I have called this devotional “The Prerequisite to the Christian Life” because Jesus demonstrates that Peter needed to understand a fundamental truth about his relationship with Jesus Christ before further service. What is this prerequisite to service for Peter? What is the prerequisite for the Christian life for us? There are two. - Dr. Michael Milton

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/

I have called this devotional “The Prerequisite to the Christian Life” because Jesus demonstrates that Peter needed to understand a fundamental truth about his relationship with Jesus Christ before further service. What is this prerequisite to service for Peter? What is the prerequisite for the Christian life for us? There are two. - Dr. Michael Milton
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

The Prerequisite to the Christian Life: 2 Essential Truths of the Gospel

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

The Bible reminds us that tomorrow is never guaranteed. Reflecting on the importance of trusting God with the future and living each day in His guidance. Planning is wise, but it must always be done in alignment with God’s will. When it comes to salvation, the urgency is clear: follow Christ today, because the opportunity may not be there tomorrow.

Highlights


Life is unpredictable; no day is guaranteed.


Planning is important, but always with God’s guidance (“God-willing”).


Secular optimism can lull us into delay, while biblical hope emphasizes eternal perspective.


Salvation is urgent—accept Jesus today, because tomorrow is not promised.


Living with awareness of Christ’s return encourages holiness and readiness.


Scripture calls believers to live faithfully in the present, trusting God’s provision.

Intersecting Faith & Life

Ask yourself: How often do you say “tomorrow” without including God in your plans? Are there spiritual steps you’ve been postponing? Today is the day to surrender your life to Christ and live in the light of His promises, trusting that He equips you for each moment.

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:

Tomorrow Is Not Promised 

By: Alexis A. Goring 

Bible Reading:

“Never boast about tomorrow. You don't know what will happen between now and then.” - Proverbs 27:1 (GNT)

There was a time in my life when I used to make plans for tomorrow and talk about them as if they were sure to come true. Until one day, a friend carefully told me that she’s learned to say “God-willing” when she makes plans because the Bible says tomorrow is not promised. Her words resonated with me and still ring true today. Nowadays, when I speak of my plans for the future—even if it’s only 24 hours away—I say “God-willing” at the end of my sentence.

As I reflected on this recently, two songs came to my mind. They share the same title but preach a different message—one secular, with worldly wisdom and a temporary promise, and one Biblical, with words of caution, graced with eternity in mind. The secular song “Tomorrow” from the original movie Annie (1982) and the Gospel song “Tomorrow” performed by The Winans both convey a message of hope, but only one speaks of everlasting hope. Let’s look at the core message of these songs and think about it. 

The lyrics of the song “Tomorrow” from the 1982 movie “Annie”, performed by Aileen Quinn, say (in paraphrase): The singer banks on the sun rising tomorrow. She believes you can bet your last dollar that tomorrow will arrive. As she thinks about the beauty and promises of tomorrow, she feels her sorrows lift. When days are dark, and she feels depressed and lonely, she rises and declares with a wide grin that tomorrow is on the horizon, so she will be okay no matter what happens because tomorrow will be a better day, and it’s only 24 hours away.

The lyrics for the song “Tomorrow,” performed by The Winans, say (in paraphrase): Jesus Christ is knocking on the door of your heart, saying He is here, asking you to let Him in. He reminds you that He supplies everything you need. Then the person responds that they know this to be true. They tell Jesus that they will let Him in, not today, but tomorrow. They say tomorrow is a better time for them to give their life to Christ. They don’t feel an urgency in choosing to serve the Lord today. The singers of this song caution the listener that the Bible says tomorrow is not promised, so it might be too late because they may not live to see the next day. 

This is the main point: We cannot bet our bottom dollar on life getting better tomorrow because the Bible says tomorrow is not promised.

Does this mean that we should not look forward to tomorrow and make plans for our future? Of course not. We are to stay fully focused on the present and look forward to the next day. But we are not supposed to plan without including God. And when it comes to our salvation in Jesus Christ, we should accept Him into our lives today because we don’t know if we will live another 24 hours. 

According to The Bible, when God tells Jesus Christ it’s time for Him to return to Earth to take His faithful followers to Heaven, it will be too late for us to give our hearts to Jesus and follow Him. The Angel of the Lord says in Revelation 22:10-11 (MSG), “Time is just about up. Let evildoers do their worst, and the dirty-minded go all out in pollution, but let the righteous maintain a straight course, and the holy continue on in holiness.” When we see Jesus Christ return in the clouds of glory, we who lived for Him will rejoice because we know we’re going to Heaven, but those who kept delaying their decision to follow Jesus will be terrified because they see it’s too late and they won’t be able to go to Heaven. 

Let us take this seriously because our salvation is at stake. I encourage you, if you have not already, to let Jesus into your heart now—especially if you feel an urgency to do so. But if you don’t feel an urgency or hear Christ knocking at the door of your heart, or you’re entrenched in sin, it’s not too late for you because you’re still alive. Please seek God while you’re living. It will be too late when you’re dead. If you’re alive and breathing today, reach out to Him. God loves you, and He wants to welcome you into His Kingdom with open arms. 

Finally, we must always be ready for Christ’s return because the Bible says He will come when we least expect Him (Matthew 24:44). 

In closing, I’d like for you to listen to this song, “Tomorrow” by The Winans. Listen to it HERE.

Intersecting Faith and Life:

Will you let Jesus Christ into your heart today and follow Him all the way to Heaven?

Further Reading: 
Hebrews 9:28
Matthew 24:30 
1 Thessalonians 4:16 
Revelation 1:7 
Revelation 19:11 

The Bible reminds us that tomorrow is never guaranteed. Reflecting on the importance of trusting God with the future and living each day in His guidance. Planning is wise, but it must always be done in alignment with God&rsquo;s will. When it comes to salvation, the urgency is clear: follow Christ today, because the opportunity may not be there tomorrow.
Highlights
<ul data-start="866" data-end="1335">
<li data-start="866" data-end="914">
Life is unpredictable; no day is guaranteed.
</li>
<li data-start="915" data-end="989">
Planning is important, but always with God&rsquo;s guidance (&ldquo;God-willing&rdquo;).
</li>
<li data-start="990" data-end="1086">
Secular optimism can lull us into delay, while biblical hope emphasizes eternal perspective.
</li>
<li data-start="1087" data-end="1164">
Salvation is urgent&mdash;accept Jesus today, because tomorrow is not promised.
</li>
<li data-start="1165" data-end="1244">
Living with awareness of Christ&rsquo;s return encourages holiness and readiness.
</li>
<li data-start="1245" data-end="1335">
Scripture calls believers to live faithfully in the present, trusting God&rsquo;s provision.
</li>
</ul>
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life
Ask yourself: How often do you say &ldquo;tomorrow&rdquo; without including God in your plans? Are there spiritual steps you&rsquo;ve been postponing? Today is the day to surrender your life to Christ and live in the light of His promises, trusting that He equips you for each moment.
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:
Tomorrow Is Not Promised&nbsp;
By: Alexis A. Goring&nbsp;
Bible Reading:
&ldquo;Never boast about tomorrow. You don't know what will happen between now and then.&rdquo; - Proverbs 27:1 (GNT)
There was a time in my life when I used to make plans for tomorrow and talk about them as if they were sure to come true. Until one day, a friend carefully told me that she&rsquo;s learned to say &ldquo;God-willing&rdquo; when she makes plans because the Bible says tomorrow is not promised. Her words resonated with me and still ring true today. Nowadays, when I speak of my plans for the future&mdash;even if it&rsquo;s only 24 hours away&mdash;I say &ldquo;God-willing&rdquo; at the end of my sentence.
As I reflected on this recently, two songs came to my mind. They share the same title but preach a different message&mdash;one secular, with worldly wisdom and a temporary promise, and one Biblical, with words of caution, graced with eternity in mind. The secular song &ldquo;Tomorrow&rdquo; from the original movie Annie (1982) and the Gospel song &ldquo;Tomorrow&rdquo; performed by The Winans both convey a message of hope, but only one speaks of everlasting hope. Let&rsquo;s look at the core message of these songs and think about it.&nbsp;
The lyrics of the song &ldquo;Tomorrow&rdquo; from the 1982 movie &ldquo;Annie&rdquo;, performed by Aileen Quinn, say (in paraphrase): The singer banks on the sun rising tomorrow. She believes you can bet your last dollar that tomorrow will arrive. As she thinks about the beauty and promises of tomorrow, she feels her sorrows lift. When days are dark, and she feels depressed and lonely, she rises and declares with a wide grin that tomorrow is on the horizon, so she will be okay no matter what happens because tomorrow will be a better day, and it&rsquo;s only 24 hours away.
The lyrics for the song &ldquo;Tomorrow,&rdquo; performed by The Winans, say (in paraphrase): Jesus Christ is knocking on the door of your heart, saying He is here, asking you to let Him in. He reminds you that He supplies everything you need. Then the person responds that they know this to be true. They tell Jesus that they will let Him in, not today, but tomorrow. They say tomorrow is a better time for them to give their life to Christ. They don&rsquo;t feel an urgency in choosing to serve the Lord today. The singers of this song caution the listener that the Bible says tomorrow is not promised, so it might be too late because they may not live to see the next day.&nbsp;
This is the main point: We cannot bet our bottom dollar on life getting better tomorrow because the Bible says tomorrow is not promised.
Does this mean that we should not look forward to tomorrow and make plans for our future? Of course not. We are to stay fully focused on the present and look forward to the next day. But we are not supposed to plan without including God. And when it comes to our salvation in Jesus Christ, we should accept Him into our lives today because we don&rsquo;t know if we will live another 24 hours.&nbsp;
According to The Bible, when God tells Jesus Christ it&rsquo;s time for Him to return to Earth to take His faithful followers to Heaven, it will be too late for us to give our hearts to Jesus and follow Him. The Angel of the Lord says in Revelation 22:10-11 (MSG), &ldquo;Time is just about up. Let evildoers do their worst, and the dirty-minded go all out in pollution, but let the righteous maintain a straight course, and the holy continue on in holiness.&rdquo; When we see Jesus Christ return in the clouds of glory, we who lived for Him will rejoice because we know we&rsquo;re going to Heaven, but those who kept delaying their decision to follow Jesus will be terrified because they see it&rsquo;s too late and they won&rsquo;t be able to go to Heaven.&nbsp;
Let us take this seriously because our salvation is at stake. I encourage you, if you have not already, to let Jesus into your heart now&mdash;especially if you feel an urgency to do so. But if you don&rsquo;t feel an urgency or hear Christ knocking at the door of your heart, or you&rsquo;re entrenched in sin, it&rsquo;s not too late for you because you&rsquo;re still alive. Please seek God while you&rsquo;re living. It will be too late when you&rsquo;re dead. If you&rsquo;re alive and breathing today, reach out to Him. God loves you, and He wants to welcome you into His Kingdom with open arms.&nbsp;
Finally, we must always be ready for Christ&rsquo;s return because the Bible says He will come when we least expect Him (Matthew 24:44).&nbsp;
In closing, I&rsquo;d like for you to listen to this song, &ldquo;Tomorrow&rdquo; by The Winans. Listen to it <a href="https://youtu.be/YUQQukbJr_s?si=bJ-JJO_6UtncnaGr">HERE</a>.
Intersecting Faith and Life:
Will you let Jesus Christ into your heart today and follow Him all the way to Heaven?
Further Reading: Hebrews 9:28 Matthew 24:30 1 Thessalonians 4:16 Revelation 1:7 Revelation 19:11&nbsp;

Tomorrow Is Not Promised

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/c7aa48da-43c7-49ae-bc52-b40900e50901/transcript

The Prerequisite to the Christian Life: 2 Essential Truths of the Gospel

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