced or seen. The more we ruminate on what feels hard and uncertain, the more powerless and discouraged, and potentially, even abandoned, we feel. And our mind rarely remains focused on the inciting incident. Often, one negative thought leads to another, then another, until we&rsquo;re overwhelmed.&nbsp;
And like I said earlier, unmitigated introspection can pull us further from God, which only increases our fear or despair.&nbsp;
But the converse occurs, as well. When we turn to God, seek His presence, and authentically engage with Him, He meets us in the intensity of our emotions and speaks clarity to our confusion, truth to our doubts, and surrounds us with His love.&nbsp;
Did you catch how the Lord did this for Asaph? In God&rsquo;s sanctuary, the place in which His presence dwelt, He gained faith-building understanding. Yes, the wicked seemed to thrive without any concerns or consequences. But justice would come, and Asaph would experience God&rsquo;s goodness.&nbsp;
Notice how he ended his poetic prayer. In verses 23-26, we read:&nbsp;
Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide&nbsp;me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart&nbsp;may fail, but God is the strength&nbsp;of my heart and my portion&nbsp;forever.
And then, in verse 28:&nbsp;
But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign&nbsp;Lord my refuge;
Intersecting Life &amp; Faith:
I don&rsquo;t know what you&rsquo;re going through currently, what feels heavy and unfair and unjust. But I do know God sees you, loves you, and is for you. He won&rsquo;t abandon you in your pain, nor will He allow the wicked to thrive forever. He brings justice, healing, hope, and refuge.&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;re feeling disillusioned by someone else&rsquo;s sinful behavior, bring your emotions, unfiltered, to God and trust Him to meet and to heal you there. To shield and uphold you in His love.&nbsp;
Before you sign off, if this episode hit a tender place in your soul and you&rsquo;re struggling to make sense of some relational patterns that are leading to more anxiety than joy, visit the Faith Over Fear podcast to listen to my conversation with Jennifer Renee Watson on the threads of people pleasing and how to gain the confidence to tend to your soul&mdash;when others try to beat you down. That episode is titled "<a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/break-free-from-people-pleasing-and-the-lie-that-says-youre-not-enough">When People Take Advantage of Your Kindness: Biblical Help for People Pleasing</a>."
Further Reading:
Psalm 37:1-7
Romans 12:19
Psalm 94:1-3

When We Feel Discouraged by the Evil in Our World

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/ba06ab1e-22a1-4c21-aee3-b45800ebd478/transcript

Your personal testimony is powerful evidence that Jesus is alive and still transforming lives today. In this encouraging devotional, Whitney Hopler reflects on 1 Corinthians 15:6 and the 500 witnesses who saw the resurrected Jesus—reminding believers that authentic faith stories still matter. Christians don’t need to be theologians or pastors to share the Gospel; they simply need to honestly share how Jesus has worked in their lives.

Through relatable storytelling and biblical encouragement, this devotional challenges believers to overcome fear, embrace authenticity, and confidently witness to others about God’s faithfulness. Whether through answered prayer, peace during hardship, or everyday moments of hope, your story can help others discover the living presence of Jesus Christ.

Highlights
Why your personal testimony carries spiritual impact
The significance of the 500 witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection
How authenticity builds credibility when sharing faith
Why Christians don’t need all the answers to witness effectively
Overcoming fear and hesitation when talking about Jesus
Simple ways to share the hope of Christ in everyday conversations
How your story can encourage others to seek God personally

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:

Your Witness Matters
By: Whitney Hopler

Bible Reading:
“After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.” – 1 Corinthians 15:6, NIV 

When I was first learning about journalism – as an editor for my high school’s newspaper – I read a story that my fellow student Scott submitted and marveled at all the great quotes he had included. But none of those quotes featured names. They were all followed by the phrase “one student said.” So, I asked Scott to attribute the quotes. It was then that he revealed the “one student” was himself! I had to explain to him that he couldn’t just make up the quotes he wanted to feature in the story. Scott learned about the importance of authenticity and credibility that day, and I had to laugh that he had even considered we might run his story without proper attribution. 

I love reading the Bible’s stories of Jesus’ appearances to many different people after his resurrection. One of my favorite reports is in 1 Corinthians 15:6, which mentions that the resurrected Jesus appeared to more than 500 people at once – and that many of those people were still living at the time this verse was written, so those who read it could seek them out and hear their own stories of witnessing Jesus personally. All of those witnesses together offer credible evidence that Jesus really was resurrected from the dead and visited many people afterward.

You are also a witness to the fact that Jesus is alive. While you didn’t see him appear physically during biblical times, you’ve seen Jesus at work in your life. You’ve experienced how Jesus answered your prayers in all sorts of ways, such as by sending you guidance, giving you peace, or encouraging you. By sharing your stories of witnessing Jesus’ work in your life, you can help other people discover that Jesus is still living and active. 

Sometimes you may hesitate to share your stories because you’re afraid someone will ask a hard theological question you can‘t answer. But look back at that group of 500 people. They weren’t experts; they were witnesses. A witness’s job isn’t to be the judge, the jury, or the lawyer. A witness’s only job is to say: “This is what I saw, and this is what happened to me.” 

When you dare to share honest stories about how Jesus meets you in your struggles, you give others permission to be honest, too. Your authenticity can inspire others to walk closer to Jesus themselves. 

This verse mentions that most of those 500 witnesses were “still living.” This was an open invitation for skeptics to go and investigate by talking to them directly about their experiences with the resurrected Jesus. Today, you are the “still living” proof for the people in your own life. You’re the witness in your office, in your gym, in your family group chat, and wherever else you can share your stories of Jesus at work in your life. 

Jesus wants you to share his Gospel message in fresh ways whenever you have opportunities to do so. Just sharing simple ways that Jesus has given you hope lately or answered a specific prayer to help you can make a significant positive difference in other people’s lives. You don’t have to give people a sermon. Just witness authentically how Jesus is working in your life.

No one else can tell your stories of what Jesus is doing in your life. If you stay silent, some credible reports of God’s goodness stay hidden. But if you witness to others about how you’ve seen Jesus, you can point many people toward hope. 

So, go ahead and share what you’ve seen. You never know whose life might be changed by your witness! 

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As you consider how important it is for you to share your authentic stories of faith in God, reflect on these questions: 
When was a time you saw Jesus at work in your life that you haven’t yet shared with anyone? 
What’s the biggest fear that holds you back from talking about your faith with others? How can you overcome that fear, with God’s help? 
Who in your life right now needs to hear you witness about the hope that Jesus offers? How can you share a story with that person about how Jesus has given you hope? 
How does the idea of being a witness – who just says what you’ve seen – put less pressure on you than being a teacher or preacher? 
What credible evidence can people see that shows them Jesus is alive and active in your life right now? 

Further Reading:
Acts 1:8
1 Peter 3:15
Psalm 107:2
Revelation 12:11
Mark 5:19

Your personal testimony is powerful evidence that Jesus is alive and still transforming lives today. In this encouraging devotional, Whitney Hopler reflects on 1 Corinthians 15:6 and the 500 witnesses who saw the resurrected Jesus&mdash;reminding believers that authentic faith stories still matter. Christians don&rsquo;t need to be theologians or pastors to share the Gospel; they simply need to honestly share how Jesus has worked in their lives.
Through relatable storytelling and biblical encouragement, this devotional challenges believers to overcome fear, embrace authenticity, and confidently witness to others about God&rsquo;s faithfulness. Whether through answered prayer, peace during hardship, or everyday moments of hope, your story can help others discover the living presence of Jesus Christ.
<hr data-start="964" data-end="967">
Highlights
<ul data-start="988" data-end="1430">
<li data-section-id="9nrijz" data-start="988" data-end="1044">Why your personal testimony carries spiritual impact</li>
<li data-section-id="c0wh0v" data-start="1045" data-end="1109">The significance of the 500 witnesses to Jesus&rsquo; resurrection</li>
<li data-section-id="bvf6i8" data-start="1110" data-end="1168">How authenticity builds credibility when sharing faith</li>
<li data-section-id="zcjdq3" data-start="1169" data-end="1237">Why Christians don&rsquo;t need all the answers to witness effectively</li>
<li data-section-id="1bhcdir" data-start="1238" data-end="1297">Overcoming fear and hesitation when talking about Jesus</li>
<li data-section-id="hemow1" data-start="1298" data-end="1367">Simple ways to share the hope of Christ in everyday conversations</li>
<li data-section-id="h4wbbk" data-start="1368" data-end="1430">How your story can encourage others to seek God personally</li>
</ul>
Do you want to listen ad-free?
When you join&nbsp;Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors&mdash;resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts!&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/subscribe/?utm_source=subscribe_page&amp;utm_medium=YDBV&amp;utm_campaign=YDBV_PLUS">Sign Up Today!</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
Your Witness Matters By: Whitney Hopler
Bible Reading: &ldquo;After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.&rdquo; &ndash; 1 Corinthians 15:6, NIV&nbsp;
When I was first learning about journalism &ndash; as an editor for my high school&rsquo;s newspaper &ndash; I read a story that my fellow student Scott submitted and marveled at all the great quotes he had included. But none of those quotes featured names. They were all followed by the phrase &ldquo;one student said.&rdquo; So, I asked Scott to attribute the quotes. It was then that he revealed the &ldquo;one student&rdquo; was himself! I had to explain to him that he couldn&rsquo;t just make up the quotes he wanted to feature in the story. Scott learned about the importance of authenticity and credibility that day, and I had to laugh that he had even considered we might run his story without proper attribution.&nbsp;
I love reading the Bible&rsquo;s stories of Jesus&rsquo; appearances to many different people after his resurrection. One of my favorite reports is in 1 Corinthians 15:6, which mentions that the resurrected Jesus appeared to more than 500 people at once &ndash; and that many of those people were still living at the time this verse was written, so those who read it could seek them out and hear their own stories of witnessing Jesus personally. All of those witnesses together offer credible evidence that Jesus really was resurrected from the dead and visited many people afterward.
You are also a witness to the fact that Jesus is alive. While you didn&rsquo;t see him appear physically during biblical times, you&rsquo;ve seen Jesus at work in your life. You&rsquo;ve experienced <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/does-prayer-really-work.html">how Jesus answered your prayers</a> in all sorts of ways, such as by sending you guidance, giving you peace, or encouraging you. By sharing your stories of witnessing Jesus&rsquo; work in your life, you can help other people discover that Jesus is still living and active.&nbsp;
Sometimes you may hesitate to share your stories because you&rsquo;re afraid someone will ask a hard theological question you can&lsquo;t answer. But look back at that group of 500 people. They weren&rsquo;t experts; they were witnesses. A witness&rsquo;s job isn&rsquo;t to be the judge, the jury, or the lawyer. A witness&rsquo;s only job is to say: &ldquo;This is what I saw, and this is what happened to me.&rdquo;&nbsp;
When you dare to share honest stories about how Jesus meets you in your struggles, you give others permission to be honest, too. Your authenticity can inspire others to walk closer to Jesus themselves.&nbsp;
This verse mentions that most of those 500 witnesses were &ldquo;still living.&rdquo; This was an open invitation for skeptics to go and investigate by talking to them directly about their experiences with the resurrected Jesus. Today, you are the &ldquo;still living&rdquo; proof for the people in your own life. You&rsquo;re the witness in your office, in your gym, in your family group chat, and wherever else you can share your stories of Jesus at work in your life.&nbsp;
Jesus wants you to <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/fresh-ways-to-spread-the-gospel.html">share his Gospel message in fresh ways</a> whenever you have opportunities to do so. Just sharing simple ways that Jesus has given you hope lately or answered a specific prayer to help you can make a significant positive difference in other people&rsquo;s lives. You don&rsquo;t have to give people a sermon. Just witness authentically how Jesus is working in your life.
No one else can tell your stories of what Jesus is doing in your life. If you stay silent, some <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/give-thanks-for-gods-constant-goodness-the-crosswalk-devotional.html">credible reports of God&rsquo;s goodness</a> stay hidden. But if you witness to others about how you&rsquo;ve seen Jesus, you can point many people toward hope.&nbsp;
So, go ahead and share what you&rsquo;ve seen. You never know whose life might be changed by your witness!&nbsp;
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
As you consider how important it is for you to share your authentic stories of faith in God, reflect on these questions:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">When was a time you saw Jesus at work in your life that you haven&rsquo;t yet shared with anyone?&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">What&rsquo;s the biggest fear that holds you back from talking about your faith with others? How can you overcome that fear, with God&rsquo;s help?&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Who in your life right now needs to hear you witness about the hope that Jesus offers? How can you share a story with that person about how Jesus has given you hope?&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">How does the idea of being a witness &ndash; who just says what you&rsquo;ve seen &ndash; put less pressure on you than being a teacher or preacher?&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">What credible evidence can people see that shows them Jesus is alive and active in your life right now?&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Further Reading: Acts 1:8 1 Peter 3:15 Psalm 107:2 Revelation 12:11 Mark 5:19

Your Witness Matters

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/1aa91c92-a156-43d8-8595-b457012bc4bd/transcript

God’s timing is always better than our own, even when delays feel frustrating or confusing. In this devotional, Cindi McMenamin shares a powerful real-life story about wanting new flooring and home upgrades, only to discover later that God’s “wait” protected her family from unnecessary expense and prepared the way for something far better. Rooted in Bible teaching from Gospel of Matthew 7:11, this message reminds believers that God lovingly gives good gifts to His children—often in ways we never expect.

Through water damage, construction messes, and an unexpected remodel, God revealed His wisdom, provision, and perfect timing. This devotional encourages Christians to surrender their own timelines, trust God in the waiting, and believe He can bring beauty out of chaos when we choose obedience over impatience.

Highlights
Why waiting on God can protect us from unnecessary hardship
The importance of listening to godly counsel and spiritual leadership
How delays can become unexpected blessings
God’s ability to restore beauty from life’s messes and disruptions
Trusting God’s timing instead of forcing our own plans
A reminder that God’s “no” or “wait” often leads to something better
Finding peace through obedience, patience, and prayer

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Full Transcript Below:

God Always Knows Best
By Cindi McMenamin

Bible Reading:
“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11)

How many times do you and I have something on our minds, or on our wish lists, that we fail to ask God for, and we just rush ahead and try to get it for ourselves? 

I remember when my daughter and I got in our heads that we wanted to replace our carpet downstairs with wood laminate flooring. We believed it would be better for my husband, who suffered allergies now and then from our beloved cat, Mowgli. And we so wanted the upgrade to get rid of our old, smelly carpet. 

We also wanted to update the overall look of our condo, so we went to a home improvement store and admired granite and marble countertops that could replace the old tile and grungy grout in our kitchen. The cost of the countertops was so high, though, that we figured we didn’t truly need them. So, my daughter and I decided to just push hard for the new flooring. 

Yet, my husband insisted that we wait. “We don’t know if we might end up paying taxes this year,” he said, “so let’s wait until after April.”

“But we have the money in savings,” I countered. “And you’d love it, Dad,” my daughter chimed in. 

Yet my husband was insistent.  "I'm just not feeling at peace about it,” he said. “Please wait and trust me on this.” 

I was so convinced we should have that flooring, I whined about it to God in prayer the next morning. It was very clear what God was saying to my heart during my prayer time: Listen to your husband. Follow his lead. 

I didn’t bother arguing with God. He usually won’t budge on things. So, I waited it out and forgot about the flooring. Until a few months later, when we discovered wet carpet from a slab leak underneath our kitchen floor and entryway! The insurance company was called. Dryers were put in our living room to dry out the floors and help mitigate what they hoped wouldn’t turn into mold. Then, contractors came and rerouted our water lines from the ground into the walls of our condo. The place was an absolute mess. But part of the remodel included not only replacing the carpet in the living room and entry way and up the stairs, but the option to include flooring instead at less of a cost than the carpet, leaving excess funds to replace our countertops, which had to be redone after a tile broke when the contractors were repairing the lower cupboards underneath the countertops. 

Over the next few months, we ended up with all-new wood flooring downstairs, beautiful new granite countertops, and a kitchen repaint at practically no expense to us. 

Had I rushed ahead and not waited on my husband and God for that wood flooring, we would’ve paid a few thousand dollars for it, only to have it all ripped up a month later and reinstalled again after the leak. By waiting when my husband said, “Let’s wait,” and by listening to God when He said, “Listen to your husband,” we didn’t pay anything except a small deductible for what turned out to be a $15,000 remodel of the downstairs in our home. 

Intersecting Faith & Life:

How many times might God have something far better for us than what was on our own wish list and timeline? Trust Him for what He wants to do in your life in His way and in His time. Trust Him in the messes, like slab leaks, reconstruction, and water damage repair. He has a way of restoring and bringing beauty out of the chaos. And as Matthew 7:11 says, He loves to give gifts to His children who not only ask Him, but wait upon Him. 

Thank You, Lord, that You can accomplish far more when I pray about a situation and wait upon You than I can when I argue or try to work things out for myself. Lord, You always know best, and I truly want Your best, not my idea of what’s best. Teach me to wait upon Your plan and Your timing. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. 

Further Reading:

Psalm 84:11 

For daily help and inspiration to wait upon God, see Cindi McMenamin’s book, The New Loneliness Devotional: 50 Days to a Closer Connection with God.

God&rsquo;s timing is always better than our own, even when delays feel frustrating or confusing. In this devotional, Cindi McMenamin shares a powerful real-life story about wanting new flooring and home upgrades, only to discover later that God&rsquo;s &ldquo;wait&rdquo; protected her family from unnecessary expense and prepared the way for something far better. Rooted in Bible teaching from Gospel of Matthew 7:11, this message reminds believers that God lovingly gives good gifts to His children&mdash;often in ways we never expect.
Through water damage, construction messes, and an unexpected remodel, God revealed His wisdom, provision, and perfect timing. This devotional encourages Christians to surrender their own timelines, trust God in the waiting, and believe He can bring beauty out of chaos when we choose obedience over impatience.
<hr data-start="1013" data-end="1016">
Highlights
<ul data-start="1037" data-end="1482">
<li data-section-id="1tua9b2" data-start="1037" data-end="1100">Why waiting on God can protect us from unnecessary hardship</li>
<li data-section-id="1j6dzj9" data-start="1101" data-end="1174">The importance of listening to godly counsel and spiritual leadership</li>
<li data-section-id="1tmjobw" data-start="1175" data-end="1221">How delays can become unexpected blessings</li>
<li data-section-id="160r1m0" data-start="1222" data-end="1292">God&rsquo;s ability to restore beauty from life&rsquo;s messes and disruptions</li>
<li data-section-id="22ncxx" data-start="1293" data-end="1351">Trusting God&rsquo;s timing instead of forcing our own plans</li>
<li data-section-id="i9tm45" data-start="1352" data-end="1424">A reminder that God&rsquo;s &ldquo;no&rdquo; or &ldquo;wait&rdquo; often leads to something better</li>
<li data-section-id="jjo99n" data-start="1425" data-end="1482">Finding peace through obedience, patience, and prayer</li>
</ul>
Do you want to listen ad-free?
When you join&nbsp;Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors&mdash;resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts!&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/subscribe/?utm_source=subscribe_page&amp;utm_medium=YDBV&amp;utm_campaign=YDBV_PLUS">Sign Up Today!</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
God Always Knows Best By Cindi McMenamin
Bible Reading: &ldquo;If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!&rdquo; (Matthew 7:11)
How many times do you and I have something on our minds, or on our wish lists, that we fail to ask God for, and we just rush ahead and try to get it for ourselves?&nbsp;
I remember when my daughter and I got in our heads that we wanted to replace our carpet downstairs with wood laminate flooring. We believed it would be better for my husband, who suffered allergies now and then from our beloved cat, Mowgli. And we so wanted the upgrade to get rid of our old, smelly carpet.&nbsp;
We also wanted to update the overall look of our condo, so we went to a home improvement store and admired granite and marble countertops that could replace the old tile and grungy grout in our kitchen. The cost of the countertops was so high, though, that we figured we didn&rsquo;t truly need them. So, my daughter and I decided to just push hard for the new flooring.&nbsp;
Yet, my husband insisted that we wait. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t know if we might end up paying taxes this year,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;so let&rsquo;s wait until after April.&rdquo;
&ldquo;But we have the money in savings,&rdquo; I countered. &ldquo;And you&rsquo;d love it, Dad,&rdquo; my daughter chimed in.&nbsp;
Yet my husband was insistent.&nbsp; "I'm just not feeling at peace about it,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Please wait and trust me on this.&rdquo;&nbsp;
I was so convinced we should have that flooring, I whined about it to God in prayer the next morning. It was very clear what God was saying to my heart during my prayer time: Listen to your husband. Follow his lead.&nbsp;
I didn&rsquo;t bother arguing with God. He usually won&rsquo;t budge on things. So, I waited it out and forgot about the flooring. Until a few months later, when we discovered wet carpet from a slab leak underneath our kitchen floor and entryway! The insurance company was called. Dryers were put in our living room to dry out the floors and help mitigate what they hoped wouldn&rsquo;t turn into mold. Then, contractors came and rerouted our water lines from the ground into the walls of our condo. The place was an absolute mess. But part of the remodel included not only replacing the carpet in the living room and entry way and up the stairs, but the option to include flooring instead at less of a cost than the carpet, leaving excess funds to replace our countertops, which had to be redone after a tile broke when the contractors were repairing the lower cupboards underneath the countertops.&nbsp;
Over the next few months, we ended up with all-new wood flooring downstairs, beautiful new granite countertops, and a kitchen repaint at practically no expense to us.&nbsp;
Had I rushed ahead and not waited on my husband and God for that wood flooring, we would&rsquo;ve paid a few thousand dollars for it, only to have it all ripped up a month later and reinstalled again after the leak. By waiting when my husband said, &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s wait,&rdquo; and by listening to God when He said, &ldquo;Listen to your husband,&rdquo; we didn&rsquo;t pay anything except a small deductible for what turned out to be a $15,000 remodel of the downstairs in our home.&nbsp;
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
How many times might God have something far better for us than what was on our own wish list and timeline? Trust Him for what He wants to do in your life in His way and in His time. Trust Him in the messes, like slab leaks, reconstruction, and water damage repair. He has a way of restoring and bringing beauty out of the chaos. And as Matthew 7:11 says, He loves to give gifts to His children who not only ask Him, but wait upon Him.&nbsp;
Thank You, Lord, that You can accomplish far more when I pray about a situation and wait upon You than I can when I argue or try to work things out for myself. Lord, You always know best, and I truly want Your best, not my idea of what&rsquo;s best. Teach me to wait upon Your plan and Your timing. In Jesus&rsquo; name, I pray. Amen.&nbsp;
Further Reading:
Psalm 84:11&nbsp;
For daily help and inspiration to wait upon God, see Cindi McMenamin&rsquo;s book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/New-Loneliness-Devotional-Closer-Connection/dp/0736989250/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2S9YRHB4MSKZR&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.TmMnSOVvCMTwhHlx85y3XjGXf3_3YngV6Aac9qHg--TC22sSLZWj6K5tsD_Nn8bGKOq6RQ9vX9-WoB69FeJrtS4-v-oYNbRh8WrQ2Fy1ZoQcfajvANjvlhX">The New Loneliness Devotional: 50 Days to a Closer Connection with God</a>.

God Always Knows Best

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/f6bbb575-18ce-49fe-80bd-b45700ea96a5/transcript

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