The Christmas season can be a struggle because the stark realities of life don’t take a holiday break! But we can tune in to the beautiful Christmas hymns we sing yearly and be reminded that we can have JOY! There are days I do have to fight to find joy in the moment, but in the end, it is there. I just need to focus on the reason He came. And wearily rejoice that He was born. - Gina Smith

SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:

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

The Christmas season can be a struggle because the stark realities of life don’t take a holiday break! But we can tune in to the beautiful Christmas hymns we sing yearly and be reminded that we can have JOY! There are days I do have to fight to find joy in the moment, but in the end, it is there. I just need to focus on the reason He came. And wearily rejoice that He was born. - 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 Holy Night: Good News for Those Who Suffer

Like the rising sun and seasonal rains, God always shows up when the moment is right. Waiting on Him is an active process—pressing on in prayer, trusting His character, and expecting renewal. When God appears, He brings deep healing, restores hope, and nourishes growth, turning barren seasons into fertile ones for spiritual flourishing.

Highlights


God’s Faithfulness: He appears as surely as the sun rises, showing reliability in every season.


Winter Rains: Symbolize deep healing, addressing spiritual dryness and preparing us for what’s next.


Spring Rains: Represent gentle renewal, refreshing our hearts and fostering growth.


Persistent Prayer: Pressing on in prayer strengthens trust and acknowledgment of God’s work.


Hope in Waiting: Seasons of waiting are not empty; they are opportunities to reflect on God’s past faithfulness.

Intersecting Faith & Life

Waiting can feel dry and discouraging, but remembering God’s consistent presence brings perspective. Just as the sun rises daily and rain nourishes the earth, God’s timing is perfect. Trusting Him in the waiting season allows for spiritual growth, renewed hope, and readiness for His arrival. Actively acknowledging God during this time strengthens faith and deepens reliance on His promises.

This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today.  Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org

TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org

Full Transcript Below:

God Will Show Up for You
By: Whitney Hopler

Bible Reading:
“Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” – Hosea 6:3, NIV 

After it rains, I try to go outside to take a quick walk whenever possible. I love smelling the fresh air that’s just been washed clean by the rain, and seeing how the ground around me comes to life as the rain soaks into it. Since I also love the peaceful sound of rain and how it feels when raindrops fall, I sometimes try to walk outside while it's still raining. While I’m walking, I often pray because the rain that refreshes everything around me physically inspires me to seek a fresh perspective spiritually by talking with God. I always feel renewed after walking. The answers to my prayers usually have to wait for God’s timing – and sometimes that takes much longer than I expected. But God is faithful! God always shows up with the answers when the timing is right. In the meantime, I keep seeking him. 

If you’re waiting for God to answer your prayers for something you need, but it’s taken much longer than you expected to see God’s answers arrive, you may feel like God has forgotten you. You might start to wonder if prayer works and if God will actually show up for you. 

This verse from the prophet Hosea encourages you that God will show up for you as reliably as the sun rises and the rain waters the earth. 

You can count on God appearing whenever the time is right to meet your needs. Just like the sun always rises in the morning, and the rain always falls to water the earth, God will always show up for you. 

Hosea 6:3 urges you to “press on to acknowledge” God. You can do so by continuing to seek God, to trust God’s character, and to move forward in faith, expecting God to show up when the right time comes. Praying persistently and waiting with hope will both help you press on to acknowledge God. 

When God does appear, this verse says: “He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” Winter rains wash away debris and soak into the ground, creating a deep reserve of water. When God shows up, he addresses the deep issues in your life, healing you from anything that’s making you spiritually dry and giving you the strength you need for what’s next. Spring rains are gentle rains that often occur during that season to nourish plants and help them grow well. When God appears, he brings you renewal and revival. Areas in your life that had been barren before will bloom because of the new life God gives you. God shows up to renew your strength and restore your hope. 

So, if you’re currently in a season of waiting for God to answer your prayers about something, remember God’s past faithfulness. God has shown up for you before, and he will show up again – just like the sun will rise tomorrow morning, and rain will fall from the sky again soon. 

You aren’t waiting for a God who might be too busy or too far away to help you. You’re waiting for a God who promises to appear at the right time. So, press on to pray for what you need, and to believe that God will answer your prayers. You can always trust that God will show up for you! 

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As you consider how you can trust that God will show up for you, reflect on these questions: 
What is the current dry season you’re experiencing that’s making you doubt God’s faithfulness? 
Hosea 6:3 says God will appear “as surely as the sun rises.” How can you plan to get up early enough to watch a sunset this week and meditate on this verse while you watch it? 
In what ways do you need God to come to you like the winter rains, with deep healing that helps you prepare for what’s next? 
In what ways do you need God to come to you like the spring rains, with renewal that helps you grow? 
What’s one step you can take today to “press on to acknowledge him” while you wait for God’s timing? 

Further Reading:
Lamentations 3:22-23
Psalm 30:5
Isaiah 40:31
Philippians 1:6
Malachi 4:2

Like the rising sun and seasonal rains, God always shows up when the moment is right. Waiting on Him is an active process&mdash;pressing on in prayer, trusting His character, and expecting renewal. When God appears, He brings deep healing, restores hope, and nourishes growth, turning barren seasons into fertile ones for spiritual flourishing.
Highlights
<ul data-start="771" data-end="1297">
<li data-start="771" data-end="874">
God&rsquo;s Faithfulness: He appears as surely as the sun rises, showing reliability in every season.
</li>
<li data-start="875" data-end="983">
Winter Rains: Symbolize deep healing, addressing spiritual dryness and preparing us for what&rsquo;s next.
</li>
<li data-start="984" data-end="1075">
Spring Rains: Represent gentle renewal, refreshing our hearts and fostering growth.
</li>
<li data-start="1076" data-end="1176">
Persistent Prayer: Pressing on in prayer strengthens trust and acknowledgment of God&rsquo;s work.
</li>
<li data-start="1177" data-end="1297">
Hope in Waiting: Seasons of waiting are not empty; they are opportunities to reflect on God&rsquo;s past faithfulness.
</li>
</ul>
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life
Waiting can feel dry and discouraging, but remembering God&rsquo;s consistent presence brings perspective. Just as the sun rises daily and rain nourishes the earth, God&rsquo;s timing is perfect. Trusting Him in the waiting season allows for spiritual growth, renewed hope, and readiness for His arrival. Actively acknowledging God during this time strengthens faith and deepens reliance on His promises.
This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. &nbsp;Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | <a href="https://trinitycredit.org/">https://trinitycredit.org</a>
TrinityCredit &ndash; Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. <a href="https://trinitycredit.org/">https://trinitycredit.org</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
God Will Show Up for You By: Whitney Hopler
Bible Reading: &ldquo;Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.&rdquo; &ndash; Hosea 6:3, NIV&nbsp;
After it rains, I try to go outside to take a quick walk whenever possible. I love smelling the fresh air that&rsquo;s just been washed clean by the rain, and seeing how the ground around me comes to life as the rain soaks into it. Since I also love the peaceful sound of rain and how it feels when raindrops fall, I sometimes try to walk outside while it's still raining. While I&rsquo;m walking, I often pray because the rain that refreshes everything around me physically inspires me to seek a fresh perspective spiritually by talking with God. I always feel renewed after walking. The answers to my prayers usually have to wait for <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/ibelieve-truth-a-devotional-for-women/embracing-the-beauty-of-gods-timing.html">God&rsquo;s timing</a> &ndash; and sometimes that takes much longer than I expected. But God is faithful! God always shows up with the answers when the timing is right. In the meantime, I keep seeking him.&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;re waiting for God to answer your prayers for something you need, but it&rsquo;s taken much longer than you expected to see God&rsquo;s answers arrive, you may feel like God has forgotten you. You might start to <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/does-prayer-really-work.html">wonder if prayer works</a> and if God will actually show up for you.&nbsp;
This verse from the prophet Hosea encourages you that God will show up for you as reliably as the sun rises and the rain waters the earth.&nbsp;
You can count on God appearing whenever the time is right to meet your needs. Just like the sun always rises in the morning, and the rain always falls to water the earth, God will always show up for you.&nbsp;
Hosea 6:3 urges you to &ldquo;press on to acknowledge&rdquo; God. You can do so by continuing to seek God, to trust God&rsquo;s character, and to move forward in faith, expecting God to show up when the right time comes. <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/how-to-be-persistent-in-prayer-the-crosswalk-devotional.html">Praying persistently</a> and <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/waiting-with-hope-the-crosswalk-devotional.html">waiting with hope</a> will both help you press on to acknowledge God.&nbsp;
When God does appear, this verse says: &ldquo;He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.&rdquo; Winter rains wash away debris and soak into the ground, creating a deep reserve of water. When God shows up, he addresses the deep issues in your life, healing you from anything that&rsquo;s making you spiritually dry and giving you the strength you need for what&rsquo;s next. Spring rains are gentle rains that often occur during that season to nourish plants and help them grow well. When God appears, he brings you renewal and revival. Areas in your life that had been barren before will bloom because of the new life God gives you. God shows up to renew your strength and restore your hope.&nbsp;
So, if you&rsquo;re currently in a season of waiting for God to answer your prayers about something, remember God&rsquo;s past faithfulness. God has shown up for you before, and he will show up again &ndash; just like the sun will rise tomorrow morning, and rain will fall from the sky again soon.&nbsp;
You aren&rsquo;t waiting for a God who might be too busy or too far away to help you. You&rsquo;re waiting for a God who promises to appear at the right time. So, press on to pray for what you need, and to believe that God will answer your prayers. You can always trust that God will show up for you!&nbsp;
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
As you consider how you can trust that God will show up for you, reflect on these questions:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">What is the current dry season you&rsquo;re experiencing that&rsquo;s making you doubt God&rsquo;s faithfulness?&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Hosea 6:3 says God will appear &ldquo;as surely as the sun rises.&rdquo; How can you plan to get up early enough to watch a sunset this week and meditate on this verse while you watch it?&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">In what ways do you need God to come to you like the winter rains, with deep healing that helps you prepare for what&rsquo;s next?&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">In what ways do you need God to come to you like the spring rains, with renewal that helps you grow?&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">What&rsquo;s one step you can take today to &ldquo;press on to acknowledge him&rdquo; while you wait for God&rsquo;s timing?&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Further Reading: Lamentations 3:22-23 Psalm 30:5 Isaiah 40:31 Philippians 1:6 Malachi 4:2

God Will Show Up for You

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/5550b47c-563a-4dca-bf1a-b40900e51631/transcript

Friendship is not optional in the Christian life—it’s essential. Lauren Fletcher highlights how God designs relationships to encourage, support, and help us grow in Christ. By sharing our struggles, confessing sin, and offering genuine care, we reflect God’s love to one another. True friendships sharpen us, lift us up in times of need, and create a community where His love is experienced and expressed.

Highlights


Encouragement: Friends help us persevere and remind us of God’s truth (1 Thessalonians 5:11).


Spiritual Growth: “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend” (Proverbs 27:17).


Support in Hardship: Care packages, prayer, and practical help show Christ’s love in action.


Confession & Healing: Sharing struggles removes shame and brings healing (James 5:16; Galatians 6:1-2).


Together We Thrive: Ecclesiastes reminds us that life is better lived with others; multiple relationships strengthen resilience (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).


Love in Action: By loving friends authentically, God’s love is manifested in us.

Intersecting Faith & Life

God did not intend for us to walk through life alone. Whether it’s encouragement in a hard season, spiritual accountability, or practical support, friends reflect His heart and make the Christian journey sustainable and joyful. Cultivating and investing in these relationships honors God and enriches our daily walk.

This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today.  Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org

TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org

Full Transcript Below:

We Need Each Other

By Lauren Fletcher

Bible Reading:

“Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.” - 1 John 4:11-12

I have been blessed with many close friends. It wasn’t always that way, though. There was a time when I didn’t share much about myself with others. I hid the “not pretty” part of my life in a figurative coat closet, with the bad memories boxed up on the top shelf.

There were things I had learned that you do not talk about. All of this changed when I started a new season of small groups at church. Within safe spaces, I learned I could share my life with others and be fully accepted. This surprised me.

I realized the closet had to be opened, and the memories, one by one, taken off the shelf, boxes opened, and shared with others. What I learned was that friendship is a blessing and absolutely essential to the Christian life.

In friendship, we encourage each other and help each other grow.

I have a friend with a gift for encouragement. I call her sometimes for a “pep talk.” She has a great way of encouraging me in the Lord and reminding me of the truth. I can come with my difficult circumstances and prayer requests and leave with a sense of hope. I am so grateful to her.

In 1 Thessalonians, it says, “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). It is so important to encourage each other because life can get difficult. We need each other’s help to keep going.

As friends, we also help each other grow. In Proverbs, it says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend” (Proverbs 27:17). We make each other better in Christ.

We help each other in times of need.

As I joined a women’s group at my church, I saw this firsthand. Meeting around the fire, I’d hear women share their stories and what they were going through. Each person was met with support and love. Sometimes, we’d support each other through care packages, times of prayer, or even meal trains. This showed me how to love others in their hard seasons, how to be there for them.

1 John 4:11-12 says, “Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.” As we put our love into action, we show each other the love of Christ.

We confess our sins to each other.

I remember in college, I was struggling with sin. At some point, I confessed this sin to a friend of mine, who listened, supported me, and compassionately shared helpful scripture with me. What happened was I no longer felt alone in things or hidden in shame.

In Galatians 6, Paul says, “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:1-2).

What I found in sharing these hard things with friends is that we begin to fight this battle together—I am no longer by myself in it. It also removes the shame that I feel, which causes me to hide sin. Coming into the light, my friends have been waiting and ready to help.

In James, it says, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16). When we stop hiding our sin from each other and from God, He can heal us.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As I’ve continued to learn about friendship, I've found that friends help pick each other up. In Ecclesiastes, it says, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).

The writer continues, “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

I pray that you find these things to be true in your friendships as well. God did not create us to be alone or to walk out this life by ourselves. I pray that God will bring you the right people at the right time and strengthen the relationships you already have.

Lord, thank You for friendship. Thank You that you intended for us to walk through life with others. Thank You for the good plans You have for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11). I pray that You would bless my life with abundant relationships that reflect Your heart. Show me how to be a good friend. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

Friendship is not optional in the Christian life&mdash;it&rsquo;s essential. Lauren Fletcher highlights how God designs relationships to encourage, support, and help us grow in Christ. By sharing our struggles, confessing sin, and offering genuine care, we reflect God&rsquo;s love to one another. True friendships sharpen us, lift us up in times of need, and create a community where His love is experienced and expressed.
Highlights
<ul data-start="766" data-end="1427">
<li data-start="766" data-end="867">
Encouragement: Friends help us persevere and remind us of God&rsquo;s truth (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
</li>
<li data-start="868" data-end="966">
Spiritual Growth: &ldquo;As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend&rdquo; (Proverbs 27:17).
</li>
<li data-start="967" data-end="1067">
Support in Hardship: Care packages, prayer, and practical help show Christ&rsquo;s love in action.
</li>
<li data-start="1068" data-end="1179">
Confession &amp; Healing: Sharing struggles removes shame and brings healing (James 5:16; Galatians 6:1-2).
</li>
<li data-start="1180" data-end="1338">
Together We Thrive: Ecclesiastes reminds us that life is better lived with others; multiple relationships strengthen resilience (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).
</li>
<li data-start="1339" data-end="1427">
Love in Action: By loving friends authentically, God&rsquo;s love is manifested in us.
</li>
</ul>
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life
God did not intend for us to walk through life alone. Whether it&rsquo;s encouragement in a hard season, spiritual accountability, or practical support, friends reflect His heart and make the Christian journey sustainable and joyful. Cultivating and investing in these relationships honors God and enriches our daily walk.
This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. &nbsp;Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | <a href="https://trinitycredit.org/">https://trinitycredit.org</a>
TrinityCredit &ndash; Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. <a href="https://trinitycredit.org/">https://trinitycredit.org</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
We Need Each Other
By Lauren Fletcher
Bible Reading:
&ldquo;Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.&rdquo; - 1 John 4:11-12
I have been blessed with many close friends. It wasn&rsquo;t always that way, though. There was a time when I didn&rsquo;t share much about myself with others. I hid the &ldquo;not pretty&rdquo; part of my life in a figurative coat closet, with the bad memories boxed up on the top shelf.
There were things I had learned that you do not talk about. All of this changed when I started a new season of small groups at church. Within safe spaces, I learned I could share my life with others and be fully accepted. This surprised me.
I realized the closet had to be opened, and the memories, one by one, taken off the shelf, boxes opened, and shared with others. What I learned was that friendship is a blessing and absolutely essential to the Christian life.
In friendship, we encourage each other and help each other grow.
I have a friend with a gift for encouragement. I call her sometimes for a &ldquo;pep talk.&rdquo; She has a great way of encouraging me in the Lord and reminding me of the truth. I can come with my difficult circumstances and prayer requests and leave with a sense of hope. I am so grateful to her.
In 1 Thessalonians, it says, &ldquo;So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing&rdquo; (1 Thessalonians 5:11). It is so important to encourage each other because life can get difficult. We need each other&rsquo;s help to keep going.
As friends, we also help each other grow. In Proverbs, it says, &ldquo;As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend&rdquo; (Proverbs 27:17). We make each other better in Christ.
We help each other in times of need.
As I joined a women&rsquo;s group at my church, I saw this firsthand. Meeting around the fire, I&rsquo;d hear women share their stories and what they were going through. Each person was met with support and love. Sometimes, we&rsquo;d support each other through care packages, times of prayer, or even meal trains. This showed me how to love others in their hard seasons, how to be there for them.
1 John 4:11-12 says, &ldquo;Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.&rdquo; As we put our love into action, we show each other the love of Christ.
We confess our sins to each other.
I remember in college, I was struggling with sin. At some point, I confessed this sin to a friend of mine, who listened, supported me, and compassionately shared helpful scripture with me. What happened was I no longer felt alone in things or hidden in shame.
In Galatians 6, Paul says, &ldquo;Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other&rsquo;s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ&rdquo; (Galatians 6:1-2).
What I found in sharing these hard things with friends is that we begin to fight this battle together&mdash;I am no longer by myself in it. It also removes the shame that I feel, which causes me to hide sin. Coming into the light, my friends have been waiting and ready to help.
In James, it says, &ldquo;Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results&rdquo; (James 5:16). When we stop hiding our sin from each other and from God, He can heal us.
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
As I&rsquo;ve continued to learn about friendship, I've found that friends help pick each other up. In Ecclesiastes, it says, &ldquo;Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble&rdquo; (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).
The writer continues, &ldquo;A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken&rdquo; (Ecclesiastes 4:12).
I pray that you find these things to be true in your friendships as well. God did not create us to be alone or to walk out this life by ourselves. I pray that God will bring you the right people at the right time and strengthen the relationships you already have.
Lord, thank You for friendship. Thank You that you intended for us to walk through life with others. Thank You for the good plans You have for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11). I pray that You would bless my life with abundant relationships that reflect Your heart. Show me how to be a good friend. In Jesus&rsquo;s name, Amen.

We Need Each Other

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/fea53cf1-c402-44af-afd8-b40900e5111f/transcript

Too often, we settle for “at least” in our lives—accepting less than what God intends because we feel guilty, undeserving, or afraid to hope for more. Cindi McMenamin reminds us that God’s love is not minimal; He desires to do “immeasurably more” than we can imagine. Gratitude and contentment should not become resignation. Instead, we are called to ask boldly, trust His goodness, and anticipate His blessings in every area of life, knowing that His power works within us to exceed our expectations.

Highlights


Settling for “at least” limits the abundant life God wants for us.


Gratitude should anticipate God’s blessings, not resign us to less.


God gives good gifts not because we deserve them, but because He is compassionate.


Faith unlocks God’s provision; He wants to exceed what we imagine.


Avoid limiting God with disbelief or self-doubt—ask boldly in prayer.


God can transform situations that seem hopeless into testimonies of His glory.

This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today.  Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org

TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org

Full Transcript Below:

Are You Settling for Less?

By: Cindi McMenamin

Bible Reading:

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” - Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)

Do you long for something more in your life and yet constantly feel that you shouldn’t? 

Whether you're longing for marriage, or for more intimacy in your marriage, or for a child, or for a more fulfilling career, I'm sure you've experienced your share of these well-intentioned remarks: 

"At least you have a family that loves you.”

"At least you have a husband." 

"At least you already have achild." 

"You may not enjoy it, but at least you have a job.”

"Well, at least you're healthy." 

"At least you still have…”

"At least you don't suffer with…” 

Oh, the sting of well-intentioned remarks. And, oh, the sting of those two guilt-ridden words: "At least..." 

So many of us settle for “at least” in our lives. And yet, since God went to such great extremes to show His love for you and me by having His only Son die on the cross for our sins, then certainly He did not intend for us to be content with the bare minimum.

 Yes, God's Word says we are to be thankful "in all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). We are also told from Scripture that "godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Timothy 6:6). But God doesn't want our gratitude and contentment to be a form of resignation (like when we say, "I guess I should be happy with this, since it's all I will ever get anyway"). Rather, God wants His children to be full of anticipation for the "more" that He is so capable of giving—to the point that we thank Him ahead of time for all that He is about to do. This God who tells us to be thankful in all things actually raises the bar when we decide to settle for less, or at least what life brings us.  

In the New King James Version, Ephesians 3:20 says God is able to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” You and I often hear, think, or say the word "at least" in our lives. And yet God's Word says: 

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer" (Matthew 21:22).

"Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full" (John 16:24). 

"Without faith it is impossible to please Him" (Hebrews 11:6). 

Those words, my friend, come from a God who is not stingy, and who doesn't bow out after He's done the bare minimum in your life. He is, instead, the God who says, "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). 

Intersecting Faith & Life:

You and I have our reasons for not coming to God and pouring out our hearts. Sometimes it's because we feel guilty about asking God for something. Other times it's because we don't really believe that He would want to bless us, or we feel we don't deserve anything more from Him. 

When you and I say, "I don't really deserve any more than I have right now," we are actually correct in our assumption, because God doesn't give us good gifts because we deserve them. He gives us good gifts because He is good and compassionate, wanting to bless His children. Especially when we seek to be obedient and please His heart. 

So, what are you settling for? A dating relationship with someone you know is not right for you? A job you tolerate because you don't believe God has something better for you? A diagnosis that appears untreatable? A marriage that is just okay, but not truly glorifying God?

Don't fall into the mindset of saying, "I don't believe God can or will give me anything better," or "I don't deserve more than what I already have." Instead, remember that God can do anything, and He loves to bless His children. He excels in situations that you and I think are hopeless. Don't be reluctant to pour out your heart to Him. Rather than settle for the least in your life, surrender to His best and allow for the possibility that God may want to do "immeasurably more” than all you can ask or imagine—many times with what you already have. 

Further Reading:

Psalm 37:4-6

For daily reminders of all God can do in your life and the lives of others, see Cindi’s book, The New Loneliness Devotional: 50 Days to a Closer Connection with God. 

Too often, we settle for &ldquo;at least&rdquo; in our lives&mdash;accepting less than what God intends because we feel guilty, undeserving, or afraid to hope for more. Cindi McMenamin reminds us that God&rsquo;s love is not minimal; He desires to do &ldquo;immeasurably more&rdquo; than we can imagine. Gratitude and contentment should not become resignation. Instead, we are called to ask boldly, trust His goodness, and anticipate His blessings in every area of life, knowing that His power works within us to exceed our expectations.
Highlights
<ul data-start="798" data-end="1255">
<li data-start="798" data-end="868">
Settling for &ldquo;at least&rdquo; limits the abundant life God wants for us.
</li>
<li data-start="869" data-end="940">
Gratitude should anticipate God&rsquo;s blessings, not resign us to less.
</li>
<li data-start="941" data-end="1027">
God gives good gifts not because we deserve them, but because He is compassionate.
</li>
<li data-start="1028" data-end="1098">
Faith unlocks God&rsquo;s provision; He wants to exceed what we imagine.
</li>
<li data-start="1099" data-end="1172">
Avoid limiting God with disbelief or self-doubt&mdash;ask boldly in prayer.
</li>
<li data-start="1173" data-end="1255">
God can transform situations that seem hopeless into testimonies of His glory.
</li>
</ul>
This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. &nbsp;Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | <a href="https://trinitycredit.org/">https://trinitycredit.org</a>
TrinityCredit &ndash; Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. <a href="https://trinitycredit.org/">https://trinitycredit.org</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
Are You Settling for Less?
By: Cindi McMenamin
Bible Reading:
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.&rdquo; - Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)
Do you long for something more in your life and yet constantly feel that you shouldn&rsquo;t?&nbsp;
Whether you're longing for marriage, or for more intimacy in your marriage, or for a child, or for a more fulfilling career, I'm sure you've experienced your share of these well-intentioned remarks:&nbsp;
"At least you have a family that loves you.&rdquo;
"At least you have a husband."&nbsp;
"At least you already have a child."&nbsp;
"You may not enjoy it, but at least you have a job.&rdquo;
"Well, at least you're healthy."&nbsp;
"At least you still have&hellip;&rdquo;
"At least you don't suffer with&hellip;&rdquo;&nbsp;
Oh, the sting of well-intentioned remarks. And, oh, the sting of those two guilt-ridden words: "At least..."&nbsp;
So many of us settle for &ldquo;at least&rdquo; in our lives. And yet, since God went to such great extremes to show His love for you and me by having His only Son die on the cross for our sins, then certainly He did not intend for us to be content with the bare minimum.
&nbsp;Yes, God's Word says we are to be thankful "in all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). We are also told from Scripture that "godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Timothy 6:6). But God doesn't want our gratitude and contentment to be a form of resignation (like when we say, "I guess I should be happy with this, since it's all I will ever get anyway"). Rather, God wants His children to be full of anticipation for the "more" that He is so capable of giving&mdash;to the point that we thank Him ahead of time for all that He is about to do. This God who tells us to be thankful in all things actually raises the bar when we decide to settle for less, or at least what life brings us.&nbsp;&nbsp;
In the New King James Version, Ephesians 3:20 says God is able to do &ldquo;exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.&rdquo; You and I often hear, think, or say the word "at least" in our lives. And yet God's Word says:&nbsp;
"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer" (Matthew 21:22).
"Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full" (John 16:24).&nbsp;
"Without faith it is impossible to please Him" (Hebrews 11:6).&nbsp;
Those words, my friend, come from a God who is not stingy, and who doesn't bow out after He's done the bare minimum in your life. He is, instead, the God who says, "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).&nbsp;
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
You and I have our reasons for not coming to God and pouring out our hearts. Sometimes it's because we feel guilty about asking God for something. Other times it's because we don't really believe that He would want to bless us, or we feel we don't deserve anything more from Him.&nbsp;
When you and I say, "I don't really deserve any more than I have right now," we are actually correct in our assumption, because God doesn't give us good gifts because we deserve them. He gives us good gifts because He is good and compassionate, wanting to bless His children. Especially when we seek to be obedient and please His heart.&nbsp;
So, what are you settling for? A dating relationship with someone you know is not right for you? A job you tolerate because you don't believe God has something better for you? A diagnosis that appears untreatable? A marriage that is just okay, but not truly glorifying God?
Don't fall into the mindset of saying, "I don't believe God can or will give me anything better," or "I don't deserve more than what I already have." Instead, remember that God can do anything, and He loves to bless His children. He excels in situations that you and I think are hopeless. Don't be reluctant to pour out your heart to Him. Rather than settle for the least in your life, surrender to His best and allow for the possibility that God may want to do "immeasurably more&rdquo; than all you can ask or imagine&mdash;many times with what you already have.&nbsp;
Further Reading:
Psalm 37:4-6
For daily reminders of all God can do in your life and the lives of others, see Cindi&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>.&nbsp;

Are You Settling for Less?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/057e4ac3-0ef3-497f-9794-b40900e50cc9/transcript

O Holy Night: Good News for Those Who Suffer

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