Worry has a way of igniting a series of “what-ifs.” These thoughts trickle down from our heads to our hearts with a lit fuse ready to detonate an explosion of fear. Yet, sure-footed in God’s Truth, we can stomp out these sparks quickly and rest in His peace instead. - Megan Evans

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Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/
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Worry has a way of igniting a series of “what-ifs.” These thoughts trickle down from our heads to our hearts with a lit fuse ready to detonate an explosion of fear. Yet, sure-footed in God’s Truth, we can stomp out these sparks quickly and rest in His peace instead. - Megan Evans
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 to Do with Our What Ifs

The most damaging words we hear are often the ones we say to ourselves. Negative self-talk—phrases like “I’m not good enough” or “I’m a failure”—can quietly shape how we see our worth. Over time, those words begin to feel like truth.

But Scripture reminds us in Proverbs 15:4 that our words hold power: “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.” While this verse certainly applies to how we speak to others, it also applies to how we speak to ourselves. God never intended for our internal dialogue to crush our spirit.

Highlights


Negative self-talk often stems from comparison and unmet expectations


Internal words can wound as deeply as spoken ones


Awareness is the first step in silencing harmful self-criticism


God’s Word offers life-giving truth to replace destructive thoughts


Speaking to ourselves with kindness reflects God’s grace toward us

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:

Ending the Toxic Cycle of Negative Self-Talk
By Vivian Bricker

Bible Reading:
“The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit” (Proverbs 15:4). 

As someone who struggles with negative self-talk, it is hard not to speak badly about myself. Growing up, I could never measure up to my sisters in skill or ability, and even in the present day, I still feel that I fall short. I’m not a gifted speaker, writer, or artist like my family members, and this makes me feel insecure. 

My eldest sister was a pro at basketball, and my dad loved watching her play. She was also great at drawing various creatures, including Pokémon,as they were her favorite. My other older sister is a master at writing, crafting stories, creating artwork, and playing the piano. My mom used to praise her splendid piano concertos and art assignments. 

I tried my best at art, music, and sports, but I was never good enough. I simply couldn’t measure up. There was no praise, encouragement, or someone cheering me on from the sidelines. This left me feeling completely worthless, which led to the start of negative self-talk. 

A few days ago, I was sitting in my primary care doctor’s office when my doctor asked me why I was so glum. I didn’t want to go into detail with him about recent events that led me back to the same feelings of worthlessness. I chose to look at the white and blue checked floors as he went through a depression screening with me. As someone with clinical depression, I’m no stranger to these screenings; however, I had never scored so high as I did at that appointment. 

I left the office with a new prescription and a referral to restart therapy, but I did not feel hopeful. On the drive home, I told myself, “I’m just not good enough,” and “I’m a failure.” Anytime we are condescending, hurtful, or mean to ourselves, we are practicing negative self-talk.  

When I was in therapy years ago, my therapist asked me to name an adult figure in my life who had been supportive of me. My first thought was my grandma; I called her Mawmaw. My therapist asked me to think of a time when Mawmaw was proud of me. After thinking for a few minutes, my mind flashed back to when my Mawmaw told me I was good at making other people laugh and smile. Her warm smile filled my heart, and I finally felt like I was good at something. 

To stop negative self-talk thoughts, we are going to have to dig deep. I didn’t remember the words of my Mawmaw right away, yet after searching for them, I finally knew I could heal. Negative self-talk can eat away at us, yet we must become aware of its voice. Once we start naming negative self-talk and addressing it, we will notice the voice grow quieter. 

Intersecting Faith & Life:

The Bible tells us, “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit” (Proverbs 15:4). Whenever we are tempted to start talking badly about ourselves, we need to reflect on this passage. While many people think Proverbs 15:4 is only referring to our communication with others, it also includes the way we communicate with ourselves. 

By following Proverbs 15:4, we will begin to speak kindly to ourselves. It might sound cliché, but it is important to talk to ourselves as we would talk to a friend. We wouldn’t make mean or derogatory remarks to our friends; therefore, we don’t need to talk to ourselves in this manner. We need to use our words to build ourselves up rather than tearing ourselves down (Ephesians 4:29). 

As you navigate life more positively, remember to end the cycle of negative self-talk. Avoid comparing yourself to others or thinking negatively about yourself because of how others have treated you. Focus on what God says about you in the Bible, memorize Bible passages, and reflect upon His love when you are struggling.

Stopping comparison and blotting out unhelpful comments can make a world of difference. How might you start taking Proverbs 15:4 to heart today? What would your self-talk look like if you started being kinder to yourself? 

Further Reading:

Mark 12:30-31

Psalm 139:13-16

Ephesians 2:10

The most damaging words we hear are often the ones we say to ourselves. Negative self-talk&mdash;phrases like &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not good enough&rdquo; or &ldquo;I&rsquo;m a failure&rdquo;&mdash;can quietly shape how we see our worth. Over time, those words begin to feel like truth.
But Scripture reminds us in Proverbs 15:4 that our words hold power: &ldquo;The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.&rdquo; While this verse certainly applies to how we speak to others, it also applies to how we speak to ourselves. God never intended for our internal dialogue to crush our spirit.
Highlights
<ul data-start="1223" data-end="1561">
<li data-start="1223" data-end="1296">
Negative self-talk often stems from comparison and unmet expectations
</li>
<li data-start="1297" data-end="1350">
Internal words can wound as deeply as spoken ones
</li>
<li data-start="1351" data-end="1418">
Awareness is the first step in silencing harmful self-criticism
</li>
<li data-start="1419" data-end="1490">
God&rsquo;s Word offers life-giving truth to replace destructive thoughts
</li>
<li data-start="1491" data-end="1561">
Speaking to ourselves with kindness reflects God&rsquo;s grace toward us
</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:
Ending the Toxic Cycle of Negative Self-Talk By Vivian Bricker
Bible Reading: &ldquo;The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit&rdquo; (Proverbs 15:4).&nbsp;
As someone who struggles with negative self-talk, it is hard not to speak badly about myself. Growing up, I could never measure up to my sisters in skill or ability, and even in the present day, I still feel that I fall short. I&rsquo;m not a gifted speaker, writer, or artist like my family members, and this makes me feel insecure.&nbsp;
My eldest sister was a pro at basketball, and my dad loved watching her play. She was also great at drawing various creatures, including Pok&eacute;mon, as they were her favorite. My other older sister is a master at writing, crafting stories, creating artwork, and playing the piano. My mom used to praise her splendid piano concertos and art assignments.&nbsp;
I tried my best at art, music, and sports, but I was never good enough. I simply couldn&rsquo;t measure up. There was no praise, encouragement, or someone cheering me on from the sidelines. This left me feeling completely worthless, which led to the start of negative self-talk.&nbsp;
A few days ago, I was sitting in my primary care doctor&rsquo;s office when my doctor asked me why I was so glum. I didn&rsquo;t want to go into detail with him about recent events that led me back to the same feelings of worthlessness. I chose to look at the white and blue checked floors as he went through a depression screening with me. As someone with clinical depression, I&rsquo;m no stranger to these screenings; however, I had never scored so high as I did at that appointment.&nbsp;
I left the office with a new prescription and a referral to restart therapy, but I did not feel hopeful. On the drive home, I told myself, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m just not good enough,&rdquo; and &ldquo;I&rsquo;m a failure.&rdquo; Anytime we are condescending, hurtful, or mean to ourselves, we are practicing negative self-talk.&nbsp;&nbsp;
When I was in therapy years ago, my therapist asked me to name an adult figure in my life who had been supportive of me. My first thought was my grandma; I called her Mawmaw. My therapist asked me to think of a time when Mawmaw was proud of me. After thinking for a few minutes, my mind flashed back to when my Mawmaw told me I was good at making other people laugh and smile. Her warm smile filled my heart, and I finally felt like I was good at something.&nbsp;
To stop negative self-talk thoughts, we are going to have to dig deep. I didn&rsquo;t remember the words of my Mawmaw right away, yet after searching for them, I finally knew I could heal. Negative self-talk can eat away at us, yet we must become aware of its voice. Once we start naming negative self-talk and addressing it, we will notice the voice grow quieter.&nbsp;
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
The Bible tells us, &ldquo;The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit&rdquo; (Proverbs 15:4). Whenever we are tempted to start talking badly about ourselves, we need to reflect on this passage. While many people think Proverbs 15:4 is only referring to our communication with others, it also includes the way we communicate with ourselves.&nbsp;
By following Proverbs 15:4, we will begin to speak kindly to ourselves. It might sound clich&eacute;, but it is important to talk to ourselves as we would talk to a friend. We wouldn&rsquo;t make mean or derogatory remarks to our friends; therefore, we don&rsquo;t need to talk to ourselves in this manner. We need to use our words to build ourselves up rather than tearing ourselves down (Ephesians 4:29).&nbsp;
As you navigate life more positively, remember to end the cycle of negative self-talk. Avoid comparing yourself to others or thinking negatively about yourself because of how others have treated you. Focus on what God says about you in the Bible, memorize Bible passages, and reflect upon His love when you are struggling.
Stopping comparison and blotting out unhelpful comments can make a world of difference. How might you start taking Proverbs 15:4 to heart today? What would your self-talk look like if you started being kinder to yourself?&nbsp;
Further Reading:
Mark 12:30-31
Psalm 139:13-16
Ephesians 2:10

Ending the Toxic Cycle of Negative Self Talk

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/674a8813-6764-49c7-a6ce-b3f3014f3ebb/transcript

We all make plans. Career goals. Ministry dreams. Personal ambitions. There’s nothing wrong with vision and drive—but Proverbs 16:9 gently reminds us who truly directs the path: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

God often plants desires within us long before we see how they will unfold. The key is not striving to force the outcome, but surrendering the process to the Holy Spirit. When we move forward prayerfully, seek wise counsel, and stay attentive to God’s nudges, He positions us exactly where we need to be—sometimes in ways that exceed what we imagined.

Highlights


God often plants dreams in our hearts before revealing the path forward


Prayer and discernment are essential before taking the next step


Wise counsel helps confirm whether a desire aligns with God’s will


Success is evidence of God’s guidance, not merely our effort


The Holy Spirit leads faithfully when we move step by step in obedience

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:

Let the Spirit Guide Your Steps
By: Michelle Lazurek

Bible Reading:
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” - Proverbs 16:9

Many years ago, I began to sense in my heart that God wanted me to become a literary agent. This was in addition to my career as an author, and I wanted to help fellow authors get their work into the hands of audiences. However, I had no clue how to get started. One day, I was talking with my husband on a long drive. He asked me what I would do with my life if I weren't an author.

Immediately, I blurted out, “I want to be a literary agent.” After I realized the weight of what I had said, we talked it through. He asked me to speak with my agent regarding the steps in that regard. I had a conversation with my agent, and in a few short months, he had signed me to his agency. 

Although I was excited about this new venture, I was still unsure whether I was qualified or even had the business sense to do the task. Although there were no books or manuals on how to become a literary agent, I knew that if I listened to the Holy Spirit, He would guide me step by step. 

I have now been with the agency for eight years. Of the 130 books sold, almost 1/4 are my deals. It is shocking to think that I have made that many deals in the eight short years that I've worked for him. Yet when God has nudged me, and I have used my gift of discernment and wisdom to sign a client or shop around their deals, God has placed their work in the right hands at the right time.

The prideful side of me can boast that I did all that on my own. But the humble (or rational) side of me understands that unless the Holy Spirit was guiding my steps, I never could have done any of that on my own. 

God was good and allowed me to use my gifts and my heart to help others receive the gospel message through different genres of books and get them into the hands of readers. People are being blessed because of my diligence in working with publishers and getting authors the right deals at the right time. 

As humans, we have many plans and desires. While there's nothing wrong with having goals and visions for our lives, we need to make sure those desires and dreams align with God's will. Although it is not entirely possible to know whether our desires are our own or from the Lord, it is essential to follow God's guidance step by step. 

Is there an area of your life that you feel you want to take the next step, but don't know how? Do you question whether this desire God has placed on your heart is from God or from yourself?

The best way to know whether this is from God is to pray about it. Additionally, we need to surround ourselves with godly people who have been through life and are willing not only to pray for us and our triumphs but also to challenge us when we're down. If we're making a bad decision, we need to surround ourselves with people we can test these words on and know whether they're from God or from us. 

A person who goes about making decisions without carefully weighing them, with those they trust, or who would have a warning from a loved one, will only make matters worse. With God, the decision they make is not irreversible. Still, it could pose a significant danger to their future if they make haphazard decisions without first allowing the Holy Spirit to guide their steps.

Father, let us be people who listen to you. Let us allow you to orient our steps. Let us take each day as an opportunity to take a baby step in faith toward what you are calling us to. Let us be people who listen to others and keep our word, so we can make all the decisions for you. Amen. 

Intersecting Faith & Life:

What decision do you need to make today that you need the guidance of the Spirit? What will you do to enlist his help today?

Further Reading:
Philippians 1:6

We all make plans. Career goals. Ministry dreams. Personal ambitions. There&rsquo;s nothing wrong with vision and drive&mdash;but Proverbs 16:9 gently reminds us who truly directs the path: &ldquo;In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.&rdquo;
God often plants desires within us long before we see how they will unfold. The key is not striving to force the outcome, but surrendering the process to the Holy Spirit. When we move forward prayerfully, seek wise counsel, and stay attentive to God&rsquo;s nudges, He positions us exactly where we need to be&mdash;sometimes in ways that exceed what we imagined.
Highlights
<ul data-start="1136" data-end="1492">
<li data-start="1136" data-end="1211">
God often plants dreams in our hearts before revealing the path forward
</li>
<li data-start="1212" data-end="1280">
Prayer and discernment are essential before taking the next step
</li>
<li data-start="1281" data-end="1351">
Wise counsel helps confirm whether a desire aligns with God&rsquo;s will
</li>
<li data-start="1352" data-end="1416">
Success is evidence of God&rsquo;s guidance, not merely our effort
</li>
<li data-start="1417" data-end="1492">
The Holy Spirit leads faithfully when we move step by step in obedience
</li>
</ul>
<hr>
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:
Let the Spirit Guide Your Steps By: Michelle Lazurek
Bible Reading: &ldquo;In their hearts humans plan their course, but the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;establishes their steps.&rdquo; - Proverbs 16:9
Many years ago, I began to sense in my heart that God wanted me to become a literary agent. This was in addition to my career as an author, and I wanted to help fellow authors get their work into the hands of audiences. However, I had no clue how to get started. One day, I was talking with my husband on a long drive. He asked me what I would do with my life if I weren't an author.
Immediately, I blurted out, &ldquo;I want to be a literary agent.&rdquo; After I realized the weight of what I had said, we talked it through. He asked me to speak with my agent regarding the steps in that regard. I had a conversation with my agent, and in a few short months, he had signed me to his agency.&nbsp;
Although I was excited about this new venture, I was still unsure whether I was qualified or even had the business sense to do the task. Although there were no books or manuals on how to become a literary agent, I knew that if I listened to the Holy Spirit, He would guide me step by step.&nbsp;
I have now been with the agency for eight years. Of the 130 books sold, almost 1/4 are my deals. It is shocking to think that I have made that many deals in the eight short years that I've worked for him. Yet when God has nudged me, and I have used my gift of discernment and wisdom to sign a client or shop around their deals, God has placed their work in the right hands at the right time.
The prideful side of me can boast that I did all that on my own. But the humble (or rational) side of me understands that unless the Holy Spirit was guiding my steps, I never could have done any of that on my own.&nbsp;
God was good and allowed me to use my gifts and my heart to help others receive the gospel message through different genres of books and get them into the hands of readers. People are being blessed because of my diligence in working with publishers and getting authors the right deals at the right time.&nbsp;
As humans, we have many plans and desires. While there's nothing wrong with having goals and visions for our lives, we need to make sure those desires and dreams align with God's will. Although it is not entirely possible to know whether our desires are our own or from the Lord, it is essential to follow God's guidance step by step.&nbsp;
Is there an area of your life that you feel you want to take the next step, but don't know how? Do you question whether this desire God has placed on your heart is from God or from yourself?
The best way to know whether this is from God is to pray about it. Additionally, we need to surround ourselves with godly people who have been through life and are willing not only to pray for us and our triumphs but also to challenge us when we're down. If we're making a bad decision, we need to surround ourselves with people we can test these words on and know whether they're from God or from us.&nbsp;
A person who goes about making decisions without carefully weighing them, with those they trust, or who would have a warning from a loved one, will only make matters worse. With God, the decision they make is not irreversible. Still, it could pose a significant danger to their future if they make haphazard decisions without first allowing the Holy Spirit to guide their steps.
Father, let us be people who listen to you. Let us allow you to orient our steps. Let us take each day as an opportunity to take a baby step in faith toward what you are calling us to. Let us be people who listen to others and keep our word, so we can make all the decisions for you. Amen.&nbsp;
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
What decision do you need to make today that you need the guidance of the Spirit? What will you do to enlist his help today?
Further Reading: Philippians 1:6

Let the Spirit Guide Your Steps

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/0511aca2-8587-4486-b694-b3f301453945/transcript

There’s something powerful about anticipation. When you know something wonderful is ahead—a long-awaited trip, a celebration, a reunion—you carry that joy with you before it even arrives. It changes how you move through ordinary days.

Psalm 31:19 reminds us that we don’t have to manufacture excitement or engineer constant highlights to feel hope. God already has good stored up for His children. His goodness isn’t random, fragile, or dependent on our planning. It is abundant, intentional, and secure.

The beauty of faith is this: even when we cannot see the details of what’s ahead, we know the character of the One who holds tomorrow. And that is more than enough reason for joy.

Key Scripture

“How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.” — Psalm 31:19

Highlights


Anticipation shapes our perspective—even before the blessing arrives


God’s goodness isn’t limited to heaven; He blesses us here and now


Our plans are fragile, but God’s promises are faithful


We can hold joy in the unknown because we know God’s character


The goodness God has stored up surpasses what we could imagine for ourselves

Intersecting Faith & Life


Are you constantly trying to create something to look forward to?


What would change if you truly believed that God already has good ahead for you?


Today, shift your hope from circumstances you control to the character of the God who controls tomorrow.

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 Goodness of God That Awaits You

By Keri Eichberger

Bible Reading:
How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you. - Psalm 31:19

I don’t desire to be surprised much anymore. Not in specific ways like I once did, anyway. I used to have this dream of being suddenly and spontaneously whisked away on a tropical getaway. With bags pre-packed, child-care pre-planned, and every detail prepared. That is, until I went on enough planned vacations and experienced all the extra enjoyment that’s front-loaded in the anticipation of the known good to come. Think about it. It’s extremely hard to get excited about something awesome you have no idea is about to happen. But if you know the grand plan that’s ahead, you can hold great hope. You can even make it through the mundane and monotonous moments of life while your eyes feast on the beauty and sparkle that dangle in front of you. 

And for this reason, I’ve been overly guilty of always attempting to have something fun planned in order to consistently have something to look forward to. But honestly, I’m not super proud of this heart posture. And here’s why. I know God is good. I know he has given me good on this very day. I know he is faithful and will continue to show up with good gifts in every single season of my life. And so I know I should be holding tighter to these truths. 

How about you? Do you like surprises? Or would you prefer to know what’s coming so you can enjoy the anticipation? Maybe you’ll take either, you just like any reason to smile and celebrate. I get that too.

Well, what if we could approach every day like we know vacation is coming tomorrow? What if we knew that what was ahead was going to be fantastic and full of blessings? And what if I told you, it’s true. Because it is. The Bible promises that God has good in store for us, for those who love him.

There is indeed beauty and sparkle ahead. We can be confident in that. We can get excited about that. Because it most definitely and abundantly is true. I know you can’t always see and perceive it. But honestly, I can’t actually see the exact sweetness that will show up in my upcoming vacations either. I can dream up scenarios. But to be honest, sometimes it’s not as good as what I dreamed of. My human hopes are flimsy and fallible, and they fail me. And whatever you can create or plan or try to control to your liking is unreliable and lacks certain goodness, too. But our faith shouldn’t be in the good we can manifest and make happen; our faith should be in the unfailing goodness of our mighty and good God.

And what’s amazing about God is that what he has in store is even better than what we have dreamed up. Because His plans and ways are good and perfect and always more full of blessing than ours. So we can stay excited in the unknown because of what is known. For those of us who love God, he has good in store. An abundance of good. And not just in heaven—though that is our ultimate hope and joy—but he also has blessings to bestow in our sight here on earth. This is a promise worth getting excited about today and every day.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Instead of becoming consumed with constantly creating exciting circumstances, or demanding and dictating our own ideal situations, we can set our hope-filled hearts and hold a joy-filled faith in God’s goodness. We can hold hope and joy that an awesome tomorrow is coming. And then another and another. Because our good God is awesome. And he has abundant and good things stored up for you who love him, for you he loves. 

If you liked what you read, I think you will love my latest book, Win Over Worry: Conquer What Shakes You and Soar With the One Who Overcomes. You can find it on Amazon or your favorite online retail site. I hope it blesses you!

There&rsquo;s something powerful about anticipation. When you know something wonderful is ahead&mdash;a long-awaited trip, a celebration, a reunion&mdash;you carry that joy with you before it even arrives. It changes how you move through ordinary days.
Psalm 31:19 reminds us that we don&rsquo;t have to manufacture excitement or engineer constant highlights to feel hope. God already has good stored up for His children. His goodness isn&rsquo;t random, fragile, or dependent on our planning. It is abundant, intentional, and secure.
The beauty of faith is this: even when we cannot see the details of what&rsquo;s ahead, we know the character of the One who holds tomorrow. And that is more than enough reason for joy.
Key Scripture
<blockquote data-start="914" data-end="1088">
&ldquo;How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.&rdquo; &mdash; Psalm 31:19
</blockquote>
Highlights
<ul data-start="1107" data-end="1457">
<li data-start="1107" data-end="1179">
Anticipation shapes our perspective&mdash;even before the blessing arrives
</li>
<li data-start="1180" data-end="1250">
God&rsquo;s goodness isn&rsquo;t limited to heaven; He blesses us here and now
</li>
<li data-start="1251" data-end="1309">
Our plans are fragile, but God&rsquo;s promises are faithful
</li>
<li data-start="1310" data-end="1376">
We can hold joy in the unknown because we know God&rsquo;s character
</li>
<li data-start="1377" data-end="1457">
The goodness God has stored up surpasses what we could imagine for ourselves
</li>
</ul>
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life
<ul data-start="1491" data-end="1754">
<li data-start="1491" data-end="1560">
Are you constantly trying to create something to look forward to?
</li>
<li data-start="1561" data-end="1645">
What would change if you truly believed that God already has good ahead for you?
</li>
<li data-start="1646" data-end="1754">
Today, shift your hope from circumstances you control to the character of the God who controls tomorrow.
</li>
</ul>
<hr>
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<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
The Goodness of God That Awaits You
By Keri Eichberger
Bible Reading: How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you. - Psalm 31:19
I don&rsquo;t desire to be surprised much anymore. Not in specific ways like I once did, anyway. I used to have this dream of being suddenly and spontaneously whisked away on a tropical getaway. With bags pre-packed, child-care pre-planned, and every detail prepared. That is, until I went on enough planned vacations and experienced all the extra enjoyment that&rsquo;s front-loaded in the anticipation of the known good to come. Think about it. It&rsquo;s extremely hard to get excited about something awesome you have no idea is about to happen. But if you know the grand plan that&rsquo;s ahead, you can hold great hope. You can even make it through the mundane and monotonous moments of life while your eyes feast on the beauty and sparkle that dangle in front of you.&nbsp;
And for this reason, I&rsquo;ve been overly guilty of always attempting to have something fun planned in order to consistently have something to look forward to. But honestly, I&rsquo;m not super proud of this heart posture. And here&rsquo;s why. I know God is good. I know he has given me good on this very day. I know he is faithful and will continue to show up with good gifts in every single season of my life. And so I know I should be holding tighter to these truths.&nbsp;
How about you? Do you like surprises? Or would you prefer to know what&rsquo;s coming so you can enjoy the anticipation? Maybe you&rsquo;ll take either, you just like any reason to smile and celebrate. I get that too.
Well, what if we could approach every day like we know vacation is coming tomorrow? What if we knew that what was ahead was going to be fantastic and full of blessings? And what if I told you, it&rsquo;s true. Because it is. The Bible promises that God has good in store for us, for those who love him.
There is indeed beauty and sparkle ahead. We can be confident in that. We can get excited about that. Because it most definitely and abundantly is true. I know you can&rsquo;t always see and perceive it. But honestly, I can&rsquo;t actually see the exact sweetness that will show up in my upcoming vacations either. I can dream up scenarios. But to be honest, sometimes it&rsquo;s not as good as what I dreamed of. My human hopes are flimsy and fallible, and they fail me. And whatever you can create or plan or try to control to your liking is unreliable and lacks certain goodness, too. But our faith shouldn&rsquo;t be in the good we can manifest and make happen; our faith should be in the unfailing goodness of our mighty and good God.
And what&rsquo;s amazing about God is that what he has in store is even better than what we have dreamed up. Because His plans and ways are good and perfect and always more full of blessing than ours. So we can stay excited in the unknown because of what is known. For those of us who love God, he has good in store. An abundance of good. And not just in heaven&mdash;though that is our ultimate hope and joy&mdash;but he also has blessings to bestow in our sight here on earth. This is a promise worth getting excited about today and every day.
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
Instead of becoming consumed with constantly creating exciting circumstances, or demanding and dictating our own ideal situations, we can set our hope-filled hearts and hold a joy-filled faith in God&rsquo;s goodness. We can hold hope and joy that an awesome tomorrow is coming. And then another and another. Because our good God is awesome. And he has abundant and good things stored up for you who love him, for you he loves.&nbsp;
If you liked what you read, I think you will love my latest book, <a href="https://a.co/d/058wHte">Win Over Worry: Conquer What Shakes You and Soar With the One Who Overcomes</a>. You can find it on Amazon or your favorite online retail site. I hope it blesses you!

The Goodness of God That Awaits You

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