Christmas is a time for the faithful to gather around the manger and allow our hearts to fill, and burst, with joy when we remember why Christ came.The familiar Christmas hymn, "O Come, All Ye Faithful," draws us into the Christmas story found in Luke 2:8-16. - Gina Smith

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Christmas is a time for the faithful to gather around the manger and allow our hearts to fill, and burst, with joy when we remember why Christ came. The familiar Christmas hymn, "O Come, All Ye Faithful," draws us into the Christmas story found in Luke 2:8-16. - Gina Smith
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

O Come All Ye Faithful: How to Have Joy This Christmas

The Holy Spirit still speaks, guides, comforts, and anchors believers in truth today. In this devotional on listening to the Holy Spirit, Michelle Lazurek reflects on a frightening health scare that led her into fear, anxiety, and catastrophic thinking—until God’s gentle voice broke through the lies. Rooted in Psalms 37:23, this message reminds us that God establishes the steps of those who delight in Him and that the Holy Spirit helps believers discern truth in difficult seasons.

Through personal testimony and biblical encouragement, this devotional explores spiritual discernment, obedience, and learning to recognize God’s voice amid fear and uncertainty. It highlights how Scripture, prayer, and Christian community help believers test what they hear and grow more sensitive to the Spirit’s leading. As we mature spiritually, the Holy Spirit becomes not only our Comforter but also the One who silences lies and strengthens our identity in Christ.

Highlights
The Holy Spirit often speaks peace into moments filled with fear and confusion.
God’s voice will always align with Scripture and His character.
Spiritual maturity grows through consistent prayer, obedience, and time in God’s Word.
Fear and negative thinking lose power when replaced with biblical truth.
Christian community helps believers discern and confirm God’s leading.
God—not circumstances or diagnoses—holds authority over our lives and future.
Listening to the Holy Spirit requires intentional stillness and spiritual attentiveness.

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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! 

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Full Transcript Below:

Listen to the Holy Spirit
By: Michelle Lazurek

Bible Reading:
“The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him.” - Psalm 37:23

A couple of years ago, I started a new medication. This medication had side effects, one of which was nausea, and I had a lot of it. In addition, I felt it was affecting my throat, as I kept feeling a lump there. Because I have had hypothyroidism for many years, my doctor wanted to check to see if it was causing harm to my thyroid, and she wanted to see if it was cancer. She ordered an ultrasound to check it. 

No cancer! But the test results revealed I probably had an autoimmune disease that had gone undiagnosed for some time. This was difficult news to hear, to say the least. After I visited with the doctor, I got into my car and drove to the grocery store. Just as I was getting into the car after getting some groceries, I hit my head on the rearview mirror. I bawled my eyes out for the next half hour in my car. A myriad of thoughts ran through my head:

I won’t live long enough to see my kids grow up or their grandkids. 

God didn’t care about my health.  

God didn’t care about me. 

All I had done was for nothing. 

After I had my emotional meltdown, I went back into the store. Walking down the aisle, I sensed the Holy Spirit speak to my heart: “I tell you when you’re done. Doctors don’t tell you when you are done, I tell you when you are done.” Immediately, all those lies that filled my head were gone.  

Because I regularly practice listening for the Holy Spirit, I was in tune and aware enough of how God speaks to me that when He spoke, I knew it was Him. I not only knew from my previous encounters with the Spirit, but also being anchored in God’s word, that when I tested the words I heard, they aligned with Scripture. 

Those words inspired me not to give up. I changed my diet and tweaked my exercise routine. I started taking supplements, upped my water intake—anything I could do to live as healthily as possible.

If you are unsure whether you are hearing from the Holy Spirit, ask yourself these questions: As you read Scripture, does a verse speak to your soul in a way it hasn’t before (especially if you’ve read the scripture before)? Do you sense the Holy Spirit speaking to you during your prayer time? If he does, write down what you believe he is saying. 

If you have experienced either of these things, test what you are hearing with others you trust (they can be in your church or not). Community is key to sharpening your ability to hear from the Holy Spirit. 

When we mature in our spiritual walks, we rely more on the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit's voice becomes clearer to us the more we listen to it and obey what it says. Not only is it important to listen to the Holy Spirit, but it also helps to dispel the lies that Satan plants in our minds. Just as I believed the lie that my life was over simply because of a doctor's diagnosis, the Holy Spirit had more to say to me on that subject. The minute I heard those words in the spirit, all those lies disappeared. I was able to replace the truth of the above verse with the lies that my life would be cut short. 

Are you someone who hears from the Holy Spirit? Have you had encounters like this where the words you hear from him align with Scripture, changing not only your life but the lives of those who hear them? Vow to be more attuned to the spirit. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you in ways that only you will understand. 

When you hear those words, be obedient to do as they say. When we align our minds and hearts with the Holy Spirit, we solidify our identity in Christ and can respond to the still, small voice in our lives.

Father, let us listen to you. Make your voice unmistakable in our lives. Let us be people who are known to obey you rather than the lies in our minds. Amen. 

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Have you heard from the Holy Spirit? What did he say? Were you obedient to what you heard?

Further Reading:

John 14:26

The Holy Spirit still speaks, guides, comforts, and anchors believers in truth today. In this devotional on listening to the Holy Spirit, Michelle Lazurek reflects on a frightening health scare that led her into fear, anxiety, and catastrophic thinking&mdash;until God&rsquo;s gentle voice broke through the lies. Rooted in Psalms 37:23, this message reminds us that God establishes the steps of those who delight in Him and that the Holy Spirit helps believers discern truth in difficult seasons.
Through personal testimony and biblical encouragement, this devotional explores spiritual discernment, obedience, and learning to recognize God&rsquo;s voice amid fear and uncertainty. It highlights how Scripture, prayer, and Christian community help believers test what they hear and grow more sensitive to the Spirit&rsquo;s leading. As we mature spiritually, the Holy Spirit becomes not only our Comforter but also the One who silences lies and strengthens our identity in Christ.
Highlights
<ul data-start="1040" data-end="1595">
<li data-section-id="g4pjap" data-start="1040" data-end="1121">The Holy Spirit often speaks peace into moments filled with fear and confusion.</li>
<li data-section-id="eyf123" data-start="1122" data-end="1187">God&rsquo;s voice will always align with Scripture and His character.</li>
<li data-section-id="bwngoh" data-start="1188" data-end="1276">Spiritual maturity grows through consistent prayer, obedience, and time in God&rsquo;s Word.</li>
<li data-section-id="15i8ehj" data-start="1277" data-end="1351">Fear and negative thinking lose power when replaced with biblical truth.</li>
<li data-section-id="q3mbac" data-start="1352" data-end="1424">Christian community helps believers discern and confirm God&rsquo;s leading.</li>
<li data-section-id="1k4gs6r" data-start="1425" data-end="1504">God&mdash;not circumstances or diagnoses&mdash;holds authority over our lives and future.</li>
<li data-section-id="1wzi501" data-start="1505" data-end="1595">Listening to the Holy Spirit requires intentional stillness and spiritual attentiveness.</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:
Listen to the Holy Spirit By: Michelle Lazurek
Bible Reading: &ldquo;The&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;makes firm the steps of the one who delights&nbsp;in him.&rdquo; - Psalm 37:23
A couple of years ago, I started a new medication. This medication had side effects, one of which was nausea, and I had a lot of it. In addition, I felt it was affecting my throat, as I kept feeling a lump there. Because I have had hypothyroidism for many years, my doctor wanted to check to see if it was causing harm to my thyroid, and she wanted to see if it was cancer. She ordered an ultrasound to check it.&nbsp;
No cancer! But the test results revealed I probably had an autoimmune disease that had gone undiagnosed for some time. This was difficult news to hear, to say the least. After I visited with the doctor, I got into my car and drove to the grocery store. Just as I was getting into the car after getting some groceries, I hit my head on the rearview mirror. I bawled my eyes out for the next half hour in my car. A myriad of thoughts ran through my head:
I won&rsquo;t live long enough to see my kids grow up or their grandkids.&nbsp;
God didn&rsquo;t care about my health.&nbsp;&nbsp;
God didn&rsquo;t care about me.&nbsp;
All I had done was for nothing.&nbsp;
After I had my emotional meltdown, I went back into the store. Walking down the aisle, I sensed the Holy Spirit speak to my heart: &ldquo;I tell you when you&rsquo;re done. Doctors don&rsquo;t tell you when you are done, I tell you when you are done.&rdquo; Immediately, all those lies that filled my head were gone.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Because I regularly practice listening for the Holy Spirit, I was in tune and aware enough of how God speaks to me that when He spoke, I knew it was Him. I not only knew from my previous encounters with the Spirit, but also being anchored in God&rsquo;s word, that when I tested the words I heard, they aligned with Scripture.&nbsp;
Those words inspired me not to give up. I changed my diet and tweaked my exercise routine. I started taking supplements, upped my water intake&mdash;anything I could do to live as healthily as possible.
If you are unsure whether you are hearing from the Holy Spirit, ask yourself these questions: As you read Scripture, does a verse speak to your soul in a way it hasn&rsquo;t before (especially if you&rsquo;ve read the scripture before)? Do you sense the Holy Spirit speaking to you during your prayer time? If he does, write down what you believe he is saying.&nbsp;
If you have experienced either of these things, test what you are hearing with others you trust (they can be in your church or not). Community is key to sharpening your ability to hear from the Holy Spirit.&nbsp;
When we mature in our spiritual walks, we rely more on the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit's voice becomes clearer to us the more we listen to it and obey what it says. Not only is it important to listen to the Holy Spirit, but it also helps to dispel the lies that Satan plants in our minds. Just as I believed the lie that my life was over simply because of a doctor's diagnosis, the Holy Spirit had more to say to me on that subject. The minute I heard those words in the spirit, all those lies disappeared. I was able to replace the truth of the above verse with the lies that my life would be cut short.&nbsp;
Are you someone who hears from the Holy Spirit? Have you had encounters like this where the words you hear from him align with Scripture, changing not only your life but the lives of those who hear them? Vow to be more attuned to the spirit. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you in ways that only you will understand.&nbsp;
When you hear those words, be obedient to do as they say. When we align our minds and hearts with the Holy Spirit, we solidify our identity in Christ and can respond to the still, small voice in our lives.
Father, let us listen to you. Make your voice unmistakable in our lives. Let us be people who are known to obey you rather than the lies in our minds. Amen.&nbsp;
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
Have you heard from the Holy Spirit? What did he say? Were you obedient to what you heard?
Further Reading:
John 14:26

Listen to the Holy Spirit

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/a835ab7d-3930-4e92-b4e4-b45201478596/transcript

Psalm 78:2 reminds believers of the importance of remembering and recounting God’s faithfulness through every generation. In this devotional, Jennifer Slattery explores how seasons of chaos, uncertainty, fear, and hardship can tempt Christians to lose sight of God’s power, provision, and promises. When life feels overwhelming, believers often try to regain control on their own, yet Scripture continually points back to the faithfulness of God as the true foundation for peace and stability.

This devotional highlights how the Israelites repeatedly witnessed God’s miraculous provision and deliverance, yet often forgot His faithfulness when new challenges arose. Through intentional reflection and remembrance, Christians can strengthen their faith, overcome fear, and build deeper trust in God’s character. Remembering God’s past faithfulness becomes a powerful way to steady the heart, encourage future generations, and remain anchored in hope during uncertain times.

Highlights
Remembering God’s faithfulness strengthens faith during difficult seasons.
Fear and anxiety often grow when believers forget God’s past provision.
Scripture repeatedly calls God’s people to reflect on His works and promises.
The Israelites struggled because they continually forgot God’s deliverance.
God remains faithful even when His people are fearful or weak in faith.
Reflecting on God’s past provision helps believers trust Him in present trials.
Intentional remembrance builds peace, hope, and spiritual endurance.

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:

How Remembering God’s Faithfulness Rebuilds Your Faith
By: Jennifer Slattery

Bible Reading:
I will open my mouth with a parable;
I will utter hidden things, things from of old. —Psalm 78:2

Lately, life has felt heavy and chaotic, hasn’t it? Sometimes it feels like everything is spinning backward, upside down, and inside out, and frankly, there’s not much I can do about it. I can’t fix our economy or prevent the next recession. I can’t undo the division and polarization plaguing our nation. I can’t solve my loved one’s problems or prevent their pain. And when everything hits simultaneously, or my hardship continues for any length of time, I temporarily lose sight of the power, promises, and love of Christ. 

Such forgetfulness is dangerous in times of crisis, because it tempts me to rely on myself and seek control. But I’ve created enough messes to know the foolishness of any so-called solutions not provided by Christ. 

Thankfully, He never leaves me to navigate life’s challenges alone. I watched Him resurrect my marriage when it seemed dead. He’s provided for us in miraculous ways and guided us through confusion and uncertainty. My life has become a living testimony of His grace. A grace that, when remembered and reflected upon, deepens my faith, strengthens my obedience, and purifies my love for the One who never leaves my side.

I see this strategic interaction all throughout Scripture. We humans excel at falling into messes; the Lord excels at pulling us out and setting us on a new, brighter, freer path. This is the message Asaph, the prophet and royal musician who penned Psalm 78, conveyed. He wanted the Israelites to consider God’s faithfulness to His often faithless and rebellious people. He asked them to listen, and then to repeat the lessons he taught, as a way to encourage their souls, yes. But also to build faith into the next generation. To help insulate them from falling into the same self-defeating traps as the older generation (vs 6-8). 

Scripture records some of the most shocking examples in Exodus, a historical narrative recounting the people’s liberation from slavery and oppression and journey to the Promised Land. They should’ve completed this 200 to 400-mile trek within ten days, a few weeks max. But when it came time to enter their new, God-given land, they refused, out of fear. 

This, after having witnessed the Lord’s miraculous intervention numerous times. Consider how their story began—an entire population, held captive, powerless, for centuries. They had no recourse, no voice, and likely assumed things would never get better. How could they, a weak and beaten-down people group, possibly break free from the most powerful ruler in the ancient world at that time?

That’s also why God’s rescue would’ve made such an impact. He infused hope into a seemingly hopeless situation, proving His power over the most oppressive and established systems and history’s most vicious tyrants. But then, soon after their liberation, they found themselves trapped again, this time with a large body of water on one side and a skilled, armed, and trained military advancing on the other. 

Understandably, the people panicked. They deemed their circumstances hopeless. But again, God came through, parted the water so they could pass across on dry ground, then swept their cruel abusers into the sea. 

Again and again, God’s people found themselves in dire situations. And again and again, God came through, proving His love. Demonstrating His attentive care. 

In each instance, He presented them with an opportunity to deepen their faith, build greater trust in their Maker, and establish a more secure connection with Him. 

Sadly, they never seemed to accept His beautiful invitation—because they refused to learn from their past. Instead, they remained reactive, fearful, anxious, and in repeated chaos with themselves, one another, and their Lord. 

Asaph challenged the later generations to consider their ancestors’ self-defeating patterns so that they could learn to live differently, with more faith and less fear. And he did so by highlighting God’s faithfulness, often displayed when His people behaved most faithlessly. 

Intersecting Life & Faith:

Each day, God offers us the same lesson. He invites us to engage in intentional reflection, where we periodically pause to recall evidence of His love and examples of His care. This remembering strengthens our faith and our attachment to our Savior. As we consistently draw closer to Him, listen for His life parables, and fortify our souls with truth, He steadies us. He enables us to stand firm, immovable, regardless of how shaky the ground beneath us feels. 

How might intentionally remembering God’s power, promises, presence, and provision increase your faith and peace and decrease your anxiety for whatever difficulties you might face? Perhaps journal on one instance each day. In a year’s time, you’ll have 365 accounts of His faithful care for you and those you love. 

Further Reading:
Joshua 4:6-7
Psalm 105:1-5
Psalm 145:4-7

Psalm 78:2 reminds believers of the importance of remembering and recounting God&rsquo;s faithfulness through every generation. In this devotional, Jennifer Slattery explores how seasons of chaos, uncertainty, fear, and hardship can tempt Christians to lose sight of God&rsquo;s power, provision, and promises. When life feels overwhelming, believers often try to regain control on their own, yet Scripture continually points back to the faithfulness of God as the true foundation for peace and stability.
This devotional highlights how the Israelites repeatedly witnessed God&rsquo;s miraculous provision and deliverance, yet often forgot His faithfulness when new challenges arose. Through intentional reflection and remembrance, Christians can strengthen their faith, overcome fear, and build deeper trust in God&rsquo;s character. Remembering God&rsquo;s past faithfulness becomes a powerful way to steady the heart, encourage future generations, and remain anchored in hope during uncertain times.
Highlights
<ul data-start="1003" data-end="1538">
<li data-section-id="7xfefl" data-start="1003" data-end="1079">Remembering God&rsquo;s faithfulness strengthens faith during difficult seasons.</li>
<li data-section-id="7uzc6d" data-start="1080" data-end="1153">Fear and anxiety often grow when believers forget God&rsquo;s past provision.</li>
<li data-section-id="858ar2" data-start="1154" data-end="1233">Scripture repeatedly calls God&rsquo;s people to reflect on His works and promises.</li>
<li data-section-id="1jud51q" data-start="1234" data-end="1311">The Israelites struggled because they continually forgot God&rsquo;s deliverance.</li>
<li data-section-id="1n0uqkc" data-start="1312" data-end="1385">God remains faithful even when His people are fearful or weak in faith.</li>
<li data-section-id="ofitsz" data-start="1386" data-end="1467">Reflecting on God&rsquo;s past provision helps believers trust Him in present trials.</li>
<li data-section-id="1mzqvli" data-start="1468" data-end="1538">Intentional remembrance builds peace, hope, and spiritual endurance.</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:
How Remembering God&rsquo;s Faithfulness Rebuilds Your Faith By: Jennifer Slattery
Bible Reading: I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old. &mdash;Psalm 78:2
Lately, life has felt heavy and chaotic, hasn&rsquo;t it? Sometimes it feels like everything is spinning backward, upside down, and inside out, and frankly, there&rsquo;s not much I can do about it. I can&rsquo;t fix our economy or prevent the next recession. I can&rsquo;t undo the division and polarization plaguing our nation. I can&rsquo;t solve my loved one&rsquo;s problems or prevent their pain. And when everything hits simultaneously, or my hardship continues for any length of time, I temporarily lose sight of the power, promises, and love of Christ.&nbsp;
Such forgetfulness is dangerous in times of crisis, because it tempts me to rely on myself and seek control. But I&rsquo;ve created enough messes to know the foolishness of any so-called solutions not provided by Christ.&nbsp;
Thankfully, He never leaves me to navigate life&rsquo;s challenges alone. I watched Him resurrect my marriage when it seemed dead. He&rsquo;s provided for us in miraculous ways and guided us through confusion and uncertainty. My life has become a living testimony of His grace. A grace that, when remembered and reflected upon, deepens my faith, strengthens my obedience, and purifies my love for the One who never leaves my side.
I see this strategic interaction all throughout Scripture. We humans excel at falling into messes; the Lord excels at pulling us out and setting us on a new, brighter, freer path. This is the message Asaph, the prophet and royal musician who penned Psalm 78, conveyed. He wanted the Israelites to consider God&rsquo;s faithfulness to His often faithless and rebellious people. He asked them to listen, and then to repeat the lessons he taught, as a way to encourage their souls, yes. But also to build faith into the next generation. To help insulate them from falling into the same self-defeating traps as the older generation (vs 6-8).&nbsp;
Scripture records some of the most shocking examples in Exodus, a historical narrative recounting the people&rsquo;s liberation from slavery and oppression and journey to the Promised Land. They should&rsquo;ve completed this 200 to 400-mile trek within ten days, a few weeks max. But when it came time to enter their new, God-given land, they refused, out of fear.&nbsp;
This, after having witnessed the Lord&rsquo;s miraculous intervention numerous times. Consider how their story began&mdash;an entire population, held captive, powerless, for centuries. They had no recourse, no voice, and likely assumed things would never get better. How could they, a weak and beaten-down people group, possibly break free from the most powerful ruler in the ancient world at that time?
That&rsquo;s also why God&rsquo;s rescue would&rsquo;ve made such an impact. He infused hope into a seemingly hopeless situation, proving His power over the most oppressive and established systems and history&rsquo;s most vicious tyrants. But then, soon after their liberation, they found themselves trapped again, this time with a large body of water on one side and a skilled, armed, and trained military advancing on the other.&nbsp;
Understandably, the people panicked. They deemed their circumstances hopeless. But again, God came through, parted the water so they could pass across on dry ground, then swept their cruel abusers into the sea.&nbsp;
Again and again, God&rsquo;s people found themselves in dire situations. And again and again, God came through, proving His love. Demonstrating His attentive care.&nbsp;
In each instance, He presented them with an opportunity to deepen their faith, build greater trust in their Maker, and establish a more secure connection with Him.&nbsp;
Sadly, they never seemed to accept His beautiful invitation&mdash;because they refused to learn from their past. Instead, they remained reactive, fearful, anxious, and in repeated chaos with themselves, one another, and their Lord.&nbsp;
Asaph challenged the later generations to consider their ancestors&rsquo; self-defeating patterns so that they could learn to live differently, with more faith and less fear. And he did so by highlighting God&rsquo;s faithfulness, often displayed when His people behaved most faithlessly.&nbsp;
Intersecting Life &amp; Faith:
Each day, God offers us the same lesson. He invites us to engage in intentional reflection, where we periodically pause to recall evidence of His love and examples of His care. This remembering strengthens our faith and our attachment to our Savior. As we consistently draw closer to Him, listen for His life parables, and fortify our souls with truth, He steadies us. He enables us to stand firm, immovable, regardless of how shaky the ground beneath us feels.&nbsp;
How might intentionally remembering God&rsquo;s power, promises, presence, and provision increase your faith and peace and decrease your anxiety for whatever difficulties you might face? Perhaps journal on one instance each day. In a year&rsquo;s time, you&rsquo;ll have 365 accounts of His faithful care for you and those you love.&nbsp;
Further Reading: Joshua 4:6-7 Psalm 105:1-5 Psalm 145:4-7

How Remembering God’s Faithfulness Rebuilds Your Faith

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/93f9e764-7399-4627-8a81-b4520146ec06/transcript

1 Timothy 6:6-8 reminds believers that true fulfillment is not found in possessions, status, or comparison, but in godliness with contentment. In this devotional, Emily Rose Massey explores how social media comparison can quietly stir envy, dissatisfaction, and restlessness in the heart. Constant exposure to curated lifestyles and picture-perfect moments can tempt Christians to believe they are lacking something God has withheld from them.

This devotional encourages believers to guard their hearts against comparison and refocus their attention on Christ rather than worldly standards. Scripture reminds Christians that God faithfully provides what they truly need, and lasting peace comes from trusting His provision and sovereignty. Through gratitude, repentance, and renewing the mind with God’s Word, believers can experience the joy and freedom of godly contentment instead of chasing temporary fulfillment through comparison and materialism.

Highlights
Godliness with contentment brings lasting spiritual gain.
Social media comparison can fuel envy, jealousy, and dissatisfaction.
Comparison often reveals deeper struggles with trust and gratitude.
True fulfillment is found in Christ, not worldly success or appearances.
God faithfully provides what His children truly need.
Renewing the mind with Scripture helps guard the heart from discontentment.
Gratitude and faith lead to greater peace, joy, and contentment.

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:

The Great Gain of Godly Contentment

By: Emily Rose Massey

Bible Reading:

“Now godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content” (1 Timothy 6:6-8, ESV). 

Has interaction on social media ever created a heaviness in your heart, perhaps leading you to compare yourself to others? In my life, I seem to get this cloud that forms over me when I scroll certain social media influencers' profiles. You know, the ones from somewhere in the Midwest with a thriving business, beautiful children, Magnolia-inspired farmhouse decor covering the pristine photos of their adorable home...and the lighting! Perfect lighting in these pictures… every single one of them! Absolutely stunning natural light in these posts! And I want to imitate it, but not because I am inspired, but because, quite frankly, I am jealous of these strangers on the internet! The cloud that looms over my head is this heaviness that I need to make my life look like this. I start to think I need what they have, and a feeling of "not enough" starts to creep up in my heart. 

Recently, the Lord has been showing me through this restlessness how discontented I have become through social media, and that is something I am working through with the Holy Spirit on how I can guard my heart from these types of entanglements that bring distraction and discontentment. My eyes have drifted upon lesser things, and it has affected my heart in a great way. Comparison that leads to envy and jealousy has been a trap of the enemy since creation. The motive behind Adam and Eve’s disobedience was comparison, which led to covetousness, which led to pride, which led to selfishness, which led to ungratefulness for what God had already provided (all rooted in fear).

Are you in fear? Then you are not in faith, believing God at His Word and fully trusting Him that He has given you exactly what you need. Anything that is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23). When we compare ourselves with another, we are saying we would do a better job planning out our lives than our Creator, the sovereign Most High, acting like Satan who fell and caused Adam and Eve to fall. Whoa, that is a dangerous place to be!

When we are wrestling with these heart issues and sin, we often need a perspective shift, and this won’t come from social media, but the Word of God is what will bring clarity when our minds and hearts become clouded with worldliness that causes us to become jealous of others. 

The Apostle Paul reminds his spiritual son Timothy in his first letter to him to keep his mind on eternal and spiritual matters:

“Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content” (1 Timothy 6:6-8, ESV).

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Our Heavenly Father ensures that birds are fed, surely, He will take care of us! If we have food and clothing, we truly don’t need anything else; All else is comfort and gifts from our Father. Any material blessing beyond food and clothing that the Lord graces us with should cause us to worship and rejoice in thankfulness for His rich mercy and love towards us as His children. 

We are all guilty of comparing our lives to someone else’s at some point and allowing it to spark jealousy. Where have your eyes wandered that may be creating jealousy? The only way out is to repent and renew your mind with the Word of God. Instead of fixating on others’ lives, we must keep our eyes on Jesus and His Word. If you cling to Him and abide in Him, you will remain full of His love, joy, and peace- the only things that will bring true fulfillment and contentment. You won’t want anything other than what He has given you; His perfect, eternal promises and tender, Fatherly care for you will be more than enough. Let’s lift our gaze and thank Him for what He has already so richly provided for us in Christ Jesus. 

Further Reading:

Philippians 4:11-13

Matthew 6:25-34

1 Timothy 6:6-8 reminds believers that true fulfillment is not found in possessions, status, or comparison, but in godliness with contentment. In this devotional, Emily Rose Massey explores how social media comparison can quietly stir envy, dissatisfaction, and restlessness in the heart. Constant exposure to curated lifestyles and picture-perfect moments can tempt Christians to believe they are lacking something God has withheld from them.
This devotional encourages believers to guard their hearts against comparison and refocus their attention on Christ rather than worldly standards. Scripture reminds Christians that God faithfully provides what they truly need, and lasting peace comes from trusting His provision and sovereignty. Through gratitude, repentance, and renewing the mind with God&rsquo;s Word, believers can experience the joy and freedom of godly contentment instead of chasing temporary fulfillment through comparison and materialism.
Highlights
<ul data-start="983" data-end="1460">
<li data-section-id="1y31g94" data-start="983" data-end="1042">Godliness with contentment brings lasting spiritual gain.</li>
<li data-section-id="1v9errl" data-start="1043" data-end="1114">Social media comparison can fuel envy, jealousy, and dissatisfaction.</li>
<li data-section-id="1whg7b2" data-start="1115" data-end="1184">Comparison often reveals deeper struggles with trust and gratitude.</li>
<li data-section-id="htae6r" data-start="1185" data-end="1259">True fulfillment is found in Christ, not worldly success or appearances.</li>
<li data-section-id="9n5u9h" data-start="1260" data-end="1315">God faithfully provides what His children truly need.</li>
<li data-section-id="1euiimq" data-start="1316" data-end="1393">Renewing the mind with Scripture helps guard the heart from discontentment.</li>
<li data-section-id="1743z9p" data-start="1394" data-end="1460">Gratitude and faith lead to greater peace, joy, and contentment.</li>
</ul>
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Full Transcript Below:
The Great Gain of Godly Contentment
By: Emily Rose Massey
Bible Reading:
&ldquo;Now godliness with&nbsp;contentment is great gain. &nbsp;For we brought nothing into&nbsp;this&nbsp;world,&nbsp;and it is certain we can carry nothing out.&nbsp;And having food and clothing, with these we shall be&nbsp;content&rdquo; (1 Timothy 6:6-8, ESV).&nbsp;
Has interaction on social media ever created a heaviness in your heart, perhaps leading you to compare yourself to others? In my life, I seem to get this cloud that forms over me when I scroll certain social media influencers' profiles. You know, the ones from somewhere in the Midwest with a thriving business, beautiful children, Magnolia-inspired farmhouse decor covering the pristine photos of their adorable home...and the lighting! Perfect lighting in these pictures&hellip; every single one of them! Absolutely stunning natural light in these posts! And I want to imitate it, but not because I am inspired, but because, quite frankly, I am jealous of these strangers on the internet! The cloud that looms over my head is this heaviness that I need to make my life look like this. I start to think I need what they have, and a feeling of "not enough" starts to creep up in my heart. Recently, the Lord has been showing me through this restlessness how discontented I have become through social media, and that is something I am working through with the Holy Spirit on how I can guard my heart from these types of entanglements that bring distraction and discontentment. My eyes have drifted upon lesser things, and it has affected my heart in a great way. Comparison that leads to envy and jealousy has been a trap of the enemy since creation. The motive behind Adam and Eve&rsquo;s disobedience was comparison, which led to covetousness, which led to pride, which led to selfishness, which led to ungratefulness for what God had already provided (all rooted in fear).
Are you in fear? Then you are not in faith, believing God at His Word and fully trusting Him that He has given you exactly what you need. Anything that is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23). When we compare ourselves with another, we are saying we would do a better job planning out our lives than our Creator, the sovereign Most High, acting like Satan who fell and caused Adam and Eve to fall. Whoa, that is a dangerous place to be!
When we are wrestling with these heart issues and sin, we often need a perspective shift, and this won&rsquo;t come from social media, but the Word of God is what will bring clarity when our minds and hearts become clouded with worldliness that causes us to become jealous of others.&nbsp;
The Apostle Paul reminds his spiritual son Timothy in his first letter to him to keep his mind on eternal and spiritual matters:
&ldquo;Now godliness with&nbsp;contentment is great gain.&nbsp;For we brought nothing into&nbsp;this&nbsp;world,&nbsp;and it is certain we can carry nothing out.&nbsp;And having food and clothing, with these we shall be&nbsp;content&rdquo; (1 Timothy 6:6-8, ESV).
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
Our Heavenly Father ensures that birds are fed, surely, He will take care of us! If we have food and clothing, we truly don&rsquo;t need anything else; All else is comfort and gifts from our Father. Any material blessing beyond food and clothing that the Lord graces us with should cause us to worship and rejoice in thankfulness for His rich mercy and love towards us as His children.&nbsp;
We are all guilty of comparing our lives to someone else&rsquo;s at some point and allowing it to spark jealousy. Where have your eyes wandered that may be creating jealousy? The only way out is to repent and renew your mind with the Word of God. Instead of fixating on others&rsquo; lives, we must keep our eyes on Jesus and His Word. If you cling to Him and abide in Him, you will remain full of His love, joy, and peace- the only things that will bring true fulfillment and contentment. You won&rsquo;t want anything other than what He has given you; His perfect, eternal promises and tender, Fatherly care for you will be more than enough. Let&rsquo;s lift our gaze and thank Him for what He has already so richly provided for us in Christ Jesus.&nbsp;
Further Reading:
Philippians 4:11-13
Matthew 6:25-34

The Great Gain of Godly Contentment

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/b7668689-93a5-427c-836b-b4520143bdb7/transcript

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