What is the prize? Jesus, He is the One we are running to in faith. - Lynette Kittle

SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:

Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/
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What is the prize? Jesus, He is the One we are running to in faith. - Lynette Kittle
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

What Does it Take to Run the Race of Faith

Reading the Bible can feel intimidating, especially when we try to understand it on our own. Emily Rose Massey reflects on her own journey of faith, realizing that the Holy Spirit—our Helper and Teacher—guides believers into understanding God’s Word. With the Spirit’s illumination, scripture becomes more than words on a page; it becomes life-giving truth that shapes our hearts, transforms our minds, and draws us closer to God.

Highlights


The Bible is a gift from God, meant to guide us in knowing Him and living faithfully.


Spiritual understanding comes through the Holy Spirit, not human effort alone.


The Holy Spirit brings scripture to remembrance and illuminates its meaning over time.


Consistent Bible reading allows God’s truth to take root in our hearts.


Even with distractions and intimidation, the Holy Spirit helps us comprehend God’s Word for deeper worship and life transformation.

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:

The Holy Spirit Is the Best Teacher 

By: Emily Rose Massey

Bible Reading:

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26, ESV).

In high school, I was gifted a Bible when I became a member of my new church. I was so excited to start reading it and learn more about God, but as time went on, I became more and more intimidated by its pages. Where do I begin? Do I start in Genesis and just read through it beginning to end? Do I need to spend time memorizing what I’m reading? What does this word mean?

These thoughts circled my teenage mind, and I was so hesitant to even dive in for fear that I wouldn’t understand what I was reading. It didn’t take long for schoolwork and all of the extracurricular activities I was involved in to crowd out any downtime to make space to read my Bible. Soon enough, that Bible would find a permanent home on my bookshelf, left untouched. I hate to admit it, but the intimidation and distractions would follow me all through college as well. When I was stressed out, I would glance at my neglected Bible and randomly open it and try to soak up some hope for my weary soul.

Although I heard the gospel as a teen and was a professing Christian for six years, it wasn’t until after I graduated from college that God granted me genuine repentance from my sin and rebellion and gave me the faith to fully surrender my life to Christ and trust Him completely. One Sunday, I stepped foot in a church service for the first time in a few years, and I believe I was born again that day, as the reality of offending a Holy God and my desperate need to turn to Jesus, take up my cross, and follow Him overwhelmed me for the first time in my life. After that moment, my whole world changed, and I suddenly had a deep desire to read my Bible and obey God. I look back and see the difference between my high school and college days was that I was trying to understand what I was reading without the help of the Holy Spirit. Once I became born again at the age of twenty-two, I was given the gift of the Holy Spirit- Jesus describes Him as a Comforter as well as a Helper and Teacher in John 14:

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26, ESV).

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As born-again believers, when we open the pages of scripture, we are not left on our own to understand what we are reading. We have a Helper and a great Teacher, the Holy Spirit, to guide us in our pursuit of growing in the knowledge of the Lord. He illuminates the truth to us over time and will bring what we have read to our remembrance. This is why it is so important to consistently be reading our Bibles, so that we can store what we are studying in our hearts. The Bible is a gift from God to help us in our daily lives- to be able to learn of God’s ways and learn who God truly is so that we can grow closer to Him and worship Him rightly. 

I have to admit that I sometimes still struggle with intimidation and distraction when it comes to reading my Bible, but after walking with the Lord for over fifteen years now, I know that I am not left alone on this journey. I have a Helper who guides me into all truth and supernaturally helps me understand the words I am reading- words that are spirit and life (John 6:63). He is always with me, and I can always ask Him for help. Dear Christian, let us thank the Father for the gift of the Holy Spirit. The One who convicts us of sin when we daily fall short. The One who is our ever-present help in times of need and who guides us into all truth. If you are struggling to study the Bible or are intimidated by it, He will supernaturally illuminate what you are reading and give you the ability to comprehend, not just for head knowledge, but ultimately, to help you know God more deeply so that you can worship Him more fully. Oh, what a wonderful gift from above!

Further Reading:

Romans 8:26
John 16:12-15

Reading the Bible can feel intimidating, especially when we try to understand it on our own. Emily Rose Massey reflects on her own journey of faith, realizing that the Holy Spirit&mdash;our Helper and Teacher&mdash;guides believers into understanding God&rsquo;s Word. With the Spirit&rsquo;s illumination, scripture becomes more than words on a page; it becomes life-giving truth that shapes our hearts, transforms our minds, and draws us closer to God.
Highlights
<ul data-start="855" data-end="1330">
<li data-start="855" data-end="944">
The Bible is a gift from God, meant to guide us in knowing Him and living faithfully.
</li>
<li data-start="945" data-end="1027">
Spiritual understanding comes through the Holy Spirit, not human effort alone.
</li>
<li data-start="1028" data-end="1118">
The Holy Spirit brings scripture to remembrance and illuminates its meaning over time.
</li>
<li data-start="1119" data-end="1194">
Consistent Bible reading allows God&rsquo;s truth to take root in our hearts.
</li>
<li data-start="1195" data-end="1330">
Even with distractions and intimidation, the Holy Spirit helps us comprehend God&rsquo;s Word for deeper worship and life transformation.
</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:
The Holy Spirit Is the Best Teacher&nbsp;
By: Emily Rose Massey
Bible Reading:
&ldquo;But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you&rdquo; (John 14:26, ESV).
In high school, I was gifted a Bible when I became a member of my new church. I was so excited to start reading it and learn more about God, but as time went on, I became more and more intimidated by its pages. Where do I begin? Do I start in Genesis and just read through it beginning to end? Do I need to spend time memorizing what I&rsquo;m reading? What does this word mean?
These thoughts circled my teenage mind, and I was so hesitant to even dive in for fear that I wouldn&rsquo;t understand what I was reading. It didn&rsquo;t take long for schoolwork and all of the extracurricular activities I was involved in to crowd out any downtime to make space to read my Bible. Soon enough, that Bible would find a permanent home on my bookshelf, left untouched. I hate to admit it, but the intimidation and distractions would follow me all through college as well. When I was stressed out, I would glance at my neglected Bible and randomly open it and try to soak up some hope for my weary soul.
Although I heard the gospel as a teen and was a professing Christian for six years, it wasn&rsquo;t until after I graduated from college that God granted me genuine repentance from my sin and rebellion and gave me the faith to fully surrender my life to Christ and trust Him completely. One Sunday, I stepped foot in a church service for the first time in a few years, and I believe I was born again that day, as the reality of offending a Holy God and my desperate need to turn to Jesus, take up my cross, and follow Him overwhelmed me for the first time in my life. After that moment, my whole world changed, and I suddenly had a deep desire to read my Bible and obey God. I look back and see the difference between my high school and college days was that I was trying to understand what I was reading without the help of the Holy Spirit. Once I became born again at the age of twenty-two, I was given the gift of the Holy Spirit- Jesus describes Him as a Comforter as well as a Helper and Teacher in John 14:
&ldquo;But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you&rdquo; (John 14:26, ESV).
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
As born-again believers, when we open the pages of scripture, we are not left on our own to understand what we are reading. We have a Helper and a great Teacher, the Holy Spirit, to guide us in our pursuit of growing in the knowledge of the Lord. He illuminates the truth to us over time and will bring what we have read to our remembrance. This is why it is so important to consistently be reading our Bibles, so that we can store what we are studying in our hearts. The Bible is a gift from God to help us in our daily lives- to be able to learn of God&rsquo;s ways and learn who God truly is so that we can grow closer to Him and worship Him rightly.&nbsp;
I have to admit that I sometimes still struggle with intimidation and distraction when it comes to reading my Bible, but after walking with the Lord for over fifteen years now, I know that I am not left alone on this journey. I have a Helper who guides me into all truth and supernaturally helps me understand the words I am reading- words that are spirit and life (John 6:63). He is always with me, and I can always ask Him for help. Dear Christian, let us thank the Father for the gift of the Holy Spirit. The One who convicts us of sin when we daily fall short. The One who is our ever-present help in times of need and who guides us into all truth. If you are struggling to study the Bible or are intimidated by it, He will supernaturally illuminate what you are reading and give you the ability to comprehend, not just for head knowledge, but ultimately, to help you know God more deeply so that you can worship Him more fully. Oh, what a wonderful gift from above!
Further Reading:
Romans 8:26 John 16:12-15

The Holy Spirit is the Best Teacher

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/edf9b8de-e34f-4705-9e33-b40101125ea8/transcript

God calls us to step forward in faith, even when we don’t see the full path ahead. Hannah Benson reflects on Abraham’s journey, emphasizing that trusting God often requires waiting, patience, and obedience despite uncertainty. Abraham’s story illustrates that God’s promises are trustworthy, even when fulfillment seems slow or beyond human logic. By believing God’s Word and following His direction, we can experience His faithfulness and become a blessing to others.

Highlights


God calls us to act in faith, even without knowing all the answers.


Abraham’s journey teaches patience, trust, and obedience in the waiting season.


God fulfills His promises in His timing, not ours, reminding us that no word from Him returns void (Isaiah 55:11).


Taking matters into our own hands, as Abraham and Sarah did with Hagar, can complicate God’s plan.


Trusting God’s Word requires both courage to move and patience to wait.

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:

Believe the Word the Lord Has Spoken

By Hannah Benson

Bible Reading:
“Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed’” (Genesis 12:1-3 ESV).

Recently, I re-read Abraham’s story through new eyes. Isn’t it amazing how we can read the same stories in Scripture again and again, yet every time we read them, the Lord will often reveal things we’ve never realized before?

God called Abraham (then called Abram) to leave his homeland and everything he knew and was familiar with to go to a land that He would show him.

How did Abraham feel about that? Was he afraid at all? Excited? Probably both.

But regardless of how he felt, note that he stepped forward in faith even though he didn’t have all the answers.

Read that again.

If God calls us to do something, we must step forward in faith even if we don’t have all the answers. In fact, I have found that God doesn’t always give us the answers all at once.

He’ll tell us the first step we need to take.

So many of us look at the long road ahead of us and think we need all the answers before we move forward.

A friend pointed out to me recently that in Exodus 24, Moses went into the fog of the mountain. Clarity came through hearing God’s voice and not from what he could see.

I do want to include a disclaimer here. Sometimes, the Lord puts something on our hearts, but it doesn’t mean the time is now. Just because something may be a God-thing doesn’t mean it’s always God’s time for it.

But when God calls us to step forward in faith, even when we can’t see the path ahead?

Step forward.

Go for it.

Even if you aren’t sure how, take the next step.

God didn’t just call Abraham. He gave him a promise. He promised He would make him a great nation, bless him, and make his name great so that he would be a blessing (Genesis 12:1-3).

Imagine what it meant for Abraham to believe that promise.

He had to leave everything familiar behind.

He had to step forward in faith even though it was frightening.

No matter what ran through Abraham’s mind, he chose to believe the promise God spoke, not knowing how or when it would come to fruition. He probably thought he would see the promise soon.

If God were to make him a great nation, then that meant God would give him a child. At this point, Abraham was 75 years old and his wife, Sarah, was 65. Perhaps he thought God would fulfill the promise within the next couple of years. After all, that made logical sense. Already, they were advanced in years and past childbearing age.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 ESV).

In other words, God doesn’t always do what makes logical sense to us.

And that’s what happened.

The promise took time, and in that time, Abraham grew discouraged.

He asked God questions. He wondered when it would happen, if the heir to his house would be Eliezer (Genesis 15:2).

God reassured Abraham that “your very own son shall be your heir” (Genesis 15:4 ESV). The Lord made a covenant with Abraham. Covenants in those days were made when two parties sacrificed animals, and the persons making the covenant passed between the split animals (or in the case of a king and his servant, the servant would pass through by himself), symbolizing, “May I be torn apart like these animals if I don’t keep my promise.” Sounds intense, doesn’t it?

Usually, the servant would walk between the animals. But instead, God put Abraham into a deep sleep and passed through the animals Himself. In other words, He was saying that He would be the One to pay the price if the covenant was broken (Genesis 15).

Abraham didn’t always remain perfectly faithful because, like the rest of us, he’s a sinner and unable to be perfect before a holy God. And one day, God fulfilled His promise, allowing Jesus, who is fully God and fully man, to be broken in atonement for all the sins we’ve committed and the broken promises we’ve ever made.

Isn’t that such a beautiful picture?

In Genesis 16, however, Abraham and Sarah (at the time still called Abram and Sarai) took matters into their own hands. Sarah suggested to Abraham that he “go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her” (v. 2b).

Abraham listened to his wife and had a child through Hagar.

God doesn’t waste anything, and every child, no matter how they are conceived, is a gift and a blessing. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t pain and conflict as a result of our actions.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

When we wait so long for something, we often begin to lose hope and think we must take matters into our own hands.

10 years after God made the promise that he would make of Abraham a great nation, the man and his wife still didn’t have a child.

Sometimes, the Lord asks us to knock, move forward in faith, and do something (Matthew 7:7).

Other times, the Lord asks us to quiet our hearts and be still before Him (Psalm 46:10).

In Abraham and Sarah’s story, God asked them to believe (Hebrews 11:11, Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:18).

God called them to go from their country and kindred to a land that He would show them, but after that, He didn’t have specific instructions. No doubt it made them wonder if they were supposed to do something, which is why Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham as a wife. Perhaps then she could bear a child through her servant.

But that was not what God had meant.

No, Sarah herself would bear a son.

The Lord had spoken the word.

No word from the Lord will return empty. It shall accomplish that which He has purposed and shall succeed in the thing for which He sent it (Isaiah 55:11) and “For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay” (Habakkuk 2:3 ESV).

Pray with me:

Dear Father, I thank You that Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105). I confess I often doubt Your Word and want all the answers rather than trusting You to take the next step. When I am in a season of “fog” like Moses, help me to listen for Your voice. When I am in a season of “waiting” like Abraham, help me to trust Your timing over my logic. Protect me from taking matters into my own hands, and give me the grace to be still when You say “wait” and the courage to move when You say “go.” Thank you for keeping Your promises, even when I am weak. In Jesus’s Name, Amen

God calls us to step forward in faith, even when we don&rsquo;t see the full path ahead. Hannah Benson reflects on Abraham&rsquo;s journey, emphasizing that trusting God often requires waiting, patience, and obedience despite uncertainty. Abraham&rsquo;s story illustrates that God&rsquo;s promises are trustworthy, even when fulfillment seems slow or beyond human logic. By believing God&rsquo;s Word and following His direction, we can experience His faithfulness and become a blessing to others.
Highlights
<ul data-start="981" data-end="1438">
<li data-start="981" data-end="1052">
God calls us to act in faith, even without knowing all the answers.
</li>
<li data-start="1053" data-end="1136">
Abraham&rsquo;s journey teaches patience, trust, and obedience in the waiting season.
</li>
<li data-start="1137" data-end="1259">
God fulfills His promises in His timing, not ours, reminding us that no word from Him returns void (Isaiah 55:11).
</li>
<li data-start="1260" data-end="1362">
Taking matters into our own hands, as Abraham and Sarah did with Hagar, can complicate God&rsquo;s plan.
</li>
<li data-start="1363" data-end="1438">
Trusting God&rsquo;s Word requires both courage to move and patience to wait.
</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:
Believe the Word the Lord Has Spoken
By Hannah Benson
Bible Reading: &ldquo;Now the Lord said to Abram, &lsquo;Go from your country and your kindred and your father&rsquo;s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed&rsquo;&rdquo; (Genesis 12:1-3 ESV).
Recently, I re-read Abraham&rsquo;s story through new eyes. Isn&rsquo;t it amazing how we can read the same stories in Scripture again and again, yet every time we read them, the Lord will often reveal things we&rsquo;ve never realized before?
God called Abraham (then called Abram) to leave his homeland and everything he knew and was familiar with to go to a land that He would show him.
How did Abraham feel about that? Was he afraid at all? Excited? Probably both.
But regardless of how he felt, note that he stepped forward in faith&nbsp;even though he didn&rsquo;t have all the answers.
Read that again.
If God calls us to do something, we must&nbsp;step forward in faith even if we don&rsquo;t have all the answers. In fact, I have found that God doesn&rsquo;t always give us the answers all at once.
He&rsquo;ll tell us the first step we need to take.
So many of us look at the long road ahead of us and think we need all the answers before we move forward.
A friend pointed out to me recently that in Exodus 24, Moses went into the fog of the mountain. Clarity came through hearing God&rsquo;s voice and not from what he could see.
I do want to include a disclaimer here. Sometimes, the Lord puts something on our hearts, but it doesn&rsquo;t mean the time is now. Just because something may be a God-thing doesn&rsquo;t mean it&rsquo;s always God&rsquo;s time for it.
But when God calls us to step forward in faith, even when we can&rsquo;t see the path ahead?
Step forward.
Go for it.
Even if you aren&rsquo;t sure how, take the next step.
God didn&rsquo;t just call Abraham. He gave him a promise. He promised He would make him a great nation, bless him, and make his name great so that he would be a blessing (Genesis 12:1-3).
Imagine what it meant for Abraham to believe that promise.
He had to leave everything familiar behind.
He had to step forward in faith even though it was frightening.
No matter what ran through Abraham&rsquo;s mind, he chose to believe the promise God spoke, not knowing how or when it would come to fruition. He probably thought he would see the promise soon.
If God were to make him a great nation, then that meant God would give him a child. At this point, Abraham was 75 years old and his wife, Sarah, was 65. Perhaps he thought God would fulfill the promise within the next couple of years. After all, that made logical sense. Already, they were advanced in years and past childbearing age.
&ldquo;Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen&rdquo; (Hebrews 11:1 ESV).
In other words, God doesn&rsquo;t always do what makes logical sense to us.
And that&rsquo;s what happened.
The promise took time, and in that time, Abraham grew discouraged.
He asked God questions. He wondered when it would happen, if the heir to his house would be Eliezer (Genesis 15:2).
God reassured Abraham that &ldquo;your very own son shall be your heir&rdquo; (Genesis 15:4 ESV). The Lord made a covenant with Abraham. Covenants in those days were made when two parties sacrificed animals, and the persons making the covenant passed between the split animals (or in the case of a king and his servant, the servant would pass through by himself), symbolizing, &ldquo;May I be torn apart like these animals if I don&rsquo;t keep my promise.&rdquo; Sounds intense, doesn&rsquo;t it?
Usually, the servant would walk between the animals. But instead, God put Abraham into a deep sleep and passed through the animals Himself. In other words, He was saying that He would be the One to pay the price if the covenant was broken (Genesis 15).
Abraham didn&rsquo;t always remain perfectly faithful because, like the rest of us, he&rsquo;s a sinner and unable to be perfect before a holy God. And one day, God fulfilled His promise, allowing Jesus, who is fully God and fully man, to be broken in atonement for all the sins we&rsquo;ve committed and the broken promises we&rsquo;ve ever made.
Isn&rsquo;t that such a beautiful picture?
In Genesis 16, however, Abraham and Sarah (at the time still called Abram and Sarai) took matters into their own hands. Sarah suggested to Abraham that he &ldquo;go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her&rdquo; (v. 2b).
Abraham listened to his wife and had a child through Hagar.
God doesn&rsquo;t waste anything, and every child, no matter how they are conceived, is a gift and a blessing. However, that doesn&rsquo;t mean there isn&rsquo;t pain and conflict as a result of our actions.
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
When we wait so long for something, we often begin to lose hope and think we must take matters into our own hands.
10 years after God made the promise that he would make of Abraham a great nation, the man and his wife still didn&rsquo;t have a child.
Sometimes, the Lord asks us to knock, move forward in faith, and do something (Matthew 7:7).
Other times, the Lord asks us to quiet our hearts and be still before Him (Psalm 46:10).
In Abraham and Sarah&rsquo;s story, God asked them to believe (Hebrews 11:11, Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:18).
God called them to go from their country and kindred to a land that He would show them, but after that, He didn&rsquo;t have specific instructions. No doubt it made them wonder if they were supposed to do something, which is why Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham as a wife. Perhaps then she could bear a child through her servant.
But that was not what God had meant.
No, Sarah herself would bear a son.
The Lord had spoken the word.
No word from the Lord will return empty. It shall accomplish that which He has purposed and shall succeed in the thing for which He sent it (Isaiah 55:11) and &ldquo;For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end&mdash;it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay&rdquo; (Habakkuk 2:3 ESV).
Pray with me:
Dear Father, I thank You that Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105). I confess I often doubt Your Word and want all the answers rather than trusting You to take the next step. When I am in a season of &ldquo;fog&rdquo; like Moses, help me to listen for Your voice. When I am in a season of &ldquo;waiting&rdquo; like Abraham, help me to trust Your timing over my logic. Protect me from taking matters into my own hands, and give me the grace to be still when You say &ldquo;wait&rdquo; and the courage to move when You say &ldquo;go.&rdquo; Thank you for keeping Your promises, even when I am weak. In Jesus&rsquo;s Name, Amen

Believe the Word the Lord Has Spoken

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/103c99e9-fee0-48a8-aef2-b40101125b60/transcript

In today’s culture, fear often keeps us from speaking truth—even when someone’s actions are harmful to themselves or others. Aaron D’Anthony Brown encourages believers to confront sin with courage, clarity, and love, following the example of Jesus. Speaking truth doesn’t require aggression; it requires wisdom, discernment, and a heart aligned with God. Honest, righteous communication strengthens relationships and fosters spiritual growth in ourselves and others.

Highlights


Fear of confrontation can keep truth unspoken, enabling harm to continue.


Jesus was not afraid to call out sin, yet He did so with purpose and discernment.


Speaking truth effectively does not require anger; it requires wisdom and courage.


Honest confrontation helps others grow spiritually, just as we rely on accountability to grow.


Let your words be clear, consistent, and aligned with God’s righteousness.

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:

The Courage to Speak Truth 

By Aaron D’Anthony Brown

Bible Reading:
“But let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one.” - Matthew 5:37

If there’s one thing believers and nonbelievers have in common today, it is a fear that prevents us from saying exactly what’s on our mind. In our modern culture, telling someone anything remotely offensive has become taboo, even if they’re hurting us or hurting themselves.

The thought of having any sort of confrontation proves too much. We become paralyzed before finding some justification to simply let things be. Yet at the same time, we continue to complain about said things.

Recently, a friend of mine was sharing with me about someone in his friend group who was dabbling in transgenderism. My friend was afraid to share his thoughts on the issue with this person and instead remained silent, even though he was clearly concerned about his friend. 

There are so many people who feel like this today. Rather than tell people the truth, we tell them lies, or nothing at all, which they then interpret as affirmation, even though we know it to be sin.

The solution is simple - put yourself in their shoes. What would we want people to do for us if we were sinning? Call us out? Leave us be? We ourselves know the right thing to do, but are not doing it. 

Jesus says to let our “yes” and “no” be clear. Let’s talk about how to do that.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Recognize that Christ was offensive.

Some of us in the modern church have started believing that Jesus got along perfectly with everybody all the time, but that just wasn’t the case. Jesus called people out on their sin. He wasn’t afraid to go against the culture. Why do you think there were so many who rallied against Him and were bent on having Him killed?

Certainly, Christ did not offend for the sake of hurting others. There was truth that they needed to hear, and oftentimes they didn’t want to hear it. Nonetheless, what mattered most was the truth. The same applies to us today.

Understand that the truth doesn’t have to be offensive.

We often grow squeamish at the thought of treating sin with aggression. But here’s the reality: you don’t have to be aggressive. There is such a thing as righteous anger, but calling someone out for bad behavior doesn’t require you to be angry. As discussed, Jesus was not the pacifist we often make Him out to be, but He also didn’t go around yelling at everyone He caught misbehaving. Effective communication requires wisdom, something we can attain by first stepping out of our comfort zones and having these tough conversations.

We need one another to grow.

We’re no different from the people we complain about. Our struggles may differ. Some are certainly more severe than others. However, like the people we are afraid to confront, we have struggles we don’t realize ourselves. You’re hopefully not the same person you were a year ago, or five years ago. Why? You’ve learned more about yourself in that time. Some of which you learned on your own, but other things were brought to your attention.

We need God and fellow believers to give us the wisdom to become aware. Likewise, we need to use the wisdom we’ve been blessed with and admonish those around us - effectively, honestly, and righteously.

Further Reading:

Proverbs 12:22

Proverbs 13:20

John 2:15-17

Luke 6:31

Ephesians 4:24

Matthew 10:34-36

In today&rsquo;s culture, fear often keeps us from speaking truth&mdash;even when someone&rsquo;s actions are harmful to themselves or others. Aaron D&rsquo;Anthony Brown encourages believers to confront sin with courage, clarity, and love, following the example of Jesus. Speaking truth doesn&rsquo;t require aggression; it requires wisdom, discernment, and a heart aligned with God. Honest, righteous communication strengthens relationships and fosters spiritual growth in ourselves and others.
Highlights
<ul data-start="836" data-end="1264">
<li data-start="836" data-end="913">
Fear of confrontation can keep truth unspoken, enabling harm to continue.
</li>
<li data-start="914" data-end="999">
Jesus was not afraid to call out sin, yet He did so with purpose and discernment.
</li>
<li data-start="1000" data-end="1086">
Speaking truth effectively does not require anger; it requires wisdom and courage.
</li>
<li data-start="1087" data-end="1185">
Honest confrontation helps others grow spiritually, just as we rely on accountability to grow.
</li>
<li data-start="1186" data-end="1264">
Let your words be clear, consistent, and aligned with God&rsquo;s righteousness.
</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:
The Courage to Speak Truth&nbsp;
By Aaron D&rsquo;Anthony Brown Bible Reading: &ldquo;But let your &lsquo;yes&rsquo; mean &lsquo;yes,&rsquo; and your &lsquo;no&rsquo; mean &lsquo;no.&rsquo; Anything more than this is from the evil one.&rdquo; - Matthew 5:37
If there&rsquo;s one thing believers and nonbelievers have in common today, it is a fear that prevents us from saying exactly what&rsquo;s on our mind. In our modern culture, telling someone anything remotely offensive has become taboo, even if they&rsquo;re hurting us or hurting themselves.
The thought of having any sort of confrontation proves too much. We become paralyzed before finding some justification to simply let things be. Yet at the same time, we continue to complain about said things.
Recently, a friend of mine was sharing with me about someone in his friend group who was dabbling in transgenderism. My friend was afraid to share his thoughts on the issue with this person and instead remained silent, even though he was clearly concerned about his friend.&nbsp;
There are so many people who feel like this today. Rather than tell people the truth, we tell them lies, or nothing at all, which they then interpret as affirmation, even though we know it to be sin.
The solution is simple - put yourself in their shoes. What would we want people to do for us if we were sinning? Call us out? Leave us be? We ourselves know the right thing to do, but are not doing it.&nbsp;
Jesus says to let our &ldquo;yes&rdquo; and &ldquo;no&rdquo; be clear. Let&rsquo;s talk about how to do that.
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
Recognize that Christ was offensive.
Some of us in the modern church have started believing that Jesus got along perfectly with everybody all the time, but that just wasn&rsquo;t the case. Jesus called people out on their sin. He wasn&rsquo;t afraid to go against the culture. Why do you think there were so many who rallied against Him and were bent on having Him killed?
Certainly, Christ did not offend for the sake of hurting others. There was truth that they needed to hear, and oftentimes they didn&rsquo;t want to hear it. Nonetheless, what mattered most was the truth. The same applies to us today.
Understand that the truth doesn&rsquo;t have to be offensive.
We often grow squeamish at the thought of treating sin with aggression. But here&rsquo;s the reality: you don&rsquo;t have to be aggressive. There is such a thing as righteous anger, but calling someone out for bad behavior doesn&rsquo;t require you to be angry. As discussed, Jesus was not the pacifist we often make Him out to be, but He also didn&rsquo;t go around yelling at everyone He caught misbehaving. Effective communication requires wisdom, something we can attain by first stepping out of our comfort zones and having these tough conversations.
We need one another to grow.
We&rsquo;re no different from the people we complain about. Our struggles may differ. Some are certainly more severe than others. However, like the people we are afraid to confront, we have struggles we don&rsquo;t realize ourselves. You&rsquo;re hopefully not the same person you were a year ago, or five years ago. Why? You&rsquo;ve learned more about yourself in that time. Some of which you learned on your own, but other things were brought to your attention.
We need God and fellow believers to give us the wisdom to become aware. Likewise, we need to use the wisdom we&rsquo;ve been blessed with and admonish those around us - effectively, honestly, and righteously.
Further Reading:
Proverbs 12:22
Proverbs 13:20
John 2:15-17
Luke 6:31
Ephesians 4:24
Matthew 10:34-36

The Courage to Speak Truth

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/c03f24bf-c332-4463-a3d4-b401011257fd/transcript

What Does it Take to Run the Race of Faith

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